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Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Vitali's Restaurant is open for business!
Thursday, August 11, 2022
SPOTLIGHT ON THE ECLIPSE RESTAURANT– A FEW MORE SELECTIONS FOR YOUR DINING EXPERIENCE- ELY CATRONIS REPORTING
This past May, we visited The Eclipse restaurant to take in the exquisite experience they had to offer through their various fine dining experiences. I recently had the chance to stop back over and sit down and talk about the new opportunities and additions they have.
EC (Ely Catronis): Hello Alassra! It is wonderful to meet you and to experience your exquisite fine dining experience here. I know that we have been here before. Would you mind sharing with our readers what drew you specifically into the fine dining and restaurant business?
Alassra (xAlassrax): Hello Ely! Thank you so much for being here today and it's wonderful to meet you as well! That is a great question! I was drawn to the fine dining and restaurant business because partaking in that experience has been one of my favorite experiences so far for me in SL. I fell in love with the RP dining in SL from the moment I first booked a reservation at Serendipity Restaurant, and that was one of the big reasons I started working there too! It was such an amazing experience for me! Unfortunately, they closed their doors this past March, and at that point, I saw the void that was going to be left, and myself and some others decided to work together to try to fill that space as best we could! We wanted everyone in SL to still have that amazing fine dining, roleplay experience!
EC: The last time the SL Enquirer was here you had 3 Amazing venues, the beach, the forest, and the more formal/elegant venue. We are told you added more to the Eclipse dining experience and have great news to share. Can you tell us about that?
Alassra (xAlassrax): Definitely! We have a lot of news! We have added 2 new venues and several new packages! We recently sponsored the Kappa Theta Phi: Mr. & Ms. Aloha Showcase that ran from the 4th - 7th of this month. We are also taking part in the Spoonful of Sugar Festival in Sept. and will be having a new package only available there and 100% of the price goes to SOS!
EC: It sounds like you are SL Community Sponsors around the grid. Can you tell us a little more about the Exclusive New Package at the Spoonful of Sugar Festival?
Alassra (xAlassrax): I would love to! Our Exclusive Package for the Spoonful of Sugar Festival will be something different than our current packages because, unlike our other packages, this one will be more of a 'public' dining experience package! We have several tables set up in a very special location. They are a beautiful "Aloha" Hawaiian type of theme fitting the festival theme this year, and unlike our other packages, we will allow immediate "walk-in" dining after the package is purchased at the festival! This means a client can purchase the Luau package at the SOS festival, immediately head to the LM provided inside of it, and be seated with their party to begin their dining experience!
EC: That sounds amazing. You mentioned you have several new packages. Can you briefly tell us about them and where can we find out about them?
Alassra (xAlassrax): Of course! We felt that we were missing some areas to expand on, as well as potential ways to allow our staff to show off their skills more with the base packages we offered, so we came up with several additional packages to further enhance our services! We have a package tailored for those who love capturing moments by photograph, which gives them a mini photoshoot with their dinner reservation! We also have a package that is aimed at those not as much into the full dining experience, but who love the personal DJ aspect, so it provides them with a 30-minute drinks & appetizers meal, and then they have an hour and a half to dance the night away with up to 6 people in their party! We even added a Bed & Breakfast package for clients who want to have a beautiful and very private, more casual dining experience! Oh and let's not forget our Spa package! This one is my favorite because it is PERFECT for the day or night out with friends/family/etc! It gives unlimited drinks & appetizers served to you and your party while you experience our amazing Dragon's Dream Spa services! Full details on each new package can be found on our website located here - https://xalassrax.wixsite.com/deviantsims/eclipse-packages
EC: The Eclipse atmosphere is already so gorgeous with nature, waterfalls, and lighting. You briefly mentioned that you are looking to expand Eclipse. What more can you add to what you already have?
