I’m currently at Carnegie Mellon University’s Technology in the Arts Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. CMU is my alma mater, and this morning I gave a presentation on Second Life and how non-profit organizations and artists can use the virtual space to expand their audience and create 3D immersive experiences, especially if they’re on a budget. Panel was called The Art of Second Life: Artists and Arts Organizations in a Virtual World.
Meeting places and environments like the Globe Theatre in Second Life can be a valuable investment for a non-profit organization, particularly if the acting organization identifies with a particular physical space (say, a theatre or country). But a good way to begin is to identify your audience within Second Life, find its leaders, and empower them to expand their group. In Second Life, a 16-acre plot of land (a “sim” or “island”) costs $195/month in land rental fees in addition to the $1675 sim purchase price. That’s before concepting, building, or community and event management.
To get started and explore on a tight budget, put purchasing land on hold. You can create a Group with Open Enrollment (~$.50), host events for free at Millions of Us’ Globe Theatre (contact celebrity@millionsofus.com to request space), and make and give away cool items.
The media buzz around organizations and companies entering Second Life has been so great, and I think because of that, it’s really important for an organization to be cautious and really consider its goals. Second Life is mainly 2 things:
1. It‚Äôs a 3D platform open for development (now being called “The Grid”)
2. It’s a community of nearly 10M users
When considering entering SL or any other world, you want to ask the question: Why do you want to enter a virtual world?
1. Are you there to expand your already existing community into a virtual world? If so, is Second Life the right platform for them? (Consider technical requirements for running SL and demographics of your pre-existing community.)
2. Are you there to introduce your brand to the existing Second Life community? Will the Second Life community welcome your brand? (Get an account and ask around first, use the Search feature in SL) Does your brand/community already exist in Second Life? (Don’t alienate a loyal SL community. Find their leaders and help them to expand)
It was really cool to be back at CMU, the university whose Building Virtual Worlds program inspired me to pursue a career in VR development. I had a great time presenting alongside Brian Newman of Renew Media, Nettrice R. Gaskins of Mass College of Art, and SL resident and artist Filthy Fluno. Thanks to Brad Stephenson from CMU’s Center for Arts Management and Technology and David Dombrosky of the Contemporary Arts & New Initiatives Southern Arts Federation.
