ongoing in Second Life for quite a few years. One Second Life
CCS (Cover Charge System) for venues and musicians to begin using as a mandatory cover charge tool to hear your favorite performers. In an open letter to residents of Second Life, Mankind Tracer explained how this type of system could be one answer to the increasing problems of venue closings in-world due to the club owners not being able to afford to pay their live performers in addition to the tier costs of running their club. This Cover Charge System would pay both the musician and the venue owner by an agreed upon percentage beforehand, freeing the venue-owner from the burden of paying the musician at all. HOW IT WORKS-- The musician determines the cover charge amount and both venue and musician agree beforehand on the percentage the venue will receive for the show. (Mankind's letter suggests that a $500L cover charge might be appropriate for his performances, with a 20% split going to the venue.) The system would be set up prior to the event and once activated, continually scans the club area for non-paying residents, as well as logging paying residents into the system. As residents enter, the CCS sends them a message asking them to pay the cover charge. If they do not pay, predetermined security personnel receive notices of avatar names who have not paid. These security personnel will send the non-paying resident several warning messages asking them to pay the fee. If they fail to pay after numerous warnings, the avatar will be ejected from the venue. CRASHES -- All paying and non-paying avatar names are kept in the system until the owner clears the list. If an avatar crashes, they can return without repaying. Likewise, if the sim crashes, they do not have to repay when they return. MONIES -- The performer determines the cover charge amount. And the percentage that the venue would receive would be entirely up to the musician and venue owner to predetermine. In this sense, the venue owners no longer have the burden of paying the musician. FIRST TEST -- At Thursday's first test of the system, Mankind Tracer set the cover charge for one linden and performed for two hours at his "Sweet Spot" venue. A considerable crowd was on hand, with several well-known musicians and managers also in attendance. The crowd asked questions in IM and on notecards and Mankind addressed each one in between songs. While the system seemed to work well for this first 1L test run, the true test would be to actually charge 500 Lindens and see what the crowd does or doesn't do.AVAILABILITY/COST Once the system is tweaked and more test runs are performed successfully, the system would then be made available. Whether or not there will be a cost associated with acquiring the actual system hasn't been determined yet. RAISING CONCERNS Several concerns are evident. New residents do not have lindens to spend, especially for large cover charges. Residents who normally would frequent several shows in one evening may only be able to attend one show depending on the cover charge rate. Residents are less-likely to tip if they are charged the initial fee to get through the door. Sim owners would need to "parcel-off" their club/venue in order that the stream isn't broadcasting throughout the entire sim and also so that the Cover Charge System scans only the club/venue parcel area. The obvious issues of performers losing their fan base, not making enough money if people don't choose to attend, and even the pinch some residents may feel at losing the control over freely tipping... is of serious concern. Time will tell how this proposed system will or will not become an active part of the SL music scene. One thing's certain... people are sure to make their voices heard on the issue. But that's the great thing about Second Life, we still have a choice, even with a cover charge system.by Mystique Sassoon
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