Chloe: When did you start on SL and how did you stumble upon it?
Arthur: I ran across SL back in early 2006 in Wired, they were talking about virtual weather which seemed very interesting to see, and the description of the world I thought I would go check it out. Then, on the June 15th, 2006 I rezed.
Kai: My brother in law and sister had been playing SL for about a year and had told me a lot about it. I’d wanted to play but didn’t have a computer that would run the graphics till March of 06 when I promptly got an account and have not left since.
Chloe: Tell us what you do here in SL...
Arthur: I own, with my business partner, Kai Eldrich, Fermi Sandbox and University. We have about 160 shops around the sandbox and about 40,000m of bulding area, plus a large class area for the university. In addition to that I build and script, hang out, and help those who ask. This also means I spend a lot of time fighting griefers.
Kai: With the Sandbox and the University I find myself playing catch up a lot it seems. There’s always things to take care of random rule breakers that need to be reminded to behave, disputes, renters that need a group tag or advice, griefers, people that just need someone to listen, events to coordinate and plan, the never ending dialogue of how can we do things better, grow more, and implementing those ideas. I do love to shop, decorate and dance whenever I get the chance to as well.
Chloe: How did you get started with that?
Arthur: When I came to SL, I traveled, and built, and go tired of the sandboxes, so I bought some land so I could build, and knew I wouldn't use it all the time, so I made it Fermi Sandbox, 1536m, and it grew from there.
Kai: I blame Art for this! Lol. I was buying land, fixing it up a bit and reselling it to make my $L when we met. He told me of his plan to make a small sandbox, which I helped him find and acquire. Having been to many sandboxes myself I knew there was a need for a private monitored sandbox. It wasn’t long before it just made sense to combine our separate ventures into one and become full business partners.
Both: An Excerpt from Fermi Sandbox, a history, and why we run a sandbox
The beginning Huk and Beadal
As my record keeping skills in SL are on par with my RL record keeping skills, I don’t know when exactly I started Fermi Sandbox, but it was late July early August of 2006, in Huk, 1536m, it was huge to someone who hadn’t owned more than 512m. The idea was it was a place to build small things, jewelry, furniture, script, etc. This sim itself was and is typical mainland, house, stores, casinos, and one of the banks that started up.
In October, Kai became more involved in the Sandbox, it was no longer an I but a we in things that were done. We moved on October 3rd to Baedal, the sandbox was now 2560m. This was the first parts of the current sandbox layout, traffic was pretty good, and people wanted to sell things, so you could rent a 10m x 10m x .5m spot for not too much, only 10 prim. We had a free weapons area (bad bad idea!) and pose stand area. We need to sell the land quick, and I think it was purchased by one well known Sarah Nerd … funny how paths cross :)
Chloe: What advice can you give to our readers who are also interested in becoming successful in your field? Were there mistakes you made that they can avoid? Something or things you did *right* that catapulted your success?
Arthur: Don't ever run a sandbox, unless you are committed, and by that I mean the padded room type of committed. By and large we are successful because we didn't listen, and we didn't not have a goal of riches in mind. We started with my Sandbox, Kai's Mall, and a Joint Club, all which slowly came together in one unit. The club is gone, so much work, and outside the reward of naked fun after 9pm, there is a burn out factor in it. Now we have the shops, which support about 50% of the tier for the sandbox, donations comprise most of the rest, and some comes from us RL out of pocket. The key of course is the commitment and dedication, running a business in SL is just like RL really, time, money, commitment, risk, adventure, and a good part of luck.
Kai: Just because something looks easy or profitable doesn’t always mean it is. When going into business in SL or RL you really need to weigh all the costs that it will require. I’m not just talking about the bottom line of expenses vs income. How much time and effort, frustration, headaches and heartaches is it going to cost you? Is it worth it? What do you consider success? One huge warning I’d like to give people is about “buying land.” If you’re not paying tier directly to the Lindens you don’t really own your land, you are renting it. There is no binding contract when you “buy” from a private sim owner that can change their terms at anytime and you have no real recourse. So buyer beware!
Chloe: Approximately how much $L did it cost for you to start your business, and how long did it take for you to turn a profit?
Arthur: about 5,000L for the first sandbox of 1,536m, we have not turned a profit, we maybe never will, we just hope to cover tier. We don't do it for the money, we are, in essence doing it for the good of SL kind, we love it here, and we enjoy it.
Kai: I started off with about $20,000L that I used to buy and sell land quite successfully for the first year (back when land prices were reasonable). The profits I made from that helped to shape the sandbox we have today. As Art said now days I’m just happy if I don’t have to pay so much out of my pocket tp cover tier.
Chloe: Tell us your favorite...
* clothing designer/shop:
* hangout spot:
* place for skins:
* toy or gadget:
* coolest/prettiest sim:
* place for hair:
* AO:
* any other favorites you want to tell us about:
Chloe: Does your Avi look like the RL you? How is it the same? How is it different?
Arthur: I look like a skinny tall version of me. But the eyes, hair, and look is kinda like me. As for the clothing, I dress so much better here.
Kai: I worked very hard to give my avi a very realistic look, but I can’t say I really look that good in RL. That’s the beauty of SL we don’t have to look like our real selves here, even though I do find my avi does resemble the real me. Like Art, I dress a lot better and sexier in SL.
Chloe: How do you feel about romantic relationships in SL? Have you had any of significance? Crossed over to RL at all? Horror stories?
