Interview with Tuna Oddfellow

Tuna Oddfellow is known for a number of things, such as having won the "Second Life's Got Talent" show by NBC in 2007, and being part of the content creator rights movement that rallied against Linden Lab's changing the terms of service at their expense in 2013. But what he is best known for is his unique performance in Second Life, the Odd Ball. Just before his tenth rezzday on August 15, Second Life Newser had a chance to interview him. He would talk about his early days on the Grid, his partner Shava Suntzu, and more.

Read more in People.

Tuna Oddfellow's 10th Rezzday Odd Ball

Tomorrow Saturday August 15, 2015 marks the tenth Rezzday of one of Second Life's most unique performers: Tuna Oddfellow. To celebrate, he will be holding his Odd Ball twice that day, at Noon and 6PM SL time. Performing the music will be noted Second Life musician Beth Odets.

the Dragonhenge sim at (126, 122, 651)

"An unblown mind is a terrible think to waste."

Tuna Oddfellow to Resume Performances in Second Life

For most of Second Life's history, Tuna Oddfellow has been performing his unique "Odd Ball" performance. Last September, he and his close friend Shava Suntzu closed down their act in Second Life citing Linden Lab's new Terms of Service in regards to content creators. For several months, one had to travel to the InWorldz grid to see their events. Earlier this week, Tuna announced his artistic exile would soon end, and the Odd Ball would be resuming in Second Life.

Read more in Extra.

The Odd Ball's First Event in Inworldz

On Sunday in the virtual world of Inworldz, the Odd Ball, once an event in Second Life, made it's first performance over there. Tuna Oddfellow and Shava Suntzu, along with singer Jana Kyomoon, were all set to perform for the crowd. So how well did the event go, and just how was Inworldz to those at the event just coming over to Second Life?

Read more in Events.

Interview With Tuna Oddfellow and Shava Suntzu

Bixyl Shuftan traveled to Inworldz this week to interview Tuna Oddfellow and Shava Suntzu about their move there following the closing of their show the "Odd Ball" in Second Life. They talked about why they made the decision to move their performance, and why other residents should take heed about the content creator property rights in Second Life issue.

Read the article in People.

The "Odd Ball" Closes in Second Life Due to New ToS

Shava Nerad, known as Shava Suntzu in Second Life, made a post on Google Plus on Monday Sept 23, which Tuna Oddfellow shared on Facebook. It seems due to Linden Lab's new Terms of Service concerning ownership of content rights, Oddfellow Studios, and therefore the Odd Ball, has closed the curtain on it's performances, possibly for good in Second Life.

"Dear Linden Lab -- it's been a nice eight years," her post begins, "but you just broke the social contract with me as a creator in Second Life BIG TIME." Then listed the new part of the Terms of Service in question.


This means that not only +Tuna Oddfellow's art, but the way we present it and the methods of the Odd Ball and the Cathedral Effect that we present as entertainment and therapeutics in Second Life are conceivably Linden Labs' property if we present them in Second Life.  We didn't see this until today, and it wasn't presented to users in any prominent way.  Please consider any presentations we've done since the change in TOS as lacking due notice.

This is heinous and contrary to every aspect of creator centered culture that #lindenlab  and #secondlife  has promoted, and if you don't pull back on this policy I'm going to actively encourage creators in SL to pull out.  

Even if we trusted you (which, frankly, LL has given us reason to not hold perfect trust over the years -- I'll remember the purge that lost us Pathfinder and many other of the Lindens, for example, and gutted support), the company could be sold with our assets as part of the deal and you would have no control over it.

Shava described Oddfellow Studio as having been made "gone pitch dark, with nothing but a notecard giver with this essay on it." She also encouraged other Second Life residents to do the same, telling the Lab, "You really blew it."

She would later make a second post, saying the decision by her and Tuna was a sad one, and one they hoped they could reverse, "We are very much hoping some inexperienced and/or clueless lawyer at LL made a mistake in revising the TOS and it will be revised and we will be able to unpack our stuff back into SL." She, and Tuna on Facebook, stated they would be moving their performance to Inworldz.

There were a number of comments to Shava's second post, including one from Aeonix Aeon, suggesting the ToS change was part of Linden Lab's "long-tail exit strategy for Second Life as a product/service. That doesn't mean I think Second Life is going to shut down tomorrow, but what it looks like is that they are circling the wagons and preparing the lifeboats." There was also a long thread posted in the official forums (Click Here).

