I protest (!?!?!?!?)

Recently there was a rather... interesting reaction to the removal of an art instillation at Second Life's 7th birthday party.

It seemed this work of art featured some doll like nudity and there is no nudity allowed at this function. Some seemed to feel this was censorship, and protested.

I found out about the protest because it was mentioned on the Second Life forum, and for the record I'm not here to defend or attack the work of art. What I really want to talk about is the reactions from the forum monkeys. The broke rather neatly into two camps. One defending the work of art, and the other mumbling something to the effect of, “It's Linden Lab's party they can do what they want”.

The “Defense” camp is wrong because art does not need defense.

But the utterly clueless camp would be the “Do what they want camp”.

The whole point of protest is simply because “the powers that be”, do what they want anyway. You don't have to be happy about it and you can protest. Some call it bitching, but that is a poor choice of words. If you just sit there and take it... then you are “The Man's” bitch.

Protesting, while mostly pointless is if nothing else somewhat satisfying... unless you actually expect it to change things.

The grand design of nature is such that you are intended to protest, or decent. Want proof? Well hold your hands out in front of you. On each hand, between the ring finger and the index finger is a handy digit that's sole reason for existence is to protest, and out of all the fingers you have at your disposal, that finger, and only that finger is referred to as “THE Finger”.

Those suggesting it's pointless to protest should hang their heads in shame. What they are actually saying is what upsets other people is really stupid and they should grow up and accept whatever indignities those in power choose to lay upon their shoulders.

Those in power are always right... until they do something that upsets those whom suggest those in power are always right. At that point the most staunch supporter becomes... protester-ish.

Those protesting the WTO got attacked by police and stripped of their civil liberties.

Those protesting an oppressive regime in china stood before tanks.

Buddhist Monks immolated themselves to protest the Vietnam war.

I don't think any of those protesting expected things to change. But they most certainly did make a point.

While all these things are more relevant than anything going on in Second Life, it does not diminish people right to be upset. Those of you not particularly upset should just quietly smirk to yourself.

WTF????

You know I'm confused as hell. Seriously, no kidding, why aren't I the biggest thing on Second Life?

I should be so big on Second Life, I'm TOO BIG for Second Life. But I'm not big on Second Life at all, I'm tiny. Why is that?

I know you might think I'm being sarcastic, but I'm not. Allow me to try and twist your head around to see things from my perspective.

On June 20th, I played a two hour set of all original music at the Jester Inn. During that two hour set I didn't even come close to scraping the bottom of the barrel. It was a solid two hours of amazing songs.

Now I know there are “ROCK STARS” that do three hour shows, but most of those draw music from a decades long career. My two hour show comprised of music written during my musical adventures in Second Life. How many songwriters could pepper a two hour set with nothing but original music collected over a two year three month period and have it be all amazing tunes?

By the by, I'm about to play my 1,600 show online in the next few days. It's not like I haven't been working my ass off. I've recorded an impressive number of MP3 collections and all this falls between March 16th 2008 and now.

I'm prolific, hard working and fooking brilliant. Why isn't that enough to be mega successful?

I'm well aware I don't play by the rules, but really, isn't being a musical visionary enough to get you a slice of the pie? Are people so use to the mediocre and mundane that talent makes them uncomfortable?

Now I'm sure there are a few out there reading this wondering what my state of mind is. Am I depressed, discouraged, suicidal, ready to chuck it all. Well stop wondering, what I am is confused.

I feel I should state that I'm not questioning my musical talent. My music is freaking amazing. What I do is totally iconic. And I know that makes people uncomfortable, but if I was prone to doubting I would be doing something else by now.

You know what? I could use some help. Not advice, actual help. But what are the odds on that happening? I could use a real life brake about now. I've been working hard, and I'm ready to make the most of any opportunity that comes my way, provided I can afford to take advantage of that opportunity.

