BTA: A Thousand Tales, for Small Business Saturday

IMVU is focusing all on small businesses this weekend with Small Business Saturday! Check out our interview with A Thousand Tales, who submitted her creations on our community page, and spoke to us about her creations for her Behind The Avatar (BTA). 

IMVU: Hi! Could you introduce yourself to us?

AThousandTales: Hi, I’m AThousandTales!

IMVU: How did you get started on IMVU?

ATT: A little more than a decade ago, I was browsing another website when an IMVU banner caught my eye. I got curious and made an account. I’ve visited imvu.com many times since. It’s become my “life away from life”, so to speak. I enjoy having a chance to look completely different from what I normally do, and to meet and become friends with people from all around the world.

IMVU: How long have you been a creator – and how was that transition from user to creator?

ATT: I think I became a creator about a year after I registered this account, so… about nine or ten years ago? Man, I feel old.

I think I’m still just as much a user as I am a creator: the products I make are things I use too – some more than others, of course. However, I do have plans to make products that I hope others will enjoy instead, like men’s clothing. Maybe then I will learn to see myself more as just a creator, instead of both user and creator.

IMVU: How do you describe your shop – what do you specifically create?

ATT: My shop is… well, pretty uncommon, haha. I specialize in products based on traditional Japanese culture: kimono, traditional hairstyles, geisha skins, hair accessories… that sort of thing. I try to make my products as accurate as possible.

IMVU: Why did you create a shop dedicated to Japanese culture?

ATT: I just want to share my interests with other people. 🙂

IMVU: What are some of your favorite pieces in your shop and why?

ATT: I love my kimono. There are quite a lot of those in my shop already, but there will definitely be more in the future. It may seem odd to derive from just one mesh over and over, but kimono are my canvases, and every kimono I make is like a unique painting to me.

My current favorite kimono in my shop is this blue one, decorated with various flowers, like cherry tree blossoms. I really like how that one turned out.

Recently, I created a hairstyle that I am proud of how realistic it looks. The real hairdo that inspired it is culturally significant, so it was important to me to make the product look just right. As far as furniture items go (I don’t make a lot of those), my favorite two are my foldable futon and my hand drum. The futon was my very first successful attempt at using a morph animation, and I really like the shiny decorations on the drum.

IMVU: How often are you creating new products?

ATT: Uh, well… to be honest, I’m not the fastest creator in the world. Though I am often working on new products, like, several hours a week or so, it can take a while to release new stuff. There are usually weeks, if not months, between the release of a product and the next one. I tend to start on a new project when I’m right in the middle of another, which is exactly as efficient as it sounds.

IMVU: How often do you log onto IMVU?

ATT: Several times a week.

IMVU: How has IMVU helped you in a personal way – if any?

ATT: I believe chatting on IMVU has helped improve my English, and meeting people from around the globe has definitely broadened my worldview.

IMVU: Do you feel like there’s any overlap at all with regards to your personal life as opposed to your IMVU life? Why or why not?

ATT: Not at all. The only way IMVU affects my personal life, is in the amount of time I spend on here. Other than that, I try to keep IMVU and real life strictly separate.

IMVU: Have you ever met with your IMVU friends IRL? Or do you prefer to keep things separate?

ATT: No, I haven’t. I’d rather prefer things be kept separate indeed.

IMVU: What other creators/users do you admire and why?

ATT: One of the people I admire, though we rarely meet, is Gaf210. He is always very involved in helping people on IMVU, and making it easier for creators to promote their products.

Kalyn, Parcel, TeenyWeenyNana and MallorysOracle are creators whose products I really like and who inspire me. I often take a peek at their shops to check if they’ve released new products.

IMVU: What do you like about IMVU? Why?

ATT: I like how there are so many products in the catalog that allow me to dress however fits my mood. Also, I like that I can meet people all over the world.

IMVU: Any secret tips/tricks from being a user for 11 years? Something maybe your average user wouldn’t know?

ATT: For extra control over the camera in your room, use the Control (pun intended) and Alt keys on your keyboard!

IMVU: Any suggestions/words of advice for someone who’s just starting out as a creator?

ATT: Try being your own customer. Would you buy your product? If not, then why should anyone else? Don’t be afraid to jump into a public room and ask for feedback.

IMVU: What is/are your avatar’s social media handle(s)? (if you’d like to share)

ATT: You can find me on Instagram: @athousandtales_imvu. It’s still a bit empty though.