Here we are again with the weekly round up of events in my SL world and a few thoughts about those experiences to round off with.
Monday Sunwolf and I managed to get to Southbound early enough to catch Mamaa Saiz on the stage, we had missed him the last time he played and were determined to hear him this time. It was a lovely set and we were so glad we got there. Next up was our dear friend Dusty Smythe, we love his shows, so much so that I have to be careful to remember we are due on stage just after him and I have to make sure I am ready in time.
Usually Gweeb follows us, but the poor lad is ill with the flu and so was unable to perform. Sunwolf and I wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him on stage again soon.
Tuesday saw us playing our usual show at the Drunken Drow. There was no one on before us and no one following, so there we were, billy no mates again. I must admit I do much prefer having at least one other act on with us, but Cailidgh Spires who usually plays after us had a sick child to take care of as poor Lilly has the chicken pox and knowing them in rl as well again we wish a speedy recovery for lilly. After we finished our show we nipped back over to Southbound to catch another of Dusty's sets, he does not play anywhere too regularly so we like to catch him when we can.
Wednesday at Ye Olde Wolf n Hawk, was an odd night. We were due to host three shows, but as mentioned above Gweeb was unwell so had to cancel, then Ronnie Mayes our second performer also cancelled due to a damaged thumb. Bless him he had just had a brand new guitar delivered and couldn' t play it. Again we wish him a speedy recovery. So in the end it was only Ari our sweet little green Dragoness who got to play a set. She played most of mine and Sunwolf's favourites and we just enjoyed the show. Audience numbers were a little low, but the folks who were there had a good time and that makes it all worthwhile.
Thursday was a day Sunwolf and I spent in RL catching up on the many things that needed doing. He was also unwell with a nasty cold which meant frequent resting on his part and extra work for me. Now don't get me wrong, I did not mind doing more or looking after him, as he has done that for me for years and years. I can't remember if I have mentioned it before, but I do have a long term energy depleting illness that severely limits what I can physically do, so there we were, two good uns together, but we muddled through and that is all that really matters.
Friday we did our regular show at Guthries and were so pleased to see dear Dottie back in her usual spot. As I mentioned last week a tree had fallen on her roof necessitating some time away from SL, but what we didn't know was that the tree had hit the roof at the exact place Dottie would normally have been sitting in front of her PC. After our set we stayed as we usually do to catch Moses Rae and Lazarus Doghouse, enjoyable sets both. Then Quinton Whitman took his place on the stage after what seemed like an age. Quinton had been visiting his son in Hawaii as mentioned in previous blog and while we are so glad he had a wonderful time there, it was great to hear him again.At our own pub, this was to be the last night we would be hosting shows at the early time slot, this partly to give Sunwolf and I a little more time to get a decent meal etc before we come back on line and partly because people do not seem to be able to get to the earlier shows. Steveeolio did a wonderful set for us and it saddened us to see so few folks there. Stevee is a performer that always gives of his best, as do most of the people we see and it can be disheartening to play to an almost empty room. Perhaps I am not meant to say that but as I have said before, I say it like it is and can see no point in glossing things over or avoiding the truth. We ran only too shows that night as Cailidgh Spires who usually plays the last slot was still nursing her daughter. So Tim Anadyr was our last show and he did not disappoint us.
That evening we went off to Cuddlers Cove to see Steely De Costa. It is good we got to hear him at
Cuddlers because Steely usually plays at Guthries after Quinton and we can never stay as there is always
so much to do in RL before we are back to host our own place that evening. Cuddlers usually hosts two shows on a Friday evening but the last act did not show up and so just for once Sunwolf and I had a reasonably early night away from the PCs.
Saturday, we went of to Crazy Saturday at Cuddlers only this time with a difference. After watching Quinton and Maxamillion kleene we were playing a set ourselves. As I said over the mike, we love this venue, Quinton and Suka gave us our first shows when we came into SL to perform and doing the shows has become a highlight in our lives, but having to follow such awesome talent as Quinton and Max made me very nervous. I know I am somewhere near the bottom of the pile when it comes to having a pretty voice and I am not saying that to be modest, so to have to follow two guys with very different but equally wonderful vocal chords, well enough said. The show went ok and in fact Robbert Little filmed us doing our original song The Ballad of Wolf n Hawk. It is a great video and though I had forgotten to activate my mouth hud and cringed to hear myself speaking on it let alone singing, the film itself is wonderful and our heartfelt thanks go out to Robert.
