I'm posting it here, as the description for this section includes "tips for managing and hosting second life events".
Understand this is simply how *I* do a show, and its been working for me quite well. It might not work for you, I know this. but feel free to mix & match & find what works best for you
Below is my blog entry, raw and unedited. I hope you find it helpful
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In the spirit of current RL events, I'm "Deep Throating" the skinny on how to throw a fashion show in SL.
For those of you who think its a totally easy thing, or that its all fun and games and needs no planning etc in order to pull a good one off:
Think Again.
And btw it IS all fun and games: IF you lay down a solid foundation first.
But just like first life, when you are dealing with PEOPLE and SCHEDULES you gotta have a PLAN.
My qualifications for pontificating on this subject in the first place:
1) I've founded, created run my own modeling agency for about a year in SL
2) I've got a tried and true way of training models or anyone really to be a success on the runway & shoots
3) I've been throwing fashion shows for about a year in SL
4) I've been a clothing designer for about a year in SL (now retired)
5) I have done event planning RL for years and know all about it.
OK here we go. And btw this is gonna be a LONG post (as if mine aren't usually long roflmaoo)
1) First off you are gonna need a designer.
If you are throwing your first show, I suggest using only ONE designer and NOT do a showcase of designers. See the end of this posting for details on THAT. Its a slightly different animal.
Where can you find a designer who wants to have their own fashion show?
a) Try looking on the New Products section of the secondlife.com forums under Clothing & Accessories.
b) Pick your own personal favorite.
c) Ask your fashionista friends.
Then send your choice a well written, polite and respectful inquiry on a notecard accompanied by an IM to let them know you've sent them a card & to look for it. Nine times out of ten you will get an affirmative. If you get a no-go, try a second choice and so on.
TIP: Do NOT contact more than ONE designer at a time. You will be "stuck" with more than one if you do so. Trust me on this. Get your "no" response first before going on to your next choice.
OK you have your designer on board, what do you do now?
2) Meet with them to find a date and time for the show.
a) This should be a time that works for BOTH of you.
b) Keep in mind the show should be ONE HOUR in length with the designer being able to show up 1 Hour before
showtime. Example: 7pm show time = 6pm calltime.
A show should NEVER be longer than 2 hours! Why?
The lag builds up over time, and anything after 1 hour is getting into the danger zone.
c) Tip: ALWAYS give yourself an extra 30 mins for "emergencies". When you finally post your show on events, tack on an extra 30 minutes. Example: 7pm show time = listed as 7-8:30 (Hour and a Half).
d) When deciding on a time, make sure your designer can be there during the whole event. Example: 7pm show = designer present from 6pm - 8:30.
e) Tip: Approach the designer with two dates/times that work for you and see if one works for them. This date should be a LEAST a week from the time you two meet; ;I suggest two weeks if this is your first show.
Now I have my show date and time set - what's next?
Slow down there, cowgirl - some things you need to make sure your designer gets during that first meeting:
2a) Give the designer a clearly written and detailed notecard about about what they need to have ready for the show and when. The notecard should have the following information on it:
a) At the top, a reminder of the date/time of the show and the calltime.
b) The designer needs to have 8-10 outfits ready to be shown. If its your first show I suggest keeping it to no more than 10. On average 15 outfits works ok once you've done a few shows - you can try 20 but I wouldnt recommend it.
(Again, we are talking timing here. 20 outfits is a LEAST a two-hour show IF everything goes smoothly.)
c) The designer needs to prepare a 1-3 sentence description for EACH outfit, if you plan to MC the show. Its a good idea for them to have that prepared in anycase. Cutting and Pasting is faster than just rattling stuff off during a show & typo's can be corrected ahead of time etc. Much more professional.
d) They need to let you know if they are going to need male models.
e) Do your best to secure the information on how many outfits are going to be in the show at this meeting. If you can't get that information, make sure you get it in the next few days, at will help you in deciding a couple things with the models you are going to need.
Oh yeah models! When are you gonna get to THEM?
Right now cuz that's your next step after meeting with the designer.
