Content competition

Does any other content creator in SL have good relations with thier competitors in SL.

I recently got to meet one of my main competitors in Lights and floors in SL, obviously I cant say who as she was a little scary *hint* but it started out as a nose about and turned around offering friendship to each other. We both discussed what we do and how we do and show off our proudest creations..... then she chanllenged me to make something she was really proud on..... fair enough i cheated a little but still did it.

In a nutshell .... im happy I met her and pleased we have become friends and now we stay out of each others primary markets its like a little guild. As competition in SL is so heavy would other people in similar market to each other bennefit more from communication rather than cloak and dagger..


Marty

now the shameless plug

(Said in a 1940's Pathe news English accent)
SB Lighting Seller of Fine floors and Lighting for all your club needs...maker of the fully interactive Denons and other fine club equipment.

Yes we do have good relationships with a couple of our competitors, one in particular is a lovely guy, often seen posting here on the forums. We got talking when a customer asked us to copy/combine his work with another creators work. Obviously we Im'd both creators and explained the situation and explained to the customer why we could not carry out this work for them. And yes like the OP, ending up offering friendship so we could easily discuss this kind of problem in the future. Personally I believe competition is good, makes all strive to improve our products, and although we may work in the same design fields the styles from one creator to another are very different.

If you have a business in any platform including RL... not knowing your competitors, is akin to not knowing your market.

I know 'of' some of our compeditors, we sometimes have an exchange of ideas or banter, or just a snoop at what the other ones are doing LOL... I also watch many of the hobbist and free doers... either to offer them advice should they want to break into business, or sometimes offer them overspill work. I never think we have 'cornered' the market, but exist in a everflowing and dynamic market, one that requires constant attention. Always trying out new ideas, techniques and expanding knowledge and understanding. This can come not just from clients, but from even those way outside of our market, and the competition as well.

Development, investment and direction isn't just controlled by your potential and existing clients, it has to be balanced by what your perception of your compeditors are likely to do, or haven't done

I try not to look at any one here as competition.. I love meeting other designers and crafters.. Well I just love meeting people in general.. It's my nature.. There are so many great people here.. Amazing what the imagination and a little work can produce..
I wish I could say I had just one certain line that I concentrate on, but I build whatever I fancy any given day.. At any rate, I almost think it would be fun to have a mixer just to meet some of the designers around here.. The ones I have met are wonderful people, and I am glad i got to know them

Yes. I'm friends with quite a few of the other texture artists, and with several other builders. I like helping others, and often find that in explaining a process or a trick to someone else I actually improve my own understanding of the topic, because I have to clearly focus my mind on that specifc task, and take nothing for granted.

I also make my skills as a builder available as a subcontractor to some other builders to help with their work load, and when my own workload gets high, I'll hire other builders, scripters or other specialists as subcontractors on my big jobs.

I have never met any of my competitors, mainly due to not visiting stores with similar so I don't get ideas and everything has to come from my own head.

Saying that, I have met a club lighting owner and he can be a real pain

Most of the kid designers is on speaking terms, at the very least. I'm friends with mosta them (I ain't met 'em all!).

Mari

I am good friends with one of my main competitors and sell her stuff in my shop for 50% of the take. I'm actually considering talking to her about fully merging our talents to create, like someone else said, a little "guild"... It's funny that this topic came up because I've been seriously thinking about this.

I have gone out of my way to search and introduce myself to those citizens I feel are in the same arena and/or service-base as me (both in general design and modeling, as well as particular products I currently offer).

I am always very friendly, and I make sure that I'm not cavalier in my attitude. I always make sure to genuinely compliment anyone I'm competing against, and offer up constructive advice to those that are just getting started in design and modeling.

I love competition. Usually there is more of an inspirational feel to meeting designers who are on the level--there is an unspoken respect. Instead of trying to mimic or sabotage my 'competitors', I more often than not end up collaborating with them.

from my experience teamwork is the best you can do as a creator. often people can build very good, but cant script, or someone is good with textures, but not modeling ect. i think if more creators would form teams, the quality of many products would increase
you can learn a lot from your partners

Yes I know several in my field and enjoy and like them all. I have also been approached by many new people and have tried to always give them advice or tips I have learned along the way. Now a few of those are strating business and ask for advice on advertising or promoting their content - I am no good there - wish I knew the answer to these issues myself. I build what I like and whatever pops into my head and that is my main reward just seeing an idea materialize. And when I see one of my many content creator friends selling and doing well it actually makes me quiet proud that I helped get them excited about building and have enriched their SL experience a bit.

Like one of the eairler posters I try not to visit competitors sales locations for fear that my mind might latch onto an idea and I integrate it into my own work, I always hope that my work is from me and by me and maybe a little original.

I think a big mixer to meet others is a great idea - and I agree that competition causes all of us to strive to make better and be better at business, so it competition is great for SL also

I'd be surprised if this isn't a widely shared view. I think SL scores one over RL in this. We all come from a level playing field .. and few I'm sure are depending on revenue for survival inasmuch that they would in RL.

I nearly posted earlier that as a consumer, I don't consider content creators as competitors. You are options. I've bought much content from many creators, each for unique reasons and never directly compared like for like in the way I'd compare a price of a loaf of bread from the baker with one from Tesco.

When I learn to stop talking so much and start creating something, I'd love to meet and compare notes with others

Rod, do NOT be afraid to visit, study, mimic, or be inspired by another creator--this is what life and learning is all about. Believe me, the top designers in the world were inspired by (even have stolen from) other designers. I mean, in higher education, we learn by studying the best in any given field. The trick is to take from the other artist's design, and make it your own. Study the why's and why-not's of their pieces. We can not learn in a void--we must have something to learn from. That being said, always keep in mind the popular phrase: if you're going to steal, steal from the best.



