Every year, one of the BIG events that I do is Fantasy Faire. The faire has grown even over the past five years that I have done it, and there is constant effort to improve each year.
If you've never been to Fantasy Faire in SecondLife, let me explain a little (or a lot?). The event will include multiple sims (numbering 12 or more) that are linked together to create a circle. There is a pathway that winds through the sims such that as long as you stay on it and keep walking the same direction you will circle back around to where you began. The sims are designed by World Builders who develop one fantastical idea or mini story into a landscape that becomes the home for several businesses for the length of the fair. Past builders include the designers behind Fallen Gods, The Looking Glass, DRD, Ravenwood, Epic Toy Factory, Merchant Dreams and far more than I can come up with off the top of my head. Merchants are each assigned a shop, so that as you walk the main path, you can look through hundreds of stores. Each store has at minimum two items that are exclusive for the event. The sims also are home for at least part of an event wide hunt (normally there is part one in the faire grounds, and part two on its own sim) that has a treasure room filled with items donated by the merchants that are participating in the event -- if you can make it through the entire hunt. There is a silent auction, a live auction, 'Jail n Bail' events, performances, roleplaying, and much more in terms of activities and entertainment.
But the Faire has a purpose, and a reason so many merchants flock to it each year, and why it has grown so large over it's 12 year span. All of the event is done as a fundraiser for Relay For Life. Exclusive items, donation kiosks, even the hunt HUD and auctions are all there to raise funds. The event has been incredibly successful, to put it mildly.
Really, it's one of those things you simply have to experience. And if you enjoy doing photography in SL? Then this will be the most amazing playground you will find for the two weeks that it is up.
Now, all of that said, I bring it back to my part in this. I've participated in the event for the past five years. When I was able to join, I was thrilled. Being a Fantasy tattoo creator, this was my element. I was with some of the biggest names that I'd admired for years, and finally able to show up as well. It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment.
Each year since, I try to have at least one completely new design to release. Sometimes I succeed at this better than others. But I also make special releases of past designs that are ONLY released at the fair. While normally purple or pink or rainbow versions, occasionally gold or silver or opal, sometimes it'll be a little different such as a gradient or ombre style. Sometimes it'll have 'glitter'. But I also tend to hold at least one version of any new creation through the year back specifically so that I can have it for Fantasy Faire. It means I don't have to scramble to make something new. It also means that each year I can offer past releases that can't be found at any other time of the year.
Soon I will present to you some Works In Progress of this years special versions and releases. I'm currently developing and designing not only the special versions of this years releases, but also debating an auction piece and a hunt prize to add to the collection. For me, I can always see the wide range of possibilities of using a tattoo, and I want to give as many options as I can to others. But lets be real; that isn't practical. So narrowing down choices takes a host of mental energy and agonizing.
