By Tedrick Melvin Yau
The world stops for no one – not even a pandemic. And while physical events and gatherings are still barred in many places across the country, it’s business as usual for those of us who find ourselves caught in the entanglements of the worldwide web.
The shift to online was inevitable. In recent months, Zoom became the go-to for corporate conferences and lifestyle launches (Facebook Messenger, Microsoft Teams, too). Regardless of the platform though, the question remains: how does one keep the audience tuned in?
Issa Litton, an esteemed events host in the metro, answered such a question with 1Lit Corp., an online training platform that specializes in effective public speaking, as well as presentation and communication skills workshops. Armed with more than two decades of experience in acting, hosting and even directing, Issa shares her knowledge as the platform’s COO and head trainer.
“Online Impact – Upgrade Your Online Presence and Delivery” is the starter course for anyone who would like to enhance his or her online appearance and presence. This is a must for resource persons, academic instructors, or sales and marketing professionals, who want to make an impact online.
It teaches (at least) two very basic, but very important nuggets of new normal wisdom: how to be authentic and how to connect.
For one, simply knowing how to deliver points better can improve engagement and lessen online fatigue from long meetings. Using the right tone and speed also paves the way for more effective communication.
After taking the course, I eventually understood tricks and tips on how to be a better master of ceremonies. Litton’s directorial background comes into place when she starts talking about lighting and angles.
“Obviously, we still want to impress despite being in a tiny rectangular box onscreen,” she says, explaining the concept of proper framing and background styling to achieve that professional look on cam.
“Navigating the Flow – Online Interviews and Moderating,” on the other hand, is a niche course tailor fitted for those who will be asked to host or moderate discussions. It teaches how to be better at asking questions, managing the program flow, being aware of time limits, and bringing out the best insights from everyone. Participants in these classes learn how to dig deeper and transform basic conversations into noteworthy discussions.
Lastly, for more extensive trainings, Litton has started offering private classes that suit the requests of her students. These one-hour long, one-on-one sessions are designed to address specific needs and concerns that any aspiring host or presenter may have. And since everything is done online, anyone from anywhere in the world can easily book a class with her.
Director’s cut
Issa’s little known background in directing has helped her master the techniques of optimizing look and sound – two very important things in the world of online presentations. “I remember this TVC where I took on the role of assistant director around my peers Phoemela Baranda, Kelly Misa, etc. I told them how to act and run, which angle to face the camera, what emotion to bring out, and how to deliver a line to make the scenes work – with the approval of my director of course! The director or producer would always ask for options so I had to bring out what the talents could give,” she recalls.
The event host also warned against online fatigue, usually brought about by the unwanted dragging of discussions. This happens when audiences start to “zoom out” of the online event and pay little to no attention to what’s going on. Of course, that’s not a good sign for either the speaker or the organizers.
Since it started, 1Lit Corp has successfully taught a number of aspiring hosts who are trying to make a name for themselves in the industry. And like many mentors, Litton has high hopes for her students.
“It takes practice and awareness – after all, everyone always thinks they know what they’re doing until you point something out that’s seemingly so obvious but it’s actually something they never thought of. When you have awareness, you can then act with intention, knowing what is within your control,” she concludes.
