Metal anyone?

karlov Guisse · Metal anyone?

So I have seen a lot of performance so far on SL and really enjoyed it.

All of them but one have been solo with acoustic guitars. The other was solo blues with a nice backing track and guitar. I take that back actually as I have seen tribute bands as well but that's another animal.

Anyway I would very much like to perform in SL but I am afraid my brand of music may not be so popular. I am interested in solo performance, but in the metal and metal-ish genre. I'm taking inspiration from several RL one man death metal bands ( although I am not creating that type of music ) who perform and tour the US. They perform to self created backing music, playing guitar and doing vocals live. Very similar to a lot of SL acts I think.
One thing I think that may be unpopular is that I will have to run this more like a DJ or tribute act...Playing my recorded music on the stream. This is due to the fact that I will be unable to perform is 100% live since I am in an APT and can't really turn up that much. Sure I could run the guitars direct but the vocals would be the big problem. I can see SL music crowds not going for this so much even though it is my own original music.
On the other hand it would free me up to move around on stage and be active. I would still use the mic to talk between songs.
So, what say you, forumites? I'd like some opinions on this. I think it could go a couple ways...But I fully expect to play to a lot of empty clubs for a long time lol

DjaiSkjellerup

You've shown a great attitude in your approach to the forum and your honest feelings about your music Karlov. Unfortunately I fear you will get some flack if you do just play MP3s without at least some live input. I would advise you to work out a way of having something live. You mention that you may be able to do this with the guitar and I would strongly advise you try and do this.

If it proves impossible for you to have a live element to your music then the next best advice I'd give is simply to be up front and clear regarding the fact that the content will not be live. Doing so will minimise any chance of anyone who comes to listen thinking you are trying to hoodwink them into thinking you are playing live. ~Just as a guide, I know of at least one band who played their original music in the way you are proposing. They were pretty clear about the fact they were playing MP3s and they had roughly equal amounts of positive and negative vibes regarding their shows.

But genre will not be a problem....there are plenty of metal fans on the grid.

Good luck Smile

Gath Gothly

Hmmm...

Well lots of people use backing tracks, and some frown on their use. Others like them. There's certainly a purist camp that wants to hear pure live stuff - even a drum machine is a no-no. I guess I'm in that crowd.
But there are plenty that use heavy backing tracks, and sound fantastic.

Regardless, I wouldn't advertise yourself as a live musician if you're doing what amounts to playing CDs. People would certainly frown on that. That's DJing, which is also in high demand.

Anyway... what it boils down to is going to be your setup. In an Apartment, as long as you don't sing really loud, I don't see an issue with playing and singing live. Just don't use an external amp - go with monitor headsets, try to keep the singing down.

Though... can see your point for sure. I'd be thinking my neighbour was nuts if I heard him singing all the time... especially if I couldn't hear the music he was singing to... (What is that whackjob singing now???)

In the end... there's people that will love whatever you play or do. Backing tracks are fine, and a lot of people like them. But you should do something live - even if it's just the guitar. Personally... I'd sing too, but just sing really quiet. Maybe try to do my setup in a small room with blankets on the walls to try to soundproof it a little.

Good luck man - hope to hear ya in-game sometime.

Norris Shepherd · Re: Metal anyone?

As long as there is some live component (voice, or guitar, or whatever), I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure you let people know what is live and what is recorded. If there is no 'live' component, I would suggest (my opinion only), to call it a 'simulation', role play, or something under entertainment.

karlov Guisse

Thanks for all the feedback! I'm sure I can at least play guitar live. That shouldn't be a big problem. As far as vocals go I have yet to figure out what I'm gonna do. I'm still in the early stages of writing for this project.
I had thought maybe instrumental but I think some vocals are a big MUST in SL.
It will be a fun challenge for sure Very Happy

ticious

Johnny99 Gumshoe played an awesome hard rock guitar to tracks at Rocky Shores yesterday and totally blew our doors off (fortunately, Rocky Shores is an outdoor venue). It was a terrific show and was extremely well received by the audience.

Go for it!

Silas Scarborough

karlov, finding heavy metal in SL would be right up there with trying to find an honest investment banker. I wish you luck and I hope it's all groovy for you, brother metal man, but rock in SL is like how these days you only see old fat guys on Harleys except I'm not fat and I totalled my Harley.. I play about as loud as anyone and I can clear a venue faster than shouting, "Chris Brown is a personal friend of mine."

See if you can find the Metal Queen, Natasha Leckrone, as she knows hard-core metal. She has/had a pretty huge following as a DJ so you might very well be able to work to complement each other. She plays the kind of metal you're talking about. Doesn't sound like you've heard much of the live electric acts as many are excellent; it's just not the hard-core I think you mean.

Also, don't be thinking someone is a wimp because s/he is playing an acoustic guitar. Many of them release their songs in big' fat electric arrangements and they're great. Talk to KaKlick Martin as doing it that way is his preference but I never asked him why.

