Plans are a wonderful thing if you make them

I can't get over how things work out sometimes. Between Friday night and Sunday night, it was a strange and cool journey - really, you just don't know how things will work out. I'm just going to talk about Friday here.

Friday - I didn't mention to very many people that I was home sick on Friday - I won't get into the sordid details, but suffice it to say I was not at my best. In fact, I spent a good portion of my time in bed or on the couch watching TV or sleeping. By the time the afternoon came around, it was closing in on time for Esmi's set at the Wharf, and my set was still far off, so I logged on and got to listen to him spin, and mostly just sit back and enjoy the sounds from someone else's play list that I haven't had the opportunity to hear much lately.

Finn did the heavy lifting as Host, which was fun to watch. And it made me feel better. I think I mentioned in the Wharf blog that at the end of Esmi's set, the crowd started talking about how there wasn't a lot to do, and where could they seek entertainment.. and that's when Esmi and I think Finn gave me a nudge and "suggested" that I start now, and play tunes for everyone. Considering my earlier statement about being ill, I had hardly even started to prep for my set - I had some ideas, but really, I didn't have a lot of idea what I was going to do. But that's never stopped me before. So, I kicked it into high gear, started throwing tunes into the cue, grabbed the stream, and away we went.

I played a lot of requests Friday - and I love doing that, and I love announcing it. Sometimes though I am trying to DL a song for someone, and miss the opening of the song request, because sometimes there's a variable lag between you transmitting it to the stream, and when its actually playing on SL - and that sucks when you're busy and still want to mic an announcement, dedication, or tell someone who requested what.



Something to note - sometimes, its hard to fit requests into your set, if the styles of music (slow, fast, angry, lovey, hard, soft, dance, metal, etc). But in this case, I had a lot of good requests and I picked up on "topical" comments, and moved some songs in as I needed them. I don't think I had more than a half hour's worth of songs ahead of deadly silence at any particular time during the first 2 hours I played. But I will say everyone enjoyed the tunes.
The things I like most about requests - 1) it helps you get to know your audience and what they want to hear, 2) it exposes you to different music 3) Its a danger element because you just don't know sometimes if the song you are putting up is going to be something that fits.
At one point, Esmi and Finn were identical bunnies. It was disturbing. Especially when they started making reference to their ears being semi elongated and such.. I don't know how else to put it, but bunny smex is rather disturbing. I have felt that way since the bunnytube vid on Ches's blog a few weeks back.

Anyway - like clockwork, Malden popped in at the start of the usual Friday 6pm set, and started doing his awesome hosting. And things kept on rolling and picked up steam. We had a great time.

One of the things that happens sometimes is that people start to roll into the Wharf during your set at the end. Now, if you have something planned to do after the end of your set, its great to go ahead and end the set at the usual preset time. But when you have people rolling in, and swelling the crowd, it makes sense to keep going.
And I did that, for another 45 minutes or so.

But eventually, you have to pull the plug. My energy levels started to fade rapidly after 7:30, but I ignored it and kept going for more than an hour, until I started to feel like I did that morning. I realize Mal was very tired, and I should have been more considerate of that.
I consider that a lesson learned on my part, both in consideration and in taking care of myself. Its important to make plans, and sometimes you have to deviate from them, or operate totally by instinct or whatever. But when you do, you leave out important details.

Yeah, Friday was fun, but it felt weird when it ended. But I still love it when a plan comes together.

Friday started out Esmiazing!

Well, I had to think up something that was corney, but cute and descriptive of the start to Finntastic Friday - see, I got off RL work early to come out and hear Esmi play - Its not something I can always do - but I wanted to hear Esmi on the mic.. and it was worth it! The tunes were fantastic, and his voice is so damned smexy I thought I might have to change my undies.
Good crowd too -
And then, there was Hoaghes - excellent set for Hoaghes.. I love his voice, too.. He seems to think he sounds bad, but wow. He's so wrongggggg.. I love the accent.

Anyway, gotta prep for my set.

Finntastic Friday @ The Wharf

Friday night, the last Friday of a cold February - we came, we danced, and I nearly face planted at the end of the evening! XD
WOW - And I was only there for 8 of the 12 hours.. I still can't believe that the time flies so fast!
Basically, when Esmi's set starts at Noon on SL, I am still about 2 hours or so from getting finished at work - that is, if its a normal Friday. Instead, it was an abnormal Friday, and I was held for almost an extra hour - and then I had to finish my playlist and do the things you need to do when you get home from work.

So, despite wanting to be there, I was not at Esmi's set, and I sorely miss not getting to hear him play - but I did see he wisely put the stream info up on his blog this morning. I had the same thought, but I've been slow posting the last few days.

Here's the stream link:

http://81.169.178.84:10000


Anyway - I missed all but the last half hour of Hoaghes set, as well, but I did get to hear his tunes for a while, which was cool to lead in to mine.

