By Netera Landar
“Community is at the heart of everything we do at After Hours and Idle Rogue.”
---Meegan Dantz
“Community is at the heart of everything we do at After Hours and Idle Rogue.”
---Meegan Dantz
Of all the venues in Second Life, there is one so beautiful you have to step back and admire it. I chose the midnight setting for the After Hours venue. The stone ruins, nestled in a cloak of ebony, are stunning. It’s cast in shadows, with green doors, an inviting bar inside, and a large dance floor for all your friends. A sleek red deco-era couch is perfect for a social gathering of two or ten when you’re not listening to live performers.
“The main part of the build is from Fanatik. I fell in love with the PBR texture, but I wanted something unique,” declares Meegan Dantz, owner and manager of After Hours on Idle Rogue. “Cherryblonde (chryblnd.scribe) was inspired by Tuscan buildings she had seen that combined glass and ruins, so we put that together, and it was gorgeous. We liked it so much, we carried the theme throughout the region.”
The venue opened in 2012 as Rhi’s Poem by Rhi Zane. Shortly after, real life called her away, and Meegan gladly kept the doors open for her. There have been a few real-life breaks over the years. The most recent was over a year ago. But the vibe continued when the venue reopened in January of 2026, and Meegan says it feels great to be back. When Meegan realized Rhi was not coming back, she “fell into venue ownership accidentally.”
Meegan spoke with Cherry in 2015, and they both realized how the values of Idle Rogue and After Dark were similar, which led Meegan to move the venue to Idle Rogue. They rebuilt it and renamed it After Dark, creating a setting that included everyone.
“We strive to host the best live music possible in Second Life, but the people that come here are what make it so special,” Meegan explained.
The venue’s doors are open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m., but time slots may be altered. You’ll hear a diverse selection of music there.
Asked who performs regularly, she replied, “FunkyFreddy, Red Heaven, Liz Aday, Mimi Carpenter, Max Kleene, Norma Falta, Voodoo Shilton, Oblee, TwinGhost, and Grace McDunnough. There’s the opportunity for new performers to get booked there, as well. Especially alt and indie singers.
Meegan said she’s fortunate to have a great staff. They are dedicated to making it run smoothly for it to be successful.
“That kind of love is hard to find. Technically, there are three people besides me. Mary Zimmer, Dark J. Phaeton (darkdayys), and GMetal Svartur. Mary stays on top of things to make sure acts are booked. She has helped with everything from booking to being the main point of contact in- world, especially when I am away. Dark has been with me the longest. He’s stuck by me through thick and thin, even when I didn’t deserve it. He’s incredibly reliable with notices, greetings, and making sure I remember to post events! GMetal has been a dear friend in both SL and RL and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with the live music community,” said Meegan.
GMetal owned Ground Zero for years, a very successful venue, and had been the main booking contact in the past. He’s spending less time online because of real life, but when he’s in-world she truly values his friendship and experience.
Then there’s Cherry, her partner in crime, who isn’t a staff member, but together they make good things happen when they combine their ideas.
I asked if there’s been one event that she regards as the most memorable, and she replied, “…it’s probably a Barn Jam at FunkyFreddy’s real-life house. We were able to broadcast a live show from his house into After Dark with Fred, Max Kleene, and Voodoo Shilton. There are also countless real-life jams. Meegan appreciates the many people in the community who have become her real-life friends.
She said that Second Life’s live music community brings together people from all over the world through a shared love of music and connection. When we support live music venues and performers, we’re supporting more than entertainment. We’re building friendship, creativity, and kindness.
“That’s what makes it so important to keep showing up, supporting artists and venues, and helping this scene continue to thrive,” she said.
Netera Landar
