Profiled - Gigstarz.com - The streaming media business

An interview with  Natalio Polit the Co-Founder and Director of Business Development at streaming media business Gigstarz

Social Media Portal (SMP): What is your full name, job title and role at Gigstarz?

Natalio Polit (NP): My name is Natalio Polit and I am a Co-Founder and Director of Business Development at Gigstarz. Currently my role is to market and network, building relationships and attracting both content providers and end users to the site.  

SMP: Briefly, tell us about Gigstarz, what is it and what does it do?

NP: Gigstarz is a free streaming media business mass community platform that allows the marketing, promotion and revenue generation of user generated content.  Gigstarz offers the ability for users to treat their content as a business by offering various business tools such as:

• live streaming video
• content upload capabilities
• social interaction via chat and site wide instant messenger
• multiple contact lists
• child safety features
• social sharing interface to post content to various social networks

With Gigstarz, all content creators are able to monetize their content by having the ability to charge pay-for-view access to certain content.  We recommend a healthy combination of free and paid content in order to market and promote your abilities while also offering premium content at a cost to viewers to generate revenues.

Click here to check out a quick Gigstarz platform introductory video:


SMP: What made you start Gigstarz?

NP: Gigstarz is really a story of how a few friends with business and entertainment backgrounds had a vision and were able to get a fully integrated platform built from their idea.  Let me explain how Gigstarz came to be.  Our vision was to provide a streaming video platform that would give ALL users a place to stream live content and upload content to share with the world as well as provide ALL users the ability to generate revenues from their content.  Most streaming video platforms do not allow revenue generation and the some that do, provide advertising revenue sharing for a select few.  Other streaming video platforms only go after "professional" content including feature films and well known TV shows.  Is everybody meant to be a star?  Of course not, but why shut out so many capable and gifted people.

We are trying to build a community of talented individuals who can market and promote their skills and talents, and provide them with the platform to create a business.  In this current economy, we are trying to transfer the internet power from the big conglomerates to the individual performer.


SMP: What was the most challenging part of building the service?

NP: The biggest challenge that we face is getting the public aware of what Gigstarz can offer to content creators of all kinds.  People have sort of been brainwashed into relying on that hope of someone discovering them in order to start making money.  There has never been a fully integrated platform that combines a growing community and marketplace for user generated content that is built for revenue generation.  Currently content creators predominantly offer their content for free, because really up until now, that´s all that´s been offered.  Our hurdle is educating talented individuals showing them that Gigstarz is a way to monetize their efforts on-line and create a successful business that reaches a global audience.

SMP: Who are your target audience and why?

NP: There are 2 main types of users of Gigstarz.  There are the content creators and the viewers of content.  The content creators are the more tech savvy users that have the ability to create original content and understand how to use the available features to generate a following and a successful business.  There are many talented unemployed or unsatisfied employed people that have a talent, hobby or passion that they would love to have the opportunity to pursue.  There are also many frustrated professionals who are tired of having to give away their talents for free.  These people are the target content creators that can use the Gigstarz platform to its fullest.

Click here to see a video of how an amateur comedian who has a 9 to 5 job is talking about Gigstarz:


The viewers are people that will come in search of content for entertainment, educational and curiosity purposes.  These users will take advantage of the wide range of content offered and the social interaction features to find talent and meet new and interesting people.

Gigstarz is both playful and mindful of our users.  We connect entertainers and businesses directly to an active audience.  For end users there will be lots of great free entertainment, information and socializing along with Premium content at a low cost set by the performers they love.  Our content providers have the ability to interact with their fans and friends, cross promote with and adm ire other performers, and of course the tools necessary for direct financial reward and complete control of their work!

SMP: How did you initially attract users to your site / service, and how do you do it now?

NP: Gigstarz has employed various marketing strategies to help get the word out.  We initially targeted various talent sources, including agencies, universities, firms, forums and blogs.  We have also streamlined social networking efforts on facebook, twitter and linkedin in order to branch out to a wider audience.

