Oh Snap! The Shoe Expo Edition

Okay most of you by now (ESPECIALLY if you're female) have heard that there's this little thing called the SL Shoe Expo going on right now. If you haven't been there... GO!!!!! If you've already been or want to go later, stick around and read.

The event was put together by Phoenix Chapman (whom we actually ran into while we were there) and it's for an extremely good cause. It's also a great chance for bigger brands and smaller brands alike to interact and get noticed by patrons. I know we ran into a bunch that we'd never heard of so it was great to see all the incredible talent.

On the other hand, we also saw some things that should probably have been left in the respective designer's inventories. If I put all of them into this post it would take up 3 pages, so Kaedy and I managed to narrow it down to the weirdest of the weird.

The Whole Frikkin Store?


Guen: We get it, you're proud of your work. But at an Expo you only put up a small selection of your stuff for us to see. If folks like the selection you show off there, they'll be more curious to browse your things at your main store. No point in clicking on the landmark tack in the middle 'cause all the product is RIGHT HERE.

Rainbow Garden Weasel


Kaedy: "Guen! C’mere! You have got to see these! LMAO!" Footwear Fashion meets the Garden Weasel. All I can say is I have got to get me a pair of these! These will make my job of planting my spring bulbs 1000% easier.

Stolen from Grandma's Closet


Kaedy: Over the hills and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go. Yes that’s right... the latest in fashion footwear! Quilts on your feet! For those of you interested in recycling, here is a great at home craft project for you. Just cover those old worn out stilettos with your grammies old quilt, throw on some plastic jewels and you're ready to go. Go to what? I haven’t got a friggin clue. All I do know is that I wouldn't be caught dead there, and since I’m already dead...

Um... Where's the Shoes?


Guen: Okay... the booth itself is great showing off beautiful landscaping (most of it by Botanical) but... where's the product??? You may have to squint and hold your tongue just right to look, but there -is- actually 2 sets of boots in there. I'd suggest next time not using your entire prim limit on presentation.

New Level of Blingtard


Kaedy: As if bling wasn't bad enough, what would have been a really nice pair of sculpty pumps has been ruined by the addition of a "sparking particle" emitter! Not Sparkle.. Sparking! OMG every bimbo in SL is going to be wearing these. We’re going to need a new gesture...

Guen: The photo doesn't do this pair justice. You just have to see them for yourself. Yes they really do sparkle... a lot. Bling is annoying. Particles are annoying. Put the two together on a pearlesque pump and you got... SUPER ANNOYING.

Kitteh Wedges


Guen: Okay I understand these were made solely to give proceeds to the ASPCA charity, but I have the suspicion that if these weren't for charity they'd never be purchased. I'm sorry but this is a whole new level of FUGLY. Making them Transfer Only is ironic, since after buying them you'll be trying like hell to give them away.

Kaedy: And what better way to support the ASPCA than to stuff your foot up some poor unsuspecting cat's ass. Poor kitty.


I will say that these examples are only a small portion of the shoes you'll find at the Expo. Many more designers have brought incredible footwear to this event that's worthy of being purchased. I know Kaedy, Rosie B and I are much lighter on Lindens after going to this thing (and we're all probably going back for a second trip) so please do check it out!

An MG Blawg Post Series. Views on fashion, faces, and unfortunates combined into one general consensus.

If you see something you'd like us to Oh Snap! Please send the pic(s) with full perms to Guenevere DeCuir or Kaedy Ferraris in world.


No Kaedy... you can't take the big shiny shoe home with you...

Oh Snap! Don't People Ever Learn?

Yus! A Mean Girl favorite is back! Despite various examples of what NOT to do with your Avatar in previous Oh Snaps! and other blogs such as SL Fashion Police, folks are still taking individuality to a level that is not what we call... tasteful.

Kaedy and I have a few opinions on these new additions to the Oh Snap! Hall of Shame... so sit up and listen so you know not to make the same mistakes.

The Skank

Guen: Yeah... I tend to find many of my photos at Sanctuary Rock, and this... thing is no exception. Not only does she have BOTH prim hair and system hair, but her body is sorely out of proportion. This is supposed to be sexy? For who? Big Bird? Her Group Tag saying 'Slut for Free' certainly didn't get her any offers from what I saw.

Kaedy: Even Skeletor has more meat on his bones than this... this... OMG what the F is it?

Business Suit Larry

Guen: Okay I know that new players have to get used to the sliders, but this guy decided to take a few of them a bit too far. He looks like Bill Clinton's long lost cousin... who never left Arkansas.


Kaedy: O.O
Holy Smokes!
1. Eyes to big
2. Suit to small. Showing your abs is a great thing but not if you're wearing a suit for crying out loud.
3. Shoes would be nice.
4. Throw in some socks too. They're free
5. And the hair... Hun too much dippidy doo is a bad thing.

The Tattooed Lady

Kaedy: OK... how do you even put something this horrific together, let alone say to yourself.. "oh yeah.. this is hot.. this works". Honey if you were going for the Fashion Don't of the year awards... well here ya go!

Guen: I -think- that's an outfit, but it looked to me like a giant tattoo covering her naughty bits. Shame on the designer for creating it, but shame on this gal for buying it and wearing it in public. O.O Oh and of course the blingy heels just add that extra zest of cheese, don't they?


Pinky Bling

Guen: Yeah I -think- she was going for 'cute but badass' with this look, but once you're blinded with the bling... it's no longer cute nor badass.

Kaedy: Ok.. exactly what direction is she going with this outfit? Rocker/Punk/Teeniebopper/Bratzdoll/Blingtard? ???

