The Arts in Second Life - Part Two

Live musical performances have been woven into the fabric of Second Life so tightly now that even the Lindens have posted a message letting us know how to find out what is happening as we log into SL, suggesting we seek out a concert or performance to attend. Whether it’s the sweet voice of a jazz vocalist’s rendering of a standard, or that of a ballad, or the delicate pirouette of an SL ballerina, or actors on a stage, there is something for all residents of this metaverse. This edition is Part Two of “The Arts in Second Life”. Part one focused on the visual art community with contributions from artists, gallery owners and promoters. Part Two will follow in a similar vein with the perspective of performance artists, group owners and venue owners.

After assembling the list of people and then disseminating, collecting, reviewing and consolidating note cards, here is Part Two of a survey on “The Arts in Second Life”. Part Three, the last of this series will follow soon and its focus will be on Literature in Second Life.

Joy Ash – Mediaculture Group

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

I think that the milestone was that more and more really remarkable musicians came into SL, if you look at the biography of some: Siham Palmer, Napthali Hawks, Cyberpiper, MoShang and a lot more. It’s just I can’t count everyone, the list would be too long *smiles* and I don’t want to hurt any other musician I didn’t count.

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

I didn’t think of how I should come or go into the Music business. I took it how it came but I had my line where I wanted to go and everything was just awesome.

What were the trends that began last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

I see that more and more classical musicians are coming into SL and that’s really great. I know of so many great opera singers, classical musicians, and they are really great.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

I’m not in any other virtual worlds because I have so much work in RL and SL with Mediaculture, so there is no free time for other virtual worlds.

What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

A lot of new musicians, really great musicians and bands will enter SL. Mediaculture has two projects going on in RL and that will be really a big thing with Second Life. Also next will be the copyrights about music in SL.

Yavanna Llanfair - Classical Pianists

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra playing live in Second Life in October - the first orchestra to give a live performance here. Also, Origin Rang's live piano performances - a true virtuoso, and a truly amazing experience.

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

I opened a classical ballroom back in September, because I felt there was a lack of true classical music places in SL. Despite widespread interest in classical music, I am still surprised at how few places there are streaming good classical music.

What were the trends that began last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

Hopefully, more top quality performances from the likes of Origin Rang, the Schumanns and other excellent classical performers. I started the group "Classical Pianists", which now has 76 members, with the intention of getting classical pianists together, and so that event organizers have a forum where they can advertise for performers, and advertise performances. There are some top class pianists in the group, some of whom are willing and keen to perform live in SL, and I hope that event organizers will use this increasingly as a source for contacting willing performers.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

Not recently, no. I was a Cybertown resident, but SL is just so far beyond that technology that it is not really comparable on the same scale.

What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

Hopefully, an expanding of classical music events and places, I'd love to see my own ballroom in Basilisk being more used, where anyone can select from a range of classical streams.

Inarra Saarinen - Second Life Ballet Founder and Artistic Director

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

Well, the founding and first performances of Second Life Ballet *smiles* As far as we know, this is the first and only performing ballet group in virtual space.

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

Yes and no. Yes, in that I did have the goal to have choreography in progress, an active performing company, and to start being seen in First Life publications by the end of this year. This has happened. No, in that I did not foresee this kind and amount of success! Six hundred members, a large company, a 6 month run of our first ballet "Olmannen", demands for Euro and more performances.

What were the trends that began last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

Well, again I have to point to dance performing art that is truly art and does not rely on pose balls or HUD’s. We are moving beyond sex, gambling, and club dances in SL and towards the arts.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

I have worked with the Internet and performance a great deal in the past. I worked simultaneously with performers at geographic distances. I also worked with the ability to dance with images.

What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

Again, speaking for Second Life Ballet, we are looking forward to some First Life/Second Life collaborations and explorations.

