DJ Matt Raises Over 110,000 Lindens At The CRFB DJ Competition

 
By Bixyl Shuftan

Matt Carlton, aka DJ Matt, already has a record of being one of Team Sunbeamers top DJs. But her performance at the Relay Rocker's CRFB (Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back) DJ Competition on Tuesday April 13 went over the top. By the end of her one hour event, she had raised over 110,000 Linden dollars. The event was held at Arinultra Cay's Pond Stage.

"100% of the dollars raised in-world goes to the American Cancer Society," Trader WHiplash would say, "with the lions share going to fund research. The Society currently funds nearly half a billion dollars in research grants. Other funds go to maintaining patient services and to helping our global partners around the world.  Some of it even comes back to Second Life, where the American Cancer Society region  is THE Official 'virtual office' of the Society, offering residents support, information and other resources to aid them in fighting and avoiding cancer. The American Cancer Society is one of only 2 charities officially 'vetted' by Linden Lab and all donations are directed by secure scripted kiosks and vendors to the Society's own Avatars and Accounts."

Matt had some personal reasons to Relay, notably her grandmother whom had passed away from cancer. Plus earlier that day, she had gotten some bad news. One older family member over the weekend was tested for cancer, and he'd just gotten a phone call that the results were positive. So from her point of view it was a personal reminder how important the Relay was. Her goal for the night was $60,000 Linden dollars, which was both the average raised at last year's DJ competition by each DJ and the most she'd ever raised at an event. A number of her friends dropped by to support her for the event. This included two she met in VR Chat whom had only just come to Second Life. 

Matt's usual appearance is that of a "tigersune," an anthro half tiger/half nine-tailed fox. Normally it's reddish-orange. But due to a "Bid Me" event she took part in, she had pinkish fur for the event. Her music included a number of country tunes, among them, Randy Owen's "Braid My Hair," "When I'm Gone," Randy Travis' "Forever And Ever Amen," and others.

The money started going in right away. Trader announced he was adding 1000 Lindens every 10,000 Lindens starting with 5,000. And in ten minutes the total had passed the 40,000 Linden mark. By 7:20, her goal had already been passed with over 65,000 in the kiosk. At 7:28, the total was up to 75,000. Sienna (Sienna Thor) then challenged the crowd to get the total to 90,000 and she would add in 10,000 more. That was reached at 7:49, and with Sienna's addition that made for reaching the 100,000 mark. But that wasn't the end as the money kept coming. "How high can we go?!" Trader challenged.

Finally the hour was up, and Matt had passed 110,000 Linden dollars raised. "L$110,205," Nulaa Maracas cheered, "$440 US in an hour!" A friend of Matt's commented of her grandmother and other family, "They would be watching you Matt, watching you from above and so happy. ... My Nan would be so proud of you Matt too since she does this stuff too and I help her."

Amazingly, Matt's total wasn't the highest of the DJs in the competition. One other, Stormy Dench, raised 200,000 Lindens.  There are five more left to go of the thirteen DJs in the preliminary rounds. If Matt remains among the top four, she moves onto the semifinals. But having raised over $110,000 Linden dollars, she has raised more in just one hour than many Relay teams raise in the entire season. Which makes her, as well as her Team Sunbeamers, a force to be reckoned with.

Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan
 

The "Bid Me Bald Game On, Cancer Team Challenge"

By Bixyl Shuftan

The Relay Rockers are known for their "Bid Me Bald" events, which have inspired numerous spinoffs over time. But this year, instead of individual Rockers putting their curly locks on the line, they've made it into a competition.  From April 8 until today April 19, they and several other teams were in a friendly competition to raise Linden dollars, pledging that the one in last place would give up their hair until the Relay Weekend.

I had a chat with Trader Whiplash-Ballinger (Trader1 Whiplash) of the Rockers just as the event was starting. "They (the kiosks) will be here for the next 10 days," Trader explained. When I asked him where the idea for this event came from, "We have always done challenges, couples going head to head, different RFL people. We retired the regular 'bid me bald' events partially last season and completely this season. But we wanted something to continue its legacy. After the success of 'Bid The Lindens Bald,' we thought perhaps the same format would work with teams. We also thought it would give some of the teams a boost in fundraising."

Several teams responded to the Rockers' challenge, "We have eight teams plus the Rockers of course, and the RFL Season Leads:  Adam, Ari, Gem, and reportedly Sting." When asked, Trader stated the Leads count as a team, "We've been trying to get Sting's hair for years!" So what were the other teams saying? "I can't speak for Sting, but the other teams all think its an awesome event.  Those I have spoken with are all looking forward to tomorrow. Let's face it, the first part of fundraising is FUN, and this is a fun event for everyone."

