If you solve the problems that are in your control, it makes it easier to identify and fix the problems outside of your control.
NOTE: If you keep having to say “Tell them to fix it.” then they haven’t really fixed it.
Problems, Causes, and Solutions
Dancer has wrong alphas
CAUSE: Dancer is using a link of the body.
CAUSE 2: The clothing has auto-alpha conflicts.
CAUSE 3: Dancer is using old Maitreya 4.1 body which has separate hands and feet.
SOLUTION: Tell them to fix it.
SOLUTION 2: Use a full copy body template.
SOLUTION 3: Take off and re-wear the clothing with auto-alpha conflicts.
SOLUTION 4: Include alpha diagram in outfit notecard.
SOLUTION 5: Upgrade to Maitreya 5.3
Dancer has colors wrong on an item (shoe, clothing, etc.)
CAUSE: Dancer is using a link of the item, not a full copy.
SOLUTION: Tell them to fix it.
SOLUTION 2: Use a full copy of the item.
Dancer is wearing wrong stocking or tights layer
CAUSE: Dancer is using a link of the body or the stocking layer, not a full copy.
SOLUTION: Tell them to fix it.
SOLUTION 2: Use a full copy of the item.
SOLUTION 3: Use BoM when possible. Less chance of a layer/applier mistake.
SOLUTION 4: Upgrade to Maitreya 5.3
Dancer has rez fail
CAUSE: SL server issues
SOLUTION: Announce rez fail, teleport home, re-wear outfit, ask for a teleport back.
SOLUTION 2: Call for a reserve.
Dancer is wearing mismatched layers on legs and feet
CAUSE: Dancer is using a link of the body, not a full copy.
CAUSE 2: Dancer is using old Maitreya 4.1 body which has separate hands and feet.
SOLUTION: Tell them to fix it.
SOLUTION 2: Use a full copy body template.
SOLUTION 3: Upgrade to Maitreya 5.3
Dancer is on wrong mover
CAUSE: Dancer didn’t read what the stage manager posts.
SOLUTION: Pay attention.
SOLUTION 2: Use Area Search > Sit.
SOLUTION 3: Wear glasses and don’t drink so much during shows.
Dancer’s outfit wrong
CAUSE: Dancer didn’t read notices.
CAUSE 2: Dancer didn’t mark an old version of the outfit as OLD.
CAUSE 3: Dance wore outfit for a different routine.
SOLUTION: Tell them to fix it.
SOLUTION 2: Read notices. Pay attention.
Dancer sat on mover, not moving or getting dialog
CAUSE: Script lag.
CAUSE 2: HUD not loaded yet.
SOLUTION: Stand, Avatar > Avatar Health > Stop Avatar Animations & Revoke Permissions
SOLUTION 2: Stand, Avatar > Avatar Health > Undeform Avatar
SOLUTION 3: Patience. Get on movers in order. Give SL time to catch up.
Dancer has slow rez of set or outfit
CAUSE: Some of it’s the region or SL, but may be system issues.
SOLUTION: Derender the audience, reduce draw distance, close any unneeded programs (Video streaming eats a lot of bandwidth). Test bandwidth.
Dancer doesn’t get group notices
CAUSE: SL/Viewer issue
CAUSE 2: Dancer has group notices turned off.
CAUSE 3: Dancer routinely closes notices without reading.
SOLUTION: File a support ticket with Linden Lab.
SOLUTION 2: Check the Notices tab of the group profile once a day. It has a history of notecards.
SOLUTION 3: Stop being to quick and careless with all notices.
Dancer is way above or below stage
CAUSE: Dancer went AFK before going out on stage.
CAUSE 2: Footshape changes dancer’s height.
CAUSE 3: Dancer hit Page Down or Page Up.
SOLUTION: Tell them to fix it.
SOLUTION 2: Don’t go AFK until dancer knows hoverheight is right.
SOLUTION 3: Design routines so there’s backstage planks to show hoverheight issues.
SOLUTION 4: If it’s a Spot On bug, stand, undeform, and sit again.
Dancer doesn’t stand after routine is over
CAUSE: Dancer went AFK without telling anyone.
SOLUTION: Announce AFK in show conference.
SOLUTION 2: Use wooden block to shove them off stage or ask venue owner to kick dancer from venue until they ask for teleport back.