Cher Harrington - Audio Consultant

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

Key milestones for me on a personal level in the performance arts world were:

· Fox 11 News Los Angeles Interview: http://www.dublinsl.com/media.html
· Newsweek Interview
· Entertainment Director for iCommons Summit 2007 in Second Life: http://www.icommons.org/isummit07/ , 15-17 June, Dubrovnik, Croatia, REAL WORLD, 15-17 June, Ilha de Intercambio, Second Life, VIRTUAL REALITY. PURPOSE: To create a parallel iCommons Summit 2007 conference in virtual reality in Second Life, sponsored by iCommons, USC Center on Public Diplomacy, and Linden Lab. Success indicators were:
o Mixing the Two Worlds (Real and Virtual)
o Reaching More People via Second Life
o More Awareness and Use of Broad Sharing Vision, Principles and Methodologies
o Successful SL Conference Experience for iCommons and USC

Audio Consultant, DJ, MC for PHILANTHROPY IN VIRTUAL WORLDS EVENT, USC ANNENBERG PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ISLAND: Philip Rosedale and Jonathan Fanton conversation about philanthropy in virtual worlds. Combining USC staff, MacArthur Foundation staff and Philip Rosedale into one stream via Skype and Winamp to 4 joined SIM’s while MC’ing the event and DJ’ing SL Live Artists songs - each approved by Jonathan Fanton, MacArthur Foundation President.

Hostess, MC, Coordinator: Streaming seminars with MMAC - STREAMING AUDIO IN SECOND LIFE SEMINAR: How to stream audio to SL community. "Again by popular demand, given the number of queries by people seeking how-to info, Dash Renoir, Director of the Multi Media Arts Center (the MMAC), has set up another tutorial seminar, STREAMING AUDIO IN SECOND LIFE. He has asked SL audio consultant Cher Harrington to arrange and moderate the next panel."

Production coordinator of “Catch A Rising Star” for Dublin with artists such as Johnny99 Gumshoe, UFS Hyde and Matthew Perreault performing for the first time in SL. Catch a Rising Star was a showcase for upcoming Live Artists, new or not so well known in SL, from the first time portraits, installing audio programs to a successful two hour show in the Dublin SIM.

Manager: SL Live Radio: First dedicated all SL Live Artist Station: http://www.slliveradio.com. Courtesy of SL Live Musicians, Radio Cher, and PickSL Dublin Services: (http://66.34.54.162:8014 ). Pick SL Dublin Services and Radio Cher have been providing SL Live Artist recordings online since September 2006 and July 2007, respectively, and have combined forces in November 2007 into one SL Live Radio service to make more music available to artists and listeners.

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

Things are growing at a fast pace in SL - I hear complaints about only 25 group and TP issues - when I remember one TP point per SIM and 10 groups per avatar. I see this with the influx of live artists into SL - the number has more than doubled in the past year. Everyone has such wonderful ideas and there is a place for all in Second Life, it truly is a community. I believe that this community spirit will carry over and expand - designers, artists, scripters, venues, educators and more - all working together more efficiently to produce outstanding products, services, entertainment and talent that will become known beyond SL to the real world.

What were the trends that began last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

One trend I see that I believe will have an impact on 2008 is Simulcast streaming - where the artist streams from a real life show into a Second Life venue.

Simulcasting began in the Dublin SL SIM over a year ago by simulcasting live shows weekly from The Bedford in Greenwich, UK into the Blarney Stone: http://www.thebedford.co.uk/ . The Bedford (also known as The Bedford Arms) is an English public house situated in Balham, London. It is a well known venue for weekly live music nights, featuring acoustic sets from up-and-coming new artists and established acts. This year, Dublin will be simulcasting biweekly with two additional venues streaming into the Blarney Stone. Simulcasting is about finding new talent in local regions and getting them heard worldwide, getting them into SL when they weren't already big famous stars, either, but regular talented musicians.