Twiggy II

Guen: Not only does this girl need about 10 Baconators, she needs to realize that this isn't Teen Second Life®. Anorexia is just as horrible a disease in SL® as it is in RL, apparently.

Kaedy: Turn her sideways, make her stick out her tongue and voila! A Zipper!


An MG Blawg Post Series. Views on fashion, faces, and unfortunates combined into one general consensus.

If you see something you'd like us to Oh Snap! Please send the pic(s) with full perms to Guenevere DeCuir or Kaedy Ferraris in world.

Diversity, Part II

I also have had some thought about Diversity in SL®, and since they're celebrating said subject this week for the 5th birthday dealio, I will slide in another few words on the matter.

This train of thought initially started many weeks before the events going on now. I came across a post from Chestnut Rau wondering why do many think that the only way to be recognized and accepted is to be a human avatar?

I know there's many many other Avatar types out there (robots, demons, furries, elves, transgenders, etc) because in truth the sky -is- the limit in this virtual world. I am not attempting to exclude any other avatars by any means. If we are meant to truly celebrate how diverse we are in both RL and SL®, then we have to recognize the creativity of everyone (yus even the Blingtards and 'Oh Snap!' candidates).

Still, I decided to ask 5 folks with their own unique outlook on avatars to see what they think:

Beatrix Noel: A purple fairy with a style that's as diverse as SL® itself
Rosie B: One of our favorite plus-sized ladies
Kaedy: A vampire who's more than just goth clothing and curves
Mirari Cheney: A Neko who will scratch ya as soon as smootch ya
Pangtera Nakamura: The ultimate anti-human

I first asked each of them their true influences for creating a unique Avatar:

Mirari: Mir as she is was a off shoot from a lyv tyler avi. I made her tall which I'm not lol better endowed than i am. So she is ... a fantasy? but then isnt that what SL is supposed to be?

Rosie B: When I logged in for the very first time to meet up with my best friend, I wasn't aware that there were standards. So, when I got to the spot on orientation island and they told me to customize it, I just ... went with whatever I felt like doing. Which was making her on the short and round side. It wasn't until I got TP'd into a busy club and people started commenting about my shape that I realized I had done something out of the ordinary.

Pangtera: My natural curiosity in physically being something that I couldn't in real life. Everywhere i go i see humans, and everyone expects others to be human, and it makes the SL® experience limiting in my opinion. It seems many are afraid to try new things.

So it comes down to seeing beyond the limits of a normal 'human' (and yus -I- think Liv Tyler is beyond human, k?) However... just because you are a cat, or dragon, or alien... does that mean you're not sexy? Who decides what is sexy and what isn't? Vogue? Cosmo? Nah. What about Second Life® fashion blogs like Second Style Fashionista or Linden Lifestyles? Does it really matter?

Mirari: sadly... I do think people put too much into looks here as in rl. People take themselves too seriously here sometimes.

Kaedy: Well some [vampire Av's] are definitely over the top about it.

Pangtera: I personally never bought avatars to feel sexy, but if others think it's sexy or not sexy, it's fine. A lot of people doll themselves up for others, but I dress up for me and only me.

Beatrix: I have to be honest and say I don't see myself as being that unusual. Obviously I am but I'm just me, I have the same shape from when I was wearing regular skin.

With all that being said, then sexy is merely a state of mind... and in the end we're all people behind the screens portraying our own personification of ourselves through our vast imaginations.

Finally, is there any advice to offer for those who wish to step outside the box?

Beatrix: Go for it! or if you are worried try something out. There are plenty of low cost options plus this is SL® and nothing is permanent. When I first started wearing purple skin people asked me why, and I said, "It makes me happy!" and my friend were cool with that.

Kaedy: I guess go with whatever makes you comfortable. After all is a game and the sky is the limit, so be whatever you want to be. But also remember that there are real people behind these avatars. Some people can be so rude just because they can hide behind their keyboards. It ruins it for everyone.

Rosie B: One good thing about SL® is, it's not permanent. But if you're going to pick a nonstandard avatar, and you think you want to be in one nonstandard avie style, own it. Really love it. Make it a part of you, whether it's an avenue for personal growth, or just a hell of a lot of fun, or because you like how you look, have some reason to really make it your own. That'll make your experience as rewarding as it can be. In a world where you can be anything you want to be, there's no reason why you should be something you aren't totally in love with. SL is what you make of it, whether you're "standard," "nonstandard," classic, unique. Just adore yourself.

And so... enjoy diversity whether you're a purple lover, zombie, or a shining ball of light, there's bound to be other folks out there who will accept you for who you really are...

Club Etiquette: The DJ

Ah yes we've reached the 3rd and final installment in the MGG2SL chronicles for Club Etiquette. Now we shall sit and explain in further detail what the DJ does for club on Second Life®.

For this article, it was very difficult to pick just ONE DJ to consult since as an SL® DJ myself I know quite a few. I decided to ask Rosie Barthlemess, the DJ Manager of Lounge of Dreams since she's been as much of an influence on me as I have upon her.

So let's talk DJing...

The first, and most obvious job for any DJ is to play live music for a location. To play that music you need 4 basic items:

1) Music
2) Microphone
3) Digital Player
4) Stream

Music is the easy part since most aspiring DJs already have a decent library to start with. As far as getting new songs? Most folks use Limewire since it's fast and has a very broad network, though you don't have to be limited to using that. Also, be willing to expand your musical genres. Rosie suggests, "There's a lot to be said for versatility. I think it will open some doors for you as a DJ if you're able to accommodate not only the venue in which you're playing, but the varied tastes of a crowd if you're somewhere with no specific format. And, by paying attention to different genres -- even if they aren't your favorite kind of music -- you can increase your knowledge of those other genres, and sort of keep track of what's popular." You should also have your download program open during your sets if possible so that you can get patrons' requests played as quickly as possible.

