The sixth annual Second Life Community Convention (SLCC) will be held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers in Boston, MA on August 13-15, 2010! The SLCC Music Track kick-off planning meeting is set for Wednesday, June 9th at 6pSLT at Molaskey's Pub in Second Life. As you may remember, we planned last year's successful Music Track. We hope to achieve as many personal and professional accomplishments this year as we did last year. We can do that with community contribution and sponsorship.
Don't hesitate to participate! Anyone interested in contributing ideas, resources, talents or simply want to be connected to the inner core of the SLCC 2010 plan should attend.
For information about the SLCC, check their website at http://SLConvention.org. We also encourage you to join the SLCC Music Track communication thread on Google Groups.
Nine years ago, Fox Television took a gamble with a talent show called 'American Idol', where thousands of singers compete for the chance at stardom through a panel of judges and popular vote. The season ends with one final winner receiving a career launching record deal and life-changing opportunities. Last night, Lee DeWyze won American Idol 2010. Millions of people cheered him on, including me. This happened amid a bit of due 'Pomp and Circumstance' for departing judge, Simon Cowel. American Idol is successful not only because of the excitement of a 'regular' person morphing into a superstar in a relatively short period of time, or the judging, but also because of American Idol’s audience participation. Calling a toll-free number or texting from cell phones was encouraged for audience voting of their favorite contestant. Millions of votes were cast each week; giving the audience a vested interest in the following week's judging. Audience participation is essential to American Idol's decade of success. It's a brilliant idea for a series, and I’d like to see it developed online through interactive television.
Many new HDTVs have Internet ability, allowing users to toggle from television to Internet using their remote control. Television and the Internet may soon give birth to many independent internet channels like cable television did so many years ago, with MTV, VH1, the Discovery Channel and countless others. Having produced or attended several online shows in Second Life®, such as The Guest Lecture Series, The Second Life Pub Crawl, Live Music and a variety of Talk Shows, I know what it takes to professionally produce or attend online programs. Reaching an audience through Internet-ready television could launch many new careers. An idea that is still in early development, online programs will soon be moving from the personal desktop monitor in the home office to the HDTV in the family room, and that’s very exciting for both production companies and their audiences.
The American Idol producers tapped into a vital component of successful programming nine years ago when they included the audience in the excitement of their television show. They rallied millions of people to participate, empowering the audience to determine the fate of contestant’s musical careers. By creating this connection, American Idol producers formed a passionate bond between viewers and performers, resulting in record-setting revenue and television programming history.
We’ve experienced the bond between audience and performer at Molaskey’s Pub. I describe it as a living room concert’, akin to MTV’s popular program, ‘Unplugged’, where musicians who usually perform in crowded arenas play acoustically for a small audience in a casual atmosphere. Instead of watching the privileged few enjoy Eric Clapton perform ‘Layla’, for example, imagine being among those in the audience, from the comfort of your home. The 3D online world offers a sense of ‘being there’. It results in a unique and enriching musical experience. That’s what makes the interactive online world so appealing. It’s a new experience for the audience.
Finding and promoting musical talent is one of the joys of running Molaskey's Pub online. For over three years, we have been producing and promoting live music shows for the developing online community. We’ve maintained a relatively small audience of online users compared to the enormous reach of broadcast television, but what we have achieved with our audience is a deeply personal connection between performers and their fans in which the world of broadcast television has yet to achieve.
Nine years ago, they weren’t sure if the American Idol would flop or take off. With audience support, it surpassed all expectations. With appearances by previous American Idol contestants with musical legends, not only is it a hit show, last night it was the hottest ticket in town. Impressed with my serendipitous timing to catching the big finale, I impulsively captured the crowning moment on my iPhone.
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Congratulations to Lee DeWyze and every contestant, producer, critic and fan of the show. It must have been quite a year for the newly discovered Lee DeWyze, with so many opportunities opening up, only to be on the brink of loosing it each week. But Lee DeWyze performed his heart out. You could see it and hear it in him. That's why I like him so much. He reminds me of any number of musicians we see at Molaskey's Pub. Maybe a performance by 'Idols Online' or something similar is in the works already. I know I am not the only one to mention the idea.
American Idol productions in Hollywood could very well co-exist in an interactive online environment and call it 'American Idol Online'. It would be best done through Molaskey's Pub, of course, heh. It even sounds cool, 'American Idol Online in 3D'. It seems all the movies are doing it, why not the Internet? Well, it's possible. Come to think of it, any live production can simultaneously produce a 3D online experience.
Once again, a big congratulation to Lee DeWyze for winning the majority of audience votes on American Idol 2010. Well done.
