Second Life Business Basics: Promotions

People work hard to create things in Second Life...clothing, venues, land, music and so much more. They put their time and effort into these things and then don't do a whole lot to promote it. That just doesn't make sense to me.Why create something and not give it some exposure and promotion?

I understand that creating things takes a lot of time but finding time to promote is so important. With SL businesses, artists and content creators, there are many avenues to promote yourself.

For musicians and venues, there are a lot of event based groups that you and or your manager can join to send notices for your shows. Social media is also a great outlet to get the word out about your shows. There is even Second Friends, a social media website created just for SL residents, which is totally free to join, create a group and post events. Also, look at things like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ because there are tons of SLers on them. There are resources out there, you just need to start using them. Also, I cannot stress enough to venue owners, POST YOUR EVENTS IN SL EVENTS... and make sure you use the musician's name in the listing. People looking in the events want to know which musician is playing and when... unless you are a place like The Rose Theatre with a big built in audience that knows The Rose always employs quality entertainment, then Bob Avatar doesn't care about " John Doe's Music Shack", they want to know who is playing there. Try posting the description like (Musician's Name ) @ John Doe's Music Shack

Content creators also have groups in SL they can join to send things to bloggers for review or to send notices to about new releases and sales. Again just like with musicians and venues, social media is a great outlet. Business can join Second Friends as well and create groups, you cannot post things for sale in the blogs, but you can post whatever you want on your page and to your group. You can also utilize SL Events because there is a commercial category.


Seth also has posted blogs with marketing and business suggestions, you can check out his blog HERE

This is just a few simple basic things you can and should do to promote yourself and what you create. If you need further help with promotion, marketing, website design, or the many other services that the Tracer|Birman Agency has to offer please email Seth or I at info@tracerbirman.com

Queens, Grannies And Other Interesting SL Residents

 This will be an ongoing blog series about people in Second Life that add interest to our SL experience and overall enhance the general landscape of Second Life.

The very first interesting Second Life resident that I am have chosen to interview is Bob McBoint. I met Bob a few months ago in SL at a live music concert. Where right away I noticed what a charming woman she is.

She quickly became one of my favorite concert goers! She has a charm and whit that is matched by none and an amazing sense of style. Bob is a true lady who handles herself with class and decorum. Okay, maybe not so much decorum.

I sat down this evening to interview Bob about her experience in SL. I must say, Bob's experiences in Second Life have been very unique if not scandalous! You can check out Bob's Blog HERE.

I teleported Bob over to skybox that I use as a workspace above the club that Mankind Tracer/Seth Regan and I own. After the initial pleasantries we got right into the interview....


Brandy: I guess the best place to start is how you came to know about SL and why you joined?
You are still a spring chick by your rez date.

Bob: I don't entirely remember... It was something I'd known about for a year or more and had always vaguely thought I'd look into one day. Then eventually that one day arrived!

Brandy: How did your avie evolve... did you start out young and gradually age ?

Bob: I seem to remember someone had told me you could float around being a bubble, and initially my intention was to float around as a bubble called Bob, but then I couldn't find the bubble; however, when I discovered a skin that would allow my inner being to shine, I became Old Lady Bob instead. I do have three or four other avatars, but none human.

Brandy: How "old" is old lady Bob?

Bob: I suspect one may be a Time Lord and thus technically older than me at over 700 years old, but, oh, I'm getting off track aren't I? What an indelicate question! blushes

Brandy: Well, they might get less delicate :P

Bob: But a true lady never reveals her age! My oh my, the values they teach you youngsters. I think I am approximately 70, but I may have lost or gained some birthdays here and there. Sustained space travel will do that to you.

Brandy (kalli.birman): I did meet you at a live music event and have gotten to know you, so I know that you are a music lover.... what other sort of activities keep you occupied in SL?

Bob: Hmm, well, mostly just Bobbling around the place.I am insatiably curious and I like looking at people's profiles.

Brandy: Me too..big time profile perv.

Bob: I have joined some bizarre and peculiar groups and visited some bizarre and peculiar places as a result of profile perving.

Brandy: Could you tell me about some of your more interesting adventures?

Bob : Probably the most interesting involves Nazis and sexual assault. Are you sure you want to hear about the depravaties I have witnessed in my brave and soulsearching search of SL's underground horrors?

Brandy: Well, lets assume we are talking about non- X rated adventures.