Additionally, musicians such as MidKnight Auer, Tone Uriza and Forsythe Whitfield are seeing simulcasting as a way to combine SL and RL effectively - sales and promotion to two worlds at once. MidKnight Auer streams from Stingaree in RL San Diego, into SL's Diegoland Club Wicked weekly, using a soundman and two microphones, as does Tone Uriza with his band, Tony and the Torpedoes, from the Boondock's Lounge in Arizona once a month.

Also, Forsythe Whitfield is planning to take his RL show from Montreal, Canada, and simulcast - announcing the brand-new CD while performing to both SL and RL audiences at the same time - on February 29. He is selling the CD to in-world audiences through an mp3 kiosk and then to the RL audience in person.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

I was a beta tester for The Sims Online, and promotions director and DJ for a radio station there. To ask someone to listen to your station, they needed to have an outside audioplayer and paste the URL in the player. Each listener was a chore to get - many did not have Winamp, MediaPlayer, etc! Tip jars and pay were unheard of, we did it for the love of music. When I came to SL and saw you could step into a parcel and automatically hear music, this amazed me. But most of all, what changed my life was hearing RL musicians play live and streaming into a virtual world. I DJed for a while in both worlds, but I found that SL with its "advanced" streaming technology and live artists, was the place I wanted to be.

What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

I see more SL-RL interaction in the form of simulcasting, cd sales, artist promotion and a closer interaction between real world talent and SL Live Artist talent, as well as in-world collaboration.

· Biweekly simulcasts into SL Dublin from the RL United Kingdom, with new talent showcases

· Forsythe Whitfield will be releasing a new CD in Montreal, Canada and at the same time performing in SL, to both SL and RL audiences on February 29

· The expansion of SL Live Radio from inworld into the real world, as well as more real world radio stations streaming into SL, such as liveireland.com into Dublin

· More mega events such as the Philanthropy in Virtual Worlds event and the iCommons, combining 4 SIMs and speakers reaching out to audiences inworld and worldwide

· More educational groups in SL, offering classes inworld such as the San Diego Community College's graphic arts class being held in Diegoland SL on January 19 http://www.theseventhsun.com/0108_SDclass.htm
· More musicians creatively collaborating using programs such as Ninjam, like Komuso Tokugawa and MoShang Zhao. They recently joined together to bring SL the MoKo LoCo Ambient Blues Trance project, called "SynaesthAsia"

· In 2008, the Cruise ship "Galaxy", owned by Bill Stirling, will be on its "Grand Voyage 08 - A Celebration Around the World". The ship will "dock" at various locations, such as Dublin, Diegoland and Zurich, each month, for an exchange of cultures, ideas and activities.

Upo Choche – Act Up Theatre Company

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

I would venture to say that the grand-daddy of all milestones in Second Life is the introduction of voice to SL. Having founded Act Up just before it was introduced, we had the unique opportunity of seeing the difference between streaming a play and actually performing it 'live' with voice. One of our patrons commented on the difference it made in the production of our shows. While we were quite pleased with the results, it was nice to have a viewpoint of someone who attended both of last year’s performances to get feedback. Voice in Second Life makes live theater possible in SL. Before that we could only mimic it as best we could by streaming the actors’ lines in and choreographing the movement of the actors to the lines.

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

Short answer, yes, and no, *laughing*. But, in all honesty, I did not know what to expect or how live theater performances would be received in SL. With the feedback that I have received, I can safely say that there is definitely a place in SL for live performances and the general public loves it. One of the things we set out to do was to see if theater in SL would be possible and to see how receptive performers and patrons alike would respond. The response has been overwhelming and the support has surpassed any expectations or visions I may have had.

