I had to stop the bleeding
Posted by myg
Last night during TMI Tuesdays, I was around the corner in the Mainline shopping area, trying to finally get my Reaction Affiliate store set up. Seesh. Window displays, vendor placement, trying to make the area look enticing to passersby who want to own cool surf/streetwear. I do nothing of the sort in RL so my GOD this is a pain in my ass. For over a week I’ve been trying to get this shit finished. I’m a shopper, not a window dresser. Clearly. I got so frustrated again last night I gave up and went dancing. Typical Myg!
In SL I’ve been a writer, a part-time DJ, a landlord, a shopowner, a builder, a shape maker. Man, I can’t fucking focus! There’s so much I want to do, and the whole retail affiliate thing is to help offset some of the hefty sums Alex and I pay out every month in tier and stream rental fees. But so far, RL supports our SL and not the other way around, like it is for some.
I want it to be that way for us! Too bad, as in RL, Alex and I have talents that aren’t exactly the money making kind.
I am all kinds of curious to know how the entrepreneurs of SL make it happen. While I doubt SL is big-business friendly when it comes to meaningful profits, more and more I hear of people who buy islands or sims and set up rental districts, retail, design stuff, open clubs and add meaningfully to their RL income. I want to be them!
Alas, I am Myg. And that means the thing I am actually good at is not the kind of thing that makes money.
Story of all my lives.
Blogged with Flock
I know how you feel. I’d like to do something in-world that would offset my tier a bit and make me feel productive, but all I know how to do is arrange words and pictures in a marginally pleasing fashion on my blog
I think the people who make any kind of serious RL money through SL dump a *huge* amount of time and effort into it, so much so that it becomes a real job, and is probably not as much fun. Still, tier fees…yeah.
Anyway, good luck with the store!
–Argent
thanks Argent!
Part of the problem is that you’re already producing and providing (the sim, the club, etc.), but there’s not a good system for charging freeloaders like me, who use and enjoy what other people make, but don’t pony up the cash money. Is there a discomfort with charging folks? (I.e. why not a cover charge at the club?) Maybe a regular “rent-party” with a ticker that shows the monthly fees going down as folks click and pay? Clockwork as NPR.
Maybe what I’d like best is a group that automatically deducts monthly dues from its members. The Topgol Neighborhood Association!? I’d join!
Following on what Este said, I think if everyone who shows tips the DJ and/or the house even a couple hundred L$ per gig it would add up quick! I always try to put a little into the tip jar when I come by.
hey that’s very nice. but we don’t consider anyone freeloaders, certainly not you Esteban! the community makes it worthwhile for us to own the land and the club and the stream, and we want to keep the doors wide open (which is why we don’t charge any cover at the club).
we don’t pay djs any regular fee (well, we tip them for each set) but we want the club-goers to tip them to make it worthwhile for them to keep playing. we don’t charge a cover because it would deter people from coming and it’s not the norm in SL anyway. We want as many people as possible to come and hear our kick ass djs.
the hope is that if we can grow the clockwork crowd and keep the quality of the music high, our crowd will be attracted to other things in the area - like our stores, and to rent lofts in Section 8 - and that will help with our fees.
who knows if it will work, but i believe that’s the model that sanctuary and other big clubs use. so, if anyone wants to help clockwork, go grab everyone you know and bring them to the club for our djs. hopefully it all flows from there.
or come rent a loft or a store!