Our newest feature takes us to the warm embrace of the Goblet; this desert oasis is now home to one of Aether’s most opulent venues, VLVT DRMS. Formerly located in Lavender Beds, this extravagant establishment has recently been upgraded to a more spacious and even dreamier medium plot.
Upon entering this locale you are greeted with a simple yet elegant hallway. A stunning waterfall area makes for the perfect backdrop, beckoning you forth towards a message book that both welcomes guests and provides details on how to gain access to the rest of the venue. You need only /doze at the end of the hall to be swept away into a veritable dreamland. Once you’ve descended into your slumber you arrive in the main area. Sumptuous colors and eclectic decor surround you; decadent draperies line the walls, and a well stocked bar stands before you.
An attentive bartender waits behind the counter ready to take your order. Naturally, you take a seat and are given their menu. It contains a well curated selection of beverages themed to match the establishment, and a small assortment of snacks. After settling on a drink you place your order; the bartender fulfills it so quickly you cannot help but wonder if some manner of magic had been employed in its creation.
As you relax with your refreshment, you are able to enjoy the in-house band that plays on the stage behind you. Suddenly, something catches your eye. Numerous small and secluded nooks are scattered throughout the venue, the soft glow of well employed lighting entices you to explore each and every different area. Upon looking closer it becomes strikingly apparent that a large amount of thought and care was poured into the design of this locale. Every section of the venue was carefully thought out; the skilled use of tabletop items and lights creates a warm and cozy feeling that makes patrons feel both welcomed, and at ease.
Whether you are looking for an evening of quiet relaxation, friendly conversation, or sfw roleplay; VLVT DRMS is ready to meet your every desire. A dedicated staff and friendly regulars await all who enter, happy to interact with visitors or simply leave them to bask in the ambience of the venue if that is what they prefer. Every month varying themes and giveaways are added to the establishment’s lively schedule to delight both newcomers and regulars alike. Needless to say, we highly recommend dropping in on this dream venue and enjoying all that it has to offer.
Read on for our full interview with the proprietor, and be sure to check out their socials below!
General Information
To open each interview, we like to ask the most basic questions about our Featured Locale.
• What is your username?
U’Korih Tia
• What is the name of your Locale?
VLVT DRMS
• Where are you located?
Aether Jenova Goblet Ward 7 Plot 36
• Is your Locale a personal property or a free company property?
Free Company
• What is your free company name and tag?
VLVT DRMS <vlvt>
• If you had to briefly describe your Locale, what would you describe it as?
VLVT DRMS is a safe for work dance venue and bar lounge, lavishly decorated with a cozy and warm atmosphere to both entice and relax even the weariest of wanderers.
• If you have staff working at your Locale, we’d love it if you told us a bit about them here.
The Dream Team at VLVT is one of a kind. Most of our staff were previously patrons that just kept coming back and decided they never wanted to leave. We have a wide variety of roleplayers on staff from brand new to very experienced. We also have original characters, warriors of light, and NPCs on staff. I truly believe that the staff is what makes people want to come back because without my Dream Team there would be no VLVT DRMS.
Design Process
In this portion of the interview we ask questions that cover the entire creative process of each build from start to finish.
• What inspired you to create your Locale?
I had worked at several venues previous to opening VLVT and found that I really wanted to make a place that was warm. I wanted to create a space that focused on roleplay but also made the guest feel welcomed as the priority. We have roleplayers and non-roleplayers stop by all the time just to hang out and listen to the music and honestly, that’s what I really wanted when making VLVT. A venue where people could just relax after a long day of adventuring.
• What were your goals when decorating, and what were you trying to achieve with your design?
I redecorate the venue so often it’s hard to keep track but the same vibe is always essential. I wanted warmth and comfort. I took inspiration from old smoking lounges and velvet rooms to create this eclectic atmosphere that really feels like coming home. The biggest feature is the entrance. We use a /doze glitch from the upstairs hallway to drop our guests into the venue as a way to signify they have entered our dream space and can now relax.
• Did you do any concept sketches or make a list of key features or items to include for the build?
If so, feel free to tell us a bit about them and share them with us!
I print out the layout of the house and sketch out the concept that I want before I go anywhere. After that I start putting pieces together. It never turns out exactly the same as the concept but honestly that just means it is better than I could have imagined. There are a few key pieces that have always been around for VLVT, the TREX Skull hanging on the wall, Major General Shark Plushie, Blades of Innocence, and the curtains/drapery that hang around the place. I also try to keep the decorations random with golden vases, stuffed toys, flowers, and music boxes, all over the place. OH and of course, it wouldn’t be VLVT DRMS without our famous cuddle corner. A pile of pillows and blankets tucked away behind the stairs has always been a centerpiece of the venue.
• Can you explain the different areas of your Locale in a floor by floor breakdown?
VLVT operates mainly in the basement floor of a medium house. The main floor has been condensed down to a singular hallway that ends in a waterfall and a table with instructions on how to use the /doze entrance.
Once you drop down into the main venue the room is broken down into five areas.
-Bar: the first thing you see after dozing is the bar. With a backdrop of bookshelves and paintings the bar is covered in knickknacks and glasses to welcome our guests to sit down and have a drink. We also have a cake in one corner that was given to use by one of our regular patrons for our 6 month anniversary.