So consider this a cry for help, and not advice. If you have something for me, feel free to drop me a line at zorchboomhauer at gmail dot com. I already check my email about 100 times a day hoping to find something promising. Perhaps you can provide it.

In the mean time I'll just keep on keeping on. I've got nothing better to do.

Money

The title should warn you, I'm about to broach a controversial subject. I'm probably as uncomfortable writing about it as you might be reading about it, but the situation is such I feel letting it slide just exacerbates the problem.

At the outset I would like to say I'm well aware there are people that attend live music events that are broke. They really don't have a lot of money to spend on anything, and I don't have a problem with those people. I personally have no discretionary money... or more to the point I'm effectively broke as well. All moneys earned in Second Life, go to paying for my stream rental (my one in world expenditure) and buying groceries and paying bills in real life.

But I'm not here to talk about the nickel and dime matters of my personal life because I think we both agree that is my problem.

What I am here to talk about is the compensation live music artist should get. Basically, I'm trying to make it clear why a performance is different from buying a pair of virtual shoes. The economic of the difference.

The content provider.

Now when somebody sets about to create a virtual product for Second Life, they invest their time, and yes they deserve compensation for that time. But the investment is very different. When you make a virtual item, you invest time in it and then sell copies.

If it take them four hours to create that flashy thing-a-ma-bob, if they sell one for 300 L$, they make 300 L$ for those hours.

That is not much for an hourly wage, but every time they sell another copy Their hourly wage goes up.
If they sell ten thing-a-ma-bobs they make ten times as much money for the hours invested. The hours invested never change, but the amount they get compensated for those hours goes up with every sale.

Part of my economy uses this paradigm.

When I make an MP3 collection, the amount of time invested in the recording of those songs never goes up, so every collection I sell increases the value of the time invested. I can afford to sell my music for half of what a third party aggregator might sell them for, because once it's done, any money made is profit.

The Live event content provider.

Here is where it gets grim. If I play a one hour show, whatever I make during that hour is all I'm ever going to compensated for that hour. The next show is not a copy of the last show but a whole new hour invested. I only have so many hours in my life, when you sit there and enjoy my labors but withhold compensation you are not only stealing an hour of my time, but stealing an hour of my life.

I hope I'm not being overly dramatic, but I'm trying to make a point. Everything is cheap in second life, you can buy a house for about 2 $ American. But it's not a real house. You can't live in it, but you can pay real money (Lindens do equate to real money) on buying a copy.

Live music in Second Life serves all the purposes live music does in real life. While the delivery is different, the effort involved in performance (provided it's real live music and not the Karaoke or Guitar-eokie version) is identical. When I do play live in real life, I play the same music I play in Second Life and get considerably more pay for it.

When you sit and listen for an hour and tip me 20 L$, you are basically tipping me 0.13 $. Thirteen cents? Really, would you watch a street performer and throw a dime and three pennies in his guitar case? If you sat there for an hour and did that, the guy would probably slap you in the face.

Now once again, I mention, if you are short on cash I understand, but this is not really addressed to the broke, but rather the cheap. I understand it take an hour of your life to listen to my hour long show and as I have said in the past, I do appreciate the attention.

If you enjoy the music, and have the cash to spend, simply support the musicians with a reasonable tip. Remember, lots of people are freeloading, either because they are short on finances or just cheap bastards. Make a difference. TIP.

Now you may ask what a reasonable tip might be. Well for the record, 269 L$ is about a one American dollar. 500 L$ is about two bucks and about half what you would spend on a cover charge if you went to a bar. What do you think it reasonable?

I do earn my crust of bread on Second Life and recently it's been quite a hardship. I'm use to a Spartan life style, but lately it's taken a swing toward the catastrophic. In the last four months, earning have dropped 300$ real life dollars.

Now in my defense, I'm not expecting Venue owners to start paying me humongous fees, as I've always been a champion of those that pay the bill for all the music scene in Second life. The Venue owner pay significant tier fees just to have a place for live music to happen, so while I do appreciate any fee offered I do not demand a fee to show up and play. Perhaps if I did, I would not be writing this blog, but in my personal estimation, it would be wrong of me to demand money from the people paying freight on the whole shebang.