Quick requests = better tips

Oh and before I move onto the next topic...

BACK UP YOUR MUSIC!!! I've seen too many DJs who've had their hard drives crash and their hard earned libraries deleted. I hate to be a hardass about this, but you don't back up your music then you're just asking for trouble.

A microphone is also a must since you have to talk to your audience. You don't have to spend a fortune on one, however. A decent $15-30 mic should do fine as long as your voice is crystal clear when you talk. Most lower priced gaming headsets are perfect for this... and if you already are using Voice Chat, then you have a double benefit.

Now here comes the tough one... the music player. Unless you plan to be serious about it... there's no reason spend a bunch of money on a digital player, right? If you want to just 'try it out' and deal with the basics, then Winamp is your bag. In fact some DJs still use Winamp because it's just much easier to manage. If you do want to take the next step, you can download SAM (Spacial Audio MediaCast) which has many more options to make your DJ show unique. You can download a free copy to try out and tweak, but Spacial Audio did the sneaky thing of throwing in an automated voiceover every 5 minutes that "reminds" you buy the full version.. and yes it -can- be heard by everyone else hearing your stream. You're better off paying for it in the long run or *cough*finding a crack code*cough* to use instead. Be warned, though... there's a BIG difference between SAM Broadcaster... and SAM Party DJ. Learn more about SAM here.

Finally... you gotta have a stream to play your stuff on, right? Now in -most- cases a club will provide a stream for the DJ already. In some rare occasions (like for store openings or private parties) the DJ will have to provide his or her own. Which is the best? Well most folks I know use SHOUTcast, but there's dozens of stream providers out there to choose from. Prices and payment plans vary, but do shop around and look for things like bandwidth and internet security. If you plan to DJ for established clubs, then you probably don't have to worry about getting your own stream. If you're a more freelance DJ, then mentioning that you have your own stream will be a big boost to getting you gigs.

Now beyond those four things, there is some other details you should keep in mind.

Just like with Hosting and Dancing, NEVER beg for tips. You can kindly remind folks where your tipjar is ('cause tipjars on SL® can be anything from teddy bears to coffins & so often patrons get confused) "...but as soon as people feel like they're being pressured for their money, they'll leave. I think begging for tips is unbecoming, definitely," sez Rosie.

Last but certainly not least, you need to learn how to feel the crowd. Rosie suggests on the topic of how often to speak on the microphone, "...if you ask five DJs, you'll get five different answers. I vary, anywhere between every 3-5 songs, to once an hour, to every 30 minutes or so. I really find it depends on the crowd, how many 'announcements' you have to make, things like that. If I'm with a group of 3-5 people and I've just spoken on the mic, and then suddenly 10 people come in, I might break back in after one or two songs just to introduce myself and offer requests, if I don't do it in chat. But, if it's a core group of people and the dynamic of the group hasn't changed much, I won't talk as much. But I think talking on the mic adds a personal element, and I think letting people know you're live and paying attention to what they want is a benefit." Also don't forget that dressing up for the event you're DJing at shows that you care not only about the club and all the other staff members' hard work, but also helps the patrons get a better idea what the event is. After the host and the dancers, they look to YOU for information from how you look to how to talk on the microphone.

Okay this ended up being the longest of the three posts, but in truth there's a LOT to DJing that goes on behind the scenes which makes it just as tough as Hosting and Dancing. I give a great deal of thanks to Rosie B for her input and hope that this 3-part series has given you all a bigger view of what club employees on Second Life® do to keep YOU entertained.

Club Etiquette: The Dancer

Finally, my post about club dancers and what role they have in the the SL® world. To start with, you must remember that there are two distinct types of dancer: Erotic and Non-Erotic. I decided to interview one of each so that you all have a better idea of the differences and similarities. I also decided to interview two MALE dancers since they have a unique perspective on the subject matter.

Let me introduce you to Camthan Hax (Owner and Erotic Dancer at Lounge of Dreams) and Damian Furse (Non-Erotic Dancer at Sanctuary Rock). Yup I have 2 consecutive posts about Damian and I'm sure he's gonna have a swelled head after reading these. ;-)

Anyways, the first thing to address is what exactly a Dancer does in both erotic and non-erotic environments. The most common duties include making sure people are having fun, welcoming all guests who wander into the club, and of course acting as 'eye candy' for all guests who stay for the course of the event. Having an attractive Avatar certainly helps, but don't think you have to be a human Avatar to accomplish this. There's a lot of Neko, Furry, and other types of Avatars that make wonderful dancers. Damian said, "Anyone has his place and especially in SL and a rock club... its all about the music and the fun... anything else would be racism."

Now, besides the obvious factor that Erotic dancers eventually end up naked and Non-Erotic do not, there is one other distinct difference between the two. At Erotic clubs, the Host is support for the Dancers while at Non-Erotic the Dancer is support for the Host. This doesn't make Non-Erotic dancers any less important, mind you. The more on-duty staff that greet and making guests feel welcome the better. "Notice your guests, notice your colleagues, and read the atmosphere," Damian suggests.

Erotic dancers also have to perfect the art of emoting. Camthan suggests, "The main thing to remember is that you are there for the guest, they are not there for you. You need to treat everyone the same, and they will treat you good. Anyone can get a nice looking Av, but interaction is the key. Dancing is not camping. Someone tips you $5L and you treat them good, they will be more inclined to buy more money to spend on you, and it'll be more than $5L." Don't beg for tips and don't make your emote something like 10 lines long, either. You're trying to please the guests, not annoy them.