Alassra (xAlassrax): I am so glad you asked Ely! We actually do have HUGE news on this front! We officially closed the deal Sunday afternoon (August 8) on this expansion, so it is OFFICIAL!! Eclipse has taken over Cova Restaurant! I am not sure how many of your readers are familiar with Cova, but it was this AMAZING restaurant and resort located on the mainland that was owned and operated by Caleb & Kali Colton. It is beautiful and the restaurant is set up inside of a cave!! We did not want to see SL lose this amazing restaurant experience, so Eclipse decided to take it on as an expansion! It is now the Eclipse Restaurant & Events - Kaneana Cavern dining experience! It will provide 'walk-in' immediate dining options, as well as reservations, and another amazing and unique aspect is we will be able to fly or sail our clients in from the airport or public dock locations on the mainland! This expansion is also Moderate in rating, therefore it provides a more family-friendly environment for those with kids! And an amazing mini golf course that can be enjoyed after dinner or while you wait to be seated!
EC: Congratulations! While on the tour around the sim, I noticed a few other activities, shops, and private places. Can you tell us a little more about them?
Alassra (xAlassrax): I sure can! The Deviant Dragon Sim not only houses Eclipse Restaurant but it also is the home to the Dragon's Tail Tavern, which is an amazing biker-themed bar located along the Dragon's Tail Track! We have several regular live singers performing there each month, and we are always looking for DJs and hosts to take up some of our open set times as well! We have a mall that is accepting rentals for anyone looking for a place to set up shop! The Dragon's Dream - Reiki & Tarot Spa is also located next to the mall, and we have several packages and ala carte spa services available there! We have mini golf, bumper cars, an Escape Room, a roller coaster at the start of the track, and a wonderfully fun 80's themed Skating arcade also located along the track!! There is so much to do and enjoy on the Sim, so we definitely encourage guests to explore!
EC: Do you have a niche or role that needs to be filled?
Alassra (xAlassrax): We do! We are currently running our August Amore special event this month and we need participants!! Think of August Amore as Tinder meets Blind Date meets Speed Dating! We are offering anyone interested the chance to get to know others in SL risk-free!! Whether you are looking for love, or just companionship and connections, we welcome anyone to sign up and participate! The only time there is a fee is IF a participant decides they want to actually meet one of the other participants, and our fees for this are very reasonable, lower than our regular dinner for 2 packages! We have a "meet & greet" 30-minute option which includes the roleplay server providing drinks & appetizers for the 30-minute time frame at only 750L$, or a full 1-hour 3-course roleplay dinner which is only 1000L$! We wanted to provide a wonderful way for people to meet each other on SL in a unique and different way than just going to a club or a dating service. So we for sure need participants signing up for this! We have several ladies signed up and definitely need more men! Also are definitely hiring! We have a huge need for Sales Reps., Dining Hosts, Servers, Photographers, and DJ's!
EC: Thank you for your time today. Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?
Alassra (xAlassrax): I feel like we've covered so much, Ely! Yet it always seems like there's so much more still not addressed! I mainly would like to encourage your readers to check out our August Amore event and sign up for it! Details on it can be found here - https://xalassrax.wixsite.com/deviantsims/august-amore-event
I would also like to tell your readers to keep an eye out for our SOS Festival package in Sept., and other special packages that will be coming up for Halloween and more!! We have a lot of awesome things planned to come! And even though I have mentioned this already, I want to again express our need for more amazing members to join our staff team! Especially with our new expansion! Applications can be found here - https://forms.gle/AqgY3uGhEMJ8oMA59
Additional Information:
August Amore Link - https://xalassrax.wixsite.com/deviantsims/august-amore-event Hiring Link - https://forms.gle/AqgY3uGhEMJ8oMA59
Eclipse Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/196102013@N06/albums/72177720300616509 Eclipse Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EclipseRestaurantSL
SLURLS: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/242/21/985
Landing point and guest entry: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/104/43/21
Shops: The Dragon's Dream - Reiki & Tarot Spa - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/105/98/1082
Lunation Shop - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/93/50/976 Dragon's Tail Track - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/91/113/804 Deviant Dragon Mall - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/171/95/1082 Deviant Dragon Beach Entry - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/85/57/21 Milky Way Skating & Arcade - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/93/50/976 Deviant Dragon Beach Club - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/70/200/23
Website: https://xalassrax.wixsite.com/deviantsims/eclipse
Dinner Reservation Form: https://xalassrax.wixsite.com/deviantsims/eclipse-reservations
Policies, package info, etc. can be found on our website: https://xalassrax.wixsite.com/deviantsims/eclipse-policies
Preferred Contact: Alassra (xalassrax) or Ash Sullivan (tiptonik)
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Spotlight on Eclipse Restaurant- A private Fine Dining Experience in SL - SLE REPORTING
Fine dining became a thing way back in the late 1700s in France. A Swiss developer by the name of Cesar Ritz partnered with a prominent French Chef at the grand hotel of Monte Carlo. I know this is useless information for a virtual restaurant but cool facts to know the next time you are fine dining and want to spark up a fruitless conversation. If it wasn't for Mr. Ritz and his buddy Auguste, we might all still be eating with our mouths rudely opened and using our hands being all uncivilized. Here we are almost 300 years later and we now have virtual restaurants where you can’t eat actual food but you can pretend you can and lives your best virtual life being able to afford to foot the bill for yourself and all your friends. Even impress your date with a fancy fine dining experience under the stars.
