Linden Lab Sponsors Live Concert Return of Seth Regan (AKA Mankind Tracer) to Second Life Next Sunday

Update, March 26: Seth just let me know the event has now been changed to be a fundraising drive to help combat COVID-19: "This Return Concert will be a benefit with 100% of your donations going to help the World Health Organization's effort to battle Coronavirus," he tells me. "Please consider making a donation. [I] will not have any tip jars at the event, but there will be clickable banners to the WHO donation page at the event. You can also click here to donate directly to WHO." 

Here's the kind of live event we haven't seen for quite awhile in Second Life: This coming Sunday (March 29) at 2pm Pacific, musician Seth Regan (known as Mankind Tracer in SL) is returning after a long absence from the virtual world to perform live in a four sim-wide concert.  The temporary sims come courtesy of Linden Lab, which is also promoting the show on its official social media channels and in the SL viewer itself.

The sims are not live on the Second Life grid yet, so follow Regan/Tracer's Facebook page for the SLurl when it's available, join his in-world group "Friends of Mankind", or click this Destination page.

Mr. Tracer amassed a relatively large fanbase within Second Life in his heyday there, but hasn't performed in SL since 2016 -- and that was for a fundraiser to benefit the children of his good friend and manager, after she tragically lost her life to cancer. Late last year, however, he approached Linden Lab with the idea for this month's free show [now a fundraising event to help the fight Coronavirus -- see update above] with any event donations going half to the American Heart Association and half to his mother, who suffers from heart disease.

Tracer tells me Linden Lab was happy to help sponsor the show with the free sims and promotion:

"I think they were interested in the idea of having me come back as I have had a pretty big following, and offered that my return could mean a bunch of SLers would come back as well, not only to attend my shows but to also rekindle their Second Lives," as Seth puts it to me. "I asked [Linden Lab] to work together on helping me create an event, including generously providing the four sims I planned to hold the event on."

And while the show was planned before the Coronavirus outbreak, Seth Regan thinks we'll see more live music in the virtual world as real shows are cancelled: "A lot of people are looking for something to do now," he says. "I believe SL has already seen an uptick in concurrent users as well as former members making their way back." (This is true.)

"I believe SL remains a viable outlet for real life musicians to reach their fans around the world."

Comments

[Tzeitel]

If supported by Linden labs 100 percent of proceeds should be going to a registered charity.

[Liz Harley]

Agrees with Tzeitel. If supported by Linden labs 100 percent of proceeds should be going to a registered charity. Shakes my head.

[DupliCat]

I think it's wonderful that LL is backing a charity. HOWEVER... I agree with both Tzeitel and Liz. Many of us have sick family members too (children, parents and siblings). Would Linden Labs also support us if we were willing to organize charity events where 50% would go to the charity and the other 50% go directly to the suffering family member?

[Tyche Szondi]

I have to agree with the other commenters. There have been huge amounts of fundraising events in SL where LL offered little to no support when organizers reached out. Events where ALL (what's left after LL takes their cut anyway) of the funds raised were being donated to charity. I do not belittle anyone for wanting to raise money for whatever they want, I can always choose not to donate. My problem lies with LL throwing so much support behind this when they not done so for other events that gave 100% of proceeds to charity and were able to prove so.

[Liz Harley]

Wonders when Linden Labs will address these concerns and questions raised by residents.

[tzeitel]

Can you please explain why you keep removing my comment? there is nothing defamatory in it. Just a couple of questions for linden labs.

[JamieLee]

Thank you for changing course and giving 100% to a charitable entity

[DupliCat]

Yes, thank you for listening

[Tzeitel]

It's great to see a change of position and that 100 percent of donations is going to a great registered charity.

[Unfair Advantages]

Linden Lab is not transparent at all in which residents' personal projects they sponsor 100%. How many "businesses" in SL are currently funded by the lab? Just look at what they are promoting, and you will see.