Like many people, I’ve encountered occasional news items about Second Life. For example, I read a while back that BBC Radio One ran a festival there last year. Although I’ve been intrigued by the development and popularity of this virtual world, I’ve never quite got round to setting up an account and travelling there. However, encountering an article entitled Virtual open mic shows in the Hummingbird Café finally prompted me to go ahead and do so. Here’s an example of what piqued my interest:

The Hummingbird Café is one of the most popular destinations for live music in the Second Life community […] With a few taps on his computer keyboard, [club owner] Harlow’s avatar flies through the air and lands comfortably on the stage […] “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s have a big round of applause for our next act: Peter Greenstone from Austin, Texas!” The crowd erupts into a hearty ovation that sounds as raucous as any crowd you’d hear at a major concert venue. But in reality we know that around the world the hundred or so patrons of the Hummingbird Café have just typed the word “clap” on their keyboards from the comfort of their living rooms.

Thus was the entity known as MusicInterfaces Miles born (when creating your avatar, you can choose any first name, but the list of available surnames is predetermined - I’m a big Miles Davis fan…). After downloading the Second Life client (61mb for the Mac version), and typing in a login and password, I found myself in the orientation centre. This consists of four little islands where you pick up the basic skills necessary to navigate and communicate in Second Life.

At time of writing I’m still there. I’ve managed to stop looking like a transvestite trucker - that’s me pictured above (yes, I realise I’ve opted for a very unimaginative look…) I’ve learnt to fly, drive and gesture, but clearly there’s some more stuff to learn as I haven’t yet figured out how to leave the centre! When I manage that, I’ll go in search of the Hummingbird Cafe and, if successful, some other music venues.

Link: Second Life

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