HORIZONS EAST--Being a newbie in Second Life is hard for almost everyone, but Brianna Beresford believes it's particularly tough on guys--and she's hoping to make some money doing something about it.  Beresford’s Virtual Male Institute will offer classes on SL skills for men, from avatar improvement and upgrades to interpersonal skills.

The institute celebrates its opening Sunday with an open house featuring a performance by singer Cylindrian Rutabaga; free VMI t-shirts, class scholarships and profile portraits as door prizes; and a drawing for a grand prize winner who will receive a scholarship for all VMI classes plus complimentary skin, shape, and hair and a new profile picture.  You don't even have to go to the open house to be entered in the drawing: Simply hop by the VMI, pick up an entry form, and fill it out and submit it before the event. 

At launch, VMI offers three classes. A free half-hour introductory course focuses mostly on how to save and modify avatars using the free Linden Lab appearance tools. The other classes, which cost L$500 each, last one hour; one addresses avatar redesign via shape and skin upgrades, another (taught by a male staff member) teaches skills on engaging with other SL residents, particularly those of the opposite sex—everything from meeting potential partners to carrying on conversations and maintaining the relationship.

“Often they don’t realize that they are dealing with a person behind the avatar, and take a lot for granted,” Beresford said. “Just good manners, for instance--although no one wants to admit they need attention here.  “I had one 'friend' who drove me crazy sending me TPs every time he came on line--no conversation, no asking if I wanted to dance, just sending a TP,” Beresford recalls, laughing. 

Beresford, who has launched businesses in real estate and catering since joining in March, got the idea for the VMI while working in yet another job--as a model for Calico Creations, Silent Sparrow and Simone! Design. Beresford was with Simone Stern of Simone! Designs one day when a male newbie she had met the day before teleported in and was assessed by Stern's critical eye. 

"She was quite blunt and told him that he needed a new skin and shape," Beresford recalls. "He didn't even know what they were. So we both tore into him that morning