RL & SL Builder, Singer, Songwritter Singerman Marquette
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I would like to introduce many of you to Singerman Marquette. I say many because quite a few of you may already know him as the M&M malls owner, but may not realize he has a great voice and performs “country rock” inside Second Life.
Singerman Marquette, aka J. C. Jones, is a home builder in lower Alabama, near the Gulf of Mexico. J.C. and crew did a lot of rebuilding for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. J.C. came into Second Life about six months ago, after reading magazine article, and decided to give it a try. You might say he was lucky by befriending Elieser Tandino, a builder and scripter, who took Singerman under his wing and taught him the basics he needed to become a Second Life builder, and builder he did become. Singerman has the M&M malls; both a mall for mens items only, and one for womens items only. As every man in who looks for clothing fast discovers, mens clothing is far more difficult to find, and that fact alone made M&M men’s mall a great success.
Singerman is very active in Second Life, not satisfied as builder and performer of live music, he also races at Silver Motorsports and produces customized M&M Designs cars. He is even doing a custom build now for priviate island owner, not to mention the verious activities he participates at clubs and such. “since I stay away from clubs in RL now:)” states J.C.
J.C.’s music interest begin before the age of three, singing in church, and started on the guitar around the age of twelve; when his father took an old guitar as a barter from a man needing gas money. The night his father got the guitar, he sat down with J.C. and laid out a blues riff, and J.C. figured, “I can do that.” From that old acoustic J.C. headed to the electric/“gotta head-bang” stage full circle back to the acoustic and country music. Most of his 35 years have been strongly influenced by music, playing everything from weddings to State Fairs. J.C. built quite a local following in the hometown bars until his little girl came along, and he stopped going to bars.
Asking J.C. a few of the standard question I ask he responded:
Weirdharold: What are the benefits you personally receive out of performing live inside Second Life?
Singerman:It keeps my music in shape…like keeping me in practice…and the tips are going towards paying for our SAM, which was around $250US.. I also enjoy performing live. I walk through the crowd and never make a sound, but when I get on stage, Mic in hand, spotlight in my eyes….I come alive. It is a great feeling being on stage in RL and in SL..
Weirdharold: How important do you think interaction performer to fans is in Second Life?
Singerman: I think it is very important to communicate with the audience while performing, They get a nice feedback, and it lets them know you are really there, and not just some recording. I like to mention the tips as I receive them, and the name of the person donating, . That also encourages others to tip as well. The audience is the most important part of any show…without them there, I may as well go home…
Weirdharold: Can you give me a fair way you think you should be tipped in Second Life?
Singerman: Actually, fair is subjective here.. For example, someone tips you 1L…some would assume that that person is insulting them, others might think that the person isnt familiar with the actual value of it, or maybe that is all they have to give… Tips should come from ppl who are enjoying the tunes, or maybe for playing a tune someone requested. .I think fair isn’t the right word in this situation.. I did complain once about a 1L tip, but after some thought, I was convinced that they were just being nice, and I have thanked everyone since for tips, no matter how small.
Singerman has a really nice voice and does some of the older rock songs with a country twist, which makes for very enjoyable listening. Singerman will be performing next at McDunnough’s Speakeasy on February 23, 2007 at 5:00 pm SLT.
February 15th, 2007 • 
Weirdharold • 
