Featuring Apple MacKay/Nasus Dumart, Niles Compton, Crap Mariner
After multiple SL problems (an exceptionally bad SL week for all), the show finally got stated at 7:30 or so (scheduled start 6). The crowd was amazingly patient sitting and waiting all that time. One of the more amusing issues was poor Nasus couldn't come back on as herself and could only log in as an alt--a male!
Apple MacKay, as many of you may know, is co-owner with Katydid Something of Molaskey's Pub, a popular live music venue.
When Apple came into SL, he had no intention of running a business. Having been involved with the Motion Graphics industry in RL for nearly ten years, Apple learned as much as possible about the building capabilities in SL.
Nasus later joined with a "can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude, claiming Apple was spending all his time on line, laughing without her, and she wanted to know what he was up to. Once she joined, it was quite some time before the two even partnered and it was somehow seemed to put a new spark into their relationship
Apple began contract building in SL. At one point, he was approached to build an Irish Pub for St. Paddy's Day. He agreed after getting all the specifics, all customized textures, etc., and quoted what he believed to be a fair price for the work. Ultimately, however, another builder, whose bid came in lower, was chosen. Since Apple had been working on some of the textures and graphics and other specifics on his own already, he decided to go ahead and do the build and meet the three-week turnaround time originally given, as a personal challenge. He DID meet that deadline, and the pub opened on St. Paddy's Day that year. On that day, he contacted the guy and asked how his opening went with his pub. He was told that the other builder could not get the job done within the timeframe, so Apple said "That's really too bad, you should come by to my pub for a pint." He did come by and promptly asked if he could buy it and move it to his location, to which Apple replied, "No, ya know what? We're gonna keep it and we're gonna run this pub." Apple and Katy had already decided on the name Molaskey's, which was the name of Katy's grandfather, an Irish immigrant, who settled in Boston.
This was a "series of 'fortunate' events" for the music-going crowd as Molaskey's hosts a variety of musicians, including Lyndon Heart and Patrick LaSalle, to mention a few.
After making the decision to join her husband in SL, Nasus began to explore what she could do here and what contributions she could make. Having written local, community based articles for newspapers and a couple of websites, Nasus thought about how she could bring that in world and how it would best suit the vitual world. Having a RL degree in media art, Nasus quickly became interested in exploring ideas and learning some rudiments of SL. Admittedly, she is not a 3D builder, but enjoys what other, more advanced residents have done. The previous audience for which she wrote had nothing to do with a virtual world. Nasus spoke with her literary manager about the possibility of doing a book about SL, and the potential to be found here. Her manager liked the idea; nothing like that had been done prior to that.
The book, "The Unofficial Guide to Building Your Business in Second Life," is a "how to" type of book, and Nasus approached the writing of it from a standpoint equivalent to explaining the interenet to someone in 1979. It was intended for someone new to virtual worlds and the concept was to provide a useful tool by which people could learn how to use the resources available in SL. She began by approaching and interviewing some of the existing entrepreneurs in SL, whose skills were far more advanced. Many responded similiarly in that business was something very fulfilling, but they were focused more on the here and now. She then spoke with the leaders of IBM, who expressed a much broader picture, thinking past the minutiae and ahead to the possibilities that could become reality 5 years into the future. Viewing it from that perspective, one can begin to see growing a business in terms of building blocks of experience along the way.
According to Apple, the book has received 5-star reviews from Amazon and other sites. Robert J. Bloomfield, Ph.D. of the Johnson School at Cornell University, Professor of Management; Professor of Accounting; Director, Business Simulation Laboratory gave a great review as did Alicia Sherman aka Cybergrrl Oh and Steve Nelson (Kiwani Oh). Each of them appear, with their comments, on the back cover of the book. Apple believes that with the way things change so quickly in SL, it is possible there will be a second or third edition in the future.
The book is available for purchase via Molaskeys-Pub.com, Amazon.com, Amacom.net, Barnes and Noble and Borders, and is also available as an e-book.
Next up and performing was country singer, Niles Compton. Niles started playing drums in his Dad's band when he was 9, and has been singing and playing in RL bars for years. Of note, the band was one of the starter bands at a Johnny Cash concert. He has also worked with Sammi Smith a few times. After working "on the road" for a while, he got out of music until he later just started doing a few gigs singing to prerecorded music, which is what he does in SL.