Since there isn't anywhere in SL that can hold more people than the average bingo game, it really doesn't make any difference how you play, what you play, or what rules you follow....that's between you and the venue. If it's cool, people will come. You're going to need that mike, tho. You've got to have some patter happening with the audience even if you're doing instrumental tunes. Relating to individuals in the audience directly is one of the biggest parts of an SL gig.

karlov Guisse

Hey I don't think acoustic stuff is wimpy at all. I love it! What I meant was there is so much of it already, I would rather do something different.

Also, I dunno if I was clear on the fact that even if I do use prerecorded songs, they will NOT be covers. I intend to do original stuff. Well maybe a cover or two for fun, but almost entirely original. I would not be playing mp3s and claiming I was performing them live or playing to premade backing tracks. All music would be done by me.

what was the name of the band that performed with MP3s?

Gath Gothly

Silas Scarborough

Space Junkies does a set with MP3's but I don't know if it's still going on. As I understand it, the show was one member of the band spinning MP3's. There are editorials that go back for years so nothing more to add to that, the point is that the editorials don't seem to have affected them at all.

Nah, I don't think you're trying to slam anyone; neither am I. Keep in mind when you're talking about rock in SL is that it doesn't appear that many have ever been to a rock concert. Seriously, you'll be at a show and someone next to you will be screaming YOU ROCK but you'll be scratching your head wondering if the person is drugged or what. Maybe they're still wondering if Paul was the cutest Beatle, dunno.

Original isn't a big hit in SL as mostly people want acoustic covers or blues but who knows what people really want as most people in SL don't go to live shows. The entire SL music audience is probably a couple of thousand people. Since you'll see over seventy thousand logged on at any time, obviously people in SL either don't know or don't like the music very much. For you, that could mean it's hopeless or there's a huge market that's just waiting for something that really rocks. Could break either way, no telling.

Places that definitely support originals in a big way are Merry Pranksters, Sunshine Daydream and Red Palms. Some of it sucks and some of it's great but for me that's what's cool about original. I tell you this as few, if any, of the people who run those venues come to this forum. To really find out what's going on in there, you'll need to explore.

Talk to Circe Broom as you don't really pass until she will stage you. You're good when she says you're good but she's cool and she's really put her own blood into SL music for a long, long time. She's also dead loyal and friendship with her is a blood brothers kind of thing. For others, it's a convenience that's just as easily withdrawn as it is extended. Be careful of that as, ABOVE ALL, Second Life is still a game. Lose sight of that and you're headed down a wormhole, bro.

DjaiSkjellerup

Space Junky were the band I was thinking of.

I chatted with one of them once and he was totally open that their experience had been one where they got some negativity when they did not emphasis the nature of their show and audience members started to come to the conclusion themselves that it wasn't live. This was down to Space Junky being a bit naive in their early shows and definitely not an attempt to deliberately deceive. They soon adjusted the way they presented themselves so the nature of the entertainment was clearer and they got alot less grief.

ticious

It wasn't only SpaceJunky, it was venues who booked them. Their promoter approached me at one point and the materials were extremely clear as to what the show is AND gave very specific instructions as to how and where it should be listed. Still, you'll occasionally see a venue (usually a mall grand opening or someplace not normally part of the live music scene) pumping them as LIVE in the Live Music events list.

I mention this to point out that you need to keep an eye on venue owners, they may or may not know what they're doing but what they do can reflect on you.

karlov Guisse

Hmmm. Very interesting. Any ideas as to how I could phrase this and present it in a press /promoter kit? I would obviously want to be very clear as well.

I watched some performance stuff from Space Junky and I liked it a lot. I do like how they are able to move around and be active.

I think that if presented right this could be just another form of music in SL. We have the totally live performers, the tribute bands and this, which is in between. Just another flavor and a format which allows different yet still original styles and music. I dunno what it could be called... Original Music Performance? Question

lol

ticious

I think you're completely right. How to put it in a press kit or promo package is just be open and honest. It's not like you're hiding some kind of deadly sin Wink

As for keeping an eye on the venue, when you're working with a well established venue, there's no issue really. They know what to post and where. But still, you should always check the Event listings on the day of your show to make sure that a) it's posted and b) it's posted correctly. If it's not posted or it's not posted correctly, then you need to contact the venue (or who ever agreed to do the listing, sometimes it's the promoter) and have it corrected as soon as possible.

This isn't always a newbie error or a deliberate act. I've been doing this for over two years and I still muck it up sometimes (and I appreciate it when someone brings it to my attention before show time). That's why it's always a good idea to check.

Silas Scarborough

If you haven't guessed it by now, there are multiple areas within SL music. Mostly mainstream here but there are loads of heretics and they don't cross over a lot. Whether you need a press kit or a rubber chicken really depends on which crew you want at your shows.

Talk to Blindboy Gumbo about what's happening in there and you may not like the answer but you can be sure it will be funny.

Jura Shepherd

Hit up StevenJaimz Hunniton in-world. He's doing shredder stuff with original pre-recorded backing. Seems like you two are on the same page and he's a cool enough dude so don't be bashful.

Metal anyone?

Re: Metal anyone?