In the year 2012 , the year I logged in to find the sim full , that show day was also the day of the Sandy Hook School Shooting … that very day . So , when I logged in , it was with a very heavy heart . I ’ d been crying all day due to the schools ’ shooting where many kids died .
When I came in and the sim was full , my performers began to message me as well and they all said to me , “ I can ’ t do it , I just can ’ t do it today .” And so , I had to cancel the show . It was the only time I ever had to cancel the show – well , I postponed it to the next day and we had the show then . So , that show stands out as a very special one to me .
NVM : We heard this is the last time Avi Choice Awards will take place . Was there a reason behind this decision ? How do you think Avatars in SL are taking the news ?
NIKKI : I ’ ve been getting a lot of IM ’ s from avatars asking me not to close it . The tell me how every year they look forward to the Avi Choice awards as the must see , must attend , elegant , special celebration that it is . But it has grown so much and I just feel like its run its course and that the process that we ’ ve used to get to where are , must be critiqued . It must be started over and made better … it ’ s outgrown itself . So , it ’ s closing down because I believe its run its course .
To answer the question , that I believe you ’ re soon to ask though , I realize that SL wants and needs it and looks forward to it so , it is likely , that something will be in the future for Avi Choice . I don ’ t yet know exactly how , but it will not be anything near what it ’ s been .
I recognize that the community of Second Life wants to continue with such an event . I get that , so I am trying to think of ways to acknowledge and applaud the skills and the talent and the generosity in our virtual community but it will not be a people ’ s choice award like it ’ s been . There will be something in the future though .
NVM : Have you talked about a show that can be watched on the web , like on YouTube or something ? Just avoid having to deal with the thousands of people all there live and the tech issues that come from that ?
NIKKI : Yes , that ’ s more on the lines of what I ’ ve been considering . A pre-recorded show that is not attended by a live audience , but I don ’ t know , a live audience looks forward to attending the show , to buying the beautiful gown and attending the show , to see and be seen .
And honestly , that ’ s one of my favorite parts of the live show . While everyone ’ s sitting in the audience watching the show , myself as producer / director and the cast of the show are in an IM group and we are queuing everybody , I mean we are just hopping in that group telling everybody “ take the stage , do this , do that , set up the set , de-rezz the set , close the curtains .” I mean we are really hopping in that group . So , when the show is over , those of us in the group are just so excited and we ’ re drained , because that ’ s hard to pull off . I miss that , that ’ s probably one of my favorite parts .
NVM : Whats next for you now that the Avi Choice Awards are joining the annals of history ?
NIKKI : Well , we just talked about a little bit of that . The Avi Choice Awards , with residents of Second Life doing all the nominating and voting , is done . But , Avi Choice isn ’ t . It will be doing something in the future and the residents will have a voice somehow . Again , I don ’ t know what Avi Choice is going to do , but I know that it will do something to continue celebrating what is so amazing in our virtual world . That ’ s not going to stop , however , I have a full-time business outside of Second Life as well and that is growing too . So , I ’ m going to take a little break from Avi Choice , let it rest a little , and get out there and explore SL for a change . I ’ m going to go visit those people I ’ ve celebrated for all these years now . Then , after a while , we ’ ll be back .
NVM : Is there anything else you ’ d like us to know about you ?
NIKKI : Ever since I began in Second Life , I have been busy with projects and work . First with Relay for Life , then managing Damien followed by Avi Choice , so my personal friends list has always stayed relatively small . I ’ ve had a lot of acquaintances . You probably know exactly what I ’ m talking about , when you work in Second Life all the time , you don ’ t play , you don ’ t get to develop long-lasting relationships with people because you don ’ t play … you work . And so , I look forward to getting to develop more long-term friendships .
Through the years , I have had the pleasure of developing friendships with Jill MacKenzie who worked with me on Avi Choice and Dextresis Dejavu , Trader Whiplash and Nuala Maracas . I think that I would like to acknowledge them at this point and just let SL know , those are the voices behind Avi Choice . The voices that don ’ t get enough applause and they will be friends for the rest of my life . I just love them all .
Other than that , I look forward to playing in Second Life . I ’ m not leaving it , I love SL and I ’ ll be sticking around !
NVM : Thank you so much for taking time out of your new-found play-time to share your story with us Nikki . We and our readers are grateful and so excited to get to know you and all that you have accomplished . You have a lot to be proud of , that is for certain !
NIKKI : Thank you too , I am grateful to have had this chance to share the story and tell our virtual community about the wonderful people who helped me make all these amazing things happen .
104 NU VIBEZ & ROLEPLAY GUIDE MAGAZINE