Benjamin Franklin told us – “Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?”
That wisdom tells us to take our talents out into the world, for only when you show your talent can someone spot them. And don’t we all know that working with our talents makes work… play.
So, where would you head if you knew you had a talent and wanted to shout it out across the rooftops? Probably, a performer would make a demo CD and circulate it around. YouTube could be the online town square which also gives better chances of going viral.
The web is the ultimate platform that many latent talents have found the place to be. It’s usually free, it’s accessible and it’s global. One such free web application with the said qualities is TalentTrove.
TalentTrove is a place where you can show your talent by creating, uploading and broadcasting the stuff you are made of. But this is more than just a video site because TalentTrove comes with features that not only let you highlight your talents but also manage them as well. This site is free for both the professional and the amateur.
From first impressions, the site may seem India-centric. But that’s just because a few of the head honchos have Indian roots. The site is very international in scope and reach.
Have a Talent? Find a Space for It
TalentTrove positions itself as an umbrella website for the varied talents that can be found among us. From the commonality of acting to the rarity of nerdcore (that’s something of general interest to nerds), you get it all. Each category has its own page or sub-site with the content arranged by file types and locations.
Enter Through the Backstage
A registration and log-in takes me to the BackStage. This is like a profile page or a dashboard for your TalentTrove activities. You can start by creating your circle of friends. Follow it up by uploading your files or edit any existing files you have. Files can be video, audio, image or text files.
You can start a few more “˜promotion’ activities like start a blog, jump into the forums, catch up with the contests that are always going on and maybe submit content if you are in the submission period.
Face the World with MyStage
MyStage is your public profile. This is where the web audience gets to see your talents on display and leave there bouquets or brickbats by ways of comments.
The Places of Interest at TalentTrove
TalentTrove is not just about uploading content and sitting back for the fruits to fall. The design of this web service is towards active participation. The few other features make it standout from any other community powered talent discovery website. A dekko at the navigation bar reveals all the places you can jump to.
TalentTrove brings you a host of contests to participate in. Each contest consists of a multi-stage process in which users submit media and vote on others’ entries in a series of face-offs.
CollabLab is a trademarked feature. It is a live collaboration tool which calls upon the TalentTrove community to help each other out. For instance, a model might need a photographer for the portfolio. Announce it here and someone will step forward.
Forums are not different from the usual message boards”¦a place to swap queries and suggestions. You can also lend a hand to someone who is in search of a collaborator.
TalentTrove Radio and TV host a lot of streaming radio and video shows. Radio and TV have their separate spaces and channels. It’s like your own entertainment channel with some professional and amateur talents on display.
Judging TalentTrove
The first thing that catches the eye is the neatness of design and the slick navigation. The site is easy to understand and navigate. There is a comprehensive FAQ section. The site gives a lot of things to do to the guy who has some skills to show off. The contests are for sure an incentive. If you want a place to show your talent, TalentTrove is a nice place to be. Showcase your stuff”¦who knows you could be the next Will Smith.
Of course, I cannot really comment if the site will lead you up the red carpet but do let us know your thoughts on TalentTrove. Have they got it right?
