Day: May 16, 2016

Lab announces 13th anniversary music fest and invites auditions

Posted on by Inara Pey

secondlifeUpdate, June 3rd: the auditions will be held on Friday, June 3rd at Enter Bay City, between 12:00 noon and 14:00 SLT, and again on Saturday, June 4th 18:00 to 20:00 SLT at the same location.

While the traditional Second Life Birthday celebrations are now pretty much coordinated and run by the community – hence the title Second Life Birthday Community Celebrations, the Lab has a track record of sharing in the celebratory mood around the time of SL’s anniversary through various promotions, gifts, and so on, often as an overall part of the community celebrations.

In 2015, the Lab held an Anniversary Music Festival, for example (and among other events) – and they’re doing the same again in 2016, as Xiola Linden has blogged:

Last year’s auditions turned out to be an incredible showcase of some of the diverse musical talent in Second Life. It was its own mini-musical-fest – with nearly 50 musicians pulling out all the stops in front of the Second Life music community. This bite-sized showcase led to the final line up for Music Fest. It’s definitely worth reading this audition day wrap up from musician and Second Life Resident Zak Claxton on his blog from May of last year.

This year, once again we’re hoping to draw out all you guitarists, bassists, drummers, singers, tambourine shakers and other music makers to come audition for the festival. All genres are welcome! From bands to solo acts, opera to rock and roll – we encourage anyone to sign up for consideration. The Second Life Music Fest is an opportunity to perform at one of the biggest celebrations in Second Life, and it’s a paid gig!

L12B Community Celebration; Inara Pey, June 2015, on Flickrast year, the Music Fest was held during the SL12B Community Celebrations at the SL12B Ixtlan Stage, designed by Cube Republic

Those interested in taking part are invited to complete the audition application form – and to do so no later than Thursday, May 26th. The blog post notes that completion of the application does not signify a commitment on the part of the artist to take part, nor a guarantee they’ll be called upon to audition before a panel of judges comprising Lab personnel and residents.

Musicians who are selected to audition will receive word directly from the Lab via e-mail. Those successful in their 5-minute audition, as judged by a panel of Lab staff and residents, will be invited to perform a 30-minute set at the Second Life Music Fest, and (subject to the Lab’s terms and conditions) receive payment for doing so.

The auditions themselves will be on the following dates and times:

  • Friday, June 3rd 12:00 noon to 14:00 SLT
  • Saturday, June 4th 18:00 to 20:00 SLT

The venue for the auditions is currently TBA, and I’ll post news & update this post once the location as been announced.

So, if this sounds like it might be your kind of gig as a musician – follow the links and apply.

2016 viewer release summaries: week 19

Posted on by Inara Pey

Updates for the week ending Sunday, May 15th

This summary is published every Monday, and is a list of SL viewer / client releases (official and TPV) made during the previous week. When reading it, please note:

  • It is based on my Current Viewer Releases Page, a list of all Second Life viewers and clients that are in popular use (and of which I am aware), and which are recognised as adhering to the TPV Policy. This page includes comprehensive links to download pages, blog notes, release notes, etc., as well as links to any / all reviews of specific viewers / clients made within this blog
  • By its nature, this summary presented here will always be in arrears, please refer to the Current Viewer Release Page for more up-to-date information.

Official LL Viewers

  • Current Release version: 4.0.4.314579 (dated April 28) – no change (download, release notes)
  • Release channel cohorts (See my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
    • Quick Graphics RC viewer updated to version 4.0.5.315117 on May 11th – comprises the graphics pre-sets capability and the new Avatar Complexity settings (download and release notes).
  • Project viewers:
    • No updates.

LL Viewer Resources

Third-party Viewers

V4-style

  • No updates.

V1-style

  • Cool VL viewer Stable branch updated to version 1.26.18.5 and the Experimental branch updated to version 1.26.19.7, both on May 14th (release notes).

Mobile / Other Clients

  • No updates.

Additional TPV Resources

Related Links

Supporting Alberta in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

CourageWe’re all by now familiar with the situation in Alberta, Canada, where a wildfire broke out on April 30th, 2016. By Wednesday, May 11th, and still out of control, it covered an estimated 241,000 hectares (930.5 square miles).

As the firs spread during the first weeks of May, so it engulfed the city of Fort McMurray, forcing the evacuation of almost 90,000 people.

Many of those affected by the fire have lost everything: homes, jobs, the basic necessities of life, and are having to be placed in temporary accommodation and shelters, prompting the Canadian Red Cross to launch the Alberta Fires Appeal.

Within Second Life, and in response to a plea from a Second Life resident directly affected by this tragedy, Models Giving Back have launched The Courage Event. Between May 15th and the end of the month, 38 designers are providing over 50 exclusive items that will not be sold again, with proceeds from the sales going to the Canadian Red Cross and the Alberta Fires Appeal.

The funds raised will be donated in two lots; the first halfway through the event, in order  to obtain the matching funds the Canadian Government is providing, and then the second donation will be made at the close of the event. Totals and donation receipts from the Canadian Red Cross will be posted on the Models Giving Back Revamped website, and on the Models Giving Back Facebook page.

The Courage Event. organised by Models Giving Back, runs from May 15th through to May 31st, with 38 designers offering 50 exclusive, never to be re-sold items to raise money for the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal
The Courage Event. organised by Models Giving Back, runs from May 15th through to May 31st, with 38 designers offering over 50 exclusive, never to be re-sold items to raise money for the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal

In addition to the exclusive goods available at The Courage Event, visitors are able to donate directly to the Canadian Red cross via the Kiosks found throughout the event area, or by visiting the Alberta Fires Appeal website.

Links