Archive for SLMC Second LifeŽ Music Community Forum
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runyquesti
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What do I do during the show?My band is in the prepping stages to begin performing in SL. I am looking for advice on what to do during the performance, beyond the songs.
How does one build a rapport with a crowd?
How much of a stage show should an artist create?
Are there any technical issues I need to be concerned about in regards to this? For instance sim lag if I use a lot of special effects, or even getting permissions from the land owner.
Any advice on how I can make the performance (beyond the music) more interesting for the audience is greatly appreciated.
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Silas Scarborough
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Talk to the people in the audience as in directly, one to one. Get some patter happening between tunes, not just words to fill up space but talk to people. It's much easier to do that in SL compared to RL so long as you don't turn off the display of names above people's heads.
The stage show doesn't mean much. People go to venues because they like the person running it, they like the act, or both. It's more fun with an elaborate stage show but it won't change too much how many people come to your show. I've tried everything up to a stage that materializes out of the floor while it shoots fireworks and fog. I even built one early on that would shoot flaming cannonballs out over the audience. It's fun doing that but it'll eat a lot of time that would be better spent working up your act.
If you use a lot of pixel poofer stuff as with fireworks, slow computers will hate it. I'm not going to tune my gig for the slowest computer in the room so hexx Triskaidekaphobia and I will do rock / fireworks shows all the time. ALWAYS ask the venue owner's permission before doing this.
As to make it more interesting, you're the most interesting thing in the room; you're the only one with the mike. Call back all the stuff yer mama would tell you: don't mumble, blah, blah... Those are real people out there - Entertain them!
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Norris Shepherd
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I would recommend going to some live shows in SL, and see what the 'successful' musicians do, and take whatever fits you and try to integrate it.
I think it's individual and depends on yourselves and your style.
... sorry for the non-answer, but you really see the full spectrum of stage acts in SL. Some people love fireworks, particles, etc... others hate it and leave the show. Some people love the chat filling the screen, drives others nuts. Some love stupid banter between songs, others wish they would just shut up and sing/play music.
I'd give you my opinion on all those... but it would be just that.. one opinion. I'd go check out some shows, try to find someone you think you would be comparable to, see what works for them, and try to emulate some of the same things, i guess...
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Alazarin
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Re: What do I do during the show? | runyquesti wrote: | | My band is in the prepping stages to begin performing in SL. I am looking for advice on what to do during the performance, beyond the songs. |
OK, I'll bite 
| runyquesti wrote: | | How does one build a rapport with a crowd? |
The usual way... a bit of chat before the set and between numbers. Some performers go as far as greeting each audience member and thanking them individually for tips / donations. Personally I feel that's unnecessary: a good old 'Welcome to the show, great to see you here' and a 'Thank you for your donations' at the end of the show feels better for me so long as it's sincere and not rote formula.
| runyquesti wrote: | | How much of a stage show should an artist create? |
How long is a piece of string? I've seen, built and performed on everything from a plain plywood prim to entire extravaganzas that take over an entire sim. There are no rules here. Think about how you want to present your music and act. Is it just about the performers? Is it just about the music? Is is something else: part of a multimedia experience, a story or whatever. The stage and venue design and aesthetics can have a phenomenal affect on the mood, vibe and how your work is perceived. A bit of time spent planning the presentation can make your show a much more rewarding, interesting and memorable experience for your audience.
| runyquesti wrote: | | Are there any technical issues I need to be concerned about in regards to this? For instance sim lag if I use a lot of special effects, or even getting permissions from the land owner. |
Technically speaking sim lag will not affect your audio stream as it's handled separately from the sim. However if the sim crashes your audience will lose the stream the moment they close their SL client in order to start it up again and relog. C'est la vie. A sim will lag if you use alot of special effects. However a sim will also lag badly even if you have a 100% non-scripted stage setup if your audience turns up with a bazillion scripted attachments.
You will need to:
1) Have permission to set the venue land to accept your audio stream, or else
2) Be a member of the land-owning group and be assigned powers to edit the media properties for the venue land, or
3) Own the land where the venue is sited.
In reality it's not such a big deal... most venue owners will give you the details for their audio server so you can use theirs or else will plug in your stream URL.
| runyquesti wrote: | | Any advice on how I can make the performance (beyond the music) more interesting for the audience is greatly appreciated. |
Custom stage sets, interpretive dancers, light shows (a word of caution... don't use the 'light-show-in-a-box' dealies... to quote Frank Zappa 'brown shoes don't make it'). Make your shows something special by building up a visually and thematically unique venue / environment.
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hexx
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Re: What do I do during the show?Gotta admit I'm rather new to playing in SL, with our Never Ending Grid Tour only a couple of months on the road, but here's my two cents.
| runyquesti wrote: | | How does one build a rapport with a crowd? |
Grab that mike and *be* there. Don't wait for the crowd to act - after all, they've come to the show to see *you* act. And hey: it's a music thing. More specifically: your music thing. They'll feel it when you enjoy what you're doing.
Apart from that, the SL music crowd really appreciates you stepping up there and play your heart's out.
| Quote: | | How much of a stage show should an artist create? |
Usually, the venue has a stage. Just rez your gear and go for it.
| Quote: | | Are there any technical issues I need to be concerned about in regards to this? For instance sim lag if I use a lot of special effects, or even getting permissions from the land owner. |
If you manage to lag a sim with your show, you're doing great - it means you draw a large crowd 
As for permissions from the land owner are concerned: all you basically need is the permission to rez your gear and tipjar.
Looking forward to catching one of your shows!
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EvaMoon
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I disagree about the blanket thanks for the donations. I'm always disappointed when that happens. People love hearing their names. It makes them happy and it's one of the reasons they tip. Is it so much to ask to thank them by name for choosing to give you money they didn't have to give?
I've heard some artists go around the room and mention by name every person there, which can get a little tiresome.
Otherwise, good advice here. One of the real tricks is learning how to connect and chat with your audience with a 20-30 second lag between what you say and when they hear it. That takes some getting used to. You have to acknowledge applause you haven't heard yet and trust it's forthcoming.
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Silas Scarborough
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I agree with Eva on tips and will always say thanks for each one. People very definitely like to be recognized but that's just one of many reasons for doing it.
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ticious
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| Silas Scarborough wrote: | | I agree with Eva on tips and will always say thanks for each one. People very definitely like to be recognized but that's just one of many reasons for doing it. |
Not only that, it's a nice way to remind those who haven't tipped yet that they haven't tipped yet. I always tip, both the musician and the venue. But sometimes, I'm caught up in im, room chat, the party, whatever and it just plain slips my mind until I hear the musician thank Sally or Eva or Norris.
The venue owner's perspective on the stage show: If you plan anything significant, touch base with new venues before the show to make sure they understand and approve of what you have in mind (theoritically, they've already seen your act so should be no problem). While your music may be a perfect fit for their theme and their set up, your stage show may not be. Be prepared to be flexible.
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RayW
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And, I definitely agree with Norris ... GO SEE OTHER SHOWS. See what they do and how the audience reacted.
But, having said that, know who the host for the show is ... it's often the person making the most "noise." So, you might want to discount that in your evaluation. And, in truth, she/he is part of the entertainment package, anyway. Often an important part, unless the performer is great enough to stand alone without a host (or an active host, that is).
There are many things to help promote your music during the show. I personally haven't invested in them... but need to. That's another thing to check out at other shows. Think like: the gear onstage is cool ... but the props that point to websites and sell mp3s are cooler.
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Sally Silvera
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From a listener's perspective then:
First of all, I agree with the pros up there ^ Definitely catch a few shows and see what others do. Find acts that are doing well and see what makes their show special.
Having said that, here's my 0.02L:
The stage show (IMHO of course) is absolutely secondary to the music and the artist's interaction with the crowd (though you gotta see Alazarin's set-up! and the fireworks hexx and Silas throw on are spectacular! Nad's lighting is awesome as well).
The particles can however cause lag mayhem for a goodly portion of listeners and not everyone knows how to turn them off.
Greeting everyone in the room works for some people and listeners certainly appreciate being recognised especially if they are your loyal listeners or fans (can't imagine what that would be like if Max packed a sim x 4 though, there wouldn't be any time for music). I guess it depends on the number of people in the crowd.
Personally thanking people for tips is always appreciated and (again IMHO) can also be useful. Not only because it reminds people that they can tip but also because some listeners will then reply to remind others to tip as well.
I'd say a healthy balance between music and a bit of banter, greetings and thank yous would be my prefered option.
Hope to catch your show sometime!
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