The SL Enquirer met up with Alassra, the owner of Eclipse Restaurant. It is the newest fine dining venue on the grid boasting a beautiful landscape that stands out in the midnight setting. There are different setups you can choose from, each with its own theme. It’s not open to random foot traffic though. You have to make a reservation!
Interview with Alassra (xalassrax)
SLE: HI Alassra, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Can you tell our readers where you are from and how you discovered Second Life?
Alassra: Hi Lanai! It's a pleasure to meet you also, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today! I am from the US, in the state of Illinois and I have been a gamer for a long time, originally starting back with Ultima Online ages ago! From there I explored various other games and spent a lot of time on IMVU before finding my way to Second Life. It actually took several years and the Covid pandemic for me to find the patience and time to really sit down and try Second Life. I would always get instantly turned off by how difficult, or so I thought back then, it was to just get dressed. However, once Covid hit and shut everything down for so long, I was looking for some form of substitute for some of the things I missed being able to do in RL, such as going out to movies, shopping, dinners, and dancing, etc. That is what brought me to really sit down and put effort into trying Second Life. IMVU lacked that ability to go to a mall and walk around browsing, trying things on, buying what you want since theirs was just a "shop", but Second Life gave that feel of something with a little more realism, since I could go to a "mall" and walk around with friends, trying on different things in a "dressing room", and just have that aspect of Roleplay that helped ease the lack of socializing and activity that RL was missing at the time due to the pandemic. I just wish I had taken the time sooner, rather than it taking a pandemic and shut down of everything to get me to give Second Life a real chance!
SLE: The pandemic has certainly breathed new life into Second Life for many. Since we all have felt the effects of lockdowns. Missing our friends and families and even catching covid or losing loved ones to this terrible pandemic. SL certainly gave many of us a form of social life and normalcy even if virtually. Roleplay Restaurants and dining services are a perfect example and a fun way to be social, go on dates, gather with friends, and even host business meetings. What inspired you to get into the virtual hospitality industry here in Second Life?
Alassra: Yes! They truly are! Especially when RL doesn't always allow for those activities! When Valentine's day 2021 rolled around, we were almost a full year into the shutdowns from Covid. As I was browsing through things on Second Life, I found a post about Valentine's Dinner/Event, and I immediately went to the Sim location to check out the special dinner details. I ended up purchasing not only a dinner reservation for myself and my husband, but also for my sister and her date! I also ended up applying for a job at the business. It was Serendipity's Weddings & Events, and I booked several RP dinner's there during my time on staff. Serendipity's, unfortunately, closed its doors on March 31st this year, and it was that event that convinced me to open Eclipse. I was sad to see such an amazing RP experience go, and while I enjoyed working as a wedding coordinator, it was partaking in the dinners that were my favorite part, my husband and I had several dinners there, we even had a family dinner event this past December that was amazing! I wanted to continue to give Second Life a place that offered at least some of the magic that it would miss with Serendipity's closure.
SLE: Absolutely! Can you tell our readers about Eclipse Restaurant and what services it provides the Second Life community?
