By Netera Landar
I found out about The Willows through the events directory. Faleen Renard, the club’s owner, mentioned they were hosting a pre-Valentine’s Day event and invited me to check it out, which I did, and I wrote a short article about it. I came back to attend their pirate event. Who can say no to stepping back in time when men and women didn’t follow the rules of social conformity?
Within the large venue, men were dressed in buccaneer costumes, with frock coats, shirts, and breeches, and women in corsets, low-cut bodices, and skirts. The DJ was surrounded by an outdoor market run by pirate vendors, whom you wouldn’t want to bargain with for the best deal. You might lose more than just your coins.
What I like about this club is that almost everyone welcomes you to dance with them. They seem comfortable in the setting and with each other.
Before I learned about the club, I wanted to find out what motivated her to come in-world and what her learning process was like. She said she discovered Second Life through her real-life job.
“I was involved in a project for Teen Second Life, when it existed,” she stated. “I had quite a learning curve back in 2007, because I worked in online community management, but none of it mirrored my experience joining Second Life. It took me some time to convert my mindset from text-based to the visual experience, to experiment with avatars, and also to participate socially. I thought I would be done at the end of that work project, but 19 years later, I’m still here.”
Her exploration in Second Life led her to music venues and social spots. She discovered that she enjoyed meeting new people with shared interests.
“Within a couple of years, I became a hostess at one of the popular ballrooms. I progressed to training and managing the hosting staff and then became a general manager,” she said.
Afterward, she managed several other venues before deciding to open The Willows. Her launch date was Jan. 16, 2012. Faleen said she learned a lot over the years and felt ready to provide the kind of experience she had grown to love. She continues to pursue her goal of “making the club feel like home,” where people feel welcomed, comfortable, entertained, and included as part of the family.
Faleen said that people come in-world for many reasons and like to be entertained in different ways. One of the first people that she met in Second Life was a woman with physical limitations.
“She told me that, in Second Life, she could do all the things she couldn’t do anywhere else. I learned that fun and changing experiences made people happy and kept them engaged. I decided that a themed venue was what I wanted. Music, décor, and style of dress would change nightly,” she said.
Faleen designs and builds her settings and has learned, improved, and expanded what is offered. She’s acted on guests’ requests for specific themes. She credits her dedicated team of talented DJs for knowing what everyone will love hearing, and Steverino and Kylie for backing her up and supporting her, especially when real life keeps her off-line.
So, what themes can you expect there? First, there are “fixed nights.” All-Country Monday, Formal Saturday, and Sock-Hop Sunday. Faleen has numerous settings for these events. The themes are categorized by music, decade, and holidays.
“Specific examples would be 60’s (Feelin’ Groovy,” Woodstock, British Invasion), Disco, several 80’s styles, Biker Bar, Blues Night, beach parties, Tiki and Toga parties…and I try to catch all holidays (even the silliest ones!) from Valentine’s Day through until New Year’s Eve. It’s an extensive list!
You will find The Willows open from 7 to 11 p.m. SLT every night. Also, three mornings a week at The Willows Open Air: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. SLT on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. The Willows Winter Serenity, a cozy winter area, is open year-round to visitors. The teleport system is available at the fixed landing to have a look around the area.
I asked Faleen what her plans are for the club’s future. “Going forward, it is my hope to continue to build, to continue to offer new and expanded themes, to highlight great DJs and to meet and welcome more of the Second Life community, including beyond the North American time zones,” she said.
I found out about The Willows through the events directory. Faleen Renard, the club’s owner, mentioned they were hosting a pre-Valentine’s Day event and invited me to check it out, which I did, and I wrote a short article about it. I came back to attend their pirate event. Who can say no to stepping back in time when men and women didn’t follow the rules of social conformity?
Within the large venue, men were dressed in buccaneer costumes, with frock coats, shirts, and breeches, and women in corsets, low-cut bodices, and skirts. The DJ was surrounded by an outdoor market run by pirate vendors, whom you wouldn’t want to bargain with for the best deal. You might lose more than just your coins.
What I like about this club is that almost everyone welcomes you to dance with them. They seem comfortable in the setting and with each other.
Before I learned about the club, I wanted to find out what motivated her to come in-world and what her learning process was like. She said she discovered Second Life through her real-life job.
“I was involved in a project for Teen Second Life, when it existed,” she stated. “I had quite a learning curve back in 2007, because I worked in online community management, but none of it mirrored my experience joining Second Life. It took me some time to convert my mindset from text-based to the visual experience, to experiment with avatars, and also to participate socially. I thought I would be done at the end of that work project, but 19 years later, I’m still here.”
Her exploration in Second Life led her to music venues and social spots. She discovered that she enjoyed meeting new people with shared interests.
“Within a couple of years, I became a hostess at one of the popular ballrooms. I progressed to training and managing the hosting staff and then became a general manager,” she said.
Afterward, she managed several other venues before deciding to open The Willows. Her launch date was Jan. 16, 2012. Faleen said she learned a lot over the years and felt ready to provide the kind of experience she had grown to love. She continues to pursue her goal of “making the club feel like home,” where people feel welcomed, comfortable, entertained, and included as part of the family.
Faleen said that people come in-world for many reasons and like to be entertained in different ways. One of the first people that she met in Second Life was a woman with physical limitations.
“She told me that, in Second Life, she could do all the things she couldn’t do anywhere else. I learned that fun and changing experiences made people happy and kept them engaged. I decided that a themed venue was what I wanted. Music, décor, and style of dress would change nightly,” she said.
Faleen designs and builds her settings and has learned, improved, and expanded what is offered. She’s acted on guests’ requests for specific themes. She credits her dedicated team of talented DJs for knowing what everyone will love hearing, and Steverino and Kylie for backing her up and supporting her, especially when real life keeps her off-line.
So, what themes can you expect there? First, there are “fixed nights.” All-Country Monday, Formal Saturday, and Sock-Hop Sunday. Faleen has numerous settings for these events. The themes are categorized by music, decade, and holidays.
“Specific examples would be 60’s (Feelin’ Groovy,” Woodstock, British Invasion), Disco, several 80’s styles, Biker Bar, Blues Night, beach parties, Tiki and Toga parties…and I try to catch all holidays (even the silliest ones!) from Valentine’s Day through until New Year’s Eve. It’s an extensive list!
You will find The Willows open from 7 to 11 p.m. SLT every night. Also, three mornings a week at The Willows Open Air: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. SLT on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. The Willows Winter Serenity, a cozy winter area, is open year-round to visitors. The teleport system is available at the fixed landing to have a look around the area.
I asked Faleen what her plans are for the club’s future. “Going forward, it is my hope to continue to build, to continue to offer new and expanded themes, to highlight great DJs and to meet and welcome more of the Second Life community, including beyond the North American time zones,” she said.
SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Donatelli/104/187/3753
Netera Landar
Netera Landar
Design