Dancer crashes, reappears back on stage
CAUSE: Dancer used last location to log in.
SOLUTION: Log in to home, ask for teleport backstage.
Dancer crashes a lot
CAUSE: Varied.
SOLUTION: Stop signing up for shows until you have the problem solved.
SOLUTION 2: Set Home to somewhere high in the air and on a low-lag sim so everything appears quickly.
SOLUTION 3: Organize and clean your inventory to reduce inventory-caused crashes.
SOLUTION 4: Reduce your draw distance and graphics complexity to reduce crashes.
SOLUTION 5: Check your computer and connection to make sure both are stable.
Dancer has issue, doesn’t respond
CAUSE: Dancer went AFK without telling anyone.
CAUSE 2: Dancer is lagged or is crashing.
CAUSE 3: Dancer is in another window and not paying attention.
CAUSE 4: Dancer is working on problem.
SOLUTION: Don’t go AFK until everything is right.
SOLUTION 2: Send a brief message saying “working on it” so everyone knows they’re not lagged, crashing, or AFK.
SOLUTION 3: Pay attention. If they have other more important things to do, step down and do them. Call for a reserve.
SOLUTION 4: Text, Facebook IM, or WhatsApp someone who’s online to let them know. Make sure they have that app running on their phone so they get the ping.
Dancer has outfit, alpha, or color errors in show
CAUSE: Dancer didn’t use a full copy body template to build the outfit.
CAUSE 2: Dancer didn’t rehearse.
SOLUTION: Tell them to fix it.
SOLUTION 2: Call for a reserve.
Excuses
Here is a list of excuses I’ve heard and my painfully honest and brutal responses to each one:
“I’m too busy to prepare outfits.”
Then you’re too busy to dance. Don’t sign up for the show.
“I’m too busy to rehearse.”
Then you’re too busy to dance. Don’t sign up for the show.
“I had an emergency come up.”
Call for a reserve and take care of it. Good luck.
“It’s not my fault”
You made the outfit. It’s your fault.
“I didn’t see the notices”
Then check the Notices tab on the group once a day to see if there’s any you missed.
“My offline messages are capped.”
Then forward them to an email box.
“The notecard didn’t make sense.”
Then you should have asked for help.
Then why did everyone else get it right?
“This is supposed to be fun.”
It’s more fun when you get it right.
Otherwise, it’s work and not fun for others having to fix your mistakes.
“You’re just better than me.”
And I wrote down how I got better. Read it. Do it.
“I’m not as smart as you.”
You don’t have to be. Just follow the directions for full body template and do it.
“This is too hard.”
If it’s too hard, why do so many new dancers get it right from day one?
It’s only hard because you make it hard for yourself.
(phrasing)
“It’s SL.”
Then why isn’t it happening to everyone else?
“You’re making me nervous.”
Stop deflecting. Call for a reserve, get your shit together, take your meds, and solve the problem.
“I know how to do it.”
Then why do you keep making mistakes and getting it wrong?
“I’m on a slow computer.”
I’ve pulled an even slower computer off the shelf and didn’t tell anyone. I still got everything right.
It’s not the computer, it’s how you build the outfits.
“I’m on a slow connection.”
I throttled my bandwidth down and didn’t tell anyone. I still got everything right.
It’s not the connection, it’s how you build the outfits.
“I didn’t see the group notice for the outfit update.”
Funny how you get all the other notices but those.
I don’t believe you.
“Be stage manager again.”
I’d rather film. And you don’t need me as stage manager if you actually got your outfits right.
Okay, but if I keep having to change your diapers, I’m not going to wipe your ass. I’m going to kick it.
“But I fixed it.”
If you fixed it, it wouldn’t be happening again.
Fix the real problem.
“(X) helped me fix it.”
(X) doesn’t use body templates. And has frequent issues in rehearsals, too.
Go get a real mentor and teacher.
“Stop bullying me.”
Stop slowing down rehearsals with your mistakes.
Stop fucking up the videos with your mistakes.
Stop ruining the audience’s experiences with your mistakes.
Fix it for real.
“SL makes it look bad already”
Maybe to you, but some people see things as they’re intended.
And the videos are almost always perfect.
Don’t ruin it for them.
“You’re ruining SL for me.”
And you’re ruining SL for more than just me.
We outnumber you.
Fix your problems, and nobody will be miserable anymore.