Valley’s Got Talent: This Is for You
Contributed by Elizabeth Stout
Last November, we announced that Valley’s Got Talent was coming to the Mat-Su. This is the follow-up; but more importantly, this is the invitation.
Because Valley’s Got Talent isn’t about finding the single best performer in the Valley. It’s about something much simpler, and much more joyful: showing up, having fun, and sharing what you love to do.
This is meant to be fun. Fun to try. Fun to watch. Fun to cheer for.
Every community has talent hiding in plain sight, and ours is no exception. It lives in living rooms and garages, classrooms and kitchens. It’s the song someone sings just for themselves. The routine a kid practices until it finally clicks. The talent someone hasn’t shared out loud yet; not because it isn’t good, but because they’ve never had a reason to.
This is your reason.
Valley’s Got Talent was created to celebrate creativity in all its forms and to give people a chance to feel proud, even a little brave. It’s a place to be cheered on, to be laughed with, not at, and to be reminded that sharing something you love can feel really, really good.
You don’t need to be polished. You don’t need to be professional. You don’t need to prove anything. If you have something you enjoy doing -something that makes you smile, or makes others smile when you do it- there is space for you here.
If you’ve caught yourself thinking, “This probably isn’t for me,” we want you to pause. If you sing, dance, play an instrument, tell stories, write poetry, perform magic, make people laugh, or do something that doesn’t fit neatly into a category—yes, this is for you. Especially if you’ve never done something like this before.
And let’s talk honestly about the video submission, because that part tends to feel bigger than it actually is.
Your video does not need to be fancy. It does not need professional lighting, editing, or a stage. Filming on your phone is more than enough. Your living room, backyard, or rehearsal space is perfect. One take is completely okay.
We are not judging production quality. We’re not looking for perfection. We’re simply looking to see what you do—and to imagine how much fun it will be to watch you do it.
If a friend asked you to show them your talent and you could do it right where you are, that’s exactly the level we’re hoping for.
The Mat-Su Valley is growing. It’s busy, bursting at the seams, full of people doing incredible things every day. Valley’s Got Talent is a chance to pause, gather, and say: look at us. Look at what we can do. Look at how much fun it is to share it.
This event only works if the Valley shows up. It works when people are willing to step forward, feel proud of what they’ve been practicing, and let others cheer them on.
So, consider this your friendly challenge.
Where are you hiding?
Come show off for us.
You don’t need to be ready.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to press record and have a little fun.
Video submissions are open now through Feb 14th, and we can’t wait to see what the Valley brings. Because Valley’s Got Talent isn’t about proving something.
It’s about celebrating together.