A Busy Weekend

Quite a bit happened this weekend. Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28, saw the second and third days of the VWBPE conference. The RFL Second Life Cheerleading Squad got together with the Safe Water foundation and had a fundraising event at Union Passage (above). Veterans Isle held it's monthly benefit for Homes For Our Troops. Musician Mankind Tracer returned to Second Life to take part in a concert that raised funds for the World Health Organization to help fight Coronavirus, and more.

More on these events later.

Second Friends Social Network Closing Down

With Facebook having a less than friendly policy toward account users whom would prefer to use their online name rather than their legal real-life name, some Second Life users have sought alternatives. Among then was "Second Friends," created by musician Mankind Tracer (real-life name Seth Regan). But last week on March 14, Seth announced he was no longer keeping it running. It's Facebook group however would remain.


My Dear Second Friend,

I have decided after a bunch of years to close down Second Friends. I want to thank you personally for helping create our wonderful SL community on the SF social network.

If you would like to stay in touch with other members, please join the Second Friends group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondfriend/

Seth asked people to download any pictures or videos from the site that they wanted to keep before it went down.  He stated he may open another network in the future.

Be well my dear Second Friend. I hope to see you in Second Life where I plan on starting up my live shows again very soon. ... I sign out for the final time here on Second Friends.

Second Friends boasted about 3800 users.

Mankind Tracer's “Celebration of Life” for Brandy Maltas

On Sunday June 26, Second Life Musician Mankind Tracer (Seth Reagan) performed a concert at Key West at Gizza Creations. The event was to honor his last friend Brandy Maltas (Kalli Birman), whom had passed away about a month ago from uterine cancer, as well as to help raise funds for her children.

Today at 2PM I will be performing the special benefit and “Celebration of Life” for Brandy Maltas (Kalli Birman) who sadly lost her brave fight with cancer on June 1. This will be an all out PARTY as Brandy had said before she passed, she wanted everyone to “celebrate” her life.

Fill 'em and chill 'em... it's a PARTY!!!

Mankind played his guitar for a packed crowd, with people having some trouble getting in, and would raise over 120,000 Linden dollars, "Big thanks everyone who made it out to the event yesterday at Key West. It was packed to capacity and we raised over $500 for Brandy's kids  in just under the two hours I performed. Thanks so much."

*Addition* At one point, Mankind was singing "I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends"

What would you think if I sang out of tune
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not to sing out of key
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm gonna try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away?
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
How do I feel by the end of the day?
(Are you sad because you're on your own?)
No I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm gonna try with a little help from my friends

Bixyl Shuftan

Brandy Maltas (Kalli Birman) Has Died

Some sad news for the music scene in Second Life. Brandy Maltas (account name Kalli Birman), noted for being the manager of Mankind Tracer (Seth Regan) and other musicians, has passed away. Her death was announced on Facebook, as well as a friend's blog. Cancer was the cause of death. She was forty, and survived by three children.

I talked to Brandy briefly while I wrote for the Second Life Newser to arrange a time for an interview with Mankind Tracer. I would meet her again in February 2012 when Mankind was part of a veterans benefit concert at Patriot Island. She would help manage the Second Life careers of other musicians, but remained best known for her time with Mankind. She and Mankind would also organize an "SL9B Street Fair and Bar Crawl" in 2012 in response to Linden Lab's decision to not sponsor any more Second Life Birthday events.

Brandy would write in her blog in July 2014 that she had come down with cancer, later stating it was uterine cancer. Although she was responding well to treatments at first, the cancer spread and she began getting worse. Her last Facebook post was on May 26, a couple weeks after the one before. On the night of June 1, she was rushed to the hospital, but despite the efforts of the doctors she would die the next morning.

Brandy's Facebook page had a number of people expressing their sadness and condolences, "My heart is breaking right now. Brandy was one of the most courageous ladies I have known." "I hope to see you in Heaven too, don't forget me." "What a brave strong woman she was to fight so hard." "Although I didn't know Brandy very well, I followed her journey on Facebook and am heartbroken to hear she has moved on."

