The PRLC’s virtual talent show was a fun but tragically short event to end the semester
UFV’s Got Talent was put on via the Peer Resource & Leadership Centre (PRLC) Discord server on Thursday, Dec. 3. The event included videos submitted by students performing their talents for the chance to win one of two gift card prizes — the twist was that the audience was given the task of choosing the winners out of the contestants.
The event took full advantage of the skills learned by the event organizers over a semester of facilitating virtual events. It showed just how much a dedicated group of people can come together to create what would be, in theory, a massive event. Gathering submitted videos of students’ various skills, broadcasting them to an audience, and leaving the voting in the hands of that audience shows an admirable level of commitment and organization on the part of the PRLC.
Unfortunately, due to what is probably a mix of end-of-semester stress, low student awareness of the event, and the general tiredness of the student body, this event was tragically small — in both those showcasing their talents as well as the attendees. There were only two performers, two spectators, and one representative from the PRLC. The virtual format was well used; however, the organizers did not allow for participants to submit videos exceeding two minutes in length. While performing, two minutes can often feel like an eternity, but in reality it rarely offers spectators the chance to truly see the range of expression longer performances often have. This length of time is good for giving a snippet of a person’s act, but leaves the audience wanting more of the song, dance, scene, or monologue. Additionally, there were some sound issues with one of the videos, leaving a dancer without their soundtrack.
Despite this short runtime (the event lasted only about 11 minutes in total) it was a welcome escape from the routine that has become the end of the semester — working on final projects, writing papers, and studying for upcoming exams. It also offered a brief moment to sit with a few other members of the student body, something that the continued COVID-19 precautions has made increasingly difficult to do.
With luck, the small size of the event will not deter either the PRLC or other organizers from holding such events in the future. Overall, the event offered a break, both from the end-of-semester crunch, oncoming holiday stress, and the ongoing reality of living in the midst of a global pandemic.