3) Now that you have your date/time for the show you need to find models who can make that scheduled
Lucky me, I have my own modeling agency, but if you don't, here's a few ways to go about getting models for your show:
a) Go to Find button and Groups. Type in Model or Models and see what pops up. Contact the FOUNDER of an agency that looks promising to you.
b) Let them know you have a designer who is wanting to do a show on the date/time decided, and find out if you would be able to use their agency for the show. There might be fees involved, I don't know. Research it out and find the one that suits ya. Most will do the show if you give mad props to the agency in any ads and event listings for the show. (Which you SHOULD do anyhow).
c) Ask your fashionista friends. They might know a few agencies that you can contact, or reccomend ones they've seen pulling off kick ass shows.
d) Throw an event or post a listing in Classifieds forum section asking for models. This is your last resort as you'll generally get a HUGE response and have to take the time to whittle it down to the few you need for the show.
e) Tip: Do your homework! Go to some fashion shows, check out the modeling agencies, look at the models, see how things are run. Is it organized? Are the models trained? etc.
Alright, so how many models am I gonna need?
Good question! The easiest solution is to have half as many models as outfits.
10 outfits-5 models; 8 outfits-4 models etc.
This is just a framework, as you will see there are always circumstances that can throw that nice and perfect setup out of whack. But do your best to get that combination.
MAKE SURE ALL THE MODELS CAN BE THERE FOR THE FULL TIME REQUIRED:
In our example that would be 6pm - 8:30pm
TIP: Leave the payment and compensation up to the agency you choose. Each has its own methods. Some models get paid per show, some get paid via keeping the outfits only and so on.
Sometimes the designer will tip/pay the models after/during the show; Audience members might tip as well. Either way that's not your department.
OK Got designer, got models, got date/time for show - I can relax how right?
Wrong.
4) You are going to need a PLACE to have the show! Here are some tips in selecting a good venue:
a) LAG FREE NO LAG LAG FREE NO LAG OMG NO LAG! If at all possible choose a venue that's as close to an open field as possible. You can build a runway and put down seating quite easily or IM me for a prebuilt runway and low prim seating.
b) If you don't happen to own a low-lag venue that would work for a show then ask around. Or post an inquiry in the Classified on the forums. There are a lot of event spaces around available for free or a modest rental fees. Again research them out.
c) Check out the place first. Go there when its empty and see how it feels in terms of lag. Go there when an event is going on and see how the lag is. There's always gonna be SOME or a LOT when many avs gather in one area - this IS SL after all. But if you can't move, or type or attach things, or change oufits, or SEE - you might want to try another venue.
d) Many modeling agencies have their own venues, and using theirs might be a part of the deal for using their models - that can be way cool and cut down the headache of finding one yourself. Again do the research.
c) Make certain that whatever place is picked that is IS going to be available to you during the date/time of your show.
Great! Got designer, got date/time, got models, got venue ~ I'm soo gonna need to take a nap now!
Yeah I feel yer pain but you got MORE stuff to do. Lets talk about deadlines shall we?
Deadlines that you need to have in place in order for the show to go down:
Lets use a week's timeline as an example for what stuff needs to happen when. Your show is gonna go down on a Saturday evening at 7pm. And we begin our example on the Monday before the show:
a) Get a logo texture from your designer ASAP (Monday or Tues before the show) and create a nice invitation/dispensor. I have examples of what those are if you got no idea what I'm talkin about.
b) No later than the Tuesday before the show, post up the event in the inworld calendar.
Even if you don't have all the information, this serves as a "place holder" as that list reads top to bottom, first come first served, and you want to be as close to the top in your time slot as possible. Simply put the name of the designer and "More Info Coming Soon" in the body of the posting.
However, be SURE to fill in the details as SOON as you get them!
Even if the event is on Mature land: Do NOT list it as mature unless the clothing show is such. (Showing nipples and coochie/crotch areas to be specific). A sheer top here and there doth not a mature show make.
NOTE: If you ARE gonna throw a mature themed show umm PLEASE make sure that the sim where your venue is going to be IS in fact Mature rated.
c) On the Wednesday (3 days) before, confirm with the agency that the (number of models you need) are going to be there. Remember its numbers not personalities. If they report a certain model can't make it, ask for them to simply replace with another.
d) On Thursday before the show (or two days before etc) send out the invitation: to the designer and let them know they can pass them out to whoever they wish.