I'm not making any unreasonable demands at all. All I ask for is what is fair. If you attend the shows and have some discretionary funds, don't be cheap. If you enjoy the artist, any artist, tip them and tip them well. 250L$ (around a buck) 500 L$ (around two bucks) 1,000 L$ ( around four whole dollars, remember, not everybody can tip, and some people are being cheap bastards) would be peachy, reasonable and fair.

You can't make the music scene better, or give it more visibility, but you can make it more fair. You have the power and only you know if you are being cheap. If you are being cheap... stop that.

One more thing I would like to address. A while back I played a show behind an incredibly popular performer in Second Life. I know what he charges for an hour show and the venue owner booked me for tips because, he really couldn't afford to pay a fee. Some would say this is good and fair as well because Venue owner can pay what they wish. This is true, but don't tell me you can't afford a fee then hire Joe Popular for 10,000 L$ per-hour. My hour has the same amount of seconds in it as Joe Popular's hour. If the venue owner want to pay for an audience, pay me one quarter the fee, for one quarter the audience, that is fair. But do not exploit me and shower riches on those favored by the unwashed masses.

When all is said and done, I feel the donation based economy can work. People just have to compensate those involved fairly. If you have money, and if you are having a profound enough of an listening experience to invest an hour of your time in... don't be a cheap bastard.

If you think about it, if you do have thousands of Lindens in your account, and sit there for an hour listening, and only tip 20L$, what are you saying about the value of your time?

The fear of becoming Perry-Grim

The last two entries in this blog were remarkable similar. Imagine that, I must have something on my mind. But let me talk about something shockingly personal. Something that has been on my mind for a long time.

Once upon a time, there was a musician in Second Life. Let's call him “Perry-grim”. That is not his real fake name, but close enough. I'm not picking on him, and I'm not pointing at him, but those that can make the tenuous connection will understand.

Speaking bluntly, Perry-grim was one of the most brilliant musicians I've ever heard. He was, “The Real Deal ™ ” . In a world full of posers, musical ideas sprung forth from Perry-grim's guitar like water from an open fire hydrant.

Perry-grim was a genius, but sometimes the greatest gifts come in broken packages. Suffice it to say he had serious physiological issues. He was openly paranoid and even the kindest words could be interpreted as slanderous from his point of view.

Of course, his musical career ended... unpleasantly. He freaked out and made a point to alienate every single person that ever offered him a hand in friendship. I'm not saying he misspoke, or made a gaff. He attacked those that cared most for him, pointing out every inadequacy real or imagined, and then twisted any supportive statement towards him as some kind of counter attack.

I often wonder if he could have continued his musical adventures in Second Life. Was it inevitable that he would explode into an emotional fire ball?

Given his condition, you might think he would, but there are bunches of mentally ill people functioning on Second Life. So what drove him to self destruction?

Your guess is as good as mine, but here is my guess in case you are interested.

It takes a huge emotional toll to cast your pearls before swine.

I remember watching him follow some mediocre “Popular dude”, and before his first song was over the majority of the audience had poofed. He was iconic, original, and brilliant, those three things can clear a sim faster then a re-start notice.

I can understand how someone with a bent towards paranoia might read something into that. He knows he's good. He might even be aware he's great. Something must be going on. Somebody MUST be derailing his efforts. But in the end, the only one that could prevent his success was him, and eventually he set his own playhouse on fire and watched it burn.

I can really understand how he must of felt. I've seen Sims clear before my first song was over after following some cookie cutter balladeer. No matter how well grounded you are it does sting. It feels like people aren't even giving you a chance. In most cases they don't. They already have plans for what they are going to do after Mr. Cookie Cutter ends his set, and it's pointless to take it personally.