Many non-dancers still think that being a dancer is one of the easiest jobs to do in SL®. Far from it. Not only do you have to make sure that you're not just standing there, but you also have to keep track of all the current guests, welcoming all new guests, answer any questions about the club, and also be on your toes to respond when a guest tips you. Erotic dancers add on knowing what pieces of clothes to take off at certain times and attaching "parts" properly. In reality it's one of the most difficult jobs in SL® to do and do well.

The last part of my interview with both Damian & Camthan, I asked them if they could suggest things an aspiring dancer should purchase. They both suggest investing in a good shape, skin, and a selection of clothing to wear for event themes. The first two are critical while the last you can build up over time. You should also eventually purchase a good Chim to put dances in. You can start with the provided dance machines, cages, and poles the club already provides but buying a Chim from Owenimations and dances from places like Sine Wave or Animazoo so that you have a more distinctive overall 'look'. Finally, Camthan says, "If you're going to get nude, you need to get a real penis from Dark Delights, or a Lotus penis. Xcite won't do for dancing."

So I hope this gives all guests of clubs, dancers, and aspiring dancers a more in-depth perspective on club dancers and their purpose in both Non-Erotic and Erotic environments. Thank you to Damian & Camthan as well for offering their insight.

Next Club Etiquette... DJs

Got Nerd?

Remember 733t sp34k? Well folks have gotten completely past that and now moved into nerd tech speak (or 'Nerdic' as it's not being called) and actually considered it as an official language. Finally after decades of wedgies and 'kick me' signs, us nerds no longer need a series of bad movies to prove that we have worth!!!

Who woulda thought 5 years ago that terms such as 'Google', 'MySpace', 'Blog' 'YouTube' would become so ingrained into our very social make-up? At this point if you haven't heard any of these terms before, you are totally living under a rock... in a mirror dimension...

It'll only be a matter of time before other tidbits of our linguistic lexicon become ingrained into everyone's Nerdic vocabulary. But... the question is, what should the New Oxford dictionary consider next?

LOLspeak

A growing phenomenon (especially on Second Life®) started by the internet phenomenon of LOLcats.



Admit it... fluffy animals in silly poses are like crack. Not to mention the implement of such phrases as as 'Yus!' and 'I haz it' that have become staple phrases on SL®. This will no doubt continue to spread across our screens and suck more into its whimsical cuteness. You will be assimilated! Come on... you know you want to.

Jive


Cab Calloway made it into an art form with his songs... and you gotta admit that watching June Cleaver talking Jive is one of the most hilarious moments in film history. Here's a dictionary if you're not up on your jivin' lingo. Be sho' man t'check it out! Right on!

Swedish Chef


Okay you're probably like 'that's a dialect?' Apparently this Muppet lingo is on some video games (I personally found the language option on Guild Wars). If ya wanna sound drunk on purpose, this is the one to use. BORK!

Jellyisms

Oh yes, the Jelly has her own language to spread to the masses! Who hasn't heard the words, 'kkthnxbai' or 'Mayhapsibly' and not thought of the Pink Wonder? Even though she is not around SL as she once was, many of us have been touched by her catchphrases and all around spunky attitude. Before too long we all caught ourselves saying 'I know, right?' among other goodies. It's easy to say that she's definitely left her mark.

Know other ignored dialects? Tell us so we can confuse multitudes of folks who are not 'in the know'. ;-)

Club Etiquette: The Host

Many of you saw before where I posted a general summary of the various jobs many SL® clubs use in order to offer you the most enjoyable experience possible. After reading the responses to that post, I felt it was also appropriate to offer further education for each position separately so that both club employees and patrons understand all the more what goes into them.

The first position we shall discuss is often an overlooked one... that of the Host or Hostess. As I am a novice on the subject, I asked Sanctuary Rock's Host Manager, m0xi Caldwell to offer her own insight as well.

The most noticeable duty that a Host performs is to greet patrons who first step into the club. This first greeting of "Hello ! Welcome to !" helps to ease the nerves of n00bs and seasoned patrons alike. If you don't feel comfortable there then you won't want to spend time there, right? Its just a nice touch that people appreciate. Its nice to know that people notice you and make you feel much more welcome. This can be difficult (especially at busier SL® clubs) to meet and greet -everyone- who walks in. Sometimes using a MystiTool or Radar will help. Having dancers working on your shift with you often helps as well in case you do get bombarded.

Another often overlooked aspect of the Host is to be the "mother hen" as the go-between for the working staff and patrons.

To accomplish this, Hosts often...

1) Send out Group Notices/IMs about events & reminds patrons what the event theme is during the event.
2) Remind patrons who the DJ and Dancers are during the event.
3) Point out other aspects of the club (Sploder, Mall, Tip Jars, Donation Boxes, etc)
4) Control the Voting Boards and/or take Votes in IM for contests.
5) Announce and hand out prizes to the winners of the contest.
6) Remind patrons what the next event (if any) will be along with the next DJ & Host.
7) Keep track of any possible 'problem patrons' whom may be at the club.

A hefty load of responsibilities, no? m0xi even mentioned, "I have trained a lot of people to become hosts and most of them say to me at one point during the training that they had no idea how much was really involved..." It's definitely not something you can pick up overnight. It takes a great deal of training (and patience), just like with any RL job. The trick is to do everything so effortlessly that patrons and most other staff have no idea what is going on behind the scenes.

If there's one thing that I find absolutely ridiculous, it's staff who personally ask for tips. DJ's are more likely to do it than Hosts, but I've seen a few Hosts who've slipped a little 'Hey, slide some Lindens® in my tip jar too!' into their mantra. m0xi offers this suggestion: "Being obnoxious or seeming desperate about it is NOT attractive. People really do appreciate being able to go to a club and having fun here in SL®. Sometimes they don't know how to tip, its amazing how many people ask that. "How do I tip staff?" Once they know, a few reminders here and there to show appreciation to the staff is all thats really needed. You are going to have great days, good days, and maybe some horrible days. It happens to everyone, and you just have to realize that its not all about you and to not take it personally."

