inVd

It’s not often that one finds a “perennial” in Second Life, but it’s been my pleasure to have the opportunity to interview one of the long-time favorites of SL, a DJ and now, a new club owner, DJ Queen Edman.

Queen’s venue at the long-lasting “Ironworks” club has been one of my favorite late-night haunts for the entire year of my SL existence, and always seems to draw me back, to dance among the awesome, warm, and sexy “bears” who make that place their Second Life “home club”, for the most part. I got to know Queen in the very early weeks of my Second Life, and found his warmth and accepting personality to be attractive, housed in a burly, fuzzy bear of an avatar, and blessed with a smooth and “folksy” vocal accompaniment to his awesome list of thumping dance beats, which drew me into “club life” in SL, recalling the hyper days I enjoyed in RL, during the late 70’s and early 80’s. Queen's contributions to PRIDE 2008 and the Treatment Action Campaign for AIDS/HIV in South Africa, and his general participatory and community-minded attitude speak well of the character of this most attractive of Second Life residents and workers. And believe me, Queen Edman works hard! (I've seen just "how" hard, too... a feast for the cam! hee hee!)

Now, Queen has opened a new club, called “Shampoo”, and soon after the grand opening, moved it, due to the open sim price increased, to its present location in the Animations Rising sims. Recently married to Colt Parx, owner/operator of the “RAW ART GALLERY & SCULPTURES” business, Queen Edman is now pursuing a new avocation in the arts, as well… and doing quite a good job of it!

The foyer of Club Shampoo is graced by works from both Queen and Colt, and these are stunning art pieces, likely to lift the ambience of any fine home, store, or club, some of them animated, and all beautifully detailed, expressively rendered, and revealing of the hearts and creative minds behind the work… this is a Second Life couple with lots of inner beauty, expressed in their works for all of us to enjoy.

Queen’s ambitious recent efforts also include a new store, with three locations, where his “Cumfy Living” line of products includes a pretty awesome new accessory for the boudoir. A scripted bed-cover or quilt, with multiple textures, and which, at a click, rolls up or down the bed to snuggle one’s avatar (or, presumably, and happy pair of same), beneath the warm covers, the perfect accessory for these cold, winter nights!

Club Shampoo, itself, is reflective of that talent and creativity, with a beautiful, open design, marvelous dance floor with subtle fog effects which soften the harsh graphics of the lighting and avatars as they dance, and lending a rather delightful ambience to the “midnight” view of the place, as one dances and chats with friends, lovers, or soon-to-be either.

Queen’s down-to-earth, easy-going style as a DJ contributes to a delightful experience dancing there, and he can also still be found working his usual shifts at Ironworks, to include the “afterhours” parties so attractive to the “night owl” set, who often find themselves still full of caffeine and ready to dance, when most other clubs have closed out for the evening. Don’t miss these late night possibilities, if you’re sleepless in Second Life!

I recently interviewed Queen about the opening of Shampoo, and present those questions and responses for all our InVogue readers, here…

mtd: How did you arrive at the name, Club Shampoo?

Q: Well I was always a club-goer in RL and there was this club in Philadelphia where everyone was welcome. Gay, straight, bi even transgendered called the “Milk Bard”. It changed hands and was renamed Club Shampoo, and it was a huge circuit club, kind of like the clubs in the movie “Party Monster”. The name really stuck in my mind and it just seemed fitting to bring that sort of atmosphere to Second Life.


mtd: You've been a beloved DJ and host from my own earliest days in SL, and always associated, in my mind, with Ironworks and the "Bears" segment of the gay community. How will Club Shampoo differ in this aspect, or will it?

Q: It won't differ! If you want great music from great DJs then Club Shampoo is where you want to be… we don't discriminate, everyone is welcome!


mtd: I noted that Jason Feingold was prominent at the Grand Opening event; is Club Shampoo affiliated with the "Tainted Boys" business group, or any other, or is this entirely your own endeavor?

Q: No, Club Shampoo has been in the back of my mind way before I ever heard of Tainted Boys and Club High Energy, in fact it wasn't until after the DJ contest I was entered in and won that it was known that the two companies had merged.


mtd: For the DJ Jason fans out there, I just gotta ask... will he be a regular on your upcoming scheduled events?

Q: No, not at this time he won't be a permanent DJ at Shampoo, but that’s not saying I wouldn't want him to spin there in the near future, he is a very good DJ, as well as the other 4 I hand-selected. I knew what sort of program I wanted there for the opening so I requested 5 of the greatest DJs, with a different style for each hour.


mtd: An recent event was billed as "No Nudity", yet I've always enjoyed the "after hours" crowd at Ironworks, where you've presided for a long time. Does this prohibition of nudity reflect a move to a "classier" milieu, for your new club?

Q: LOL, no, the reason i billed the Friday party as no nudity was only because the DJ spinning that night was female and I wasn’t sure she would be comfortable with a room full of naked gay men. I want people to feel comfortable in this club, that’s why i avoided the huge pictures of naked or semi naked men plastered on the walls, if you read the events for that Friday and Saturday it stated nudity allowed but not encouraged.


mtd: Your Grand Opening of Club Shampoo was an obviously great success, and word reached me that your attendance numbers topped the charts for that Sunday night in Second Life. What plans do you have to keep those numbers high, and continue to attract traffic at Club Shampoo, and can you share some of those future plans with me and the InVogue readership?

Q: Well, I have to admit going into this was scary for me! I didn't know what I was doing… its a learning process for me. My partner Colt Parx who owns RAW Art Gallery, part of Animations Rising is very good at advertising so I listen to what he suggests and we work together. Keeping the numbers high. Well, good advertising, great DJs and hosts, that’s what keeps the numbers high. If you’re not moving foward and making the place as hot as you can you die out and I've worked too hard to die out now! The future of Club Shampoo, no one knows. It’s one step at a time and hosting events, and staying in the public eye that makes a club work in SL. I do have future plans, there, but nothing’s set so don't want to say something that won't happen. Just to be on the look out, because Club Shampoo is growing bigger and hotter!


mtd: It's my opinion and feeling that a lot of the success of Shampoo's Grand Opening has to do with you, Queen Edman, and your public persona in Second Life, your friendly and "folksy" DJ style, and your excellent choice of dancing music for your patrons. Will you be DJ'ing still, and carrying on the long-term style and presence so many of us enjoy, or does the success of Club Shampoo spell the end of an era, and your movement into the club ownership realm, (a real loss to the club crawlers, among us, IMHO)?

Q: No, DJ Queen’s rocking styles will continue at Ironworks and Arsenal as well as Club Shampoo. All you club crawlers need not worry, the Queen is not going anywhere!


Originally slated for earlier publication, this article has been slightly revised to include the new developments in Queen Edman’s efforts, his affiliation now with the Animations Rising group, and the relocation of the Club to its present location, here: Animations Rising (207, 62, 21).

If you’ve not dropped into Shampoo just yet, or are looking for a new and delightful clubbing experience, this is a “must visit” on your Second Life club-crawling agenda, for sure!

It was my sheer pleasure to visit with Queen and Colt, and to take the accompanying snapshots of their venue, art works, and store, and I encourage our InVogue readership to visit and take in what can’t be encompassed in two dimensions… you’ll be glad you did!

Oh, and one last little matter... HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MTD1952 TIMELESS... don't let your snowman near the liquor cabinet! XD Hugs!