Alassra: Oh I would love to! Eclipse Restaurant is a place where you can plan a special night with your partner, your family, or a group of friends. Something that gives more than just a "night out", we give our guests an experience that they will enjoy and remember. We are all experienced in this industry, as well as being experienced in Roleplay, therefore we provide a full service, Roleplay aspect to your night out! Our guests are asked several questions upon booking any of our packages in order for us to ensure that we have all the fine details needed to ensure that we give them a magical evening! We have 3 different dinner venue options to choose from, giving our guests their choice between dinner at the beach, in the forest, or in a more elegant/formal venue. We customize the color of the flower arrangements, and table settings to color(s) picked by the guest, and if there are any special events, we are sure to acknowledge it so that our guests know our staff is celebrating with them! We have several different packages to choose from, and pricing that is fair and affordable! We can also customize packages for our clients, if there are certain aspects they want in one package, but not other items in the package, we will work with each client to ensure that we provide what they are looking for in their Roleplay dining experience! We can serve a small, romantic dinner for 2, or a large group event dinner service! Our staff will always be professional in attire as well as behavior, and they will always provide an amazing roleplay experience. We also have 3 options for arrival to the dinner venue that our guests have picked, including our very popular scenic Steam Coach flight! This allows us to give our guests an even more memorable evening as they are flown over the restaurant in a short little tour before landing to begin their dinner.
SLE: I love that you offer customizable options for your guests. I can see many different ideas visitors can come up with for special occasions. Do all your guests need a reservation? If so, how can they request one?
Alassra: Yes, we do require reservations at Eclipse. This is due to us providing a private fine dining experience, rather than a more public, open dining venue. We want to ensure that our guests can enjoy their evening in a more secluded, intimate environment versus a busy public restaurant type of venue. We do have several ways that reservations can be made - you can purchase your package choice from one of the signs in our shop, or from the self-service kiosk at the shop, which will guide you to filling out the reservation form, either of these options will have a member of staff reach out to you and complete the reservation process. Or you can book directly with a member of staff if one is available at the shop. You can also contact me, or my assistant manager, ASH (tiptonik) in world via NC and we will get back to you ASAP to get your reservation setup! We try to make sure that we have several options to make it as easy as possible for our guests to reserve a night in one of our beautiful dining venues.
SLE: That’s great you plenty of options to make it easy for guest to book their special dining experience. During the tour, I saw you have some private locations for romantic dining. Can you share with us what each one represents?
Alassra: We have 3 beautiful private dining venues for our guests to pick from, and our servers have uniforms that were made with each venue in mind to add to the experience. Our first dinner venue is the Beach venue and it is a little more carefree and relaxing in design than our other venues. It puts the guests up in the air floating near the waterfall, able to view down to the little beach and waterway below. It represents that feeling of class, and formality but with a little mix of carefree and boho added in.
Our next venue is our Forest dinner venue, and it is right in the middle of the forest, hidden amongst the trees, butterflies, unicorns, and just all the magical beauty that nature gives us. It represents the feel of getting all dressed up but in a way to also enjoy and celebrate the amazing beauty of nature.
Our final venue is the Elegant/Formal dinner venue, which sits atop a giant pillar overlooking our large stage area. It represents the traditional concept of the "date night" or "night out", where one would get all dressed up, and go for something formal, elegant, and classy and just pay homage to the traditional "night out" celebration. This allows us to have something for just about everyone, whether they are just looking for a more carefree, relaxing experience, something in between, or the full-on elegant, formal experience.
SLE: All three are beautiful designs! What other amenities and events do you host on the sim aside from a fine dining experience?
Alassra: That is a wonderful question, Lanai! We do have several amenities and events on our Sims. I say Sims because we have a "sister" Sim just below us on the map! The Deviant Dragon Sim hosts Eclipse Restaurant & Events, it also is the home of the Dragon's Tail Tavern, which hosts several live singers regularly including Clairede Dirval, Essence, and Rocky TooCool! We host holiday events in the tavern as well and have various contents there. We also have the MilkyWay Skating & Arcade Hub located on the Sim, and it is getting ready to celebrate an 80's night on the 14th of this month! There will be a Best in 80's outfit contest too! The Deviant Dragon Sim also is where you can find the Dragon's Tail riding track, The Dragon's Dream Reiki & Tarot Spa, Lunation, and several other mall shops! So there is always something to do, from mini-golf and skating, to live concerts, dining, shopping or just relaxing on our Adults Only beach area on the other side of Eclipse! Our sister sim, Deviant Tranquility is an adults-only relaxation experience, with every aspect built with adults in mind. You can relax at the beach, explore the crystal caves, camp out in the forest, or explore your adventurous side at Eden, the BDSM club. So we definitely have a lot to offer our guests! And both Sims do offer event hosting/setup services too!
