Johnathan Hiess Experience : Living Large in SL and RL - Seersha Heart Reporting

            The SL Enquirer has reported on Johnathan Hiess last in 2012 in the story ‘When Second Life Impacts Real Life’.  The Hiess Experience is moving strongly as we check back with the founder, Johnathan, to see what they are doing now.  We started his interview while he was having his hair cut by a very patient stylist, Elizabeth, at Lady Jane’s in Peoria Arizona.  Moving to his exotic beach themed SIM Johnathan answers my questions to catch us up on the Johnathan Hiess Experience.

Seersha Heart:  Remind me what brought you to Second Life to pursue your love of music.

Johnathan Hiess:   What brought me to SL was my company CIGNA.  I was watching medical and news reports on internet addiction.  I saw how heavy Second Life during that era was being trafficked so I wrote a proposal which got approved and CIGNA set up shop in Teen SL.  That's when I created Johnathan Hiess.  I didn't really know what to do with myself in SL until I heard the music scene.  I was a DJ in my teens in the 1980s so I felt a lot of in world DJs were doing it wrong.  I had been around music and live performances since I was 6 years old.  So I had a good understanding of the music scene.

Seersha Heart: In some ways it seems that SL saved your life at one point, correct me if I am wrong....what would you tell others looking for a creative outlet?

Johnathan Hiess:   SL gave to me an outlet with the music to create.  Most veterans like me Diagnosed with PTSD sometimes depend on being medicated.  Music for me is my stress reliever.  When it comes to the Tributes I actually let others take the stage and I just do the music.  I like giving a person who's healthy or with a Terminal Illness a chance at being that one fantasy of being that artist on stage.  I even had one pass away after her performance.  But she lived her fantasy.

Seersha Heart:  You suffered through some very traumatic life events and have PTSD from them...how has pursuing your music changed or not the way you deal with PTSD?

Johnathan Hiess:   As I mentioned about putting people on stage this is what brings me happiness.  If I can put you in a good mood from my Djing, Tributes or Singing and you feel good then I feel good.  SL is what you make of it.  But it doesn't always have to be you at the center of your Universe.  Share it with others and they will do more than put their faith in you.

Seersha Heart: In 2012, SL Enquirer did an article on you and at the time you had a regular presence in SL and your career IRL with music was taking off.  What projects do you have on the horizon IRL?

Johnathan Hiess:  Since the 2012 article I had the pleasure of working with Freddie Cruz.  That led to three RL gigs and several other events.  Eventually I partnered with Gaby Rivera of Lola Entertainment.  I also moved on to State Farm and been very happy.  I have a balance of SL, Music and RL

Note to reader: Some of the RL groups he has worked with include: Cheap Trick, Poison and Def Leppard, Slash, Myles Kennedy, Ozzy Osbourne. See ‘When Second Life Impacts Real Life’ for the complete story of his work with these artists.

Seersha Heart:  What presence does the Hiess Project have currently in SL?  Are you collaborating with Kittie Blessed to bring it to a more regular presence again?

Johnathan Hiess:   The Johnathan Hiess Experience has maintained a steady Presence at Franks Jazz and Franks Elite Jazz.  Often at times branching out to other venues like Playboy SL, Roissy, T&S Speedway/Finish Line, Club Hatsune and OD Designs for concerts that cannot be done at Franks.  And yes there is now a permanent presence of Kittie Blessed with The Hiess Experience.  With Kittie I have launched a new Division called Rusty Violence.  She will handle all the Rock/Metal/Alternative concerts.  Carmen Cardone has taken on the other division now called Center Stage were musicals like Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.  From this a new Experimental division has also been launched named City Park.  That part has already acquired music from Artists like Keith Sweat, RUN-DMC, EMINEM

Seersha Heart:   Your tribute band is outstanding and even has an endorsement as well, true?  Which bands do you do the music from?  I heard  Chris Issak and HIM when I attended the Thursday October 27, 2016 event.

Johnathan Hiess:   What you heard was the band HIM doing their cover of Chris Isaac. Yes the Johnathan Hiess Experience does acquire music from major labels.  That's why the music sounds so good.  Plus I get full concerts.  I do not like that pieced together concerts my competition does.  Plus they use the same music over and over.  There is only so many AC/DC & Nickelback concerts a persons senses can take.

