Tin Can Store is Live!
With the holidays upon us, it’s the ideal time to explore the brand new Tin Can Store. Make sure to update the app, so that you can start giving and receiving fun (and valuable) virtual presents.
As a bit of background, the founders of Tin Can shared with me their vision of the Tin Can Store:
Our vision is that through the Tin Can Store, a Tin Caster will have a way to make money from their audio content, including live and recorded podcasts, original music, thoughts and ideas.
Instead of relying on advertisements, Tin Casters have their fate in their own hands. We believe anyone who tries live or recorded podcasts on Tin Can is not only brave, but also has real stories to share with interested listeners. Having a Tin Can Store to support these creators to feel close no matter how far apart we are, is crucial for our community and for anyone contemplating podcasting as a form of communication and self- expression.
That’s why we want to provide more gifts with interesting personalities and messages so Tin Can users can communicate in more complex ways. The gifts allow people in the Tin Can community to express feelings, show empathy, make a splash, and create stronger connections.
This week I was excited to try out this new feature, so it was serendipitous that I logged in just as a Tin Caster’s first live session was getting underway. During two back-to-back marathon broadcasts, I was amazed at the rapport that developed between the host and the audience of Tin Fans as he shared personal stories and delved into politics. Listeners chimed in with comments and questions, adding to the conversation. Eventually, some Tin Can gifts began floating through the text string, including clapping hands, and an ice cream swirl; as fans sent gifts to the show host. Since I had a few coins in my account (existing and new users start out with 20 freebie Tin Coins), I passed along a friendly “Hello!” gift before signing off. It was nice to be able to send a special greeting to the show host to express my thanks for his candid debut podcast.
When I launched my own live session on Tin Can a little while later, I was hoping to replicate some of the magic that I’d witnessed in that earlier conversation. And, yes, I wanted to see what it felt like to get gifts. Luckily some listeners sent me love right away, sharing hearts, a yellow rose, and even a cute animated coffee cup (for energy!) after I mentioned that I was stressed about being behind on holiday shopping. By the end of the session I had a nice little collection of Tin Cash, which I will eventually be able to convert to real money once it reaches a value over $100.
To start using the Tin Can Store, you’ll need to update Tin Can to the newest version (1.09) so that you can give gifts and also see the gifts being sent to you. If you want to send a gift to a Tin Caster during either a live session or on one of their recordings, just click on the gift box icon. From there you will see a selection of gifts (12 to choose from) at different prices expressed in Tin Coins. Click on a gift that you like and it will be sent to the host as a comment and as an animated sticker. If you run out of coins, you can purchase more from your account screen by clicking Tin Coins.
Keep a close look on Tin Can, as new gifts will be added every month, each expressing different personalities and emotions so that you can send a special “thank you” to Tin Casters for their shows and recordings. What a lovely way to share gratitude for inspiring and fun broadcasts and recordings.