Bob: Well they weren't really X-Rated, as the Nazi in question remained fully clothed. I was simply investigating a fascinating fellow I came across at a live music event, and rather than judging, decided to go along and see what these rape fantasy sims were all about. After chasing a handsome young chap around the sim for some minutes, I ran across a griefer in a Nazi uniform, shouting anti-Semitic insults at people.

Brandy: oh no :(

Bob: So I alerted the admins and thus am loved wherever I go. Even as an old lady chasing young men around pervy sex sims.

Brandy: Would you say you are generally loved or do you have a few Bob Haters out there?

Bob: My other most interesting adventures have involved mud-wrestling, but you already know all about those. ( She is referring to the mud wrestling last night at the birth/rez day party of FunkyFreddy Republic at Solace Beach)

Brandy: Ido.

Bob: I am generally loved and adored, tolerated, or ignored. Only people with intense personality disorders dislike me.I know this for a fact, as my psychoastrologist told me.

Brandy: well, I would be in the Love and Adore catergory myself

Bob: Excuse me one moment, BRB

Brandy (kalli.birman): okay

Bob: I have returned. I think I was thinking something about paint brushes on my way back, but what it was has now entirely slipped my mind.

Brandy: Welcome Back :)

Bob: Thank you. I am a little hypnotized by the discovery of prim nails.

Brandy: My blog is going to feature some interesting people around SL... people who might otherwise might not show up in popular publications. I was wondering... what interesting characters have you met and enjoyed the company of?

Bob: That sounds perfect, and something I've meant to do more of, but I'm very bad at putting my brain together enough to write things.I have met YOU, Kalli!

Brandy: :D Thank you Bob.

Bob McBoint (bobmcboint): I have even met Mankind Tracer. I hear he's famous.

Brandy: Oh...yes... he is quite the charmer I hear.

Bob: Ayesha Lytton. I hear she likes watching women mud wrestle.

Brandy: That is a well populated rumor.

Bob: I hope again to run into a Mr Stephen Frypan, who was a small and extremely hilarious green alien I met at a concert.FunkyFreddy Republic, who has a crush on me.QuentinCrispy, Second Life's 2nd most fashionable man.The Infamous Sundai Devinna and her kinky boyfriend Lucas Black! GWAMPA. The genuinely inspirational Bowie Zeplin.

Brandy (kalli.birman): Well, sounds like you meet a lot of people.

Bob: Yesterday I met The Batman, as a matter of fact. He didn't say a great deal however. Shy type.

Brandy: He seems like the strong silent sort. So, Bob, if you could give the general SL population some advice... what would it be?

Bob: I am also most fond of the Hobo crowd, who gave me this haggis hat, which allows me to tell people's fortunes (or so I have recently been caused to discover). That was not an answer to the last question, about which I am pondering. I would tell them that it is extremely important to take a moment to stand up from the computer and stretch their arms, circle their shoulders, and inhale deeply on their bongs. If you want to sing out, sing out! You can be anything you want to be, so why on earth would you waste your time being a stuck up asshole? I would tell them to set free the birds, and leave the sheep unmolested, for we aand nature are one. Ban the bomb, I would cry to them!

Brandy: That is very sage advice and to end any confusion... is Bob short for something?

Bob: I would also have a word or two to them about their socks. But that would be taking the conversation in an entirely wrong direction. Bob is short for many things! In this particular case however, it is short for Roberta. In my day, to take a "male" short form was a feminist statement.

Brandy: I think we need to start a movement to get you on the cover of BOSL Magazine.

Bob: In my past life I was a suffragette, and its influence still holds dear. This is why I sometimes wear stilettos. They're so good for stamping on pesky men's feet with.Oh! What a terrifyingly tingly thought!

Brandy (kalli.birman): How is it terrifying.

Bob: I am merely shivering in anticipation of the fame and fortune and endless attention from men wishing to peel grapes for me that must follow. Sometimes, all I want is a room somewhere. Far away from the cold night air.

Brandy: Speaking of men... do you have many suitors?

Bob McBoint: I have had one or two offers, but on the whole I feel I should stay true to you and to Bowie. I know this is hard for Freddy to take, but it's the way it is.

Brandy: We would appreciate that.

Bob: I will confess that I have, once or twice, propositioned men on kinky sex sims, but for some reason they always leave.