Seersha Heart: You are extremely dedicated to your music and your children are also very musically oriented.  You work at State Farm and didn't you do something for State Farm too?

Johnathan Hiess:  Yes I did.  Twice State Farm had me DJ in the work place for Cinco De Mayo events.  Many of my coworkers do enjoy listening to me DJ from Franks Jazz.  Ladies say my voice in seductive lol

Seersha Heart:  I can say that you do have a very seductive voice.  *fans self* Tell me what your children are doing now?

Johnathan Hiess:  Four daughters and one son: 

daughters; Amber (Resides in Utah and works for a Software Company); Rosaliz (Resides in Massachusetts and has completed both Medical School and Residency.  She is engaged and already planning a family of her own); Michelle (Resides in California and recently resigned from Disney.  She is in the process of moving back to Arizona.) ,Justine (Just moved to Texas and is looking to restart her DJ Career there in both worlds) 

son: Hiro - Currently on Tour in Japan.  He will not pursue music after he returns.  Hiro plans on going to the Air Force Academy to become a Doctor.

Seersha Heart:   Your group, The Hiess Experience, is open to anyone to join so they may be alerted to upcoming events.  Are there any special events I should tell our readers about now?

Johnathan Hiess:  Yes, Les Miserables on Black Friday [November 25, 2016].  I figured after a day of crazy shopping and visiting relatives, and kitchen cleaning.  You will be looking forward to a break.

            By joining The Hiess Experience group, you will be alerted to the tribute band productions and any other musical event he organizes in world.  Johnathan is living the dream of success in both worlds finding that perfect RL to SL balance.  I hope you each have the opportunity to see and to listen to one of his productions.  The sound is exceptional and the quality is top notch.

Homepage:  http://www.johnathanhiess.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/603195813189686/

Group:  http://world.secondlife.com/group/3dd06286-a044-2eed-9ab3-23aa496a046b?lang=en-US

Contact: In world N.C.; email: 6025742025@vtext.com

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In memory of Courtesan DeCuir

As the various events for The Relay for Life for 2012 get ready to kick off I would like to share this story with you.

In 2007 one Courtesan DeCuir arrived in Second Life. Courtesan DeCuir who had been a prior cancer survivor took Relay for Life very seriously. One year she did a tribute as her music Idol “Martina McBride” during Relay for Life to help those who were in need and another time we heard Courtesan speak once more through Martina McBride in the words of her release “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”.

Now it's forced smiles and baggy shirts

To hide what the cancer took from her

But she just wants to feel like a woman again

She said, "I don't think I can do this anymore"

He took her in his arms and said “That's what my love is for”

In her time in SL, Courtesan met and eventually married Ortho Vargas. Courtesans’ impact on Ortho was immediate. She mentioned to her friends that her greatest moment was when he took a picture of her hair and with that image he created the REDHEAD.

On the very last day of Relay for Life 2011, Courtesan DeCuir passed away from a brief illness. Her loss has transcended friendship and family.

The team at JCS decided to dedicate the ‘Devoted to a Cure’ logo for the 2012 Relay for Life to her.

The BASS GUITAR is the BC RICH READHEAD. The original graphic in the guitar is of Courtesans hair.

The Four Strings signify the four years Courtesan blessed us with her presence. 2007 to 2011. Each year symbolizing a year. The wings signify her Transition and Ascension into heaven. At the very top behind the neck of the Guitar you will see a heart; the shadows mean that she continues to reach out to everyone. You will also notice two streaks of water; the first streak is to remind us of the tears shed when we learned she had passed away. The Second streak is for the tears shed on the day of her memorial. Behind the wings are linked music notes. These represent the harmony Ortho and Courtesan shared with one another and to remind us of the music that brought them together.

The connected circles you see are really a C and an O = Courtesan and Ortho.

And finally the last partially filled in circle is called the circle of life. JCS believe that it takes a lifetime to really get to know someone, especially when that person accepts your hand and agrees to share that lifetime with you. They also feel that Courtesan was taken away too soon. So they left this circle partially unfinished to remind us all, just how precious life truly is.

Please, if you have the means, give to Relay for Life. No one is promised tomorrow. Only with your help can we give hope to those that are still trying to complete their Circle of Life.

Dedicated to Courtesan DeCuir by

Johnathan Hiess, Jenna Coppola, Tari Ember and the Entire JCS Family

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