Niles is very much a crooner, and I was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness of his voice. He no longer plays drums, but at one time he used to sing and play the drums together. Paisley noted there aren't many people who do that. Niles agreed that it was not very easy for some, as the drumming really does use the arms and legs, and for some people, coordinating all that physical movement with singing just doesn't work. For him, however, it seemed to come naturally. While Niles played and sang for many years in clubs and bars, he now only does it in SL.
Niles heard about Second Life on something he heard on TV once. He started exploring virtual worlds and soon came in to SL to "check it out." He quickly learned that he could perform here, and stream inworld, playing for people all of the world. He thought that was really cool so he got started. A friend showed him the ropes with the stream set up and Niles was on his way to virtual stardom.
Niles claims he was a bit surprised that country music in SL was as popular as it is, although he doesn't think it shares the same popularity with some of the other music in SL, such as jazz/blues and rock. When asked how he feels about performing in SL as compared to the bands he has played for in RL with a variety of different audiences, Niles admits it was a bit strange at first. He did note, however, that one of the advantages in SL is that you can see the chat, see what people are saying, whereas in RL, this is not the case unless someone yells out something.
Niles has been considering putting out a recording in SL. He has some recordings but has not put them out for sale here in SL to date. You can hear Niles every Sunday at 8 SLT at the Gaslight, and look for Niles' recordings in the future!
Following Niles was Crap Mariner talking about music in SL. Crap was standing in for Mankind Tracer who, unfortunately, had to cancel his appearane due to unforeseen events.
A long time supporter of music in SL, Crap hosts live music events at his venue, Clocktree Park on Edloe Island (Crap is Idiot-In-Chief..or should that be Chief Idiot, Crap?...JK).
Crap has founded Tunes in SL, a shop dedicated to giving SL residents the ability to buy their favorite SL artists' albums. Crap said he started Tunes in SL when he was given a bunch of iTunes gift cards and he decided to use them for SL musicians. He asked people on his site to tell him what SL musicians they liked, and in the process, found a lot of "cool new ones. " He began to "ramp that up" for the following holiday season, adding in more links and performers, and from there it has really taken off. Crap believes it has been well received, although the economic reality has forced people to cut their bugets, but many have said it's a good idea and Crap has added social networking links so people can follow their favorties. According to Crap, several musicians have told him that folks have bought their albums because of this, including the "M" guy (who I can only assume must be Mankind). Crap claims he has 60-65 artists listed on his site so far.
Crap launched into a discussion about music in SL, the future of live music in SL, and the changes Linden Labs have made to the website which, according to Crap, have "REDUCED the presense of live music and functionality for music and music performances." As to the changes to live music in SL, Crap is not sure if it revolves around licensing issues or something else, and suggested if it was, in fact, a licensing issue with performers doing covers, then keep it to originals if necessary. When asked his thoughts on what Mankind Tracer, and others, were beginning to do, i.e., pay to enter performances, he took a moment to describe, in his own words, the proposed system and how it works. He explained that he calls it a "bouncer bot" in the form of a kiosk that people need to pay, which then splits the proceeds between the performer and the venue, the percentage of which the performer and venue decide as to who gets what. If people do not pay, they get ejected from the land and temporarily banned. They can come back in a few minutes and pay if they like. He believes it's a way of ensuring that people pay for the quality productions and performances. In Crap's opinion, this will be a useful toolfor those who want to offer a quality show and experience, in partnership with the talent, but it has to be on the leve of a festival or other combined production, not just a one hour performance of one musician. He does not, however, believe the audience will (go for it, embrace it). Of course, people will have the option of going elsewhere for their music, where a fee is not charged.
Paisley asked what Crap might do to change live music in SL if given the opportunity. Crap pondered this for a moment and replied he would "ramp up" connections and social networks with Twitter, Facebook and (others), team up with someone. Also, he would increase the group limit of 25, although he acknowledged that it would collapse. He suggests breaking it down into two different groups: one for permissions and one for notifications. If necessary, buy up subscribe-o-matic and make it the basis of a connection." He does believe, however, that "only the venues with strong relationships with the performers, sponsorships, diversified products or services, rentals, and community followings, such as Heron Island, those are going to survive, 'bouncer bots' are not." Paisley commented that it was all "terribly complex with not one end solution."
Crap further stated that with the state of the current economy, people will not be willing to spend even a buck or two to see live music in SL, many are losing or have lost their jobs and are trying to save money, stretch their dollars, and SL is a "bargain."
I have gotten information recently of several other venues moving toward this pay to enter model. Look for more information in a future article right here.
By Shellie Sands
