SL Music … Why, even?

The people in SL who know me also know that I notoriously do NOTHING in SL. For over sixteen years I’ve lived an indolent life of luxury and no responsibility here in SL. “Hey, Bonnie, I need a host. Are you interested?” “Bonnie! I’m opening a new venue, want to help?” “I’ve got a new store, want to be a CR?” “I like your pictures, do you want to blog my brand?” Etc. I always say, “thanks for asking, but nope!” My one job was being a voice host at an S&M club when I first got here. I got fired during my first day for constantly giggling on the mic because it was all cracking me up and I couldn’t remember to mute myself before laughing.

Now, suddenly I’m co-founder and co-owner of United Rhythms with this amazing new venue opening. For the last eight months I’ve been working with Blue and the rest of the team to organize our monthly anti-fascist music events. I even stand up there and do most of the hosting. The logical question is “What the hell happened?”

The answer to that not only informs why I’m suddenly not just sitting on my butt all the time anymore, but it also helps to address a broader question, “Just, in general, why does SL music matter?”

So, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Obviously, entertainment is what comes to mind as the most obvious purpose and reason for paying attention to SL music. There are amazing artists here that are truly masters of their craft, and many are also amazing entertainers who know how to draw in an audience and create an experience. Heck, there are even quite a few that are NOT masters of their craft, most who acknowledge that, but who can entertain the hell out of an audience. There is the full spectrum of experience and talent. And, enjoyment of music is subjective. I cannot believe that anyone who even just likes music can’t find several performers here who they end up loving.

But, beyond just the surface level enjoyment, this is an amazing place to learn about music. I didn’t show up in SL particularly knowledgeable about music. But, the diversity of styles, and ages, life experiences, and perspectives of the musicians here have all taught me ten times more than I knew when I got here. I’ve become familiar with songs, artists, and whole genres of music that I would otherwise have been ignorant of.

The appreciation of artistic endeavors is hard-wired into the human psyche, and music, as trite as it is to say this, does touch our very souls. At virtually any time of any day, SL residents have access to an amazing variety of live musicians.

Beyond this, SL music is truly a community. At the risk of making those who know me fall out of their seats laughing at my idiotic statement of the obvious, I am far from the most sociable being on the planet <pauses and waits for the laughing to die down>. But, at the end of the day, SL is a social platform. Its reason for being is to connect people. Yet, I know so many people, and I expect you do to, who are logged into this “social platform” who regularly feel lonely and isolated. I have certainly been there frequently. You log in, and then you realize that you are in a place of your life here where you look at your friends list and none of the people on there are particularly well connected to you. You’re ultimately feeling alone. You go shop to fill the void. Maybe you pop into a pick up joint looking for even the connection of casual flirting. Whatever. You (again, I’ve been there) find something to take the place of the social interaction you really want.

There are other SL communities. Some of them are wonderful. Some are seedy. Some are toxic. You have to decide what you can deal with, and which you even find remotely interesting. It’s all about individual preference. However, all I can say is that from my personal experience, the community of fans, artists, venue owners, hosts, etc. associated with SL music is overwhelmingly welcoming, positive, and open to new people joining that community. I sneaked into SL from the teen grid, a year earlier than allowed. I was a shy, introverted, dumb kid who was overwhelmed. Immediately I found that of all the things to do in SL, the people involved in the music scene were the most accepting and eager to embrace me. I was initially shocked and intimidated by hearing amazing performers whose talent blew me away during shows, who would then reach out and IM me and tell me they were glad I was there, ask what I thought of the show, say they had not seen me around before and that they were glad I was at their show. And, it happened just the same way with other music fans. As I opened myself up to these interactions, rapidly I began to have real friends across the whole community; artists, fans, club owners, hosts … it spanned the whole spectrum. The diversity was amazing too! People from all over the world. People my age, but also people significantly older.

Is all of it perfect? Of course not : )  We’re all just human, and sometimes there is drama, jealousy, disagreement (okay … a good bit of that might be on me), pettiness, etc. But, it is rare. It is typically handled among those involved in private. More often than not, everyone has a big warm hug on the other side of things and makes up. It is the least toxic, most supportive and constructive community within SL that I have every seen.

Fast forward to today. My entire SL is centered around this community. It is my source of entertainment. It is why I have friends that I love. My chosen family (woots out to all my Fox family) is because of it. It’s the source of a fulfilling new career in SL. Then, most importantly, it’s why I met, fell in love with, and partnered with the most wonderful girl in SL. It has given me everything I have in SL. So, why am I suddenly, as I asked at the start of this wordy screed, suddenly no longer a lazy bum in SL? It’s because this community has given me so much in the last sixteen years, more than I could have ever dreamed, and when my dear friend Blue asked me if I’d work with her, get involved, and help SL music continue to thrive there was no way I could say no. At a certain point, when you’ve been handed so much, you just have to feel an obligation to give back.

So, thanks to all of you in my life today, thanks to those who have left, those from this community that we have lost and mourned over the years, thanks to the friends who I have yet to meet. I’m thankful for the opportunity to try to do something that contributes to all of this going forward.

I am going to pursue a passion because of all of you. I want to be involved in highlighting the finest musical artists and entertainers in SL. I especially want to highlight those who are not today being given the attention they deserve! We need to make sure our best and brightest succeed and stay in SL. And, I want to do it in a venue that provides freedom of expression, while also embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. But, it also inspires us all to be a supportive community that makes SL fun and enriching for those of us who love it!