SLE: Wow you have a lot going on! I love the 80’s so I’ll have to come to those events. Can you tell our readers why you created this sim? Did you see a niche needing to be filled? Or was this just a dream of something you wanted to create?
Alassra: When we started with Deviant Tranquility, it was to create a relaxing, adults-only hub that could be an escape and our own little piece of paradise. As time went on, there was a need for more space and offerings, so Deviant Dragon was created. My husband loves to DJ and loves all types of music, however, he would frequently get frustrated with a lot of restrictions at many clubs already out there in Second Life, so the Dragon's Tail Tavern was born, and became his own little space to host singers, DJ, and hold events and parties at. After Serendipity closed down, I definitely felt the void that the loss of their restaurant services left for myself and others, and that is what led to a more focused drive with the Sim, and a desire to create this place that would provide various activities in one spot, whether it was a date night experience with a full-service roleplay aspect, or games, mini-golf, skating, shopping, dancing, or relaxing on a beach. We just wanted to expand and having 2 Sims allowed this opportunity for us to do so. We have something for everyone essentially! Therefore filling all the little niche areas that we saw needing work, and creating something wonderful we could share with others in Second Life at the same time!
SLE: You and your team did an amazing job creating a romantic almost whimsical destination for a nice quiet evening under the stars. It takes a team of dedicated people to keep things running perfectly. Did you build the sim on your own or did you have a team of people helping? If so, who are they?
Alassra: Thank you so much, Lanai! I definitely had help! None of it would have been possible without my husband, Sarlorn (calimar). He is such a creative person and always has the best ideas for layouts and amazing taste! He is extremely picky so he really takes his time as he works on a project, so everything I found or set up, I would always run by him to get his opinion on. He worked extremely hard on the Sim, and got everything set up with me, every step of the way! My sisters, Scarlet (XxHoneyBadgerxX) and AllieCay Littlepaws were also instrumental in getting things together. They were the ones that encouraged me to give Second Life a try and helped me learn the aspects of Sim setup, and they built Deviant Tranquility in all of its beauty from the ground up to what you see today! They laughed when I accidentally retiled the grass with a shopping ad texture and showed me how to fix it, they never berated me for mistakes I made as I was learning and building, so they were a huge part of getting Eclipse coming to be. I can't forget my wonderful niece, ΛSH (tiptonik), who has been a HUGE help with getting Eclipse going, and the Deviant Dragon Sim put together. She is the Eclipse Assistant Manager, and helps keep my head on straight when dealing with the admin side of things! She helpls reign me in when I get too overzealous with my shopping/decorating ideas too! Ha! She has not been on Second Life for very long, but she has learned so much, so fast, I trust her completely with decorating, setup, running Eclipse, etc.! I also couldn't keep Eclipse going without the wonderful staff team that has stepped up to help undertake this venture - Dr Hikiera (hikiera) and Lunastra Blackwood, two of our servers; cσσкıe Sereηα Mυɴѕтer (cooooookiecrips) one of our amazing photographers; and two of our amazing DJ's, Tαm Lılıth Dαlgααrd (tamiqua.cheng) and ღ Hailey Day Rollins ღ (haileyday). We would not be here without this amazing team of people!
SLE: It is very important to have a “tribe” of supportive friends in Second Life. It can be very difficult having to manage everything yourself so I’m so glad to hear that! Are you currently hiring? And if so, for what positions?
Alassra: We are! We are hiring roleplay servers, DJs, sales reps, and photographers for Eclipse, and we also have spots for DJs and hosts at the tavern! We also have several positions in general for the Sim. Our application can be found at: https://forms.gle/H6ExNeZnrPbjtGsh8
SLE: It was an absolute pleasure interviewing you Alassra, We wish you the very best with Eclipse and your sister Deviant Tranquility sims. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Alassra: I would just like to tell them that if they are looking for a wonderful date night, family night, friends night out, or dinner event of any type to come to check us out! We are extremely flexible and we will do what we can to set up exactly what you are looking for in your dining/event package! We have several other activities on the Sims, and I encourage them to check out both places, and explore all that the Deviant Sims offer, outside of Eclipse Restaurant!
