Changes to Event Support

For your information... The 10-Prim Speed Building Contest will continue dispite these setbacks. Details to be provided in the event listings once the dust has settled.

Yes, at least Lindens subsidised (sponsored) events for nothing.

Anshe does it for the "only" requirement for it to be hosted in her malls. Understandable.

But what if... I sponsor events as long as a BIIIIG logo + notecard giver of mine is present at the event (uploaded screenshot "proof" required for payment). Until today, this was not really tempting, because Lindens payed anyway. But maybe, in the future, if someone wants to host events on his own land, he'll accept this advertising clause.

No you don't. You pay for access to Second Life, you don't pay the event organisers to attend their events. There is a difference and never has LL ever said that your monthly fee included free entry to any event run by a member of the community. Ever purchased anything in SL? Why should attending an event be any different than paying for a product in SL?

Me, I'd prefer event hosts to put effort into running entertaining, fun events and charge me entry to that event than put up with an event calendar filled with 99% rubbish. And there will be plenty, such as Siobhan, who'll run cool events and not charge just because they enjoy doing them. That's what we need, not an event calendar filled with the same fake competition at a club.

My monthly fee "covered" the expenses of the LL subsidised events. LL didn't just take that money of the CEO's private wallet, they took that money from the income from premium accounts.

If there would've been a WRITTEN rule that says "you can say Hi to XY Linden and get L$100, daily max once" that IS a thing you take for granted, for included in the monthly fee. When a theoretical thing like that is taken away, you DO get less for your monthly money.

Who will sponsor competitions? Mall owners (Anshe)? If there's a competition of building without money prizes, and one with money prizes, which one will users choose?

I didn't say I wouldn't charge. That said, most events I run these days are parties, done for fun, and you're right, I won't charge.

For contests I might. I'm not as rich as someone like Anshe or Zonax who can sponsor events indefinitely, although, I have in the past (and will continue to) sponsored events in return for advertising.

My premise for contests is for an entrance fee (small) to be used to make up the prize. It'll probably not be enough to make me anything, but that's ok, so long as I don't lose too much. I'm taking a wait and see stance, probably going with a percentage prize rather than a fixed prize. i.e 1st Prize 50% of the fund, 2nd Prize 30%, 3rd Prize 20%. With big attendance, the prizes could get to be a lot more that L$500, though they may be less. I've not yet ruled out keeping 10% or so for me, but like I said, once the dust settles, I'll know better where things stand.

I also will continue to hold Mentor and Instructor events. Sometimes, there'll be incentives as there have been in the past. I don't expect to be spitting out random free money any time soon though, but having said that, who knows, I might be able to soon.

Sio.

part of my post from another thread:

Think REDUCTION not elimination. Yes they are paying for educational events which is great, however, alot of people do enjoy contests & such. So how about a reduction in contest support VS elimination. Cut current support in 1/2 it would make a dent. $125 for hosting fee $250 prize & maybe offer event support 4-5 events a week instead of 7. I think it's something to think about especially since stipend bonuses are also going to be cut.

The other thing is doing this is likely going to result in more mentoring & instructors & their events but I think more people will be doing it with the $L in mind rather then the idea of helping out new residents. Perhaps I'm naive or too idealistic but I hate thinking that L$ should be the only motivation for someone to become a mentor or instructor.

Yup, yet another decline in the seperation of Linden and Citizen...sad sad day indeed.

Shadow

Malana, I've often run mentor/instructor events for which I've not been paid. Sometimes because of other events which draw the crowds, sometimes because of the time of day means there's nobody around... and sometimes (long ago) because they wouldn't support a mentor event when there were no Liaisons on duty.

Some only do the mentor events for the L$. If you're like me however, you do them anyway, and if you get paid, it's a bonus. You get paid in reputation, and I don't mean ratings. I mean real reputation...

So, if you run your own private instructional classes, no support? But if you work for the Linden instructional classes, you get support? mmmm

Right, where to start! They pay the event funds in L$ (not US$, which is what you're paying your monthly fee in). That L$ is taken from the money sinks, such as ratings, L$ land auctions, weekly places listing fees etc. Your fee did not cover those expenses, not in any way, shape or form. There is no connection between the two.