Recently a so-called friend of mine informed me of this new guy I've never heard of being the next BIG THING in Second Life. I'm glad she's impressed. But I've heard of Justin Biber, and I haven't heard of this guy. I don't measure myself against tweener singing idols so why would I give a rats ass about the next big thing in Second Life. I'm not a big thing in second life at all. But I'm well aware I should be.

Some would suggest I'm bitter, but it's more of a case of swallowing a bitter pill. It's better to be lucky then smart and it's better to be popular then talented. I'm not lucky or popular, and unlike Perry-grim, there are people that stick pins in their Zorch voodoo dolls every day. I know I have enemies not because I imagine them, but because I've been told I have them. Of course I expect to have a few Ellsworth Tooheys.

But I'm not inclined to quit, and you want to know why? Plain old fashion stupidity. I'm too stupid to quit. Although I'm well acquainted with the facts, and I know the world hates a genius, I soldier on. A few people get me, and they get me on my terms. I've every reason to expect the worse, but I won't cave in. Quitters never stand atop the Wynand building.

In the end, the story of Perry-grim is a cautionary tale. It exposes the dread consequence of having a gift the vast majority of people don't understand, and caring what they think. Seeking validation in the eyes of others. If you have a vision stand by it. If you have a gift be a diligent steward of that gift. When you are true to yourself, those that “Get you” do so for the right reasons and you will be rewarded.

I'm aware of the rules, I just choose to break them

A while back a friend of mine need to speak to me about how I was destroying my career. About another week later, yet another friend took me aside and seemed to be reading off the same page, predicting soon, nobody would book me and if anybody did book me, nobody would come to the show.

I think both of these friend were under the impression I was not paying attention and a Second Life Music Career(?) is basically just part of the game. Games have rule, break the rules and you lose the game.

Let me break down the rules and if you choose to follow them, in about three months you'll be doing far better then I am.

Rule #1 COVER SONGS

The vast majority of people don't give a rats ass about music. Most of these people make up the community of people that come to see show. While that might seem contradictory, it's not. People in general would rather hear a horrible cover song they KNOW, than a perfectly played original song.

The real cardinal point to this rule is it must be a song EVERYBODY knows. No obscure Johnathan Colten songs.

It's a good idea to have a song list people can request songs from. Try to make the show much like a McDonals drive through window.

Performer: Welcome to my show, may I take your order please?

Listener: Yes, I'd like …. ummm... “Wish you were here”.

Performer: Would you like “Halleluiah” with that?

Listener: I don't know, I'm trying to cut down.... oh... yeah sure give me a side order of “Halleluiah”.

Fun fact about 1# : Most people are blissfully unaware they are musically retarded. Quite a few of them are performers on Second Life.

Rule #2 Piss in the ocean of mediocrity

Always praise the performer before you and hype the performer coming on after you regardless of talent. Of course doing this means your opinions are meaningless, but why should your opinions have meaning when you music doesn't?

It's also a good idea to suggest the person following you is way better then you are. This makes you seem “Humble” and humility is very appealing to the average musical retard because they have nothing of worth to offer, so why should you be arrogant?

Your mantra should be, “Everybody is super great... except me, I suck”. Don't worry, people will be shouting out how great you are... even if you actually do suck. They have emotes all cued up just to do that.

Rule # 3 Greet people the moment they enter the sim.

All the mega popular people do this. It doesn't matter if you are in the middle of a song, just slip it in there. “Baby baby don't get... Hello Keplerdangle welcome to the show...hooked on me”.

While you might think this interrupts the song, don't worry about that, everybody KNOWS the song (see rule #1) and will wait for you to return to it. What is important is that each and every person is welcomed.

The reason you greet people is the same reason you play songs they know. You want them to feel as welcome as possible and make attending the show as effort free as... well not attending the show.

They went though all the trouble to click a link to get there, cut them some slack and make them feel welcome.

