Members Jeff da Weasel Posted December 16, 2011 Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 I think all of you have heard me blab about the shows I've done for the past five years in the online virtual world of Second Life. While many of these shows have brought me personal pleasure in the form of fees/tips, in exposing my music to people around the world, and for the general fun of playing live, sometimes there's a much bigger payoff. I make it a point to occasionally do shows that are fundraisers for charitable organizations that I believe in. I've done a number of shows for Relay for Life, the fundraising effort for the American Cancer Society. I've done shows for animal rescue organizations. But perhaps the greatest of these are the shows I've done for Live and Learn in Kenya, a small non-profit organization that directly assists kids in the Rhonda Slums of Nakuru, Kenya, financing their education and feeding. Well, the most recent benefit show I did, last Monday, was a tremendous success, to the point that the kids in the whole school were able to have a "Zak Claxton Meal and Party" today. I just received the pics below, and... gotta tell ya, I got pretty teary-eyed knowing that I helped make a difference for one day in these kids' lives, just by strumming my guitar and singing for an hour (something I love to do anyway). What a great Christmas gift for me! I couldn't ask for anything better than this. I like their drawing of me. Anyway, if you've never done so before, I encourage you to find a charity that is meaningful to you, and see if your music can be useful to them. I promise you, it'll be the best feeling you ever got from your music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ggm1960 Posted December 16, 2011 Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 It don't get any better than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jeff da Weasel Posted December 16, 2011 Author Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 It don't get any better than that. It doesn't. This is bigger to me than any number of platinum albums, screaming fans, Grammys, or the like. I've never been so honored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted December 16, 2011 Moderators Share Posted December 16, 2011 That's amazing! Awesome, Jeff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Beck Posted December 16, 2011 Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 That's awesome in every way! Very cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted December 16, 2011 Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lukenskywalker Posted December 16, 2011 Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 You are a muti-faceted individual....from complex to simple. and the old 'ridiculous to the sublime' cliche' On that day, you were totally Jeff/Zak . Good at ya, brother , and I sure Karma will come back to you and yours. Peace, Luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jeff da Weasel Posted December 16, 2011 Author Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 Good at ya, brother , and I sure Karma will come back to you and yours. You know what, Luke? I find that seeing those happy faces is 1,000,000 times the payment I ever expected. Instant karma. Our old pal Neil Young once sang, "We were right, we were giving. That's how we kept what we gave away." I promise you, I kept more than I gave in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A. Einstein Posted December 16, 2011 Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 ABSOLUTELY MEGA COOL !!! You're a Saint now !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted December 16, 2011 Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 ^^^This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators MrKnobs Posted December 16, 2011 Moderators Share Posted December 16, 2011 Well done, Jeff! Who knew you could buy food with Lindens! Terry D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jeff da Weasel Posted December 16, 2011 Author Members Share Posted December 16, 2011 Who knew you could buy food with Lindens! Actually, Terry, you'll appreciate this. She has it worked out that L$100 (about $0.40 USD to the rest of you) buys one hot meal for one child. So, every $L100 donated is a meal. Easy for folks to understand. My show on Monday raised L$10,900 (about $44 USD), which was just enough for a dinner for all 100 or so kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 17, 2011 Members Share Posted December 17, 2011 It doesn't. This is bigger to me than any number of platinum albums, screaming fans, Grammys, or the like. I've never been so honored. That stuff is fine and all, but this is really where it's at. Congratulations! That is so cool!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goobers Posted December 17, 2011 Members Share Posted December 17, 2011 This is cool and all, but c'mon dude, $44!!!! Tis the season. Chop chop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators MrKnobs Posted December 17, 2011 Moderators Share Posted December 17, 2011 This is cool and all, but c'mon dude, $44!!!! Tis the season. Chop chop! $L10,900 is very good money for a show in SL, and the $44 it converts to is better than average for a solo show in Austin. Terry D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jeff da Weasel Posted December 17, 2011 Author Members Share Posted December 17, 2011 Wow, a meal for a child for $L100 and a good skin in SL costs $L3,000. Enough to feel 30 kids. Something to ponder as we barbie and ken doll ourselves in SL. When I do charity shows, I have a little speech I make which goes something like this... "Now, I'm not telling you people how much to give; that's up to you. I just want you to keep two things in mind. First, that dollar that you'd give to the Salvation Army person outside the store? That's about 250 Linden. Second, I'm looking at some of you ladies wearing little digital shoes that I know cost 500 Linden. I'd think you can throw in at least that so a few kids can get a hot meal." Hey, you know, it works. I don't get to assault people with guilt at my regular shows. $44 it converts to is better than average for a solo show in Austin. If I did the same hour-long solo acoustic show in a coffee house here in the LA area, I might get $15-$20. I think $44 was pretty good for an SL gig. The woman who runs the venue is smart in that she doesn't use the same artists over and over. Hence, each musician brings in his/her own fan base to keep the donations flowing. By the way, she had three acts there that day for a total of L$25,400 (over $100 USD). