The Music Bus

Bibi Ballinger · The Music Bus

Some of you may wonder what or who The Music Bus is since it's getting some visibility in the forum now. I just own the actual VW bus so when you hear about Bibi's Bus, it just means I drove it over. The group, started by Creola, Soundcircel and I, followed quickly by DD, a couple of months ago is a growing group of volunteers who help new musicians coming into SL. There are lots of places new artists can get the help they need, this was a place for me to add my name to those of you who work so hard for SL Music. Creola, Sound and DD have been the real work horses in the group and I do my best to help them but everyone listed and not listed in the group has come from a place of hard work and time spent on building the music community Slim is one of our biggest supporters and is why you see us on the deck outside DD's store at Tivona. Silas has helped two musicians in two days, giving his time and patience after his own exhausting performances. Nancy Lei has built a campground at Merry Pranksters for artists. The list goes on.

As we see the quality of musicans coming into SL grow, we don't want to lose any to frustration or disappointment because they don't know who to contact or where to go for help. Some of us have mentioned The Music Bus on our 61 front page and when we get an inquiry, we direct people to the forum first and then to other links such as Sally's flickr pix to see what it looks like in SL music, Slim's appearance on British TV, you tube, my space, etc. Mostly we try to encouage people to go very slow and read and learn before they decide this is what they want to do.

You know how much it takes to set up your home studio, create a persona, have some $$$ to buy things, find a spot to call home where you can change your clothes and practice performing, find instruments, animations, start a fan group, navigate a stage, get sound checks and advice, create links to your websites, and on and on. We invite everyone to join us in building an army of volunteers of all sorts-musicians, techies, radio stations, venues, scriptors, builders, land owners who can offer an temporary haven, anyone who has anything to do with music. Hopefully it will also become a pool of resources for venue owners who need a musician or a musician looking for open slot to play. Ideas are welcome as this will surely be something that needs to grow and change according to the needs of the community. Some of you won't have room for another group but rest assured, your help will be gladly appreciated in any case.

We are working on other ideas to get the word out about SL music across the grid. We hope to be taking music to some of the unusual and beautiful places around the grid soon.

Silas Scarborough

That makes me sound like a saint, Bibi. We can't have that. I was just doing it to hit on you Smile

Sally Silvera

she´s my hero you know

Silas Scarborough

Yep, I know. She's a wonderful lady who's doing a great thing over there.

Bibi Ballinger

and Sally is my hero! I ain't no lady. The more Silas help, the better!! Wink

Silas Scarborough

Both of you are most certainly ladies and I appreciate you coming to my gigs, especially when you go to so many others.

Zak Claxton

Right on Bibi and everyone involved!

Question: if I wanted to use one of my two venues from time to time as a "do it yourself Open Mic" place, would that be something that would be good for your group? Like, if someone wanted to do a show and just needed a stage and a stream, I'm happy to offer both on occasion. Let me know.

Doubledown Tandino

Zak Claxton

Doubledown Tandino

Soundcircel Flanagan

Time for me to skip in

( assuming this is going to be read by new musicians as well )

We are trying to help musicians
( mainly new ones, but i helped some experienced ones as well )
in any way we can, regardless who you are or what you do......... for free
( for me a very important issue )

I know i havent been around The Bus very mutch,
but i work more in the background finding gigs for musicians.

So if you are interested in more gigs then it would be smart to do the following :

1) Join the group, i get a lot of calls for last minute gigs, or for fill in an open slot , i use the group IM / Notices for that.

2) Drop me a note with your info (including your fee offcourse and prefered days and times )

the Professor · group invite please

thanks guys

I've spoken with creola (and maybe bibi) about this. I'd love help when offered. I don't have manager or promotion either and though I've had a lot of fun since March, 07, I'm probably doing a lot of the wrong things.

I had a nice chat with Cher last night and booked a morning show in August . . . but our talk and the details of the gig reminded me how much I don't know and don't do right. I'm not very good at self promotion.

Please send me a group invite inworld and one can always send me email at <ell@bradley.edu>.

Because I currently use a lab at school for SL music studio, I have severe time limitations (I can only play after work hours and weekends) . . . I also try to be done by 7pm SL. Things get worse/tighter once school starts in the fall. But I'm trying to make enough Ls this summer to enable me to do a home studio set up so that my time availabilities open up a bit. . . I think I found a computer for it and that really moves me in the right direction....

thanks again, peace
[/i]

The Music Bus

group invite please