To Survive, Second Life's Modeling Industry Must Modernize and Be Less Drama-Filled Than the RL Modeling Industry (Comments of the Week)

Really interesting conversation over last Friday's post on how mesh has helped contribute to the decline of Second Life's modeling industry. According to SL fashion blogger Alaska Metropolitan (above), SL agencies must transcend the technical limitations of Second Life as a platform and leverage social media more:

I think for the SL model agency to survive in modern times, they'd need to really take a look at what they're offering. In times past, a fashion show was a fun way to showcase an entire collection on release. That doesn't happen so much anymore. It's fast fashion now ;-) with lots of event releases. Fashion shows still make sense for shopping events, charity auctions, etc. But the max number of folks that could TP in and watch a show live hasn't changed! It's still really low. To get lots of virtual eyeballs on a brand, agencies could do more video production, catalogues and lookbooks, etc. I feel like part of the decline is just an industry that didn't innovate as much as it could have.

Reader "Dusky" argues that the real challenge is not so much mesh, as the culture around SL modeling, which seems pretty much like its real life counterpart, except maybe with a little less cocaine and anorexia:

SL modeling is/was a self-important, SL celebrity-obsessed community that grew too fast. The flood of modeling school scams, the constant cliquish drama and infighting, extremely limited work opportunities, and a population of disappointed graduates are why SL modeling is stagnant. Mesh can not take most of the blame.

I say stagnant instead of dead, because a group of creative fashionistas could revive and evolve the modeling scene into what it truly is - a role-playing experience - instead of a viable business marketing service, and eliminate the dependence on designer participation.

I've heard enough stories about virtual modeling drama to think there's truth to the above. For my own part, I suspect SL fashion vloggers on YouTube have mostly supplanted the modeling scene and are the ones doing the innovating now.

Comments

[AJ]

What a sad read.

I do hope agencies can put down their swords and instead put their heads together to figure out ways of revitalizing, reinvigorating and resurrecting the industry.

After all, it would seem to be in everyone's best interest (financial, too).

Not to take anything away from Youtube vloggers - they're great in their own way - but there's nothing quite like being at a live event in-world.