Competitions, events etc. will be either sponsored by the community (such as Anshe's proposal) or a cover charge will be made.

Either way nothing has been taken away from you, you were not paying for the event sponsoring through your monthly fee either way you look at it.

Sio-

I am not now nor have I ever implied that you or any other mentors & unstructors do it ONLY for the $L. That's not at all what I am saying. What I mean is with the changes that are about to happen my concern is this will end up being the primary reason that some people become mentors/instructors now.

I have also ran events without pay. Have also had events that I give away the $ I would otherwise be paid & then some, & at other times I used the earned $ for something I wanted or needed. I just hate to think of it as becoming ALL about the $. You see what I'm saying?

& yes, I entirely agree about the reputation thing (don't event get me started on the so ratings system....pfft)

Sorry, it was the only example I had to hand at the time I posted. The point is that not everybody will charge for all their events, some may charge for all, some may charge for some, some may not charge for any. Your sponsoring for advertising is a fantastic idea. If I was selling in SL any more I'd been keen to sponsor an event for advertising - setting up shop is easy in SL, getting people to know about it is very hard, so sponsoring events is a great way to go.

Indeed, sorry Malana, I didn't mean it to sound like I was taking offence. I can understand your concerns, but I think the Lindens will keep an eye on that.

And Hank, I'd not panic about private classes yet. Wait to see what the Linden take is on that. It may have been just overlooked in the statement. And there's always the cover charge option.

I knew I should have included a smiley in there.

LOL, Siobhan
I'm not rich, at least having L$5000 shouldn't make me
I just wrote down some theories.

Z

NP Sio & I hope you're right that LL will keep an eye on it.

LOL, ok... you know what I meant though. I have a mall. I charge about half what most others charge, or less. I give free-booths to people just starting out... So obviously I won't get rich from it, but it pays it's way, sort of. It's enough that I don't totally rely on stipends.

Yeah, pardon me but I can't say much to this thread because there are a lot of people who got a good start on their finances in SL with this feature, and NOW after working towards being able to enjoy this SAME thing, just now when I am going to try and get started they are going to SNATCH it out from under me (and everyone).

So this *IS* like real life. The Rich get richer and the poor who are trying to get started there is NO way we can compete.

This REALLY SUCKS!

It's an unfortunate side effect, yes. You take away the loopholes that people have used for get-rich quick schemes and it hurts the people who haven't exploited them more than it hurts those who already have.
There are other ways to make money in SL though.

How In The Hell Are People Like Me Suppose To Help Newbies If We Cant Even Help Ourselves! Your Going To Kill Off The Newbies And Players like Me That Help Them!! Stop Thinking About Your ****** Shareholders And Start Caring About The Players!

Can you explain the cause and effect here, as I'm not sure that I follow how stopping event funding is going to lead to "killing off newbies" or players that help them.

And I really don't understand how you can think that dropping the event funding is for the benefit of LL's investors. I didn't realise the investors really needed those L$ event payouts.

I really wish people would start adding some solid reasoning to their vitriol - maybe then others will understand what you're trying to say. All I'm seeing (primarily) is a lot of fluff, bluster and scare mongering and little actual fact or reasoning.

OH BOY! I am not even going to borther with this..........

Strange response - all I've asked is for you to back up your comments with some reasoning, rather than just spouting that the sky is falling. Explain why the sky is falling if you believe it is. Rash statements about killing off new players or those that help them don't further the debate at all if you're not going to back them up with your reasoning as to why you think it will have this effect.

You know we are suppose to stand together on this issue not apart. If you can`t see my point then what can i say? Just don`t flame me gesh..........
I am done with this issue if you can`t be nice to start with.

Why are we "supposed to stand together on this issue not apart"? I don't understand. I don't agree with what you've said (especially as you haven't explained your reasoning behind it), but you seem to think I should? Blindly? Care to explain why?

I'm not meaning to flame you, but you've come on here, posted a wide-reaching statement with every word capitalized, angry smilies and exclamation marks, but not backed it up with your reasons why. You've flamed LL but not said why you've come to the decision to flame them.

How you expect anybody to see your point if you don't explain why you made the point in the first place is beyond me. You're not the first today, I'll grant you. It seems to be the norm over this. Less fact or reasoning, more bluster and anger.