Mankind's own statement included the following, "Heaven gained an angel yesterday. Brandy leaves behind three children. She did not have money. In fact she struggled just to get by. Believe me when I tell you, she had it rough but I did what I could to help her family, I know others who also did. Yet, she gave of herself unconditionally, to help others, to do what was right. Well, SHE was right, in so many ways, and she was a representation of so much what is right in the world. With her loss, right now her kids are going through this incredibly difficult time and I'm trying to help them to be strong, to be ok and this means trying to help in whatever way I can." Mankind would also request people donate to his paypal account to help out her children.

The author of www.freewheelintravel.org  wrote she and Brandy had become close friends. When the subject of death and mortality came up a few months ago, Brandy was quoted as saying, "Don't mourn me. I'm happy. I like the person I am, and I have no regrets. So when I die, don't have a funeral. Have a party, drink some beers, and celebrate my life."

The Newser is not yet aware of any plans for a memorial service or memorial.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Mankind Tracer Live Music Performance - Sunset"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Treet TV, April 2009

Scenes From Team Firestorm's Fifth Anniversary Party

On Thursday September 3, Team Firestorm, the makers of the popular Firestorm viewer, celebrated their fifth anniversary. It was a fun-filled event with music, visual performances, gifts for those stopping by, and lots of fun.

Read more in Events.

Veterans Isle Raises Over 65,000 Lindens in Charity Event

On Sunday April 26, Veterans Isle was the scene of their monthly "Homes For Our Troops" live music bennefit. Starting at 5PM SL time, musicians began playing on stage for the audience there.


April 26 is the fourth benefit for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life for the year 2015. We continue to "soldier on" to help the severest of our wounded Veterans. And we have a great lineup for your listening pleasure! ... Come join us and help pay it forward for our wounded veterans!


The event began with DennyMac and Kat Rose singing on stage together. Next at 6PM was James Olmos (AcousticEnergy Nitely). Frets Nirvana, whom helped organize the event, took to the stage himself at 7PM. At 8PM, Seth Regan (Mankind Tracer) took on the last part of the concert. While the benefits usually end shortly after 9PM SL time (Midnight EST), this time it went on to about 9:30PM.

As Seth's guitar fell silent, a total of 62,000 Lindens had been raised. But he and others threw in a few thousand more, for a total of 65,250 Lindens.

ABOUT HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS - HFOT builds homes as a departure point for Veterans to rebuild their lives, and once again become highly productive members of society. Despite their life-altering injuries, many Veterans have embarked on new careers, completed their college degrees, or started families. Empowered by the freedom a mortgage-free and specially adapted home brings, these Veterans can now focus on their recovery and return to their life’s work of serving others. Many have embraced their roles as motivational speakers, sharing their messages of persevering through tragedy with groups and classrooms around the country; others take to a national platform to promote awareness of veteran suicide, homelessness and PTSD. Their incredible stories are the driving force for the work for HFOT. 

To learn more about the Homes For Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org .

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Seth Regan / Mankind Tracer - Behind The Second Life Music"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Mankind Tracer / Seth Regan on July 2012, produced by Kaya Angel,  "Following 20 years of professional touring as lead singer and guitarist for both original bands and cover bands, Seth Regan has been performing live music in Second Life, as Mankind Tracer, since November 2006. In this video, taken from some of his live unplugged acoustic Second Life performances, Seth also shares some of his insights on Second Life and the SL music scene."

Website: http://www.sethregan.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sethreganmusic
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sethreganmusic

Press Release: Gala at the Rose Theater at Angel Manor

TOMORROW ~ Monday July 21st, 1-4 PM SL time

We have an awesome line up of performers for this event
1:00 ~ Xander
2:00 ~ Tamra Hayden
3:00 ~ Mankind Tracer / Seth Regan

ATTIRE: festive
Everyone is invited, please bring your friends

Angel Manor (213/215/34)

A Creations for Parkinson's Team Fox Benefit Concert

Mankind Tracer/Seth Reagan Performs at the RFL Christmas Expo

On December 7th, Mankind Tracer, known as Seth Reagan in real life, performed at the Relay for Life Christmas Expo event. Trying to get over, the sim was packed, with forty-one residents inside, so had to drop in at the one next to it and walk over. Even after twenty minutes, a number of objects, including Mankind's guitar and black hair were still grey to my viewer.