Also there will be times when all the staff on your shift will not cooperate. It's bound to happen since not everyone is going to like everyone else. As the previously mentioned "mother hen" of the shift, it becomes the Host's responsibility to make sure that this drama is not noticed by patrons. Staff are there to enjoy themselves as much as everyone else, so you sometimes will need to step in and remind them that acting like a whiny bitch throwing a tantrum is not only childish, but also ruins everyone else's fun.

Last, but certainly not least, being a Host should be FUN. Fun is what keeps people coming back time and time again, and thats what we all want... for people to enjoy themselves enough so that they come back, invite friends to come and join them.

So are we all on the same page on what an SL® club Host does? A big cuddly thanks to m0xi for giving her input and an even bigger thanks to all Hosts whom do this incredibly under appreciated job!

Next Club Etiquette.... Dancers

An Old Dog with Old Tricks

Often while scanning other SL blogs, you no doubt get curious about those who leave comments on posts and what they may have to say. I happened upon a recent addition to the blogging pool just the other day when I caught a few comments on Shenandoah Saintlouis' blog about both her product and mine that amount to 'I hate your stuff' but done with more useless words.

The culprit is a personage going by the SL name of Enid Trenchcoat.

Of course my first instinct is to click on the name and see the blogger profile. I'm not going to show it here, nor will I link to it as no doubt the person behind this name will advertise him or herself with their own snide comments later. I will say that it has WAY more info than most SL folks typically put on there, which leads me instantly to believe that this is an Alt and meant to grab attention.

My next step in the process... was to see Enid's blog which is of course listed at the bottom of the profile. Not only does the blog only have 1 entry on it so far, but it's all about 'Hey I found crappy stuff to photograph in SL so I gonna blog it.' Yanno what? Already been done. The four most notable are Crap Mariner's SL is full of Crap, TheDiva Rockin's SL Fashion Police, Wrath Paine's Wrath Paine vs Second Life, and of course... HERE!

Ah so my next bit of research led me to see this person's Profile on SL. This... is what I found:



Do you wanna see her blog? Do you wanna see her blog? No I don't, actually... and I've already seen it. Also the very recent Rez Date affirms that this is an alt who can't be bothered to use their original Avatar to do this. Also at only a month old you would hardly know enough about SL to be an authority to bitch about it.

Hey Enid? Leave the Bitching to the Professionals, k?

Club Etiquette in SL

You've all heard me mention a few times that I DJ at some clubs on Second Life. Even some of our fellow Mean Girls have been (or still are) DJ's at a few spots on SL. Along with DJ's, many clubs also offer Hosts and Dancers (exotic and non-exotic) to help broaden your overall experience.

Let's take each role one by one to further explain what they do.

Dancers

As I said, some clubs have exotic dancers while others do not. Exotic dancers are self-explanatory. They provide exquisite eye-candy for patrons and remove items of clothing (often with lusciously written text to follow) in response to how many and often they receive tips.

Okay so then what is the purpose of non-exotic dancers? More often than not they still dress very sexy to get your attention, but their clothes do come off (unless they choose to). They still serve a purpose of greeting new guests as they arrive, mingling... and in general providing a fun atmosphere for everyone.

Seems like an easy job being a dancer, right? Not necessarily. Male dancers, on average, earn less than female dancers. Also, if a dancer doesn't respond to patrons or are generally not enthusiastic he or she could miss out on tips.

Hosts

If you prefer to do a little more than shakin' your groove thang, then you may want to be a Host at a club. Dancers often assist the Host in greeting arriving patrons and making them feel welcome, though hosts have many other responsibilities as well. Hosts also...

- Keep guests informed of the current contest/party event
- Remind patrons who the DJ and Dancers are during the event
- Tell guests about certain vendors in the mall areas
- Keep track of contest boards and/or votes in IMs during the event
- Overall keep a watchful eye on the floor and any patrons who may become troublesome over the course of the event
- Hand out prize money at the end of an event (if the contest board doesn't do so already).

In reality, a Host is the 'Mother Hen' of the floor. It's not an easy job by any means... but can be very rewarding to those who master this fine art.

DJ's

Unless you plan to have a radio playing 24/7 at your club, you're gonna need DJ's. Being a DJ is a bit more than just playing a bunch of songs for 2 hours.

There's a few simple rules for DJing:

1) Respect the club's musical preferences
2) If a guest asks for a request (and it doesn't break Rule #1) you try to get it for him or her as quickly as possible.
3) If you cannot find the requested song, ask the guest if he or she has an alternative choice.
4) You have the right to say no to a request if it is either offensive or breaks Rule #1.
5) Be enthusiastic on the microphone! If you're having fun, then it'll inspire everyone else to have fun.
6) Assist the Host in giving out information about the club and event in-between songs.

Now some clubs are bit more lenient than others as far as music, requests, and using a mic, but these rules give you a general idea.

-----------------------------------------

Now I didn't just type all this out to remind club employees about things they already know. I've typed all this out so that guests can understand how much hard work truly goes into providing the perfect club atmosphere.

Respect is a two-way thing...

If your DJ gets your request on the very next song without question. If your host greets you within seconds of entering the front door. If your dancer swerves, sways, and generally makes all the right moves. If they all work together in harmony to give you a thoroughly enjoyable experience...

PLEASE show them the same respect and TIP! Don't be a Schmuck.

Happy Valentines!

Yeah I couldn't be left out of the MG V-Day goodness, now could I?