Rule # 4 Hang out

Second Life is all about being social. So make sure you show up at other peoples shows with your “I am a Second Life Muso” tag on display. For those of you wondering “Muso” is accepted Second Life slang for Musician.

In most cases, even if the performer has never even heard of you, much less heard you play, they will probably give you a shout out. While that might strike you as odd, it's in compliance with rules 2 and 3. In many cases they will tell everybody how superior you are to them and how everybody should catch your show.

Of course you should already be emoting wildly. “Dude you RAWK”.

Rule # 5 Build your group

When it comes to groups, size matters. Get some kind of doohickey that auto invites people to your group and let it work it's magic. If you play somewhere with a bunch of newbies you can build your group quickly because they click yes on everything.

Big groups allow you to demand big fees, and in the end, it's all about your fees.

Rule #6 The game is more fun when more people play

Anybody that can play a few chords and or has some back up tracks is a performer on Second life. While this is a lot of people, Those that don't wish to learn to play a musical instrument and or buy back of tracks should not be excluded from the fun.

Think of it this way, if every performer in Second Life had a “Manager”, that would double the number of people playing the music scene game. Some performers have a staff, more then one person tagging along on their participation coattails.

While you can't say how great you think you are, your staff has no limitations to how great they can say you are. You can stand on stage and whine about how much you suck, and they can emote like crazy monkeys about how you are the second coming.


Rule # 7, the hang out to perform ratio should be 15:1

Seriously, you should attend 15 shows for every show you actually play. It's far more important for you to “Be seen” then “Be heard”. Music doesn't matter in your Second Life Music scene game. What matter is your involvement in the scene.

While this might leave you playing two shows a week, they will be well attended providing you follow all the rules to the letter.

The less available you are, the more value your show have. In other word, if you only play 2 PM on Thursday, people that want to see you must be at your show at 2 PM Thursday.


Bringing it all together

You've been seen everywhere, you been promoting not your talent, but your humility. You've been participating, and supportive. You've developed your group, and you have integrated whatever staff you can cobble together.

It's Thursday at 2 PM and the show is on. Before you start you have one of your staff send a notice, remember you can't say you are great, but they can. Put a staff member between you and your announcement.

As the show starts take a moment to mention by name the people already there. This won't take long because in most cases people don't make it to be start of a show. Your staff will be there, be sure to say how indispensable they are and mention them each by name. Then mention the Venue staff and compliment them on what a great job they are doing (the show hasn't even started yet, but they are doing a GREAT job).

Be sure your auto group invitation device is in place.

As you play the first song, be sure to greet everybody that pops in. Not only will this make them feel welcome, but it will probably keep them from Popping out. People feel obligated when you notice them and mention them by name.

Speaking of obligation, because you have been hanging out so much, other musicians will be attending your show. Be sure to pick them out of the crowd and mention how GREAT they are. Remember they are padding your numbers and working on their “Hang out to perform ratio”. Be sure to mention what a kick ass show they put on and recommend that people attend their next show.

Be sure to mention your song list so people can request songs. Forget all about format, and or pacing, just take orders and be sure to dedicate the songs properly.

Watch the clock, mention how great the performer coming up after you is, finish the last song, collect your fee... be sure to act somewhat sheepish about collecting it.

There you go, you want to play the game, play by the rules. Second Life is so simple people with no discernible talent can thrive. They do it every day, and because most people don't give a shit about music... it works.

This might seem a bit cynical. But I'm not here to underline how disingenuous this all is. All I'm doing is making it clear, I'm aware of what the rules are. I know how the game works.

I choose to be a failure at the game because I choose not to play it. A handful of people care about my music. But those that do, do so for the right reasons. I make ridiculous demands upon the listener, but I also do a freaking transcendent show. Those willing to listen, those willing to hear song they are not instantly familiar with are rewarded.

It's more then entertainment or a social centerpiece. It's a bit of my soul.

I am the bastard son of Howard Roark. Could you expect me to conform to the standards of those whom make a game out of the profession I consider my calling?