Tens of thousands of Lindens were raised that night, including 5,000 from one generous resident. The Expo continues to December 19th.

Check out Daniel Voyager's article on the Expo, including a schedule of events. At 4PM today, Maurice Mistwallow performs. And on Friday at 6PM are the Avi Choice Awards.

Bixyl Shuftan

Wounded Warrior Benefit Raises Over 300,000 Lindens

By Bixyl Shuftan

On Sunday Nov 25, Patriot Island held it's monthly Wounded Warrior fundraiser. From 4PM to just after 9PM SL time, four live musicians and a DJ performed at the stage in the sim's hangar building. The event was attended by up to a few dozen at the sim at once.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend folks.  The monthly Wounded Warriors benefit is tonight ...and right now Waya Snowpaw is doing it up big time! … Come on out and give thanks by donating to our Veterans and support those who give us our freedom! 

The Lindens slowly built up over time. The cash raised was displayed in the two upside down helmet collection jars on each side of the performers stage. As the musicians played, the listeners danced below. DJ Waya Snowpaw, PonDman Haalan, Paul Nowles, Frets Nirvana & Chapman Zane performed. Frets Nirvana had helped organize the event, on occasion offering to match donations made by listeners, "Got a-ways to go folks. I will put another 1k in if someone else will." Dahlea Milena, who helps run the sim, encouraged people to donate. GJackie Winkler helped give thank you for those donating.

The fundraising goal for the night was 275,000 Lindens, "We have sent over $10,000 RL to Wounded Warriors this year" Frets explained to the audience, "We want to send $12000, we need 275k linden to stay on target."

By 5:30, 29,000 had been raised. By 6, the amount had gone up to 49,000. By 6:30, the amount was over 72,000, which went up to 83,350 in a few minutes. By 6:40 the 100,000 mark had been passed. Donations continued throughout the night. Finally at 8:56 the amount was 271,000 Lindens. Someone then chipped in 4,000 to bring the amount to the 275,000 goal. GJackie Winkler, "Rght now we are at 275,851L, !Wow! You all are so wonderful, big huge huggsss!" Frets Nirvana added, "Excellent, just absolutely excellent folks!"

As the minutes went by, people continued to chip in, "278k!" "Let's see 300K." The musician at the end, Chapman Zane, continued on for a few more minutes, finishing with a "Yehaa!" followed by "Folks, I want to thank you all very much. … you all are wonderful."

The total amount raised at the conclusion of the event was 304,851 Lindens. Following the change of the music stream back to radio, Chapman explained, "I think the WW's program is great. It's a way for us to give back to those that gave for us." Dahlea added, "I think everyone did an incredible effort here tonight. The musicians and their fans are a HUGE part of this, their support for our Wounded Warriors is just so heartwarming and Frets is just absolutely the best at organizing this and putting in so much effort gathering all this great talent and his own time & talent too, I'm absolutely so very very grateful for all the hard work he puts into this." (smile)

For more on the Wounded Warrior Project, click here: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Bixyl Shuftan

Wounded Warrior Benefit Raises 375,000 Lindens

On Sunday May 27th, Patriot Island held it's monthly Wounded Warrior benefit. Held at the hangar bay stage in the eastern part of the sim, musicians performed for the crowd as they donated cash into two kiosks on either side of the stage, resembling overturned helmets. It was Memorial Day weekend, and the bar was set high. It was announced their goal was a total amount of 275,000 Lindens that night.

For the first hour, Avantgarde Frequency performed for the crowd as the Lindens were tossed into the helmet kiosks, strumming his guitar. Then came Frets Nirvana, the organizer of the event, with his own guitar. Following Frets was Voodoo Shilton, and Mulder Watts on stage together. The audience numbered close to fifty residents at times. Among them were CNN iReporter Any1 Gynoid, and two leading members of the RFL Passionate Redheads team, Sabine McGettin and Dusk Griswold.

As time went on, the Lindens piled up. Occasionally someone offered to chip in an amount, such as 500 or 1000 Lindens, if someone matched their donations. "Come on, this is for a good cause guys! Who's gonna match me?" While Frets Nirvana played, the total passed 200,000 Lindens. When his time on stage was up at 8PM, the total raised was a little shy of the goal at 239,000 Lindens.