I played a good 2 hour set. The crowd fluctuated in size, and was not as robust as I would have hoped for.
Kaj had a special anniversary set to play at a different venue before his set started at the Wharf, so I was prepared to play over to give him time to transport in. As it happened, Kaj jumped in just a little after, and I only had to play 1 song over into his block - the man is AWESOME !
And I want to thank Kaj for helping (and Mal) for helping cover for Chester's absense. Kaj played an extra half hour into Chester's set, which gave me time to put together a play list to cover the 1.5 hours for the rest of that block. Chester's internet had been squeezed by his provider due to, allegedly, all the bunny porn he was uploading to .. where ever you load bunny porn to. i wouldn't know anything about that XD

And then Easton had originally been involved in RL stuff, and I didn't think he'd make it back in time for his set. I considered shutting down early - but the man came through! He jumped in right at the start of his usual set time, and I turned the stream over to him. I covered the hosting for him for his whole set - though I don't know how I managed. I was ready to face plant! As much as I'm a "lend a hand" kind of elf, I had a full day, and those late nights kick my ass. So.. I need to find a host to pair up with him for what I lovingly call the "Graveyard shift"XD

Overall, it was a little slow this Friday, I have to say. But we had a good crowd and a lot of fun. : )
And Dodge doesn't want you to find his blog and read his poetic and random wisdom on life and blogging. He doesn't. So don't follow this link:
http://diss-guys-nuts.blogspot.com/


I've included a pic from Kaj's set. I didn't do a role call, but we have most of the regulars and a few new faces in the crowd.. Pookie and I are dancing back by the sploder, Kev looks like a GIANT! but he's just dancing on air, doing a Finn impersonation.

First shot across the bough?

My freshly minted blog, all shiny and new.. and not a thing to say!
*Laugh*

Don't let that first line fool you.. It just takes a few minutes to get the brain flowing this early.

OK..a blog - what to do with it? Hmm.. populate it with mental meanderings?

DJing, Hosting, and hanging out :
The Wharf seems to be where I spend a good portion of my SL time. Why is that? I ask myself that all the time - and I keep coming up with the same answer - I really love the people that have been drawn to the place. My friends think this place is the best - not just because of the DJs, but the people. Kaj says it all the time in his Wharf DJ notices - "come hang out with some of the best people on SL" .. and he's so right!

I can't say enough wonderful things about Finnegan and Chester, both personally, and as the architects of the Wharf and the Serenity Project (venues like Abduction, Love Shack, and Landfall)- its been an honor and a pleasure to have been adopted into the Wharf Family - I've come to find that its a lot like the Addamms Family personality wise - just everyone is hawt. xD
Finn and Ches gave me the opportunity to start hosting, and I think it's worked out great. I wanted to get more involved, and this was the doorway. I wanted to DJ too, and Finn supported me through that start up. Its been a lot of fun to play my tunes, hang out with my friends, and have a great time doing it at the best place in SL. I really am glad they had the good sense to bring me in.

Esmi and Hoaghes - these guys are excellent DJs and awesome guys. Its a bright spot in my day anytime I get the chance to hang out with them. And I very much enjoy getting to host for them when my schedule affords the chance.

Kaj -a great DJ, and one of the sweetest guys I've met on SL. I could fill up a page on what I love about this guy, and it would only scratch the surface. He's been a good friend, and something of a mentor for my budding DJ career. Ubershawt, smart, funny, and quick to lend a hand in a pinch. Not to mention a twisted sense of humor *laugh* Too bad he's taken - which leads to the next one on my hit parade...
Malden - You can't hardly mention Kaj without Mal.
Mal has been a good friend for a while, and I think the world of him. The combination of smarts, humor (both twisted and goofy), personality, ability, and smexiness makes him a pleasure to call one of my friends.

Buster - I love buster - he's such a quick, funny guy - he's been a wonderful host and is a friend I'm enjoying getting to know. He's done a fabulous job as host for me and everyone he's worked with - I say work - its not work at all - its just another facet of having a good time with good people, and buster is "good people". I can't say enough how much his lunacy brings a grin to my lips.

Charley and Gage - really good people. A wonderful couple. Sweet and funny, but with their own distinct and seperate personalities, and as inseparable as 2 eggs once you've scrambled them. I don't know why the food reference, but - it seems to fit.

Pookie.. hmmm who is this "Pookie" person I have a note to mention? I remember something about him being insane.. that shock of orange hair "Ms Clairol #666" color I believe.. Must be a good reason to mention him. He seems rather intelligent, quick witted, and charming in a way.. hawt certainly.. hmmm well, maybe I'll get to know him better one day. He might be fun for a romp. Who knows - maybe beneath that party boy exterior and flippant irreverancy, beats a heart of gold. Or maybe a disco ball with a beat thumps in his chest. I don't know. I'd like to find out.. one day. Not in a "serial killer, Hannibal Lecter way, but in a .. oh you know what I mean *grin*

The List goes on and on of awesome people...

I gotta stop here for now.. anyone I didn't mention, its not because I don't wub ya, its cause this is supposed to be my blog, not War and Peace. You'll get your turn ! *grin*