Arts
When it comes to a great time, futurist Celeste Lear is a triple threat. Not only is she a musician/performer: she's also an event planner and 3D artist. As well as a composer! So far, Celeste has released five albums and ten singles of her original music. And she's taking her gifts to the metaverse. "DJ Celeste" as she's known,is one of the first DJs to build venues and perform in virtual reality. Her DJ skills get people up and dancing, onsite or virtually. Her avatar and venue are eye-catching and fun. And she has a rare talent: she can play guitar, live, to match the beats! Meanwhile, as founder of Los Angeles-based entertainment company Boutique Electronique Music, she also coordinates events and is working with a new team on futuristic performances. When the pandemic forced the 2020 Burning Man Festival to go virtual, DJ Celeste crafted her venue and brought the party to the metaverse--complete with her pet unicorn! This year, she's looking forward to another Burning Man performance. And she's designing her own virtual venue, once again. (Here's a link to her Burning Man 2020 mix!) And if you'd like to know more about virtual stage design, she has a free tutorial on her website. DJ Celeste talked about her background as a performer, her experiences in the metaverse and what works well for creating a party in VR. On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover: How Celeste discovered her passion for music; The professional experience that inspired her to work in virtual reality; Her first performance experience in virtual reality; How the 2020 Burning Man virtual experience "supercharged" her interest in working in the metaverse; Celeste's plans for the 2021 Virtual Burn (you can get involved, and if you're lucky you might hear her perform live!) Her favorite mind-blowing memories from Virtual Burning Man 2020; Celeste's advice for anyone starting to create new worlds in virtual reality; Some of Celeste's favorite platforms and resources for working in VR; What's involved, in creating your own virtual venue; One of Celeste's favorite experiences creative experiences, designing a unique venue; How to prevent problems or troubleshoot, if something goes wrong while working "live" in VR; Lessons learned, from DJ Celeste's creative experiences in the metaverse; Where to find DJ Celeste's music, see her tutorials and any upcoming events at which she'll be performing; And how to learn more about being a part of this year's Burning Man experience!