Malaysia’s Largest Performing Artist Platform Launched – Gig88.com
The Gig88 team.
credit: Ziv Kong
Stepping in to offer some reprieve is GIG88, founded by Ziv Kong, Brandon Chong and Calvin Ng. Despite their IT background and the fact that they all wear glasses, the boys also share an equal penchant for music and performing. Prompted by his passion for music and performing, Kong ventured into event planning and discovered a whole new side to the tediousness of event management – sourcing for the right talent for his client.
“It was quite a task sourcing for the right talent, for the right event and for the right budget. Furthermore, there are many good acts out there but perhaps do not have the opportunity to showcase their talent due to the lack of proper promotion. So with that in mind, we wanted to create a level playing field for both event organisers or anyone for that matter, who are looking for talent, and for the many talents out to ‘meet’,” said Kong.
And with that, GIG88, who are also part of MAGIC’s Accelerator Programme, was formed!
The company believes that booking performing artists should not be a time consuming and painful endeavour. GIG88 is mainly designed to aggregate the different types of performers and showcase them through their video platform.
He further added that the portal functions as a digital Yellow Pages that populates a wide plethora of entertainers such as illusionists, magicians, clowns, master of ceremonies (MC) for all sorts of functions to performers that range from solo artistes, beatboxers, young indie bands to cultural performances. Those seeking talent can then “window shop” for any talent they require and browse through their respective portfolios of work through their video platform.
Having been available in the market since 2013 but under the name TalentPal, GIG88 rebranded itself in 2015 and ramped up the features and offerings of their portal. Today, the company has already amassed a variety of clientele ranging from large hotels to malls and even private functions such as weddings!
According to some of the industry’s notable talents such as Jiggee Jon, MC and entertainer extraordinaire, he shared that it’s a good medium and one that is long overdue, whilst illusionist Edison Lim said he hopes that GIG88 will be the best platform out there for performers to be recognised.
However, the boys of GIG88 are not stopping here. In fact, they already have plans in store to improve the portal’s offerings. At the moment, those seeking talent can browse through our database but in the near future, establishments like hotels, bars and lounges will be able to post up their schedules and manage the line-ups.
“So, this makes it easier to source for multiple acts or replacements, and more convenient for acts to schedule themselves for sessions they are available for. Every day we are learning new things about the industry and our end goal is to be able to create a solution using technology to make event organising and talent recognition so much more convenient,” said Kong excitedly.
Present for the launch of GIG88’s spanking new website were Dato’ Freddie Fernandez, who is also the Chairman and Advisor of GIG88 and En. Ashran Dato’ Ghazi, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Global Innovation and Creativity Centre.
For more information about GIG88 or to experience their service, please visit www.gig88.com