Seeing a t-shirt and hat nearby, I brought that up with Trader, who commented, "Hey you weren't there if you don't have the T-shirt! And if you're gonna be bald you need to protect (your head), so we have hats too. And every team gets a can of Turtle Wax SPF 50! Tazzie Tuque made the shirts again this year.  And they are only L$150 in an RFL vendor."

Trader has been busy lately, "These days and those too!  (laughter)  It never stops.   CRFB Top DJ is underway too.  But I will say overall the Rockers are taking it a little slow this year.  Most of us have been Relaying for a very long time.  Losing Ertina took some wind out of our sails, I am not 100% and a few others have had personal issues in the other world, so its not going to be a 'Rockers' year. None the less we will do what ever we can to assure the season is a success with Relay."

As of Friday, April 17, the totals of the teams were as follows:

People Are Rainbows   L$4233
Team Wishing Star   L$4250
Mieville Steampunks   L$6462
Relay Rockers    L$6719
RFL Season Leads   L$8560
Heroes Helping Heroes    L$9000
Cure Chasers   L$10050
Roos With a Dream   L$10051
Relay For Christ   L$ 40552

The kiosks are open until 4PM today, Sunday April 19, when the final totals are calculated, and the team in last place owning up to their promise for haircuts.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Arinultra%20Cay/180/46/27

Bixyl Shuftan

Some Relay Events This Week

This past week, residents by the hundreds have been heading to the Second Life Birthday. But that hasn't been the only thing going on. The various teams of the Relay for Life have been having a number of events. They had too many for this reporter to cover, but one could drop in on a few.

On the evening of June 18, Team Shadow held a "Masked Ball" above the Silver Creek sim, of which Victorian or fae looks were suggested, or a mask of some kind. I ended up wearing the glasses I had gotten from the SL13B from their Press Day.

Skylark LeFavre, the events coordinator for Team Sunbeamers, had been appearing at a number of events other teams were holding, especially those in which other teams were able to rezz their kiosks. The Sunbeamers got about a couple thousand Lindens from the event.

IshtarAngel Micheline took some pictures of her own, which can be read (here).

On Sunday June 19 from 3 to 5PM, Team Sunbeamers held a brainstorming meeting about what their campsite on the Relay Weekend in July should be.

On Monday June 2oth the Bonanza Country Club at Eternity Isle held a "Line Dance" party which was
"BYOK" or "bring your own kiosk." The Sunbeamers made a heavy presence there.

Wednesday June 22 at 4PM was the "Bid Me Bald" that week for the Relay Rockers at Arinultra Cay.

During this past week, I've been participating in the Relay Rockers' 'ORIGINAL' BID ME BALD Fundraiser to support The Relay For Life of Second Life & the American Cancer Society.  I would be honored if you would make a donation on my behalf to help. As a BID ME BALD participant I am offering my hair to help find a Cure For Cancer.  My haircut is today at 4PM slt!        
Come bid, com watch, come party to classic rock!

The event raised about 55,000 Lindens, which meant the victim/volunteer, Stevie Basevi, would be sans hair for 11 days.

June 24 was a much needed event for Team Spirit of Sherwood Forest. Last month, the team made news when one of it's officers, Nikolai Redmayne, had been among those killed in the plane crash in the eastern Mediterranean Sea last month. And on Friday June 24, starting at 12 Noon SL time, an event was held in his honor at the Skybeam Stowaway sim. Zander Greene was the DJ for the first few hours.

As time went on, the amount of Lindens in the kiosk grew. After just over an hour, 15,000 had been raised. By 1:25PM SL time, the season total had reached 75,000, "WE HAVE A NEW BRONZE TEAM!!!!!!!"

At 3PM, Amethyst Starostin took over as DJ. The event was attracting avatars of all kinds from Rowena Dubrovna's tiny otter to Oldesou Eldemar's Dinkie tiny, to Sidonie Carlberg's sugar glider, to Avariel Falcon's dark unicorn, and more. There were a number of subjects brought up, including when talk of 80s music led to what one girl described what happened to her in May 1980, "I was in Nebraska at the start. And then Mt. St. Helens blew its top off. And then a friend and I drove my old Ford up to Washington State to do some camping." "-after- the mountain blew?" "Yes. It was rather dusty up there. Spokane, Washington had several inches of volcanic ash on the streets."