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goobers Posted December 17, 2011 Members Share Posted December 17, 2011 Wow, a meal for a child for $L100 and a good skin in SL costs $L3,000. Enough to feel 30 kids. Wanna rephrase that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goobers Posted December 17, 2011 Members Share Posted December 17, 2011 If I did the same hour-long solo acoustic show in a coffee house here in the LA area, I might get $15-$20. I think $44 was pretty good for an SL gig. The woman who runs the venue is smart in that she doesn't use the same artists over and over. Hence, each musician brings in his/her own fan base to keep the donations flowing. By the way, she had three acts there that day for a total of L$25,400 (over $100 USD). I think it's totally good. Don't get me wrong. I'm just saying... best thing you've ever done as a musician.. better than a Grammy!!!...SAINTHOOD.... for $44? I realize that's good for SL, and again, I think this is all totally cool, but since this is real charity for real people with real dollars, I think I speak for all of us here at SSS that we spend more than $44 on hookers every day before breakfast. If the point of charity is to do good, win a Grammy, donate $44,000, do more good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted December 17, 2011 Members Share Posted December 17, 2011 :thu::thu::thu::thu::thu: GREAT JOB !! GREAT JOB !! GREAT JOB !! GREAT JOB !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted December 17, 2011 Members Share Posted December 17, 2011 I think all of you have heard me blab about the shows I've done for the past five years in the online virtual world of Second Life. While many of these shows have brought me personal pleasure in the form of fees/tips, in exposing my music to people around the world, and for the general fun of playing live, sometimes there's a much bigger payoff. I make it a point to occasionally do shows that are fundraisers for charitable organizations that I believe in. I've done a number of shows for Relay for Life, the fundraising effort for the American Cancer Society. I've done shows for animal rescue organizations. But perhaps the greatest of these are the shows I've done for Live and Learn in Kenya, a small non-profit organization that directly assists kids in the Rhonda Slums of Nakuru, Kenya, financing their education and feeding. Well, the most recent benefit show I did, last Monday, was a tremendous success, to the point that the kids in the whole school were able to have a "Zak Claxton Meal and Party" today. I just received the pics below, and... gotta tell ya, I got pretty teary-eyed knowing that I helped make a difference for one day in these kids' lives, just by strumming my guitar and singing for an hour (something I love to do anyway). What a great Christmas gift for me! I couldn't ask for anything better than this. I like their drawing of me. Anyway, if you've never done so before, I encourage you to find a charity that is meaningful to you, and see if your music can be useful to them. I promise you, it'll be the best feeling you ever got from your music. Jeff, This is as good as it gets. Proud to say I sort of know you! Keep rocking mate, EB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted December 17, 2011 Members Share Posted December 17, 2011 Just wanted to add, I read this great quote this morning which completely reminds me of your true life experience... "When you uplift how people feel about themselves, you have taken your art form to its highest level." -from The Purpose of Your Life by Carol Adrienne, p. 283 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 17, 2011 Members Share Posted December 17, 2011 Wanna rephrase that? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators MrKnobs Posted December 17, 2011 Moderators Share Posted December 17, 2011 Wanna rephrase that? Guess I read too many Jerry Sandusky news articles yesterday..... Terry D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jeff da Weasel Posted December 22, 2011 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2011 Just a quick addendum: thanks to Craig and the rest of the HC team for including this post in today's "HC Confidential" newsletter. I also let the people who run the Live and Learn in Kenya program know about the post's inclusion in the newsletter. It's easy to assume that "no one clicks those links" or that "no one would make a contribution to a charity based on some random forum post", but the fact is that even a few bucks here and there matters a lot to a little non-profit organization like LLK. Keep in mind that I'm only one of dozens of musicians who take the small effort to perform at their fundraisers, and if all of us could help raise a little awareness and attention, well... good things could happen. Again, many, many thanks to Craig and all of you. Happy holidays, everyone. To learn more or make a donation via PayPal, here's the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John Bartus Posted December 22, 2011 Members Share Posted December 22, 2011 That really is a great story. Congrats on finding a very cool way to use your talents! You are (or should be) an inspiration to us all. :thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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