Please provide the below information:
Additional Information:
SLURLS: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/85/57/21
Landing point and guest entry: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/104/43/21
Shops:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deviant%20Dragon/242/21/985
Website: https://xalassrax.wixsite.com/deviantsims
Dinner Reservation Form - https://forms.gle/zRVWwk12nrtsY9Vw5
Policies, package info, etc. can be found on our website https://xalassrax.wixsite.com/deviantsims/eclipse
Preferred Contact: Alassra (xalassrax)
Thursday, March 17, 2022
FRANKS: SERVING THE SL COMMUNITY FOR 15 YEARS – JOSH (THOMAS1 BELLIC) REPORTING
No exposé’ on popular romantic sims in
SL would be complete without including the various iterations of Franks that
are to be found by the intrepid entertainment aficionado. Long a mainstay of the “Fine Dancing” genre,
Franks Entertainment Group, consisting of five separate entertainment venues,
ranks among the finest on the grid.
While attending a Tina Turner tribute
concert a few nights ago, I happened upon Mr. William Zeta, Owner of Franks
Entertainment Group. While Miss Turner
was off-stage changing costumes, I managed to corral Mr. Zeta and ply him with
questions about this most remarkable and Iconic venue.
Josh (Thomas 1 Bellic) (JB)
Hi William. Thanks for agreeing to chat with me. What a gorgeous place
you have here. Frank's Elite has long been iconic among the fine dancing venues
in SecondLife. How did you happen to get involved in this business?
William Zeta (WZ): Thank you very much. Frank's Entertainment
Group (FEG) has a very long tradition in second life. Fortunately, from the
beginning, I've been part of that (some as inspiration but mainly as a silent
partner paying tier fees). For example, folks might not know, Sphynx Jazz Club
was where Nanceee (the original founder and sole owner) first danced in SL, my
home SL became what is Frank's Elite today, and my home's name Chateau d'Sphynx
inspired the name for our famous dining experience—Chateau d'Elite. And, when Nanceee left, she handed the baton
to me.
I'm proud of the history of Frank's
Entertainment Group and excited about the future of Frank's.
JB:
I understand Frank's Elite is not the only venue you manage. In fact, I
have heard there are actually five main venues. Tell me about those please?
WZ:
Frank's has been in existence for 15 years now. We have seen many copy
our name, even use our builds, and tag our name in their social media to use
all the good nature and experiences we have built over time. But I would like
to clear up some misinformation; all of our venues have been in continuous
operation, are open, and are the first of their kind venues and experiences in
Second Life:
·
Frank's Jazz—This venue is open to all, with DJs,
live singers, and an event or two poolside (don't miss the Playdolls monthly
pool party:).
·
Frank's Elite Jazz—Our private club with events and
shows for members only.
·
Bogart's Karaoke Bar & Cafe—Our fun and
informal space that releases the singing performer in you.
·
Sphynx Jazz—Our small intimate performance
venue, with the tagline, "bring your ID, not your EGO."
·
Chateau d'Elite—Our private dining venue
We also have many smaller spaces to
enjoy from Nina's Hall, Chez Frank, Elite's Chapel, Frank's Jazz Pool &
Beach, etc.
JB:
Surely an operation this size is more than a one-man show. Who are some
of the key folks who help in sim development and management?
WZ:
“Man show” is probably the wrong gender! We have a great team of women
that are inspiring! First is Ms. Persia, our GM, and my right (also left) hand
woman. She has an incredible work ethic and attention to operations that allow
Frank's, to be Frank's. Sphynx Jazz Club is run by Ms. Yukie Le. Ms. Pru is our decorating expert. DJ Patrick
produces CUTS. DJ Filo focuses on marketing. And, our builds are done by Mr.
Wetherby. Ms. Nina, Ms. Tali, Ms. Quinn, Ms. Rosa, Ms. Ninette, Ms. Jenn, Ms.
Rati, and Ms. Jolie are critical parts of our management team. And we're
excited that Ms. Petra Steele recently joined us, focusing on creating new
types of events. Talk about a
powerhouse team! And, of course, our
team is supported by many wonderful hosts, DJs, and live singers!