What were the trends that begin last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

The utilization of voice in SL will, undoubtedly, have the biggest impact. Some other things that will have an impact are the cracking down of casinos and removal of gambling devices. General chit chat that I have with friends and colleagues is that clubbing is becoming stale. I think that we will see a decline on the clubbing/sex scene and there will be a shift to other forms of entertainment for the residents. One of the outcries that cropped up with the internet when it first started out was all this pornography that was all over the place and the easy access to it all. Second Life seems to be in direct parallel to the internet when it first came into being. As the internet matured and people matured with this new medium, the waters settled down a bit and the internet has become a positive force in the lives of many. In 2008, I believe we will start to see the signs of Second Life maturing, as well as the residents maturing a bit (myself included, I'm not exempt LOL), and realizing how it, too, will be a more positive force.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

I have dabbled a bit in other virtual worlds and read up on different ones. I have never taken the time to fully explore them outside of your typical MMO such as WoW, FFXI, Guild Wars, etc....

What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

I think 2008 will offer residents new forms of entertainment that were not possible before. Since the founding of Act Up, I have seen standup comedy and variety shows surface. To help with this driving force, Act Up will be holding workshops at the beginning of this year to help educate and get people involved in performing live over the internet. One of the shows we have planned is “Midsummer Night’s Dream” to open in, well, midsummer.

Astrin Few – Live Music Enthusiasts and Jazz Enthusiasts

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

I can't think of any key milestones this year. I had hoped that the live music portion of SLCC07 might be a milestone, but I don't believe it was. There's been steady growth of the live music community, but no major watersheds that I know of, which is fine.

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

I had no preconception of how SL live music would evolve in 2007 or any previous year. I just sit back and see what happens.

What were the trends that began last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

Again, I know of no significant new trends in 2008.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

No, I have not.


What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

Singing Arc, at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas on March 1st: this will be the largest, dedicated live music event to date and, essentially, the second of its nature since the much smaller event in Philly in March, 2006. It is a significant venue (400+), has sponsorship, and 11 outstanding SL musicians and is, therefore, a big step in the area of RL/SL music events.

Slim Warrior - Independent Musicians Group

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

When you say milestones, what do you mean because there is a lot happening? I’ll assume you mean significant activities in the music community. Well, for example, there are now 200-plus live musicians in SL, I remember in 2005 there were only 8. So, from last year to now, there has been a steep growth in the music community and 45 of the 200 plus are women. There are also a number of bands now in SL, several of which I use. I won’t talk about the celebrity band appearances in general. They have no bearing on the SL music community. They are PR splashes, basically, and one doesn’t ever see that celeb in SL again. Then there is the pulling out of corporate sponsors for live music, namely Pontiac and Ratepoint. At the moment, running a live music venue does not generate income, certainly not of any significance to the venue owner, hence the pull out of a few corporate sponsors. Although events such as Secondfest (award winning festival in SL by The Guardian and Intel) did create opportunities for SL musicians and media attention. Also, the opening of the Orange Island which aims to support the music community, too, was important. I set up a Forum for SLMC (Second Life Music Community) which has brought many people together, DJ’s, venue owners, musicians, etc, so we can discuss all matter for music in SL that’s done really well. We have also seen a great increase in the number of SL radio stations, i.e., SL Live which now has over 2000 listeners and they only play music from SL musicians.

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

Yes, it has been wildly exciting, not to mention the diversity and talent that I hear every day in SL. It’s a fabulous place to be *smiles* and to be part of it is inspiring.

What were the trends that began last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

Trends that we will be seeing will be, finally, the education of the audience on how they need to support live music in SL by donation of Lindens to artists, rather than leaving the brunt of all costs to venue owners, as has been the case for the last two years. It is not sustainable as it runs now. We will also need more user based systems whereby we can eliminate the need for a middle person booking an artist and charging astronomical fees to book gigs. Lastly, the realization from many musicians that they cannot continue to charge RL prices for playing a gig in SL. It will be about teamwork between venues and musicians. There are some people who feel they can hop on the bandwagon and charge both venue and musician. And many musicians who come into SL under the impression they are going to get rich which, of course, is not the case. The introduction of voice in SL has meant another avenue for musicians to use as a method of performing, too. We also see NInjams and multi-jams occurring, not on a regular basis, but slowly growing. That’s been a wonderful thing. The first instrumental duet was with Astrin Few and Flaming Moe and I did the first singing duet live with Melvin Took, Melvin lives in Texas and I am in London.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

No, I don’t really explore other virtual worlds. I have looked at many but I do think, at the moment, SL is certainly leading the rest in terms of immersive and interactive experience for live music and visually, as well.

