A call to reason... or another nut-job manifesto

Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.

I've been poking holes in the fantasies of the “whiny ass bitches” for a few days now. As fun as that may be, it's not very productive. It's easy... and fun to point and mock, but unless you provide an alternative to the madness, and give the crazies a target to point at and mock , it kind of rings hollow.

I feel I should mention at the outset, I'm not a socialist or an altruist, or some mad bohemian burning my precious manuscript to keep warm in the bitter winter. I do support myself via the money I earn in Second Life. I've committed to this and intend to do all I can to be successful.

Let's take a moment to speak of the madness of Manhood Wanker and his merry band of fucktards.

The basic drift of their scheme is to extort more money out of the existing population of music supporters. While this may seem like a huge oversimplification of their proposal... it's not. That is in in a nutshell.

The reason it seems to have so much support is simply because it's a plan that many wish would work. Performers, venue operators and management types all wish they could make enough money off this Second Life music stuff to live like Rock stars in their first life.

However the plan... hell it's not really a plan it's more like wishful thinking, has no basis in practical application.

Manhood Wanker seems to think if you call something “Quality” and or “Professional” and then charge money for it people will line up to give you, and anybody involved in your pixie dust fueled enterprise mega money.

While only in the Hyperbole/Bullshit stage, it has already managed to fragment the tiny Second Life music community. While the people in fantasy land, expecting a big pay off support it, the long standing supporters of live music, whom have willing supplied attention and money are feeling somewhat disenfranchised.

I understand that feeling. I have to wonder why Manhood Wanker and his merry band of fucktards can't?

Let me share two numbers with you. I've heard and estimate that there are about 2,500 active music supporters in Second Life. I've also been told there are about 300 “Acts”. I'm inclined to think both numbers are reasonable reflections of the situation. This basically breaks down to a Performer/Listener ration of 8.33 to 1.

When you talk about supply and demand, does less then nine consumers to every supplier sound like a booming economy?

Of course, most of the 300 performers are not “Quality” or “Professional”. So lets say 100 performers have either talent or a personality that can draw a crowd. This makes the Performer/Listener ratio 25 to 1. Not even enough to max out a sim.

While I admit all these figures are abstractions, they still represent a very concert truth. The population of music supporters is not big enough to underwrite a supply and demand economy.

It's madness.

Now lets talk about reason.

The most prudent course of action is to take steps to build the numbers of residents interested in Live music in Second Life.

Lets imagine for a moment, 10,000 music supporters in Second Life. Suddenly the Performer/Listener ratio is 100 to 1. Suddenly the Avatar Limit on Sims becomes a deciding economic force. Only 40 people can get it, you can insist of a cover charge. And the 60 listeners that could not get into one show can enjoy another.

So how do we make the listener population grow?

Filters and Brands.

The lack of Filters in Second Life have hamstrung the growth of the community at least as long as I have been here. Lots of questionable talent gets booked due more to Social connections they actual worth.

In real life, you audition for the bar owner down the street, he doesn't care who you know, or what indignities life has brought your way. All he cares about is, can you sell beer? If you suck you'll drive costumers out the door. He doesn't even really care if you are good, all he cares about is making money off your talent.

He has an agenda. Sell beer, make money.

We need to have an agenda. Present music, get people interested in Live music.

Our filter needs to direct us towards our agenda if we want to grow. However Filters have a auxiliary function. Establishing a brand.

Coke-a-cola, Metallica, Adult Swim, Playboy, MTV are all brands. Just the name means something. All have use filters to develop those meanings.

What does Coke taste like?

What kind of Music does Metallica play?

What are you going to see in the middle of Playboy Magazine?

Consistent filtering establish a brand.

A great example of a brand that has used Filtering to become successful in Second Life would be “The Originals”. Once a month, you get a full schedule of originals songs, presented life. It is so successful that some lewzer is trying to steal it. The real “The Originals” with Harrie the rock chick running the show is a SMASH hit and proof that Brands work when they mean something.

The Originals is chocked full of Brands. It was started by POL Arida (the man, the myth, the kilt wearing vodka swilling Icon of Second Life music) then taken over by Harrie THE rock chick, Skjellerup of pixel hill fame, with a live broadcast provided by Indie Spectrum Radio yet another Second Life Brand.

The show is consistently compelling and draws a HUGE crowd.

The filter is simple enough. 30 minuet set of all original material. People know what to expect and have no reason to request “Wonderwall”.

While I'm not addressing how we jump the gap to reach those new listeners, I do know the filters and brands need to be in place before we are even ready to approach that issue.

Keep in mind, brands and filters don't need to revolve around one kind of music or performance. You can have a “Quality/Professional” brand, a “Guitar-raoke” brand, and a “Not very talented but nice guys” brand.

Once people understand what the filters provide and know the brands that use those filters, it's a simple matter to reach the audience that seeks the performance each brand provides.

Allow me to sum up my argument with a little pseudo algebra.

Money+ because I want money= failure and damage to the community that already supports live music.

Growth + Filters+ Brands= a boom economy, more money for those that have what the market demands, and only enriches the community that already supports live music.