JB:
So…what is it that makes your venues different from all the other Dance
venues out there?
WZ:
We never forget who is first and foremost in our minds every day. All
our decisions begin with and end with how this benefits those who visit our
venues. In fact, I spend a significant amount of time talking with members
about their experiences. They have taught me much. We know that people feel
better when they leave our venues. It is always reassuring to hear from our
VIPs, members, and guests who say their first or significant second life events
happen at a FEG venue.
Another key difference is that our
purpose is the experience in our venues and the quality of our services. I
mean, look at our team! Have you ever seen a large and talented group like ours
focusing on guests and members? That's their sole job. That's meant to engage
and delight!
Lastly, we invest heavily in developing our own technology specific to our venues. For example, none of the karaoke systems were available as simple and easy to use for streams and voice, so we wrote our own. We use a new event production system for CUTS and new immersive shows. Stop by Nina’s Hall to see what I mean: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Franks%20Jazz%20Club/68/82/24 There is a lot behind the scenes, such as a custom loyalty program--Frank's Star Points, and so much more.
JB:
I understand you also have a Loyalty Program? Tell me about that,
please?
WZ:
This is another exciting innovation, and nothing like it existed in SL
before. Today our guests collect Frank's Star points by visiting and engaging
in our venues. You can use those Star points toward services, such as our
award-winning Chateau d'Elite dining experience, Forevermore Weddings, gift
certificates, flowers, and various cute and fun gift items. You use our STAR
point vendors like you would use $L in vendors you are used to seeing. But
that's just the beginning. The future is exciting as we focus on the total
experience and have the capability to build a unique experience for our VIPs
and members. Our guests and members
create value for themselves just by engaging with our venues.
JB:
I imagine there must be a lot of details to take care of in managing an
operation of this magnitude. How do you prioritize them all?
WZ:
Frank's has been great at creating safe and engaging spaces for folks in
Second Life for over 15 years, always honoring our past while innovating and
changing continuously. You know you are successful when there are many copy-cat
clubs out there. We've never worried about copy-cats. Instead, we focus on what
we bring today and how we innovate in the future.
Creating the musical experiences, we
have a great lineup of live singers and DJs that call our venues home. Many
performers partner with us and work collaboratively on supporting and improving
their show in ways that go beyond just their performance.
Lastly, but equally important, is a
safe environment and memorable experience for our guests and members ensured by
our fantastic staff. They make all the difference.
To put it simply, our priority in
order is VIPs, Members, Guests, Entertainers, and Employees.
JB:
And what of the future? Any new developments on the horizon. Or
additional Venues planned?
WZ:
I'm excited by all the focus on metaverses in the tech world. We are in
the initial stages of leveraging the new tech we created last year. We will
push that as far as we can, creating unique experiences! We will be producing
new types of entertainment (more on that soon)! And a new venue? Hmm...
possibly!
JB:
Is there anything else you would like to share with our SL Enquirer
readers?
WZ:
We have some great events coming up!
NEW!! SpinMasters DJ—A fun
competition between DJs. March 27th at 7PM-9PM. Poolside at Frank's Jazz. Smart
casual and swimwear are recommended. You should soon see an announcement of our
competing DJ's.
Saint Patrick's Weekend—Irish fun
from March 17th to March 20th in all venues. It's not just a day for us, but an
entire weekend! Dress like a Leprechaun.
Our 15th Anniversary Celebration.
June 19th at all of our venues! A fantastic run enjoyed by so many guests,
members, staff, and owners!
So, there
you have it folks, Grab your dance
partner – or meet one there – and head on over to a Franks Entertainment Group
venue for what is truly destined to be a Night to Remember. Even if you used to go there, but haven’t
lately, give them a look-see. It will be well worth your time.
Be There!
Aloha!
JB
Franks Jazz http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Franks%20Jazz%20Club/140/128/23
Franks Elite
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Franks%20Place%207/132/49/26
Bogart’s
Karaoke Bar & Café http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Franks%20Jazz%20Club/75/186/24
Sphynx Jazz http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sphynx%20Forest/133/173/60
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/145473596358291/
Twitter https://twitter.com/KittVicy
Flickr https://www.flickr.com/groups/3166621@N23/pool/
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