Bilbo, without sounding cavalier (the word of the day), I do not think we are all on a level playing field. Many of the most noticeably talented artists in Second Life come from trained backgrounds in design, modeling, marketing. They've had many years (decades in some cases) to fool around with 2d and 3d applications. Many years of trial and error. Many years to learn what works and what doesn't. The output of these 'trained' modelers and designers are readily apparent, and can usually be spotted on a dime.

Ah Michael, this post wasn't me. It was my alt .. I really must remember to lock the workstation when I leave the room.


No?


Ermm caffeine deficiency?


Oh, ok .. I *think* ... what I meant with that level playing field was the actual tools within SL.
You start as a nooborn, you have the means to throw together your own simple creations, sowing the seed of creativity and inspiring many to learn more. That you can do this from day one.


Mmm .. no, let's stick with the caffeine deficiency.

I regulally check out my competition, and buy their products to see what they are up to. I've struck up friendsships with a few and pissed a few off by looking around their stores. I look at my competition to see what they are doing to ensure they are not copying me, and I welcome my competition to do the same to me and am happy to converse about our shared business market.

Interesting question!

As others have said, I don't consider other creators competition even if we make products in the same category.

I have some very dear friends who also make clothing and we've met through events, or merely bumped into each other. I don't go shopping or to check out other creators' stores unless invited or we're already friends (mainly a time issue...and I really like to stick to my own ideas).

Many of them are my, "Hey...what do you think of this idea" friends who are honest with me if I need a second opinion on a texture or if I can't get a design to work the way I want it to.

And since we usually send each other our newest creations for support/suggestions/or to brag when we're really proud of our work...I get free clothes, shoes and other cool stuff!

But bottom line is I really like being around other creative people. It can really inspire and motivate if I'm in a slump or not feeling creative at the moment.

Love how Jeza said it..

So true!

~Ari

I know some people who compete with me and I generally get on well with them. I don't generally try to copy things they've done though - I prefer to take things in a different direction so that product diversity increases. Although of course from time to time someone does something which is obviously a really good idea for everything

I am also a bit cautious about doing it too much. The problem is that although it's great that people making things know each other and work together, often the effect of this is to keep newer people out of that market because they feel unable to, on their own, produce work of a similar standard to that produced by a mutual work in a group. (Bear in mind that often they do not _know_ about the group, all they see is high quality existing products.) Of course many of these groups are quite friendly, but they can't possibly guarantee to catch every new person who might want to make something that they're to do with, because no social group can be held responsible in that way. And it's very demoralising for the new folks who lose out as a result of essentially "not being in the right place at the right time". So as a matter of general goodness I prefer to see a balance of content creator social groups against public classes and other more scalable methods for helping people get involved in creation.

I already have planned a designer's 'mixer' of sorts--Stay Tuned!!

I always enjoy meeting any form of competition, it actually relieves a lot of tension on both sides. I'd dare venture to say it's usually one of the best social experiences in Second Life.

im sincerely humbled and pleased to see that many are of the same mind. We arnt all on the level playing field becasue we DO all come from different directions and backgrounds. With different levels of skill and resources. I enjoy seeing what my "peers" do, and sometimes it pushes my skill as I strive to achieve. I remember seeing "house of the deranged" and "viper" when I first started and I was in a gasp at what those guys could do....... now I can do it with my eyes shut...so it has pushed me to be better and has allowed me to realise the ideas that I have in my head.

I do find though that my market is far less "cut throat" than the clothing market .. I have recently seen people torn to threads over opinion from essentially people in the "opinion" business... but I would ALWAYS rather work WITH somebody so we all bennefit than compete and everyone looses.

I agree that it can be disheartening to have items reviewed. I've had friends in tears because someone posted an unflattering opinion of one of their items and it not only hurt business, but made the creator want to quit. When you put so much time, effort and your own personal vision into making something...most can't help but take negative comments personally.

This is how I make my living, so I view this as a business just as I viewed my RL career, but you're right...it's far better to work with those in your field rather than work against them. Having friends who can motivate, support and push you to do better certainly makes it a better experience for everyone involved.

And sometimes you just really need to be around people who understand what you do and can help weather the bad days and cheer you on during the good days.

Good to see there are many like minded people

~Ari

It's unfortunate that people's feelings get hurt. However, let's be honest—when anyone decides to create product for the populous, and then expect us to pay for it, then they need to be prepared to hear feedback. Sometimes this feedback is certainly more tactful than other times, but it is only beneficial to hear honest reviews—both for the consumer and for the creator.

This does not mean you have to accept or agree with every review. Whether it's a negative review or a positive one, take from it what makes you stronger in the long run.

I've had mixed experiences in this area, I've met some creators in my field who are very friendly and we get along quite well, I've met others not so friendly. But often times I think it has less to do with the fact that we compete in the same areas, and more to do with core personality traits. But having my preference, I like being on friendly terms with my "competitors".

Incidentally, I was talking with one of my main competitors last night, who is also one of my best friends (we met through business.) Turns out she's getting an island and wants to make a really pretty Moroccan style build, and we're talking about a partnership. What are the pitfalls here? I'm thinking that I'd hate to lose my "identity" but as I have a fairly steady group membership, I can put out notices and such advertising the new look/feel, etc. Do you guys recommend/not recommend this sort of thing? She and I are thinking that this would create a unified "presence" to the public, and we could work on improving our skills without worrying about playing "keep up" with each other.

I was going to say I don't talk to other builders, except maybe in the building forum, much less competitors.

Then I realized that actually, my main competitor is my partner and best friend. And that's fine with me