BuddyPress.org

Hi there,
I have already successfully made a buddypress website for a local aquatic plant enthusiast group. The website was short lived as the manager didn’t spend enough time on it and it fizzled out.. but none the less I was I able to get in deep and play around with it, so I have a solid understanding. I also create custom wordpress CMS websites, so am pretty good with code.

So I want to make a social directory website and would love to hear what you “pros” have to say about it.

I have a design / photography studio in a HUGE building complex and this building complex is known for renting to artists for REALLY cheap. Its an awesome place that breeds a very interesting creative community. The issue is that it’s SOOO big and everyone has so many different schedules, that we don’t really get to meet everyone.

My goal is to create a website where everyone who is a renter in this complex can create an account. Their account would essentially be a profile of their business or their work. So if you own a Yoga studio you would write about your yoga studio, but if you were an individual artist you would fill out your profile as yourself – an artist.

I’d like for each person to be able to upload a chunk of photos for their portfolios and also maybe have a blog if they choose (but not required).

The other important aspect is a directory. Every account should basically be able to tag themselves as a certain type of business or renter (painter, illustrator, fitness, personal care, photography, etc). Once tagged, that would help to build the directory of “members” that both members and non-members of the community could look through.

I would love to make this a networking tool so that if I needed to hire a screen printer, the first place i would look is locally within our community and THEN move outward if the local businesses can’t help.. I could click on the screen printer’s account from the listing and see their collection of photos and their blog (if they choose to have one).

The other thing that is important is to have a community calendar. Each account could create their own event which would go on their own personal calendars and also filter into one “MASTER” calendar.

So I know this sounds like a laundry list, but I figured it some of you have worked features like this in to existing websites and have found any particular tutorials, plugins, or themes useful, I’d love to get some feedback.

THANKS A BUNCH!