Arthur: I have partnered twice in SL, and am still the best of friends. First was with Kai Eldrich, my business partner, she found another in SL, and it was difficult, however, they are together in RL, which makes me very happy. Kai is a spectacular person, and with out here, none of this would exist, it is because of her, that I am who I am. The other is Cirasolei London, she is so totally cool, we are best friends RL and SL, and talk regularly :) As of now I'm single, but seeing a few people who are all exceptional.
Kai: I’d had “internet relationships” before and had them cross over into RL and found it just never worked out. Till I met Michael, my SL husband and my RL bf and my whole life changed forever. We are lucky and blessed to have found a real, lasting love of a lifetime in SL.
Chloe: Biggest jerk, liar, or psycho you have encountered so far? Do tell!
Arthur: Barber Shepherd, small dicked, spineless, worthless mother fucker, who has no honor, integrity or purpose on this earth, he is simply using oxygen that could be used by pond scum to reproduce. Ahh the story of this gene puddle escapee. He was the partner of a good friend, and he purchased a sim. We moved there, we bought 1/2 the sim for 310,000L, and paid $160.00USD per month in tier. About the time we got out new sim we were in negotiations to buy the rest of the sim we were on, well we couldn’t pass up a free sim, so we moved with the agreement that we could sell our land. Well he sold the estate and he told the new owner we had no rights, so we were out about 120,000L(with the way sim pricing lowered right as we were going to sell). If you ever come across Barber Shepherd, know that he is a womanizing, piece of crap. His idea of a good night is beating submissives and enjoying the deep loving only your own hand can give you, though I'm sure its small strokes.
Kai: I personally took a big loss financially in RL when we were not able to sell the land we’d bought from Barber Shepherd with the agreement that we’d be able to sell when we were ready to expand. (Actually the saved logs of our agreement were that he would buy the land back from us at cost because we were helping him out by paying his tier on land that had sat empty for too long.) Aside from that there’s always some risk when interacting with people, an emotional one when you become friends and the relationship ends badly like this one did.
Chloe: Do you have a residence here in SL? Do you rent or own?
Arthur: Do I have a residence, yes, and no, kinda and not really. Fermi Sandbox is my home, when I leave SL I go home to the sandbox. I do not have a house, or a building, the sandbox is all of that. I think one of the reasons we make so much of an effort on the sandbox is because it is my house, people build in my house, and when people grief, they do it in my house, and I don't take kindly to that.
Kai: Currently I am “homeless” since we moved to our new sim I’ve not had time to figure out what I’d like for my private space, but I usually keep a private residence somewhere in SL.
Both: We own Fermi estate/sim, as in we pay the bills and are its keeper. However it was donated, the estate and the sim by Steffen Menjou, and that being said another thank you needs to be said, a shout out. Should you meet Steffen, know that he gave Fermi Sandbox more than it could have dreamed of, and would have never asked for.
Chloe: Mind telling us what sim it's on? Fermi
Chloe: Where did you get your house? Is it a prefab or did you have it built? If so by who? Mind sharing a pic?
Arthur: Come See the Sandbox :)
Kai: I’ve had several houses here in SL. Some of them I built, some Art built and I even bought a few.
Chloe: Tell us your 3 favorite movies:
Arthur:
* Shawshank Redeption
* Lord of The Rings (All three being "a" movie)
* Truman Show
Kai:
*Pleasantville
*Out of Africa
*The Stand
Chloe: Favorite 3 songs on your playlist right now?
Art:
* Sookie Sookie – Grant Green
* Brand New Caddilac – The Clash
* Mercy – Duffy
In Love With A Girl - Gavin DeGraw
Kai:
• Superman by Lazlo Bane (Scrubs theme song)
• Across the Universe cover by Fiona Apple
• Symphony of Destruction by Megadeath and NIN
Chloe: We have all heard of drunk dialing... ever been drunk SL-ing?
Arthur: not yet
Kai: probably (I usually head to Bad Girls, lol)
Chloe: Funniest thing you've seen so far:
Kai: Between the club and the sandbox I’ve seen a lot of hilarious stuff.
Chloe: Lamest pick-up line that's been tossed your way:
Arthur: your hot, want to fuck me
Kai: “You look pretty. I like your hair. Here's a drink. Are you ready now?” oh wait that’s from WOW…
Chloe: To "Mute" or not to "Mute"? What makes you cut someone off like that?
Arthur: Well usually when someone needs to be muted they are fun to mess with. I usually mute them when I get bored taunting.
Kai: When someone is being overly irrational, just being confrontational without a point or anything to really say.
Chloe: Got anything coming up you want to plug? Any friends whose ventures you want to tell us about? If you have a blog, tel us the URL here!
Arthur: www.fermidesigns.com still a work in progress, new home to my blog, and the gateway to all things Fermi. Come out to the sandbox, you will probably find Kai or myself there.
Kai: The moves to the new Fermi sim and my RL one really put a damper on a few projects I was working on. But I am happy to announce the first edition of the Fermi Magazine will be available soon. This magazine will highlight what we have available at the sandbox , as well as some of the people and retailers. We are also including some building tips and editorial commentary on the sandbox and university and all that goes along with it. It will be available for free at the sandbox and at other locations yet to be determined, as well.
Chloe: Go ahead and get the last word! Tell us anything you think we should know that I haven't asked... say anything you want, at all here!
Arthur: Enjoy your SL, don’t take things to seriously. Last come out to Fermi Sandbox, Kai, myself, or any of our sandbox managers and say hi, we are a very friendly place.
Kai: It’s your second life if you’re not having fun and enjoying yourself you’re doing it wrong!