The "Odd Ball" has been a one of a kind performance in Second Life, run by Tuna Oddfellow and Shava Suntzu. It's been described in many ways from dancing in a kaleidoscope to a psychedelic trip without the drugs. After several years of wowing both regulars and people just finding out about it, the show is coming to an end in Second Life. Perhaps that will change if Linden Lab changes the controversial part of it's Terms of Service back.

Bixyl Shuftan

Still Odd After All These Years: Tuna Oddfellow's Odd Ball

One of the more unique regular performances in Second Life is the Odd Ball, taking place twice a week. Run by Tuna Oddfellow and Shava Suntzu, it's been running on the Grid for a few years.

For those who don't know, Tuna Oddfellow is a magician in real life, Mathew "Fish the Magish" Fishman. He got attention during Second Life's heyday in 2007 when NBC did a "Most Talented Avatar" competition. "I've got a mission to bring a little magic to everyone's day," he told the reporter then. And magic he has delivered, eventually coming up with the Odd Ball.

Tuna's partner in bringing the Odd Ball to life is Shave Suntzu. They met in real life before meeting in Second Life, and worked to make the show a spectacular performance. The dazzling special effects are more than just a visual treat. In some people, they can produce a "mild euphoric state," others comparing it to "getting stoned." Not everyone reacts in this way, one person I took over saying it just gave her a headache. But they were interested enough to have medical research done on the matter (details in a 201o story).

By 2010 though, the two were more concerned with Tuna's health problems that were taking a financial toll as well. With the help of friends and family, they got through them. Tuna's heath problems haven't gone away, but he and Shava continue their performances on the Grid. Occasionally they have a guest musician, such as Cypress Rosewood.

The Odd Ball normally takes place twice a week on Wednesdays at 7PM and Sundays at 11AM at the Dragonhenge sim at (126, 122, 651).

"It's time to get Odd, Odd, Odd!"

Bixyl Shuftan

A Look at the Odd Ball

It's been a while since I wrote on the Odd Ball. For those whom don't know, the normally twice a week event in Second Life was started by Tuna Oddfellow a few years ago. Assisted by his hardworking partner Shava Suntzu, they have continued to amaze audiences with their psychedelic performances. The dazzling colors actually have an effect on one's brain. While a few guests have to leave due to uneasy feelings, others feel calmer, or euphoric.

Tuna and Shava have had a few problems recently, which they're waiting for further developments before talking in-depth about them. Until then, they'll continue the Odd Ball as much as real-life will permit.

Recently, the Odd Ball has been playing at Dragonhenge (126, 122, 651), usual times Wednesdays at 7PM, and Sundays at 11AM, subject to occasional real-life interruptions.

Some months ago, Chantal Harvey was at the Odd Ball when Tuna had a guest performer: Cypress Rosewood (video 1 minute).



Bixyl Shuftan

Cypress Rosewood to Appear at the Odd Ball

Those familiar with the music scene of Second Life are familiar with Cypress Rosewood, noted for his smooth ambient tunes, and Tuna Oddfellow, whose "Odd Ball" is a stunning visual experience that is one of a kind in Second Life. Normally Tuna and his partner Shava Suntzu take care of the music themselves from recordings. But on Wednesday January 5th at 7PM SL time, someone will be actively making the music: Cypress Rosewood.

Shava called Cypress their "special musical guest ... we're talking about doing one a month. ... It's fun, although it takes a bit more logistics. I wouldn't mind having a guest original artist every show, pretty much, if we could find good matches who were interested."

Shava would have talked more, but was getting busy getting ready for a show.

The Odd Ball is at Research Center (123, 135, 651). The event with Cypress will last from 7 to 9 PM SL time.

Bixyl Shuftan

The Odd Ball on Video

While giving the Odd Ball a quick trip, a friend of the owners greeted me hello, and recommended this Youtube of a show taken several months ago by Leni Foxtrot.

The Odd Ball is run by Tuna Oddfellow and Shave Suntzu, and is one of the more unique places in Second Life to dance, the special effects looking quite surreal.

Update on Tuna Oddfellow of the Odd Ball

Tuna Oddfellow and his partner Shava Suntzu, the owners of the unique “Odd Ball” show, have had some troubled times this year, with Tuna falling ill. Second Life Newser recently met up with them, to see how their situation has changed.

Read the story in People.