Besides what all the other ladies have said, keep in mind that love comes in many forms. This includes friendship and loving yourself. Don't forget to pamper yourself and others who love you, no matter how deep those feelings may be. :-)



** PS: This is the Mean Girls' 200th post!!! OMG!!! **

Group Limits: A Mean Girls' Perspective

Remember when the Group Limit was 10?

A little before my time but it changed not shortly before I joined Second Life. It’s been 25 for a while, but since the Group Limit was raised, there’s been thousands and thousands of new Groups created for everything from establishments (stores, clubs etc) to fan clubs/friends lists for various individuals.

I doubt Linden Labs realized just how much Groups were going to explode when they raised the limit, but now it’s elevated to the point that most people (myself included) have no room left to add any more Groups without sacrificing others.

There’s been a few Notecard petitions going around asking LL to raise the Group limit, two most notably from Kiana Writer and Sirhc Martinek. So far they’ve both gain a few hundred signatures as well as many other folks passing the notecards around. I’ve personally gotten a copy of Kiana’s and it’s actually very well written. Mano Nevadan started the issue on JIRA and it continues to harvest votes from various residents.

But why all the hype?

Well I can speak from personal experience as a DJ on Second Life that MOST venues need at least 2 groups (1 for patrons and 1 for staff) to run efficiently. Sanctuary Rock, by itself, has 7 just to handle all the different aspects of the Sim. Retail stores that do any sort of satellite mall locations often have to join a Vendor Group in order to have certain permissions on the land. On top of that, many have a Group to send out updates on. That knocks out a lot of Group slots right there. I know that there’s the relatively new Subscribe-o-Matic system used by a lot of businesses now, but it can cost as much as L$5990 a month to maintain as opposed to Groups which are still free.

On top of that, most Residential Sims ask that you create (or join) a Group so that more than one person who lives on the land can access/change things on the property. Others often use Groups to keep in touch with friends or promote contests and other special events.

Linden Labs insists that the reason why they haven’t raised Group Limits already is due to the fact that, “...the current infrastructure barely supports the 25 limit (group chat lag, issues with notices, server load)...” Translation: Group Chats and Notices already drive the SL bandwidth almost to capacity even with the 25 group limit. This is why with the introduction of 1.19.0.1 (already out on the Release Candidate Viewer) you’ll have the option to turn off Group Chat (though I think it turns off ALL Chat instead of individual Groups). Will this solve the bandwidth problem? That remains to be seen.

I personally think that even raising the Group Limit to 50 or 100 still won’t be enough. Hundreds of new Groups are started every day, and the L$100 fee doesn’t seem to deter anyone from creating them. There has to be some sort of compromise made so that residents are happy and Linden Labs can cut down on server problems.

Only time will tell...

Oh Baby, Baby How was I Supposed to Know?

Picture it...

You've gotten hitched to the perfect spouse in SL, and you both decide to have a cute little prim baby to hug, and pet and squeeze and call George (or Georgina). So you go and pick out a "belly" to wear and enjoy the beautiful process of your little junior growing inside your pixelated womb.

While wearing your little bundle of joy in public, suddenly you see some green text on your screen:

Your babies are unsettled. Please rub your belly.

WHAT?!?!?!

Why do you need to be reminded on not only your screen but everyone else's screen in the immediate vicinity that your belly needs to be rubbed? Minutes go by and you'll be told you need to take your vitamins, that your nails are healthy from taking them, and that you're happy to have the babies inside.

That's great for your wellbeing and all, but everyone else in the fashion boutique you're in (and most likely has clothes that won't fit your glowing self anyways) shouldn't have to hear that your babies are hungry and need you to eat something.

I haven't checked into who originally wrote this script to spam our screens with this prenatal babble. Probably a man since any woman who's ever been pregnant in RL would have text about morning sickness, swelled ankles, and peeing all the darn time.

Please keep in mind that I have nothing against the miracle of conception and feeling a life growing slowly inside of you. In fact it can be a very enlightening (and life changing) experience for most if not all women. I also understand that some women cannot have children in RL so have chosen to experience it in SL. That's perfectly your business and your right.

The rest of us just don't need to experience it with you.

Blingtards: Stop the Insanity!!!

Yeah, I know... this phenomenon is nothing new.

In fact we have a whole Flickr folder devoted to these misguided individuals. (Scroll down if ya wanna see some of the newer additions). The reason I'm writing this post is because apparently this is more widespread than originally thought. Just this evening, I happened to run into Three blingtards who managed to congregate where I was DJing at. Even more ironic, each fit into three separate categories of blingtardom, which I will explain here:

Hip Hop Bling


Yes we've all seen it. The bigass chains that IRL would make your whole body fall over with their weight. Whether necklaces or bracelets, these things are often seen on rapper wannabes and newbies who think that all that sparkle is bitchin' and supah fly. Well I'm here to set it to ya straight, folks. It's not cool... it's -tacky-, trust me. When we can't see your face past the incandescence of your accessories, we got a problem.

Armor Bling


There's nothing wrong with blowing up things. In fact we encourage it on video games to relieve stress. We do not encourage, however, having on armor that makes you burn like a Roman candle on the battle field. Isn't part of the point that you're supposed to blend in with your surroundings? No chance of that here. Lest we forget that he not only has the bling, but also the BFG's hanging from his arms that are bigger than his entire body and a pair of hunting daggers that would make Crocodile Dundee shit his breeches. Do us all a favor and go play Halo 3, k?

Girly Bling

Blingtards are not only a male problem, oh no! We have plenty of ladies who seem to have fallen under the same affliction.