After Cuddlers we had to get back to RL in time to get ready for our new show at our own place. Sunwolf and I had decided to open the pub on Saturdays for awhile to see if it was a better time for the audiences to make it in. We were first on stage and now we have BlackDwarfBud hosting our shows it was a little easier knowing we didn't have to worry about that. As it was the first show we had run on a Saturday we were not expecting too may folks as it is out experience that word takes awhile to get round in spite of the notices and listing that go out. Butterfly Maiden one of our staunchest supporters, and was in fact there earlier in the day as the video shows. Bless her she must be a true glutton for punishment.
The wonderfull Rock Doghouse
All was not lost though because following us on our little stage was the awesome Rock Doghouse and as I have said so many times before, you must get to one of his shows if you haven't yet. This man's wonderful original songs can move you to tears and he is more than happy to throw any of the cover songs that are on his list too. We are proud to be able to say he is a dear friend too. In fact most of the folks who came to that show were dear friends though my memory doesn't allow me to recall all their names, I do remember Brique from Lilac Fields and Scarlett from the Playhouse came in for as long as they could. Both were hosting shows directly after Rock's set so had to leave a little early to prepare. Both are lovely venues that Sunwolf and I get to as often as we can, and if you haven't been to them yet then why not pop over next time they have a show and see what you think and at Lavender Fields (Feed A Smile) as you enjoy the music you can also help a child to get a good meal too, now that can't be bad.
Sunday saw Sunwolf and I taking a break from SL but not from music as we spent a lot of the day working on new songs, finally finishing the rough recordings at past midnight and though you know already how I feel about my vocal ability being able to perform in SL is a dream come true for us and I am not willing to give it up just yet.
Finally,
I have a thought I would like to share with you, it centeres around Disapointment verses Deception. Let me explain. Is it really being kind to tell a lie to someone, even a white one, to spare their feelings! who's feelings are we really trying to spare anyway, and before you say ,well the other person's of course, think on it. Are you sure it is not your own feelings you are trying to sheild, after all telling someone something that is difficult however gently you do it does make you feel uncomfortable does it not?( I am not saying I have never been guilty of this)and I am not saying the way I was brought up is the only right way, I would never presume so but, I was taught that, to be truthfull, especially with those we care for, is to truly honour and value them, and that includes putting their welfare above our own comfort when we have to tell them something difficult. Why am I saying this? because so may folks in SL say things that do not hold water, ie many people have said how much they love our little venue, but then when we put on the shows they do not turn up to support us, or the artists( with the notable exception of the Eponymous family of which I am proud to be one.)
Then people say, they love your music, but they do not book you, or if they are fans, they do not come to any more shows. I am mystified ! why bother to say these things, especially when they make a point of sending a private IM to do so. There is a saying that states, Actions Speak Louder Than Words, and in this case that does prove to be so. Now I know SL is a make believe world, but as Sunwolf often states there are real people behind most of the avi's, even if they are alts, people with real feelings and hopes etc. So please think before you make statements you do not intend to stand by, or compliments you do not really mean. Are you doing that just to make yourself look or feel good? I can not answer that question for you, only you can,. There is another saying that goes, If You Can't Say Nothing Nice Don't Say Anything At All, but I would add, if you are only saying it to have something to say, or for how it makes you look and you don't really mean it, those words can be just as damaging as being unkind, in fact it is a form of unkindness and does not honour you or the person you are aiming the words at.
One more thing, I have found that to be gently honest brings the reward of a deep and satisfying peace and in our hectic sometimes crazy world inner peace is a treasure beyond compare.
As always I welcome any thoughts anyone might have on this or any other comment I have made, or in fact anything you folks out there would like to share with me.
Till next time, may peace, goodwill and honesty be yours in abundance.
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