For over 8 months going back to when I started to build PIRANHA, I gave an extraordinary amount of time trying to provide something worthwhile to the SL community. My vision was an electronica club that stayed pure to the music & guests. I committed to making it the best I could, and I did such with no motivation of self-gain, popularity, or profit. I did so altruistically, making my virtual home public and investing not only extraordinary time and effort, but also investing personal finances to support operational costs not covered by donations.
Every donation that was ever made was re-invested into PIRANHA with mission of making it the best club it was capable to become. Every outside gig I ever personally accepted as a DJ was done to help other club owners, many of whom also directly supported or provided help to PIRANHA, and to help the SL music scene. The tips I made as a DJ were either invested back into helping support PIRANHA, or used to tip other DJs and donate to other clubs. At PIRANHA, I openly shared vision that we do the best we can do, while wishing all other clubs best success. I always believed and still believe the collective success of the SL music scene to be more important than PIRANHA alone, and the “best” success of all other clubs to be vital to it. My only gratification was seeing others enjoy themselves and seeing the SL music scene thrive. In committing to provide leadership, I always embraced professionalism, and I maintained any who actively wore the tag of owner, manager, DJ, or host also do the same, whether at PIRANHA or through their personal actions within the SL community.
It is very important to me that I acknowledge everyone else who contributed during this time including co-owners, managers, hosts, DJs, and all our guests. Many have used the words "PIRANHA was magical!" I would like to correct. Without you PIRANHA would have been nothing more than empty 3D model. PIRANHA was not magical. You all were "MAGICAL."
The things that we accomplished at PIRANHA were both remarkable and something you should all be proud. Six days per week PIRANHA celebrated with an average of 12 hours of continuous and uninterrupted live performances by DJs. Like the rest of our family (i.e. managers, hosts, and guests), they came from around the world and from all walks of life. Many quietly were seasoned RL pros, and any who were not I believe we all agree were talented enough to be. I used to joke whenever someone would ask me about having a festival at PIRANHA by asking "What do you mean?...At PIRANHA, every day is a Festival!"
At the time I formalized my decision to close PIRANHA, I neither gave up nor gave in. Realizing there was a problem that extended far beyond just a couple griefers, I assure it was not a decision made in fear. Selling PIRANHA or being forced to operate under different & non-amicable circumstances was never an option. It was a very difficult decision that I stand proud in making, and it was a decision that guaranteed us to all remain proud. PIRANHA became the model and standard for every electronica club, past, present, and future to measure against. The goals I had for PIRANHA were all accomplished months before. At the time of closing, I only had two remaining missions. One was to continue finding ways for PIRANHA to improve and reach out further to both more people in the SL community and those beyond who are on the internet but are yet to discover SL and the music scene here. I still possess my mission of aiding the SL Music Community to do the same.
In closing, I will again address the intangibles that PIRANHA symbolized as being the very most important consideration…the "MAGIC" of each and every one of you. PIRANHA and what PIRANHA symbolized has been immortalized. No one can ever take this away from you, and we will forever be able to remain “PROUD” in our memories of PIRANHA.
Your friend,
Shad Raffke
Owner of PIRANHA
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