This tends to constitute various articles of jewelry and shoes that female avatars wear to get attention, but wearing too much will garner the wrong kind of attention. Nothing says cheap whore like 1000 points of light... on your personage. If you -have- to wear blingy stuff, wear only one type at a time, and make sure the intensity isn't so bad that folks have to wear SPF 50 to come near you.

And remember ladies & gentleman... 'bling off' isn't just an option, it's a public service.

Where Oh Where Has Our Dear Orchid Gone?

I'm wearing purple in mourning because our beloved Orchid seems to have vanished without a trace. Even on her own blog her posts have become less frequent. Should we send out a search party?

Come back to us, Orchid!!! WE MISS YOU!!!

.:-CATNIP-:. Asshats & Other Oddities

Yeah you read that right... I said ASSHAT!


One of just a few items you can find at a little store on SL called CATNIP.

I actually happened upon this gleeful little joint on a recommendation from the General Manager of Sanctuary Rock (hi, Mirari!!!) who owns every damn item sold at this store. The place is actually part of the Hysteria Sim with a focus on Nekos, but even if you're not a Neko the schtuff sold here is hilarious.

Started by Akasha Wachmann & Kisten Bailey, this joint started with just a few silly ideas in their silly little minds. Now most Nekos, Furries and other fluffy folk on SL know about this place.

When you walk in you're greeted by a vast assortment of accessories that all pretty much have a 'tongue-n'-cheek' feel.

In one corner of the front is a selection of whimsical belts such as the Cereal Killer, Pride, and the EMO.


My favorite so far is the Vandal with toilet paper, spray paint, egg carton, and even some firecrackers.


Yeah I have to do insets on these things because they're all so incredibly detailed. Even each decal and label is worth zooming in your camera for.

In the newly expanded back room there's a few furniture items for kitties such as a tire swing, cuddle furniture & a milk martini glass. The thing that really caught my attention is the array of IVs on the far back wall.


Did I mention the attention to detail on these things? Check out the Coffee IV...


You can't tell in the picture but the liquid inside does move and the Coffee one comes with a steaming and non-steaming version. Also up on the wall are beverages such as Red Bull, Pimp Juice, and of course... the DEW. For the holiday season there's even Egg Nog.

So hop on down to CATNIP and grab some crazy goodies for you or for a wacky holiday gift. You're sure to get a laugh and a few people asking "Where in the world did you get that cool [insert silly CATNIP accessory here]?"

Reflection on a Linden...

Okay for those who haven't already heard, it was announced this past week that Cory Linden (Ondrejka) will soon be leaving Linden Labs for greener pastures. Being the Chief Technological Officer and the 4th personage ever to be involved with Linden Labs is quite a feat on its own. According to his bio (oddly still up on Linden’s company site) he’s one of the primary distributors into things like Avatar design, 3D streaming, and in-world editors. To put it mildly, Second Life would not exist as it does today without Cory’s supervision and know-how.

Many other news and blog articles thus far have been trying to sort out whether he is being fired or leaving on his own. Official responses from both Cory and Philip Rosedale have been very vague on the whole matter except that both parties had reached “irreconcilable differences”. In layman’s terms that means “we refuse to budge on both of our ideals and so we’re going to part ways”. The details of said differences can only be speculated at this point, but as of the end of December does it really matter?

Second Life has its share of bugs which is to be expected when it’s constantly changing and updating. Despite as much as we all bitch about the lag, the inventory mishaps, the hair & shoes up our butts... we continue to logon for everything from running a business to simply going to various club parties every night. I know I haven’t had the same experiences with SL as folks who’ve been logging in since 2006 on back, but even with innovations such as Sculpties and Windlight in recent months I can certainly appreciate how it has grown.

Now to hear that one of the biggest innovators of SL is leaving sort of feels like having an uncle who’s watched over you from afar suddenly vanish. You’re sure that there will be a void from his departure, but not quite sure how much that absence will impact you and those around you. We can only hope that this rift will not impact Second Life too much.

A toast to Cory on behalf of Mean Girls. Here’s to hoping that his future endeavors are as fruitful as his past ones.

A Week in the SLife...

Inspiration comes in all forms. For me, part of this inspiration came from Orchid's previous post about people's reactions to her purple skin. The rest came through handful other people I've met in Second Life whom have decided to break through the usual Barbie Girl mold and wear a more "Real" shape.

So it got me thinking... what would it be like to walk around as a Plus Sized Avatar for a week? I created a shape, used the skin that looked the best with it, and started my week long trek through the virtual world we've all grown to love (and hate).

To start, I went with a couple of friends to 1 club I'd never been to before. The former was a strip club with the usual big boob lovelies shaking their oil lathered bodies and gliding up and down slick dance poles. The hostess didn't even acknowledge I had walked in, and the other patrons (mostly other female AVIs) left me alone. I left after about 15 minutes of watching these hourglass shapes gyrating around me.

The next day I had 2 DJ sets back-to-back. Beforehand I decided to do a little shopping at a couple of stores known for more sexy women's clothing: DE Designs and Nymphetamine. I admire both DoC and Paeoti's work VERY much. I've even met Paeoti before and expressed my admiration. They do designs that many other folks can only dream of. These designs are not for full-figured gals, though. ;-)


After some purchases, I went home to try on some designs. Now, if you think prim skirts are annoying on regular sized Avatars, try spending 35 minutes just to get one to look decent on a full-figured one. You can't wear Skirt layers at ALL, BTW. Your butt and hips stick out way too much. Shoes? Well since almost all women's shoes are a Size "0", you can't even choose a more realistic foot size. I also couldn't wear most of my necklaces and bracelets without seriously altering them. Hair also had to be fixed since my head was bigger, and many longer styles I have didn't look right hanging on my shoulders.