What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

There has been a great deal of interest, RL media-wise, in online virtual performances, especially in the UK, and we are beginning to see RL labels and PR companies scouting in here. I had a 4-page article out in Performing Musician and, since then, I haven’t stopped answering mails. RL/SL crossover is occurring already but I’m sure we will see more of that this year. As any online community grows, it goes through phases and what most people don’t realize that, as a music community, we are very small in the big picture but it is gaining more impact in RL than ever before. We are all pretty loud when we want to be *smiles* and better as a group voice than only one. I do think 2008 is going to be a very exciting year. In June, I am planning a seminar in London on music on virtual platforms which, of course, will concentrate on SL as a showcase. The response has been tremendous.

Preciousse Moody – Second Life Music

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

Although I have no basis for comparison, for me, SL music was the best in 2007. The best quality of musicianship SL has to offer... I found the talent from the UK and Canada to be particularly awesome!

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

Not really, because I didn't really expect anything from the start.

What were the trends that began last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

I don't know if this is a 'trend' but, towards the end of the year, I noticed more all day events. I really like that back-to-back kind of event, great lineups of talented people, one after the other, is great.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

No.

What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

The music scene is ultimately what keeps me here in Second Life. I think, in 2008, Second Life will start to show its true potential when the music industry gets more involved than they already have. Not just as a place to come and listen to people but, also, as a place for people to collaborate, network and make important real world contacts. SL live music rocks! May influence travel scenarios and crossover concerts and events into real life. A good example of this is the recent news of the SL music performance in Vegas...look it up.

Katie Reve – Pilot Theatre Company

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

The Performance Arts World, which encompasses live theatre, is a wide and varied stage. Large commercial production playing in London's West End, plays at the National Theatre, regional repertory creating new works every 3 months, concert halls and opera houses receiving one night gigs or weekly programs hosting productions, bring theatre to towns and cities across England. Arts centres with smaller capacities. Then there are the companies that tour and have no permanent venue fueling the physical venues, commissioning new writing, touring to schools, to prisons, to village halls and community centres, even outdoor venues.

This is true of theatre in the UK.

Pilot Theatre is a mid-scale national touring company, partly funded by the English Arts Council. They are in residence at the Theatre Royal in York, which has its own repertory company. Pilot Theatre opens its production there before going on tour or transferring to London. Pilot Theatre does have a national profile and has won awards and much critical acclaim for their work.
Marcus Romer, the Artistic Director takes the company in innovative directions engaging, particularly, in new technologies, not for gimmick but in ways that evolve expectations and drives narrative within the company's work redefining what live performances can achieve. The use of projection is not new, but the projection of active MySpace content adds a new feature. Pilot Theatre's latest work is for audiences 13 – 18, but is enjoyed by teens and adults alike, had its script developed in MySpace in collaboration with MySpace users.

In answer to your question about 'significance to the performance art world', it is difficult, as being at the eye of your own storm often prevents us, as active practitioners, evaluating our work in context with our contemporaries and the bigger picture. There is work emerging which combines live performance with the notion of how the digital world is influencing our lives. I saw Facebook, the musical, last year at the Edinburgh Festival. There is theatre exploring arts and science, bringing together future concepts and using IT and performance to engage its audience. Unlimited Theatre has looked at the subject of quantum physics and teleportation, informing and entertaining audiences. Again I saw them at the Edinburgh Festival and continue to follow their work. The power of theatre to politicise and inform was part of the 20th Century's dialectic. I think our evolving digital world, and the creative input it desires and necessitates to be vibrant and engaging, is part of the 21st Century dialogue, arts and science, voyages of discovery, a new renaissance. Pilot's presence in Second Life is part of that awakening. A new realm, a new interaction and new ideas exchange, a new format. But all connected to live performance.