Eventually, Amethyst announced, "Ok folks, I would read this to y'all but I'm crying and can't talk at the moment.  For those of you that did not see this notice from Aphrodite Starr, one of the captains of the team we're doing this for:  Aphrodite Starr - "I just got off the phone with Nikoli's husband, he was in tears about hearing of all of your kind hearts doing this today. the djs, those hosting, and all of you donating. he asked me to pass on that he loves you all and thank you so much!!  From our team, from the bottom of my heart and that of my teammates, thank you so so much!! GO RELAY!!"

The event soon had some visitors in the form of a couple workers from Linden Lab's Department of Public Works, Magic and Ancient Mole.

The event was a big success, more than doubling the team's total of the year, bringing it to 117,100 Lindens.

Later that evening was the start of  Team Harmony of Hope's third Annual Halloween Weekend. At 8PM, they held a costume contest/line dance party.

There were some spook-tacular looks there, from zombies, to sorceresses, to mummies, vampire bats, and more.

The winner of the contest got a 500L gift certificate.

Be on the lookout for more Relay events every week, to the Relay weekend on June 23 and 24.

Bixyl Shuftan

Relay Events: Garth Brooks Tribute Concert, and Nevar Lobo's "Bid Me Bald"

Last Friday May 6, Billy Stevenson (Billy Ixito) and his Country Rebels band did a Garth Brooks Tribute concert for the Relay for Life in Second Life. They performed 3000 meters above the OD Designs sim. They money raised was for Team Harmony of Hope.

Random Darrow was with the band on stage as the drummer as they performed a number of the country musician's songs.

At one point, the stage was aflame as a pyrotechnical display of flames went up around the musicians, "Wait! I forgot my fire extinguisher!!!" "Burn it down!" "Ahh the smell of burned hair." "Once I set my beard on fire pretty good. That was a pretty ugly scene."

Several thousand Lindens had been raised at the concert. At the end, the band called for the survivors and caregivers in the crowd to come on stage, Billy saying, "ON BEHALF OF ALL THE COUNTRY REBELS  AND MYSELF WE HOPE WE PAINTED A PICTURE OF CANCER!" Over six thousand Lindens were raised for Team Harmony of Hope that night, "Thank you everyone for your awesome donations. Every Linden counts!"

* * * * *

On Wednesday May 11 at 4:30 PM, the "Bid Me Bald" for the week at Arinultra Cay Beach for the Relay Rockers took place. This time, it was Nevar Lobo whom would be putting his curly locks on the line. With his hair longer than some ladies, it would be a more drastic change than for most other males (except perhaps for furs), "Wow - some nice hair Nevar." "That's a lot of hair."

To Nevar's surprise, real or feigned, it was Jill Mackenzie whom was handed the scissors, "Oh my God! NOT JILL!!" Jill took the instrument of hair removal with laughter, "Hahahaha! Payback. You are so in for it now." "Oh damn, I know." "Remember all those insults Nev? And all those snide off hand comments?" "Lord have mercy." People dropping in suggested there might be a little history between them, "Oh em gee, they gave Jill (the) scissors??" "There are fresh packs of sutures in the kit Jill." "I only had a few drinks they are not so bad,"

And so Trader began playing the "Hair" song, though it was suggested "When You Get a Haircut" by Ray Stevens would be better due to the first being associated with Fuzzball Ortega's massive wig worn at some Relay events. Then Jill grabbed at a chunk of Nevar's hair and began hacking away with the scissors, "HEY!!! CAREFUL WITH THOSE SCISSORS! MIKA, HELP MEEEE !!!!!" Jill grinned devilishly, "Oooo, I so love Karma." "SOMEONE SAVE THE HAIR!!! PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! .... Oh gosh why did I sign up for this?"

After some minutes of Jill hacking away, she finished the job with a rusty Bic razor and a bit of wax, "Now I need a polishing cloth. ... Polish that egg up," Nevar rubbed his now hairless scalp, "Oh Lord have mercy! I need sun screen quick!" People whom were egging Jill on tried to cheer up Nevar, "Not just any head would look that good bald." "Bald is sexy." "Looks good." One begged to differ, "Nevar! You aged about two years!"

The event raised 50,501 Lindens for the Relay Rockers, and so under the terms of the "Bid Me," with him agreeing for a day for every 5,000 raised, rounded up, Nevar will be sporting a chrome dome for eleven days.

Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan