This week I want to take you to a destination inworld called Solelua Beach (Jorah (213,62,22)). Upon arriving at the TP point of Solelua Beach, the sound of the powerful waves greet your ears and begin to immediately wash away the worries, troubles, and toils of all lives. Tippy the Flamingo welcomes you to join the group and provides you with an easy means to donate to the venue. To the left, you'll find a decorative sign indicating that live music may be present. Solelua has surfing, a playful surf, sparkling sun, an inviting dance floor, a happy hippie dippy tub full of cold beer, plenty of lounging space, sand that won't stick in your crack (much), live music and dancing, great conversation and lots of laughter...come and join us!
The owner of Solelua Beach is the beautiful Ms. Kiki Szetey. Kiki describes herself as happy (mostly), generous, kind and funny. She usually wears the tag "Mostly Harmless" :)
Tell us about Solelua Beach ... what spawned its creation and gave you the idea?
Early in my SL I discovered a place called Mojo Beach and met a bunch of wonderful people there, many who had known each other for years from a previous beach called Laguna Beach Club. When Mojo closed, everyone was scattered and a bit lost, so Solelua Beach was born.
Where does the name Solela come from?
One of my good friends was Portuguese and we were throwing around names. "Sol e lua" means sun and moon, which is perfect for a beach!
Is this the first sim entertainment sim that you've owned?
It is. I'd built several iterations before but never hosted any events until Solelua.
What is your favorite aspect of Solelua Beach?
The people, without a doubt. A place without the people is nothing. I've made some amazing friends there, funny people, talented people, people with great big hearts...the gamut.
Would you do anything different if you could do it again?
Nope! All I wanted was to make it a place that wasn't about being cool or impressing anyone, but just a comfortable welcoming place with a great relaxed vibe for people to do all sorts of things. Visitors can surf, hang out, swim, and of course, what has become my passion, listen to fantastic live music. I'm happy with how it started and where it progressed and where we are now.
What guidance would you give someone wanting to open a sim with a venue for entertainment?
Find a funding source or a host for your venue before you start dumping money into it. It's impossible to stay afloat without having it without spending a bunch of your own RL money. I was lucky enough to have been invited by a wonderful friend and talented builder, Pantzerhamzter Petshop, owner of Two Roses Bar & Club Supplies, to share his sim when I was planning to shut down last fall due to the costs. Think about all of that ahead of time, and know that you will, in reality, likely never make money from running a live music venue. From what little I know, breaking even in SL seems to be a huge success. I'm sure there are exceptions, but they are just that, exceptions. Also keep in mind I am still very new at this, so talk to other established venue owners and get their advice!
Now you are also a manager for a musician, right?
Yes! I'm so thrilled to be managing FunkyFreddy Republic. He's unique and extremely talented and a great person to boot. Contact me if you'd like to book him for your venue and visit his website at http://funkyfreddy.com!
Thank you for your time, Ms. Kiki Szetey!
Hello World ...
That title of this blog posting, "Hello World", will be recognized by the fellow programmers on the planet as my first program. It does sound like something from a beginner's class, doesn't it? It is, as this is my first blog and will be a learning process for me.
Until now, most of my writing that has been associated with MichaelJay has been private. I've had a few writings, poems, and short stories that I've made public over the years but all of those have been posted anonymously and so long ago that even the Wayback Machine cannot resurrect them.
So what is this first blog posting going to be about?
I could draw from my experience living in the virtual world that we call Second Life (SL). Talking about adventures on the topics of fishing, exploring, dancing, terra forming, live music, fashion, photography, or relationships. I could make the posting a "get to know MJ" session, but do you really want to hear yet another person talking about themselves? I know that I absolutely do not! Besides, as this grows from the first posting into whatever it will be, those that read will get to know me better. My goal is that with each posting, I'm going to focus on someone else's work inworld (SL).
Therefore, I'm going to start with the music scene and spend a few moments on someone other than ME. If you've been around the grid, you know there are many talented artists in SL that share their love of music with us and cover nearly every genre imaginable. The first artist that I want to introduce to you is certainly one of my favorites. Her voice is strong and smooth, and the way she involves the audience conveys a clear message that she knows you are there and cares that you are. Her name is Jacq Luik and here is a fun and informal interview that I had with Jacq today.
Jacq Luik
When did you start singing and what was that experience like?
I started singing very young. My sister, who was born blind, started playing the piano by ear at 6 years old. So, I would sing with her. Once it was apparent I could sing, my Mother wished us famous (at least with the family). My first public appearance was around 7 ... at a church. I remember that. :)
What are your favorite genres to perform?
Well, I'm a romantic ... so, I love ballads and easy listening. Music heals the soul, be that happy or sad. When happy, I sing, when sad, I sing. Not sure that I have a favorite genre. I just love good, soulful songs that touch something inside of us.
Who are your role models in the music industry?
I was country when country wasn't cool. I always loved Barbara Mandrell, Crystal Gayle, even Dolly Parton, for her entertaining spirit. I've always loved a show that put the audience in the middle. Not just a singer/musician, they entertained me. That's what I wanted to bring ... entertainment.
Do you play any instruments?
Spoons .... ? Okay, I'm teasing. Sadly, no. I had lessons, but leaned (too much) on my sister, who could play anything she put her hands on.
On the average, how often a week do you perform inworld?
When I started, I was performing two times a day, sometimes three. It becomes too much and quickly. Now, I prefer a show a day, occasionally two with a day off for downtime and keeping the show fresh.
As an established SL vocalist, are there any tips you'd give to someone wanting to make a start?
Visit karaoke sims and open mics. The people are friendly and its the perfect way to get your feet wet.
Where can we find more about you, Jacq? Do you have a web site or Facebook page?
Along with shows and just striking up conversation, I have a facebook under Jacq Luik where I list some events and ramble far too much. That is probably the best way to know about me. :)
Do you have a calendar that shows your performance schedule?
Yes! It is here - Jacq's calendar
Thank you for your time, Jacq! You're awesome!
[To locate Jacq's performances, use the search option to look for Live Music events with the keyword of "Jacqueline Luik". Enjoy the show!]