Brandy: Imagine that? A lady of your beauty and they leave.

Bob: However there is one man who I'm holding out for, who, should he cast his roving eye in my direction, should he give me that blessed chance, I would, alas, dump you for... I'm sure you can guess who that is.

Brandy: Lucas?

Bob: Good lord what no. Hahaha you are a bad girl!Gwampa!

Brandy: Oh yes... Gwampa... You would make a great couple I'm sure.

Bob: I have had my eye on him from the moment I first heard the magic of his name. One drunken night, we danced together and he humped me, and my heart has never recovered.

Brandy: oh Bob... I might be a bit jealous.

Bob: I am so terribly sorry. What a slut I am! It's just, something in the way he moves, it attracts me like no other lover.

Brandy: well, I think that about concludes the questions I have... Do you have any final thoughts you would like to leave me with?

Bob: One should never have a final thought on anything. Thoughts, like good bacon sandwiches, should evolve and flow and follow their stream, meandering wither they float and whether they may, drifting like airships unto the yonder. That is my final thought on the matter.

Tricks Of The Trade - Venue and Musician Management

I have been in Second Life since early 2008 and in that time I have built up a great career managing musicians and venues, as well as doing PR and Marketing and various other ventures. Currently I manage the music career of Mankind Tracer/Seth Regan, who is also my business partner in the Tracer|Birman Agency and The Village & Club Graffiti and I manage two venues for Solace Beach Estates. In the past I have managed such performers as Craig Lyons and Guitar Zane. Currently I am also co-producing and the creator of the Where Is The Concert? HUNT.

Often I am approached by people asking for advice on one or the other by both friends and strangers. Friends I will help as my time permits, however, a stranger seeking advice might get a little but I have worked really hard over the past almost 4 years to acquire the knowledge I have. I think that the learning process itself was very valuable as well.

After a lot of thought about the advice I give and all my years of experience, I have decided to offer two workshops. One on live music venue management and the other on musician management.

The workshop on LIVE MUSIC VENUE MANAGEMENT will including things like: Promotion, hiring staff, tips, hiring musicians, the art of negotiation, what to do when the unexpected happens, gestures, hosting, and other topics that are important to running a successful venue in Second Life. There is much more to owning a venue than renting land, putting up a stage/building and hiring a musician. Venue ownership is a business and in order to be successful you need to make sure to arm yourself with knowledge.

The MUSICIAN MANAGEMENT workshop will include interesting topics such as: Promotions, getting paid, getting your musician paid, building an audience, gestures, negotiating, booking info, hosting, dress for success, finding new venues, groups, scribos, stalkers, what to look for in a quality venue, social networking sites, giving back to the community, charity events and networking in SL. Just like venue management, being a musician manager is a job and should be taken seriously. You should want to do everything in your power to help further the career of the musician you manage.

If you would like more information and pricing for either workshop you may email me at brandy@tracerbirman.com or contact me in SL where my name is Kalli Birman. Please send me an email or notecard with your SL name (NOT your display name), what venue or musician you manage and what you would like to get from the workshop.

Little Help From Your Friends

Brandy & Seth @ Club Graffiti

I am very fortunate to have some great friends in Second Life. During the past week that I have been dealing with my recent loss, my friends have been so supportive and caring. They have IMed me to see how I am and offer words of encouragement, they have offered to kick "his" butt for me, they have kept me distracted and have been overall wonderful. To all of these friends I want to thank you because with out you I might not have been able to rise above this so quickly. I love you guys!!

I still have my moments of course and unanswered questions but that is natural. I think that I will always have questions because things have been left with no closure but over time those questions will cease to be important.

I want to give a HUGE shout out and thank you to my very best friend, Seth Regan/Mankind Tracer in SL. He was there for me from the moment I found out that the now ex-boyfriend was a fraud. Seth has been so supportive and caring and I really do not know what I would do with out him. Since we became friends over a year and a half ago, Seth has been my rock!

If you are going through a rough patch, I encourage you to reach out to your friends. They can be the best support system you could ask for. Even if you don't live nearby, they can still be there for you to listen or distract or empathize.

Your friends do care about you and your well being. Sometimes opening up to people can be difficult, but in the end it is worth it because your real friends will care and be there for you. They also might have a similar story that you can relate to. The greatest thing about Second Life is the global community that we have and can have friends from all walks of life.