On a personal note to Lee; I am pleased to inform you that you have passed the audition. You can play at Molaskey's Pub ANYTIME. ;)
Molaskey’s Pub happy host, Mia Kitchensink, has recently embarked on a journey to Japan, and she’s taking us along via Internet!
Mia and her real life daughter are traveling together for the next few weeks on a journey to the Far East and the American South. With a laptop and camera, Mia will be documenting her visits to fun places through Molaskey’s Pub on Facebook.
Friends made online can hardly resist the opportunity to meet in person if the occasion arises. Mia has long-time friends from all over the world through Second Life. She plans to meet some SL™ friends while in Japan and share the experience with us.
Before returning home to Texas, Mia will visit family in the American South. This is an exciting trip for Mia and her real life daughter. What a wonderful way to celebrate Mother's Day! We will be following the pics and stories along the way!
It’s kind of quiet around the pub in Second Life® now. We’re using this time to regroup and plan new ideas. Molaskey’s Pub owners, Katydid and Apple are taking a well-deserved respite during Mia’s expedition. Pub events will resume for the summer, but for now, you can follow the fun on Facebook.
While live music performers have enjoyed the spotlight in Second Life® for several years, the comics have been quietly planning to take over the world for a day - April Fool's Day, that is! Thursday, April 1st, is a special holiday of gags, pranks, puns, one-liner's and jokes. We are turning the spotlight on comics in Second Life at Molaskey's Pub for a few hours of laughs just when we need it most.
The comedians in Second Life are as varied as shades of green in Ireland. They each have a unique perspective and way of expressing themselves that get us laughing and keep us thinking. The 'April Fool's Night of Comedy at Molskey's Pub' have confirmed comedians Zacklee Devin 6-6:30p, Skye Vanistok 6:30-7:00p, JW Steampunk 7:00-7:30p, Elron Preistman 7:30-8:00p, Gary Broono 8:00-8:30p and Joey Rookstown from 8:30p-9:00pSLT. Comedians wishing to take the stage may do so during an informal one hour open mic prior to the scheduled show.
The comics offer an eclectic mix of styles and experience. Most have done comedy professionally, working with headliner names across the UK, United States and Canada. Others are finding their inner comic as an avatar in Second Life, where the reinvention of oneself is half the fun. All have experience performing in Second Life.
The live comics in Second Life are most comfortable using the voice feature for their performance. This event will require attendees to mute themselves from voice in order that we can give the comedian full range. Free 'applause' and 'laugh' animations and sounds will be available to use for audience participation.
Molaskey's Pub encourages attendees to wear their funniest props (arrow through the head, clown noses, etc.) and spread the laughter. So, get your chattering teeth and whoopie cushions and join us at Molaskey's Pub for the Live Comic Enthusiasts April Fool's Night of Comedy. Your funny bone will thank you.
Join us for St. Patrick's Evening at Molaskey's Pub in Second Life® on Wednesday, March 17th after 5pSLT and help us celebrate our 3rd year in SL™! Come and spill some green beer and wear silly hats as we walk down memory lane and look ahead to next year. We will be offering a few prizes, including a virtual portrait in our photo studio, Molaskey's Pub T-Shirts and even an autographed copy of our book! Contact NasusDumart@gmail.com, follow us http://tiny.cc/MolaskeysPubFanPage or simply click this http://tiny.cc/MolaskeysPubSLurl.
PBS FRONTLINE producers visited Molaskey's Pub to capture footage for 'digital_nation', a documentary about technology and modern life online. The show is set to premiere on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 9pEST (check local PBS listings). Molaskey's Pub was chosen as a location depicting people socializing and dancing in avatar form. You will see both interior and exterior shots of the Pub. We are very proud to be included in this special documentary. Look for Molaskey's Pub listed in the digital_nation credits, under 'Special Thanks'.
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Nine years ago, Fox Television took a gamble with a talent show called 'American Idol', where thousands of singers compete for the chance at stardom through a panel of judges and popular vote. The season ends with one final winner receiving a career launching record deal and life-changing opportunities. Last night, Lee DeWyze won American Idol 2010. Millions of people cheered him on, including me. This happened amid a bit of due 'Pomp and Circumstance' for departing judge, Simon Cowel. American Idol is successful not only because of the excitement of a 'regular' person morphing into a superstar in a relatively short period of time, or the judging, but also because of American Idol’s audience participation. Calling a toll-free number or texting from cell phones was encouraged for audience voting of their favorite contestant. Millions of votes were cast each week; giving the audience a vested interest in the following week's judging. Audience participation is essential to American Idol's decade of success. It's a brilliant idea for a series, and I’d like to see it developed online through interactive television.