-Sitting Room: Next to the bar is a low ceilinged sitting area. This area is darker than the rest of the venue to give people a sense of privacy and intimacy while hanging out here. The main feature is a large fireplace surrounded by several couches and chairs. The walls are once again covered in trinkets and paintings to help bring the space together.
-Booths: On the far wall are our private booths. This was the main feature I wanted to build after moving into the new medium house. A place for people to have their own conversations, take a nap, enjoy a beautiful view of the stage, or plan a heist …if that is what they wanted to do. Each booth is unique in its seating arrangement and decorations and all are semi-close off by curtain for extra privacy.
-Stage: The largest feature in the venue by far is the stage. Located directly across from the bar the stage goes up instead of out. It is built using four round lofts and a dancing pole and almost looks like a cat tree (a running joke in the venue since most of the staff are miqo). The stage is open for all the dancers along with the staff and bards.
-Cuddle Corner: Hidden behind a wall to the far side of the stage is our cuddle corner. This pile of rugs, blankets, and pillows has been a staple since our very first design for VLVT. Always tucked away so that you can catch some Zzzz’s or curl up while listening to The Mews (bard band) play on stage. There have been a number of guests who come just to sit in this corner with their partner and take comfort in the atmosphere.
• Was decorating a group effort with placement and crafting, or a solo build?
The decorating of the venue is all done by myself. I own VLVT DRMS on an alt account. I created the FC, leveled it up, bought the house, and furnished it by my own hands. It truly is a homegrown venue. That being said, I always ask my staff for their opinions and input before I call a build complete.
• Which area of your build was done first?
Aside from the upstairs hallway, the bar was the first thing finished, as a focal point of the venue I wanted to make sure I had it laid out so I could build around it. From there the booths, sitting area, cuddle corner, and stage were inputted.
• How long did the build take?
Two days.
• Did you encounter any unique design challenges during your build, if so can you explain?
Oh man, yes. The /doze entrance was quite the challenge this time around. The flooring for Medium houses are thicker than those of Smalls, apparently, and I took a good 2-3 hours just trying to force everything into place. There was even a time where I considered using the upstairs inside of the basement, just to make it all work.
• What is your favorite part of the design?
It’s really hard to choose. For once, I am in love with the build on the first go around (though I’m sure I will end up changing things). I have some favorite features. The waterfall upstairs I find is gorgeous. The lighting on it makes it very dramatic and I think it’s a great centerpiece for the first view of the venue. From there I do really enough the backdrop for the bar in its eclectic unorganized nature it brings a sense of home to the place. And of course, the private booths are the main thing I wanted to build with this new house so I can’t leave that out of the list.
Community Interaction
In the final section of our interview we like to talk a bit about how the public interacts with our Featured Locale.
• How long has your Locale been open to the public?
1 year and 3 months.
• Do you have set hours of operation, if so what are they?
Wednesdays 5-9pm PT / 7-11pm CT / 8pm-12am ET.
• Does your establishment offer any services, if so what are they?
We have a roaming Casino, run by a staff member, Bar, Monthly Events, and VIP services.
• Does your Locale offer different things on different days? Do you have any specials?
We try to have at least one themed or event night each month that comes with giveaways, games, and glams.
• Does your Locale have a menu available for guests? Please feel free to share it here.
https://vlvt-drms.carrd.co/#menu
• Do you have any recurring events that you have on a weekly/monthly/yearly basis? If so, can you tell us a bit about them?
We have done a beach/pool party each year. We also have a murder mystery game that lasts the entire month of October.
• Do you have any upcoming events that you would like to promote?
Are you able to post a graphic? ((Spoiler, yes we are. 😉))
• What is the typical atmosphere like at your Locale?
Goofy. Seriously, most of the time the guests are teasing me or my staff, blowing themselves up or causing scenes, in a good way. It’s good fun and it just goes to show that we don’t take ourselves too seriously around here. There is a running joke that the furniture is all fireproof due to how often fire is involved in the antics.
• What recommendations do you have for people visiting your Locale?
Don’t be scared to just start talking to people. I know it can be frightening when you go to a new venue and you don’t know anyone there. You want to sit in a corner, watch, and then leave. But truly, just come up to me and say hi. I promise you I will love the conversation and be more than willing to indulge your roleplay. AND if you’re brand new to roleplay that’s even better. We have had many guests drop in that we have taught about the roleplay scene and watched blossom into fully fledged characters over time. It is truly beautiful.
• Do you rent out your Locale for private functions? If so, do you offer any services along with the rental?
We do not rent out the space. The backstory for VLVT DRMS, because I own the venue on an alt account but U’Korih is the “Owner” of the venue, is that Uko rents the house from Genbu (my alt character) for the use of the venue.
• What platforms can people find you on?
Discord is our main platform, we also have a carrd.
https://discord.gg/WKVGj9PSNm
https://vlvt-drms.carrd.co/
• Do you have any words for the community?
If you’re not enjoying yourself then find a place that makes you happy or make one!
Venues are for everyone and I encourage all people to pop into one at least once, even if you don’t know what you’re doing.