Then at 8:03, one or two persons chipped in a massive amount, raising the total by 79,000 Lindens "Yayayay! 79 K!" The amount raised rose to 319,000, and the fundraiser goal had been reached, "Did you just say we made 320K?" Over and over again, people were told, "… thanks for the WW donation." "… thanks for the awesome WW donation." The total went up to 330, then past 340 and 350. Finally at 9:20, "Ohhhhhhhh wow! 375,000 total!" "Woot! 375k!" "Great show guys, thanks!" "U guys killed it! Played hard. Thats how i like to hear it! YAY!" "YAAAAAY FRETS!" "That's awesome, 375000. (grins) That's about 1500 USD!!!" "Voodoo, Mulder, thank you both so very VERY much. You guys were awesome tonight."

Frets Nirvana himself spoke, "Excellent folks, just excellent. Just made my Memorial Day weekend, and our vets!

Patriot Island is owned by the US Military Veterans Group. Besides home to a community of vets and the location of public events, it is in part a memorial site, a replica of the Tomb of Unknowns in the center. So visitors are asked to be respectful while visiting. The Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit group devoted to "honor and empower wounded warriors" of the US Military. The Project "began when several individuals took small, inspired actions to help others in need. The resulting objective was to provide tangible support for the severely wounded and help them on the road to healing, both physically and mentally."

Bixyl Shuftan

Occuplaya Opens

At 12 Noon Friday April 27th, "Occuplaya" opened up at Burning Man Deep Hole sim. The Burn2 spinoff event features live musicians, DJs, artists and builds, and more. Gemma Cleanslate was there, and wrote up on this weekend happening.

Read more in Events.

Update on SL9B

It's been about a week since Linden Lab announced they would not be holding a Second Life Birthday celebration this year, saying they would be leaving it up to the residents for events. Someone has come forward announcing she would be holding some.

Enter Kalli Birman, known as Brandy Maltas in real life and the manager for SL musician Mankind Tracer. On her Facebook page, she made the following announcement:

"Since Linden Lab is not hosting an SL9b (SL9th B-day Event), Seth Regan,/Mankind Tracer in SL and I have decided to coordinate our own. The Tracer/Birman Agency will be producing the SL9B Street Fair and Pub Crawl. The event will be held June 19th-24th, 6PM-9PM, at six established and respected SL Live Music venues. Participating venues are: Club Graffiti, Gwampa's Dance Kamp, Key West, Boom Pony, Ground Zero and San Diego City."

So far, Kalli is offering "6 days - 6 venues - 18 live musicians!!!" Though it's highly likely more will be joining as time goes on.

For Daniel Voyager's article on the subject: Click Here.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hamlet Au wrote more on his take on why the Lab wasn't hosting an anniversary event this year. In what he called "a harsh but necessary virtual reality check," he noted attendance has been declining in the more recent SLB events. Citing statistics provided by Daniel Voyager, he noted that about 38,000 visitors attended the SL3B events when Second Life had "about 200,000 active users… nearly 20% of the total userbase," and in the more recent SL6B, "when there were about 742,000 active SL users, only 17,712 attended … about 2% of the userbase."

Why the decline? His guess was "As SL's userbase has grown, there are fewer SLers who have a deep affinity with SL as a unified virtual community, and more who are just interested in going to their favorite nightclub or roleplaying sim or whatever sub-community they're affiliated with."

Hamlet's post was followed by a few comments. Some more or less suggested that it may not be so much newer residents having less affinity to "a unified virtual community," than residents old and new alike having less tolerance for Linden Lab's policies.

Source: New World Notes

Bixyl Shuftan

"Be Your Second Life" Contest by Jessica Lyon 7 Mankind Tracer

Team Phoenix's leader Jessica Lyon and noted live musician Mankind Tracer are teaming up for a contest: "Be Your Second Life." In this contest, participants are asked to chance their avatar into a form that they've wanted to, but haven't been able to get themselves to do so until now, "Your mission is to turn your avatar into whatever role you've always dreamed of but maybe hadn't had the guts try."

First prize is 3,000 Lindens. The contest is at Club Graffiti in The Village at the Good Day Sunshine sim at (205, 77, 21).