Many designers (and Linden Labs) by nature tend to make their outfits according to the size 2 to 8 gal. Is this wrong? No. It just makes things tougher if you want to look different.

To further test how this shape would effect my overall SL experience, I wore the shape to some of my DJ gigs and to sets by other DJs at the same places. Overall responses by my closer friends went something like this:

EP: looks real lol
EP: I think you are cuter

mC: lol you still look pretty hot tho :P

SD: I love ya no matter what *hugs*

Guen: It's called 'Do folks treat Guen different if she's fat'
LF: i would hope not
LF: same person

BUT, some others were a bit more blunt with their responses...

PK: guen...you uh...getting a start on the holidays?

PT: so Guen...is that the extreme anti-makeover?
PT: guess she's just retaining water

SB: come hither fatty

The biggest question was if this shape was going to effect my sets. Folks are there to HEAR the DJ instead of look, right? Surprisingly, my tips actually stayed about the same at Sanctuary Rock though I didn't receive nearly as many requests from folks. My tips at Valhalla's went down due the drop in the population of clubgoers.

I didn't think much about the reactions until on Friday I decided to show up in my normal shape to Sanctuary Rock. Tips went up, requests went up, and I even had 3 patrons comment in IMs to me that they loved how sexy my Avatar looked. I know they were meant as compliments, but after nearly a week of wandering around with the full-figured look I just couldn't get myself to appreciate them.

What this all boils down to, folks, that while we are given the option to create anything we wish in Second Life including how our Avatar looks... there is still a 'norm' that many folks expect. This norm generally involves shapes, sizes, and colors that many see in today's pop culture. When someone steps 'outside the box', often the first reactions from other folks are not the prettiest.

This does not mean you should go out and create the weirdest damn Avatar you can either. One must find a balance between being unique and being realistic. Mean Girls 'Oh Snap!' posts exist because someone took 'unique' to a whole new and frightening level. Even when I made my full-figured shape, I didn't move all my sliders to 100 just to make a point.

The main thing to remember is that in RL we can't just click 'Appearance' and tweak a few slider measurements. In fact I am keeping the shape to remind myself of that very fact. Besides why would everyone want to look and act like Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt? That would become an extremely bland world (SL or RL), wouldn't you say?

BTW, if you want to read more about a gal who's full-figured in both SL and RL, check out the Whole Lotta Rosie blog. Not to be confused with our Rosie, this beautiful lady also has a lot of spunk. ;-)

SL Ageplay: The Harsh Reality

After that scandal back in May where a couple were role-playing "Sexual Conduct" between an adult avatar and a child avatar, Linden Labs has since then been scrambling to cover their own asses with a plethora of policy changes. Perhaps we should break down the reactions to this whole mess.

Not very long after those two sickos were banned from SL, the Lindens decided to incorporate ID verification for accounts and then requiring that certain Sims to add a flag for restricted content. Alright, most kids who have more than two brain cells to rub together can get around that BS by using Mommy & Daddy's credit card and DL information. Oh and remember the age verification thing is 'voluntary' for residents and estate owners, but who the hell is gonna admit "Yep, I'm a 13 year old pimple-faced nerd who enjoys the hawt donkey porn stashed on my Dad's computer."

Soon after that, news came from some hoity toity French parents who were not happy with SL's Adult Content. Oh Noes!!! There’s adult content on the internet?!?! *GASP* Luckily the French Courts tossed the whole issue out because in reality parents need to be parents, above all else.

The truth is that sex sells. That primal instinct buried in our DNA is never gonna change. In Second Life, this is justified with the fact that the 10 most popular places on the Search Lists at any given time are all Mature Sims with some sort of “Sexual Content”.

BUT… lets get back to the thing that started this whole clusterfuck… the fact that some people think pedophilia is stimulating. The frightening thing is… there are more people surfacing with this derangement every moment of every day. It’s gotten so prevalent that websites have been created to show registered sexual offenders that live in your immediate vicinity. Yeah there's nothing like discovering that the guy who has lived 2 doors down from you for the past 7 years likes 5 year old boys.

I don't care who ya are… seeing a child as a sexual object is downright nauseating. Destroying the innocence of such a fragile being is probably the worst thing that anyone could ever do, and just because you switch from doing it for real to doing it in a virtual world doesn’t make it any less wrong. In fact, it becomes even worse since the person who’s running a child-like avatar also enjoys this repulsive lifestyle.

If Linden Labs would get their shit together, they would not only crack down on the act itself, but also keep it from ever occurring by banning the use of child avatars. Yeah, I know… supposedly it lets a person play out a childhood that they missed the first time around. Others simply think the concept is just darn cute. In truth, though, the whole concept is as creepy as that episode of CSI where they showed the folks who dress up like babies.

Do us all a favor. Take your little pigtailed jailbait over to some other virtual world so you won’t keep fucking it up for the rest of us.

New Kid on the Block

Yep some of you probably caught that there's yet another name added to the list of Mean Girls.

Ta da! 'tis Guen, the baby of the bunch. Me!

And when I mean "baby", I mean that my rez day is the youngest of this dysfunctional little family. Does that mean I don't have as much to contribute? Far from it. Even in my seemingly short time on Second Life, I've managed to see and experience quite a few things.

More info about me? Weeeeeeeell... I am a DJ on Second Life as well as a self-admitted fashion addict. Those who know me already have figured out that I have more sides to me than that catchy Merideth Brooks song. First and foremost, though... I prefer to be recognized for personality and passion rather than how my Avatar looks.

That being said, I'm very honored that I've been taken under the wing of some incredibly awesome and intelligent ladies whom I have aspired to since I first clicked on this blog.

See ya on the flipside, peoples!!! ;-)