Quan Yi Fong, Kym Ng, Michelle Chong… Royce Lee?!
Hosting in the Instagram age
Hosting.
I’m shameless. Energetic, loud, vivacious. Since young, have wanted to be famous and seen onstage. Hosting is so much easier than acting, I just have to be myself! It’s easier if you’re more extroverted, a people’s person, PR with words. But moments before going onstage, I’m always shitting bricks.
It’s direct-access for me. I just don’t dig my nose onstage. I dig my nose offstage.
I wanted to emulate Pornsak’s model of success; learnt to be more bilingual, makes me a more marketable emcee.
Left Profile.
Founded in 2012, they only manage Michelle Chong (and her father, Papa Chong), Lee Teng, Pornsak and me. I joined in Feb 2018.
Hosted a sneak peek event for “Lulu The Movie.” Michelle Chong’s sister, Diana, was a speaker at the event. When I congratulated her on a successful third film, she said: “Can you name me our other two?” I hadn’t prepared for the question but knew them off the top of my head. She was impressed.
Next year, found out Left was expanding. Wrote in to ask if they were looking for talent. Shared with them I wanted to grow digitally, with them.
Michelle Chong, Lee Teng, Pornsak… you.
I didn’t want to join any agency just to be an “artiste.” By mere association, I’ve gotten a head start. I was so nervous my first time filming with Michelle Chong. Now I’m just like, Hi Michelle. *laughs*
Diana shared they didn’t just want to hire anyone, could tell I’m a yes-man. I can play a worm, caterpillar, snowman.
Is social media a new brand of hosting?
Hosting in front of a camera is different from onstage, or as a radio DJ.
Onstage you’ve to be larger than life, get their attention connect with people, whether they’re using their phone, looking for food, etc.
Drunk crowds are never nice: too friendly, talkative, or angry. I’ve hosted JCube Bingo for a few years. Mall-crowd aunties, uncles are very competitive. When I don’t call their numbers, they get aggressive. I have to appease them like kids.
With radio you’ve to use only your voice sound like you’re speaking to one person and many people at the same time.
On camera you’ve to be energetic even though you’re facing a static camera, be mindful of facial expressions. On social media, you are also everything: the host, producer, scriptwriter, videographer, editor.
How to host, interview, make friends?
To be a good host, be yourself. Don’t overthink it, go into “presenter mode.” To be a good interviewer, listen. Ask a question, squeeze the topic dry. How’s your day? Fine. Fine how? I’ve been to events to know: assess situations, listen. be neutral. Be PR, pretentious, fake. It’s normal!
