Rezzable & Hobo Community Gateway Opens

When people first register for Second Life, they are no longer sent to Orientation Island.  Instead, they are offered a choice among community gateways, such as the one just added by  Rezzable & Hobo Island.  Here is what the newcomer sees:   

Rezzable & the Hobos welcome you to join their Explorable community to share FREE STUFF &HELP get you Started in SL. Prepare for Aliens, Hobos, Carnivals, and Light Shows.

The picture at right shows newcomers looking at help posters and talking to hobos at Hobo Welcome Plaza.

What is a Community Gateway?    

It is a way for people who are entering Second Life to select a theme that suits their interests   A gateway is managed entirely by a community of people who are interested in that theme.    
Here is what Katrin Linden says in her blog:

The program members are working very closely with Linden Lab to continue to improve the new user experience and offer attractive experiences for all sorts of interests. We have established working groups, that share best practices in regard to creating a successful business, spread the good word about Gateways in regards to Marketing and PR and last but not least exchange experiences in regard to orientation spaces and the wonderful work the greeters and mentors are doing.

The rest of the blog is here, with more detail and information on how to apply.

Here is another important gateway:  Caledon

Steampunk Victorian Caledon: Warm, civil, friendly! Free small starter residences for do-it-yourselfers and the community-minded alike! In association with NCI, the biggest new resident group on the grid.

You can look here to read about the whole collection of gateways

Why would I want one on my place?

The direct effect would be to make early contact with newcomers who are interested in the themes offered at your place or at other places you would direct them to.  You would also be able to customize the initial orientation to fit the clientele you expect to attract.  Virtual Ability, for example, offers a “community of support for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, their family and caregivers.”  The entry experience has been carefully customized to help people with limited abilities. 

With a business-oriented theme, the orientation would emphasize business-related skills such as finding and recording contacts, working with groups, communication methods, note-keeping (logging chat and IMs), and use of the inworld browser. 

Who would want a gateway on their place?

• Residential Developers (Caledon) 
• Business park developers
• Music park developers, especially for Genre Branded, 24/7 venues – the various genres would be part of the theme
• Inworld education and distance learning classes without university support
• Writing, publishing, learning to write, learning about literature. Performance arts: theater, comedy, music,  performance of poetry

What does it take to get one?   Here is a quick summary

For details: look here:   information on how to apply.

• Focus of interest -- some reason why people should want to come to your place
• Four contiguous regions
• A welcome area with tutorials/help content*
• People available to help newcomers*
• Offer classes, training or events on a regular basis (at least weekly)

*Thinkerer studios and some hobo groups can help on content and helpers.  Come by Cookie Welcome Center or contact Thinkerer Melville for more information.

TLE Theater Troupe picks its first play

And what a choice!  A Streetcar Named Desire.  The troupe has enough people to cast the play, but roles have not been assigned, yet.  And they need more understudies.  So the casting call is still open for a while. The troupe meets every Thursday at 5-6pm SLT.    Just go to the TLE Theater and ask for CallieDel Boa. This week, the people will begin reading for selection of roles.  And you probably know that this kind of selection is not first come, first served.

JWheels Presents brought to you by Femme Fatal

Wednesday, May 20th, 6pm SLT
This week we give you ,  musician  Eva Moon and comedian Constantine Paulino
This week at Lauren's Place

Eva Moon
Skewers romance, sex, high tech and pop culture with smart, funny original songs. It's a tasty blend of Jazz, Cabaret & Comedy. If you've ever lost your heart to a chocolate bar, lusted after the UPS guy, or traded a man for a vibrator, she has a song for you.

Constantine Paulino
A man who's always chasing after Lenny Bruce, He knows  he'll never catch Lenny but it's fun to watch