The Kissing Booth brought to Second Life from The SIMS Online nearly a
decade ago. Its objective was to become a local icon through lighting and friendly
club entertainment and has certainly made its mark. Valeria Paster is the
creator and responsible for this a small intimate friendly place. Both Drums, a
great dancer and guru of music along with Valeria Paster represents the joy of
living intensely. Following-up and continuity are important, as well as keeping
promises to become a musical cult and unique club with kind avatars, DJs and
mentors. The Kissing Booth features the kind of attention that is sure to gratify
the most challenging visitor and will certainly stimulate the five senses of
those who appreciate relationships, worthy music, kisses, bites and funny
people who share the same interests.
Valeria is firmly established as an entertainment promoter in Second
Life and it is something that nobody would deny, because she has more followers
and true friends more than most in Second Life. It can be seen by the large
numbers of avatars who gather at the club.
Interview
with Valeria
Bimala:
Valeria, could you tell me about the trajectory of Kissing Booth’s. I know you
started in “The Sims Online”, a highly popular computer game, and then migrated
to Second Life in 2006. Tell us about this amazing historic process.
Valeria: Oct 2003 I downloaded the “Sims online”, when searching for a
place I saw a place called “The Kissing Room” so I landed there. There was a
girl named Sally just building the room. She asked me if I wanted to be a
roommate and I said yes at that time. She was charging like 10 “Simoleans” for
a kiss any way’s then I went on vacation for 2 weeks when I came
back she had changed the name to “THE KISSING BOOTH” and no longer charged
for a kiss :) We were number one romance house in “The Sims Online” after
6 months Sally turned over the “Kissing Booth” land to me she said that it was
me and I was always there running the place for her. She moved on in “The Sims
online” for other avenues, so, I decided to make a kissing booth in Second Life
when “The Sims online” went out of business. I think it was like august 2006. I
made a Valeria in Second Life who was owner in “The Sims online” and along with
my RL Sister Tammie Trottier we decided to buy two plots of land which had
117 prims for each plot. We had total of 234 prims for our very first Kissing
Booth in Second life. We put a kissing booth stand that my friend made, and
asked another “The Sims online” friend to make 4 walls and floor with no
ceiling. However most the people that came to “The Kissing Booth” was
friends from TSO but we continued to make new friends here in Second Life
at that time we just played R&B on the radio but one day we found out that we
could stream into Second Life, so we got a DJ friend from “Sims online”, his
name is DJ Canuck who worked for Volt Radio at that time. Then we
started having DJ's coming in then themes & contests. DJ
Dreams, DJ Pasing Wind, DJ Stella, they would bring their
friends and the friends brought their friends and it just snowballed. This
is how the “The Kissing Booth” got started in Second Life.
Bimala: The
best DJs from all over the virtual world come to Kissing Booth joining the best
club and the best nightlife. Since the
beginning of the Kissing Booth, your venue has been a welcoming “domicile” for
new members and also the best spot to meet and share with friends over the
last 8 years. In this regard, Kissing Booth´s is where many Djs take pride
in sharing music with patrons. Most of them manage their own music collections.
Why is Kissing Booth so successful and how it packs the house every weekend?
Valeria: I feel the “Kissing Booth” in Second Life is unique & we
are PG which it’s safe for just about any age, it’s a small & friendly club,
after myself going to other clubs the KB always feels like home and I have been
told that many times over the years. We have loyal regulars VIPs & STAFF. We
have about 1400 in the group, but over all we are family at the Kissing Booth.
We greet everyone that comes in and make them feel at home. We have many awesome
dances in dance pad, dance balls and couples dances, unlike other clubs you
walk in don't know where the dance balls are, no one greets you. We also give
a little linden love as well with a random drawing, coin tosses, etc.
Bimala: We are individually
responsible for the influences that we apply on others. Noob support is some
kind of social assistance in this virtual world and in this amazing story, Djs
entertainment are the main attraction in your club. We entertain ourselves by
dancing around the fires to the beat of the music or joining the ritual of good
companionship because we all know music is a cultural phenomenon in Second Life.
Please tell us about the huge body of virtual souls congregated in Kissing
Booth?
Valeria: We have awesome DJs who are free to play what they want, which
is many genre and people keep coming back so it tells me we are doing the right
thing. We are almost to 80k people
coming in the KB for the last 5 years. Did not count how many before that
but I think that's a very big accomplishment and tells me we are doing
something right
Bimala: I will take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to those DJS who initiated this noble job and their followers. They deserve our appreciation. You told us about Volt Radio, sparklingly creative community of crazy Djs. “The Kissing Book” supports its own radio. Tell us about the story of “Fly High Radio”.
Valeria: Since Fantasy2u Deere joined Second Life back in 2006, her sole
aim was to share her distinctive style of music with others. By first
gaining experience with her residency at the popular Kissing Booth Club, she
perfected her producing skills. DJ Deere continues to entertain audiences with
her original blues sets, ubiquitous rhythms, soulful melodies and unique
artistry. She raises the bar as evidenced through a simple listen to her
widely-acclaimed radio station, Fly High Radio. So we made her station our own
station.
Bimala: In marketing some
people say that a good name will last. Kissing
Booth is some kind of attraction where the man or women running the booth
aren’t kissing customers for money. Why did you choose that name for your
club? Have you ever seen or participated in a kissing booth? ;)
Valeria: We never charged for kisses but it does make people come in
wondering what a kissing booth is. So they come in and check it out. We are in
the process having a KB event where singles can come in & pay for a kiss...
our club is really PG almost any age is welcome. We make everyone feel welcome
if you are furies, fairy, gay, we do not discriminate in any way.
Bimala: Your support makes
the difference. You have helped so many new residents get a head start in SL. Could you expand a little bit more about this?
Valeria: If a newbie comes in whoever in the club will help them get started
giving clothes, hints where to find stuff on market place or even give them
skin, shapes, hair and a nice outfit. I know when I made my first Avatar in SL
back in 2004 I was a complete newbie for over a year no one helped me and I
almost stopped playing.. so my mission in second life is to help others enjoy second
life as much as I do now... so if you are newbie and need help the kissing is
the place to go... so many people drop in saying someone told them to come
here to get help so I feel we are a first-aid station for newbies :) most of
the newbies will move on after a month or two but to my delight they will
pop in once in a while they never ever forget the KB..Below here are some
feedbacks from a sign I have at the kb for the last 3 months
Definitely KISSING BOOTH is the place to be! Don’t forget to visit this
fantastic club.
https://www.facebook.com/thekissing.booth.5