Charitable thoughts ...

It's a rainy school holiday monday for me, and I am procrastinating about my housework by going over my options. It occurs to me that my SLife is quite a charmed existence. People come to me with terrific ideas, and I get to toss them around and try to make something of them. It's not constant, but it's steady (and thank god, because I have a little trouble with saying 'no'"). As one project draws to a close, there is usually another forming up.

We just finished a fundraiser. I'm not big on fundraisers, they make me a little resentful. Part of travelling light is turning one's head away from things that cause distress. If I start to consider lending my support to one cause, I have to think about all of them, and then it seems there is not one cause that deserves support more than another. I believe I am like most people this way. I can't support them all, so I stick to donating to the ones that capture my fancy on an ad hoc basis.

As I write this, I am aware of how shallow it sounds ... but I still believe most people feel the same way. There's a reason musicians are constantly getting hit to perform for a fundraiser. It's no joke, the musicians I have worked with are hit on daily to give time to this or that cause, and often very aggressively. I understand why - fundraisers need to find that element that makes their event the one that captures the public's fancy. And I totally understand why the performers feel beseiged - which do you say "no" to, how do you gauge worth when it comes to misfortune?

When it came to me being asked to lend my support to a cause, I said yes, of course - I always say yes. So then my task becomes "how do I make my event the one that captures the public's fancy?" I am pleased to say, the choices we went with were successful. We did not raise a lot of money, but I wasn't really expecting we would. We did put on a great event that brought first and second life together in a way that was mutually satisfying, and by doing that, we raised awareness. I have many thoughts on what we could have done differently, but also on what worked really well.

surveying options

Ultimately, I feel honoured to have been asked to be part of it, and proud of what we were able to do. I imagine that is the feeling serial fundraisers get, and, at least for some, the thing that keeps them motivated to do it over and over again. Me? I'm still not big on fundraisers ... and I'll still be supporting the ones that somehow capture my fancy.

Accolades

The following transcript is a speech made by Jewellah Magic at the opening of the new Guerilla Burlesque theatre on September 9th, 2011. It was a little surprise :-D


I have been nominated by the Guerillas to present an award tonight.

Chryblnd Scribe, please join me on stage.

We, your peers are presenting you with this Oustanding Contribution award for your continued contribution to the Burlesque artform in Second Life.

Chryblnd Scribe's contribution to Burlesque venues, troupe creation, special events, promotion and training has left it's mark on SecondLife. Dancers want to be working with Chry, because she raises everyone to another level. She makes any team greater than the sum of their parts. Chry shows us every day, how anything is possible.

Chry is very much a master of her artform. Brought to life each and every week, she immerses us in her curious mind, the one that's perfected the allure of not only her million Linden avi, but that of the stage. She brings out the inner desire in us all to want to be on it, to draw out the heartfelt emotions of an audience, and to tell our story, OUR way. The acts we create are a part of what we've done, seen, felt and sometimes mourned and yeah, yearned for. Acts that are very close to our own emotional journey through this life and the one out there. 

Chry is supportive loving and caring to all of those around her. Chry is the first person you want to hear your idea, and the first person you want to show it off to once you've sculpted, textured, xstreeted, toiled, perfected and listened to the same song 1000 times over. Even if you never display it for all the grid to see, it doesn't matter, because it's her opinion that matters, and when you've created an act worthy of her affection, you know. It's why we're here. It's why we do it. It's also, why you watch. 

Chry, with your mind, your talents, your creativity, and your drive to please others, you push the ones you love to new heights.  The life you breathe into others is the reason Guerilla Burlesque remains innovative and the best growing show in Second Life.

The Guerillas thank you for your contribution in bringing together a group of talented and dedicated dancers and providing the perfect venue for us to perform in. Some of us would never have become dancers without you, and it has become our passion. 

Chryblnd Scribe, your prodigious, ambitious achievements across creative media, breaking technology, and tight friendships make for the most alluring dance of all. 

x Chry, you are loved.

Fuzonacid filmed and created the video on the same night. It is the kind of spare and elegant thing that makes me so proud of what we do, and so honoured to be part of the Second Life community. There is much I ought to say, about the troupe, the new theatre, and the sweetness of life in general, but for this post, I simply want to enjoy the admiration of the people I like most in the world.