Almost 300,000 Lindens Raised at Wounded Warriors Benefit

On Sunday February 26 at 8PM SL time, there was a Wounded Warriors Benefit Concert at Patriot Island. The event was organized by singer Mandkind Tracer, known as Seth Regan in real life. Mandkind planed to play for at least an hour, with the goal of raising 275 thousand Lindens.

The event was held in a hangar-like building in the center-east of the sim, next to a B-24 Liberator and a WW1 biplane. People began showing up at the event early. One lady who dropped in ten minutes before the start told me it was already starting to get crowded. It didn't take long for the hangar to become packed with over fifty avatars.

Even before the event started, people had been donating. Frets Nirvana announced at the start they already had 106,000 Lindens donated, pointing to two helmet displays on both sides of the stage. Within minutes, the total passed 150,000 then 160,000. And from then on, the amount steadily increased. Both Frets and the head of Mandkind's fan group Kalli "Brandy" Birman continued to encourage people to donate.

To encourage donations, at one point Mandkind began offering a set of three of his inworld CDs to those donating 1500 Lindens, a discount from his normal price. He reminded listeners that one could burn the music onto real life CDs, and listen to his music outside Second Life.

Just before 9PM SL time, the amount raised hit 250,000 Lindens, a quarter million. At 9:07 PM, the total had passed 260,000. Five minutes later, it was 265,000, "So close." Finally at 9:17 PM. Frets Nirvana announced, "Excellent! 275k!" And the audience cheered, "Wooooooot! It's been done."

Even after the goal was reached, people continued to chip in. A total of 288,450L was seen contributed, over 1,100 US dollars. Not everyone at the benefit was American, "I am from Egypt and I am proud to help." Mankind played until about 9:30 when he wished the audience well, and ported out. "Thank you so much, Mankind" one of his fans told him. Some in the audience continued to dance away for a little longer before all went their separate ways.

Patriot Island is owned by the US Military Veterans Group. It is in part a memorial site, a replica of the Tomb of Unknowns in the center, so visitors are asked to be respectful of the fact: no firing weapons and no partisan activity. The Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit group devoted to "honor and empower wounded warriors" of the US Military. The Project "began when several individuals took small, inspired actions to help others in need. The resulting objective was to provide tangible support for the severely wounded and help them on the road to healing, both physically and mentally."

"God Bless Our Troops." "Thank you all for coming tonight. Hope you all had fun, and hope to see you next month."

Bixyl Shuftan

Mankind Tracer to Perform at 60 Sim Concert

This Sunday, noted Second Life musician Mandkind Tracer will be making music across the Grid in what is billed as a sixty-sim concert.

"Acclaimed SL musician Mankind Tracer will be playing 60 sims simultaneously on Nov. 6 in what is billed as "the largest ever multi-sim live concert event in Second Life's history." Fifty percent of proceeds at the event, held noon-2 p.m. (Pacific), will be donated to help research for Lou Gehrig's Disease. More info: http://on.fb.me/ru7YM9 "

The Destination Guide lists the main venue at Good Day Sunshine (145, 57, 21)

Linden Lab to Hold Monthly Events Meetings

Effective March 3, Linden Lab will begin holding monthly Events user group meetings for anyone interested in providing feedback and learning about changes to the Events directory.

The first meeting will be held March 3 at 2 p.m. (Pacific) and future meetings will be held the first Thursday of each month in the Hanley region:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hanley/159/209/27

Capacity will be limited, so we encourage people to arrive early!

For the March 3 meeting, some members of the Linden Lab events team will be available to discuss current Events listing policies and guidelines.

In subsequent meetings, Linden Lab staff will be taking broader agenda items from the community. You can always stay informed on previous and future meeting notes and times on the following Events User Group wiki page:
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Events_User_Group

I'd like to thank Kalli Berman and Mankind Tracer for allowing me to attend the recent United Music Community forum. Some of the information from that meeting has been passed on to the Events team and many of those issues will be discussed in the first Linden Lab User Group meeting.

Best,

Brett Linden

Winterfest Kick-Off Party

Join your friends for the official kick-off party of Winterfest in Second Life. The opening event, which begins Dec. 10 at Noon (Pacific), features live music from Mankind Tracer.

The event is at the Neutral Zone sim at (136, 136, 60).

(from Destination Guide)