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

I, at PCM, and my avatar, Katie, discovered Second Life in Dec 2006. I think the collaboration of new media with live performance and its implications on how society will see itself and respond to the world around us in the future is profoundly linked. The tradition of theatre to educate, inform and reflect society's challenges is key to understanding cyberspace and bring people on board to engage with technology and consider what it means, whether it’s necessary, and whether it's good or bad, is part of social drama. The questions and debates I don't think happen enough. I was looking for people sharing this IT and theatrical vision. Pilot Theatre is part of that journey. Established in July 2007, Pilot Theatre's home hub was intended to hold a simulcast in Second Life of our opening night of 'Looking for JJ' at the end of September, giving us the opportunity to invite an audience not usually able to see Pilot's work. Being an arts company, the financial weight of such a project was enormous. My first job was to research and bring in quotes for the project. Expenses aside, the overriding problem, even if we had the money, was the real world infrastructure of uploading a live media stream on to the internet from locations without dedicated upload access. Domestic wi-fi or networked business infrastructure, not specifically IT focused, would prove inadequate and the solution was going to be hard and impossible to install in the time we had. So we decided to establish what we could with the resources and finances we had. Having a presence in Second Life was seen as an important step for the company. What we have today has come from this original concept. The emphasis, however, is always on the live event. We, now, at the beginning of 2008, have a Second Life presence and its future is very fluid and integral to Pilot Theatre's future work as a promotional tool or a delivery platform.

What were the trends that began last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

We are still looking at simulcasting a live show. We have a live collaborative project in July, looking at new media and the arts called 'Shift Happens' taking place in UK and Second Life and a storytelling project with a 3D realisation yet to be fully conceptualised, but I am very excited about working with the writer, Richard Hurford, and Marcus Romer to make this happen.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

I am excited about myrl.com's notion of being able to take AV's to other worlds. I want the constant of being able to take Katie with me to explore other virtual worlds. Identity and SL are of interest to me also. I haven't had my curiosity spiked enough to check any others out. I know they exist. Pilot is interested in establishing a presence in the Second Life Teen Grid in the future.

What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

2008, we have the 'Shift Happens' event on July 3, much planning still to be done. A potential simulcast from New York to Old York! and SL with the next production of Catcher in the Rye, and the storytelling inworld collaboration details of which are in the brain-storming stage.

Circe Broom – Circe’s Circle of Sound

What were some of last year’s key milestones in the performance arts world and why were they significant?

The proliferation of venues gave musicians a far wider choice, and the opportunity to reach a wider audience. More people learned about live music in SL.

Looking back to the start of last year, have things evolved the way you thought they would? Why or why not?

Well, I think that when the floodgates opened to the free accounts, the entire world here changed. A lot of that is for the worst. Anonymous griefers haunt the venues now, and are replaced with another as soon as they are banned. It is an ongoing problem which I hope Linden Labs finds a resolution for. As for live music in SL, more and more musicians have discovered that performing in SL is a good way to gain fans for their RL careers, or to help get started in a RL career. It is good for audiences in SL, as there are far more musicians in here per capita.

What were the trends that began last year that will have the greatest impact in 2008?

*Laughing* The population in SL skyrocketed this past year.

Have you explored other virtual worlds and has that had any influence on what you've done in SL? If you have, has what you've done there been influenced by what you've done or not done in SL?

Well, I've seldom found a dragon to slay in SL; most dragons I know are friends of mine. Yes, and nothing compares to SL, even with all the bugs.

What can we look forward to in 2008? (Events, openings, influences etc.)

Last year, I would have said that more and more RL corporations would be funding the arts in here, but I no longer believe that. I have seen corporate funders come and go, and the one thing they have in common is that they all seem to go, they have not found a way to make SL pay off enough.

Many thanks to those who contributed and to Tini Jewell for her work in editing this and other editions of Lane’s List.