what's with the sense of entitlement?

Everyone's thinking it, but no one's saying it. I'm about to say it.

For those of you that aren't part of the Second Life music "scene", or aren't on the SLCC Musicians group, you may not be aware of the discussions being held there. It's not pretty, I can assure you.

The Second Life Community Convention is coming up in August. This year it'll be held in Chicago. Musicians from Second Life that were interested in performing had to send in an audition mp3 to the committee and musicians were then selected to be featured performers at the convention. I submitted an mp3 audition and wasn't selected. I'm cool with it, because I know there are other musicians that are very talented and there were only a certain number of spots. No huge deal. If I had been chosen, however, I can assure you that I would have been thrilled at being offered the opportunity and wouldn't have felt that I should have all of my costs covered to attend. Let me remind you, darlings, that you asked to be considered. You sent in the audition mp3's. You put your name in the hat. You wanted this opportunity. At no time during the audition process did I see it noted anywhere that any and all musicians selected to perform would have their registration costs covered, let alone travel and hotel (and guests that you're bringing too? Are you KIDDING me?).

There are now musicians that have been selected to perform that are complaining that they're having to pay a $50 registration fee (the rest of us are paying $185) and I'm hearing complaints that "this is getting expensive" in having to pay for travel and hotel costs. Did you people not think about this before you decided to audition and ask to perform there?

This sense of entitlement that seems prevalent among musicians in Second Life these days is becoming really disgusting. At first it just seemed arrogant, then it seemed stupid. It's way beyond that now.

I'd like to remind everyone complaining that there are many other musicians that were not selected to perform that would be more than happy to pay for ALL of their SLCC costs, including full registration and travel just because they love it.

I'm all about respecting the talent of people in Second Life. There are some amazingly brilliant people in this world. There are builders, scripters, texture makers, people making prim hair (God bless you), clothing designers, artists, and oh yeah.. musicians. I think that as musicians and artists we need to have a little perspective here. We are not the only people with talent in this virtual utopia, and some humility might be refreshing for a change.