Spotlight on The Woolshed- Ely Catronis Reporting...

 Wandering around in the overnight hours of the Second Life Clock, you don’t often get to find many experiences available to people, and not something like what I stumbled into one evening. I was welcomed into the WoolShed, a unique experience with that Aussie Outback ambiance where you can come together for great music, fun times, and a place to hang out and meet some new friends.  I had the pleasure to sit down with the extremely passionate and personable Owner, Spiker Upshaw for a chat about this amazing and unique experience. 

Interview with Spike (Spiker Upshaw)

Ely Catronis (EC): Hello Spike, thanks for meeting with me today. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind telling our readers a little bit about yourself.  Where are you from and how did you discover Second Life?

Spike: Hello Ely, I am living on the west coast of Australia in a city called Perth. I was originally born in Canada but my family immigrated here back in Nov. ‘72. A bit over 15 years ago I was watching a current affairs program called 60 minutes. They had an article on “virtual worlds” that were becoming all the craze, and particularly featured Second Life. It got my curiosity going but it was a few weeks before I remembered and decided to check it out. A bit over 15 years later, I am still here.

EC: It does have a charm somehow that does draw us in. Curious what inspired you to get into the Entertainment industry here in Second Life?

Spike: I was bumming around SL for a while and trying to find what it was I wanted to do. Well, one thing I have always thought about was owning a Jazz & Blues club and figured, well, I can do that here. So a friend of mine who was also an RL designer offered to build me a club and that club was my first, called Ocean Dreams Jazz & Blues. At the time, I had also become very close friends with a lady who was interested in the club scene as well. So together we started Ocean Dreams which I ran for about 8-1/2 years.

EC: It is always so interesting to hear how people get started and how their journeys develop along.  You started with a Jazz Club, which I still see is there, where did you get the idea of the WoolShed? 

Spike: Well after closing Ocean Dreams Jazz & Blues Club, after maybe 4 or 5 months I went on to build another club, this time a rock club called Aussie Rock or Bust. This went on for about 18 months and I closed another club. After having had Ocean Dreams for so long, I was a little burned out and didn't really get Aussie Rock off the ground. I had a very good friend that had a live music club Kameleonz. She had closed Kamz, as it was known, and we were talking about clubs. I was still interested in the club scene, and live music in SL. So she suggested that we should build something uniquely Australian, and suggested a woolshed. So, I got to building and, The WoolShed was born!

EC: What can visitors expect when they drop into WoolShed? 

Spike: What we like to promote is firstly, the great live music scene that is alive in SL. The other thing that I have always wanted was a place folk could come and relax and have a good time. I am very passionate about music and my love for a very wide range of genres. So that is what we try to give people, a place that provides good music, fun, and some great company with the people who come from all parts of the world.

EC: While touring the Woolshed, I noticed that love, passion, and the unique layout through the variety of areas to visit. Can you explain to our readers what sets the WoolShed apart from the other Venues and clubs in SL?

Spike: Well most clubs are mainly based around one club and venue with maybe a bit to explore. I have always been interested in the creative aspect of SL  and so I love to create. So I figured that what I could give is a place that not only has a great venue but some great places to explore and relax or enjoy some different aspects of my creativity with friends or just on their own. It's an expansion of some of the things I have explored and loved here in this amazing place called Second Life.

EC: How can someone learn about the events that happen around the WoolShed? Where do you post your events?

Spike: We post our events on SL events and I try to do posts on my Facebook page, as well as some other group pages, and The WoolShed, also has its own FB page. I have an ad running in another magazine that is printed every month. I have also placed ads on some advertising boards in various places around SL and of course I have the club featured as a pick in my profile.

EC: That will help our readers keep in touch with you. Can you tell us a little about the talented staff you have here? 

Spike: With "staff" so to speak, there are a number of positions in the club group like the talented singers who are the club entertainers known as WoolShed Shearers, a manager known as a Jillaroo, our Blogger, myself known as Boss Cocky, and the most important member of our staff group, our host, Aurora. Aurora has the title of Woolie Jumper (host) and Jillaroo Trainee, and she is critical to the club's function. A good host needs to be friendly & welcome folk into the club, they need to be chatty in local which will help people relax and enjoy their time at the club. Aurora does all of that and more and that is what makes her a great host.

EC: Sounds like you have a great variety of people there and Aurora sounds like a wonderful resource. Are you hiring at the WoolShed?  If so, for which positions and how does someone apply?

Spike: We are continually looking at new singers and looking at what more we can offer people who come to visit the club. At the moment I am looking for a couple of blues singers that could complement our Blues event held every second Sunday. They can contact me, my partner Pandora or our amazing host, Aurora.

EC: Are there other events or activities that the Wool Shed is involved with?

Spike: The club has been a sponsor with groups such as TAO (Together As One) and Camping For a Cure and we hope to expand and continue sponsoring or being involved with some of the worthy causes around SL. If anyone is looking for a sponsor, they can contact me.

EC: Thank you for your time for chatting with me today. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Spike: Over the last 15 years, it has been quite an amazing journey. I would like to thank everyone that supports the club through live music or other events. I would like to thank the singers of past and present who have performed at one or more of the clubs I have owned. I would also like to thank some of the amazing people who are or have been some of my closest friends, Aurora, Pyrite Destiny, Whisp Ampan, Harlow Anatine, Mellifera Szondi, Petar, and of course my wife, Pandora who I met here in SL and joined our SL & RL lives. All of these people have helped to make this journey the amazing thing it has become. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Without your friendships and companionship, none of this would have happened.

Additional Information

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hoka%20Hey/152/49/1502

Group: secondlife:///app/group/b8506b45-48c7-d8ec-96b4-26ba3c913900/about

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057233508167

Calendar: The Woolshed Schedule (google.com)

Preferred Contact: Spiker Upshaw