Now that Gigstarz is building momentum, we are forming partnerships with various entities that will ensure more content contribution and more member registration.  Due to the Gigstarz business model, once content creators create and post content, they will also promote and market their own content to their social networks and contacts, which is another marketing venue for Gigstarz.

SMP: What are the low moments of what you have been doing so far?

NP: I would say the low moments have been within the development phase.  We had outsourced our initial attempt at development, which had proven to create a successful beta test, but extended the development time significantly.  With the rapidly growing and changing internet and technology, the extra time needed to launch was a difficult period of time.  

SMP: What are the high moments of what you have been doing so far?

NP: When we receive positive feedback from users that are looking for a venue to share their content as well as actually have the ability to generate product sales, it validates our initial vision of providing power to the individual artist by creating a business platform, community and marketplace.

SMP: Now that you are established, what do you see as your biggest challenges and opportunities?

NP: Well of course our biggest challenge is claiming our footprint from the big boys and having people understand that we are not just another streaming website.  We are young, fun and we say: ?Yes, you too can provide premium content?.  We believe that a powerful change will begin once word spreads that premium content is no longer packaged in a subscription based model, but rather a pay as you go model.  Pricewise things have just gotten way out of hand. Our model will naturally bring down the cost and redefine who is able to provide premium content.  

Gigstarz is striving to get to the next level.  Our goals are to get to a place where Gigstarz is a household name and when people think of user generated content, having fun, socializing or looking for information, they think of Gigstarz.

SMP: What are the next moves for Gigstarz?

Gigstarz is actively seeking private equity funding.  In order to integrate our various enhancements to further enable all users to create a business from their talents and hobbies, as well as help bridge the gap between streaming media on the internet and conventional TV, Gigstarz is looking for investors.

If you are interested in becoming a part of the digital media revolution and you also believe that all people should be given every opportunity to use the internet and their talents for not only marketing and promoting, but also revenue generation, then please contact us at bizdev@ gigstarz.com!!!

SMP: What?s the next big step for social media and networks throughout 2012?

NP: Currently millions of people spend hours and hours on the internet building and maintaining relationships, sharing experiences and networking for multiple reasons.  All of the time spent equals billions of dollars for these social platforms and zero dollars for the individual user.

With the current and prolonged state of the global economy, opportunities for people to monetize their dedication, abilities and time are becoming more vital.  Gigstarz will be a leader in offering people these types of opportunities as the social and digital media landscape evolves.

SMP: What?s going to be the most interesting aspect regarding social media / technology throughout 2012?

NP: As technology continues to advance, more and more people will be looking to the internet for success and entertainment.  The transition from TV as we know it today to TV on the internet is in full swing.  We have introduced a remote control functionality in our platform that will allow for easy channel surfing.  We believe this function will broaden our target audience beyond the 18-35 age range.


SMP: Best way to contact you (e.g. Facebook, LinkedIn Twitter, YouTube etc)?

NP: Questions can also be forwarded to:  bizdev @ gigstarz.com


SMP: What did you have for breakfast / lunch?

NP: I am currently in Spain and I love the Mediterranean lunch! 3 course meal with some nice wine.

SMP: What?s the last good thing that you did for someone?

NP: I drove 13 hours in 2 days just to spend a few moments with a friend in need.

SMP: How many hours to you work a week?

NP: Too many to count!!

SMP: If you weren?t running Gigstarz what would you be doing?

NP: Spend as much time with my family as possible.

SMP: When and where did you go on your last holiday?

NP: My family and I spent 10 days travelling around the South of France. Lots of fun!

SMP: What?s the first thing you do when you get into the office of a morning?

NP: Read the news, check my email and get pumped up for the day!

SMP: If you had a superpower what would it be and why?

NP: Fly, it would make travelling a lot cheaper☺

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