From the Editor's Desk: Professaional Versus the Amatuer Musician in Second LIfe

From the Editor's Desk
Written by Enniv Zarf (RL: Paul Kwo)
Metaverse Music

I have been talking to a few people about what I'm doing here with Metaverse Music and the idea about reviewing people, the implications and the potential fallout. So I figure I'd better write it all down here.

First I think the most important thing I have to say is that I do not wish anyone to stop playing music or to stop singing. I am not a Simon Cowell who tells the truth in a mean and hurtful manner, at least I try my best to not do that. But I also realize that sometimes the truth hurts. I know cause I've been hurt before with the truth. But that's the nature of life. Truth hurts. But someone's gotta tell it. But just because I told you the truth of what I heard, doesn't mean I want you to stop. I am just pointing out a problem that I saw. Address it accordingly.

Sometimes I may point out a technical issue with either the actual musical performance while sometimes it's about the instrument or mic or other things that's involved. I say them both for the audience to know what to expect before going to those performances if they so choose to as well as giving the artist honest feedback. I just see way too many people just telling an artist what he or she wants to hear which doesn't help them become better necessarily even though it seems encouraging. I believe in constructive criticism and that is really my goal of doing any of this.

But beyond that...

...I also point out subjective things too, things that I would prefer. Those are purely about choices. Those are comments to let people know what I would prefer and do, but it doesn't necessarily mean my choice is better or worse. A choice is a choice, and I'm only pointing out an alternative to take into consideration. But sure I don't expect them to be tried out or carried out in the next concert I see the artist in. But I always like to hear other choices cause it gets me thinking for my own music. I may not go with that choice but something else may be born from that.

The real problem though with all of this is how do we be supportive and encouraging while being honest. How do we balance that with reaching new audience who are new to Second Life and Second Life music scene and let them know what we are all about.

My biggest concern is that there are a lot of people who either gets dragged to a concert by a friend to this supposedly great musician that they were told about. The friend probably doesn't know all that much about music to begin with and the idea of listening to live music in Second Life was so intriguing that anyone performing here would put them at awe. But their other friend whom they dragged along is supposedly an avid music fan who knows what good music is. They end up at this mediocre musician who really is just an amateur hobbyist in real life but decided to package themselves as a professional in Second Life who then joins every Live Music group in town and posts notices every other day about their performances. Then a lot of people who are new to Second Life live music scene ends up at these types of concerts half the time. So now we have a bunch of people thinking Second Life live music sucks and no one can play or sing here because the great musicians are buried by the massive amount of "music enthusiasts."

I have absolutely no problem with people who are not professional singing and playing music. I think that's a great thing and everyone should be encouraged to do that. But it's one thing to play privately for a group of friends and another thing to be posting massive amounts of notices and advertising yourself like a professional who's on tour around Second Life and turning people away from live music from Second Life. This is where I have problems.

So this is how I have been treating the scene and dealing with this. I have said before that I pick artists from the public music groups of Second Life. To me when you advertise at those places you are putting yourself in the public eyes. If you are ready to do that, then you better be prepared to be judged publicly. You don't get to promote yourself as an awesome or great musician with a great sound or voice to attract people to your concert, hoping they will make you and your venue some donations and other business without being judged as a professional. Because you are doing professional work. If you only want to be an amateur musician, that's wonderful. Play for your friends and family and people who love you. And if you really must put notices at these groups, please let everyone know you are not that great but just want to share music with people. Then those who wants to support this kind of endeavor will come to you.

But somehow I am guessing those artists wouldn't do that cause then people won't come if they saw those notices. Well what do you know, it's not me who's the culprit here! Cause if they really believe that the public audience wants to hear performers who aren't good but will come and support them just for the sake of live music, then why would they not advertise it as such? I am not the one who's being judgmental or want to ruin anyone. I am not here to do damage to anyone. I am merely pointing out the big giant pink elephant that's hanging over our heads. These performers are the one's who are damaging the reputation of Second Life Live Music scene.

I do do support the growth of musician as we have all been there and we are all still growing. But we have to have standards if we as a whole as a Second Life Live Music community wants to be taken seriously by those outside of Second Life. We have to say to ourselves that we have to be better, and be just as good and if not a whole lot better then those who are doing this at other places. The thing is it's easy and cheap for anyone to perform publicly in Second Life so everyone here is a performer and everyone here is a venue owner. But if you were a real life venue owner who have staked tens of thousands of dollars on your venue, what kind of musicians are you going to house there?

Second Life gives us an opportunity unlike real life because it is cheaper. And because it's cheaper we can take more risks. But shouldn't we risk then on alternative musicians then on less qualified and less talented musicians? The problem with real life is because venues are so expensive and promotion is so expensive that housing certain genre of musician is not feasible because you have to pay your bills. So why don't we instead house more alternative gigs by great musicians and push them to the public then house amateur singers who are still learning and selling them off as the next big thing only because they are singers and they automatically draw a bigger crowd even though a more deserving musician who plays music that isn't mainstream is standing right next door wondering why he doesn't have an audience.

So before saying I'm wrong because I am turning people away from supporting and encouraging these amateur musicians to continue, I want you to think about the professional musicians who are struggling to get an audience because they are not mainstream but their music are amazing. Because they are a high risk act so no real life venue wants them. And if even in Second Life we are not helping these amazing musicians and giving them this second chance opportunity, are they now going to have to wait for their third life?

To me that is what I am really doing here in Second Life. I want to help musicians from all genres get the real chance they deserve in reaching an audience. I want people to learn and understand that music is wide and far and global. There are all sorts of amazing sounds from all around the world at our finger tips in Second Life. We can teleport and transport ourselves in sound worlds that otherwise can be near impossible to access in real life. To me the Live Music and live performance scene is by far the most powerful scenes in Second Life and is ultimately going to be the dominating part of Second Life when we think about it, just like how we think about Myspace with Myspace Music. Second Life is really taking that to the next level. If Mysapce Music can do so well I have no doubt that Second Life Live Music will turn in one of those any indie musician will want to have a presence in.

So yes, please everyone keep playing and singing and making music. But leave the performing in public for the professionals and perform in private for your friends and loved ones to share your love and joy of music. Really reflect on your audience and who are really staying for your concert and you'll realize that they are mostly your friends and family anyways. Most others are just there for that one time and never to return to your performance and perhaps even any other performances at all in Second Life. Do you really want to end up being the one too turn people away from Second Life Live Music just so you can have the gratification of having shared your music? You don't need to put yourself out in the public face and be reviewed by me or others who will come. Share your music with those who will love you even though they all know you aren't great because they are your friends and family. But let them be honest about that and not have to talk about you in IM's anymore. I think everyone will feel much better if they can just be honest but still support your growth.