You send out the invitation to the folks who you think would enjoy the types of fashions being shown. ie potential customers.
As in RL, in SL throwing a show is about getting the designers name out there, and making sales, and customer and fashion community contacts. I'm being honest and real here folks.
Be select in whom you invite.
Also it doesn't hurt to invite folks you know who are going to make a great audience sales or not.
Send the invitation to the Founder of the agency you are using and encourage them to invite their contacts to come see the show.
e) on the Friday before the show (the day before) double check that the venue is all set up and ready to go. Double check with the designer that they will be present the following evening at the calltime.
If you are MCing the show, get the description/show order notecard from them at this time and go over it and correct it for typos, grammar etc.
Also check and correct for first person references. Example: Change "I designed this dress blah blah" to "
designers name here) designed this dress blah blah"f) On the morning of the show or late night before post an event announcement in the Special Events area of the forums. You can copy and paste from your inworld listing if you want, just make sure to include the time/date/venue name, sim and landmark coords. Keep an eye on it during the day and bump it up if necessary.
IMPORTANT
g) ALL of the models need to be there by the calltime ie one hour before the show. Same with your designer. For our example, that would be 6pm. The designer will be handing the models their outfits to wear at this time. Establish a cut off point - for our example it would be 6:30.
Any models arriving after that won't be in the show.
I can be firm with this rule as its my own agency. You might not be able to do that, but you gotta TRY.
If a model is late, place her towards the end of the first run, allowing her time to get changed.
Be flexible with the show order and let the designer know if you need to change it due to models not being there or coming late. The designer should NOT throw a hissy fit about this. We are dealing with PEOPLE within a VR setting: Anything can happen or not happen.
Ignore any tantrums and just continue with the show prep.
ALWAYS START THE SHOW ON TIME
10 mins after the posted start time is the max leeway in any situation. Reputation is everything. You get known for late starts you will always have stragglers not bothering to show up till 20-30 mins after start times, and you will lose the audience towards the end, as you start to drag past the posted end time.
Holding up a show for a late model is not good practice in my opinion. The show must go on. Holding up a show for a late designer sometimes cannot be helped, as they have the outfits for the show.
No designer = no show.
However, you can get the outfits from them the day before if you wish. You should have the show order and descriptions already and can keep things running etc. Sometimes RL happens, sometimes technical diffs happen etc.
These choices are things you need to consider ahead of time, and can even let the designer/models/agencies know your policies on this well beforehand. Again it can be fun and games, but you need SOME sort of structure and basic guidelines for things to happen.
Designer Showcase Fashion Shows
Not to be tried until you've gotten a few shows under your belt.
As you can see you will have more than one person to coordinate all of the above with.
If you attempt this: start small! Limit yourself to THREE designers with THREE outfits only from each.
That gives you 9 outfits and a nice tight lil show to kick you off in this area.
TIP:
2 designers = 3-5 outfits each
3 designers = 3 outfits each
4 designers = 2-3 outfits each
5 designers = 2 outfits each
6 designers = 2 outfits each
7 designers = 2 outfits each
8 designers = 2 outfits each (recommended 1 outfit each)
9-10+ designers = 1 outfit each
Model Wrangling and the Details on How to Run the Show Behind the Scenes
I have notecards on this and IM me inworld if you'd like to have them.
Those cards are basically how to run a modeling agency, and consequently shows and photoshoots.
Each person has their own style and ways of running an agency.
If you're interested in how I run BC Models Inc. I'm happy to send you the folder of notecards.
You can run yours the same, and/or adjust my methods to suit. I'm not hiding anything here: I'm SHARING.
Knock yourself out. Have a BLAST!
I have gotten MOST of the stuff down here, but I've been merciful on my 5 readers, and really I left out SO much. But I hope yall get the idea and if anyone ever asks about a how-to you can send them right to this posting.
As a general rule I DO NOT do training on this, so have them read this first and contact me ONLY for the items/info that I've stated throughout this post.
If you're smart, driven and tenacious, I've given you enough to be able to do this on yer own without further assistance from me.
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