Making money with video gaming: that's the dream, isn't it? There are lots of ways to do just that, actually. Phylicia "Flitzi" Whitney is a presenter in Esports and shares her secrets.
Esports is more than professional players, coaches and the organizations behind them. We're going to take a look at the many ways to make money with Esports. Today, we're talking about a job that pulls you in front of the camera, but not to play or stream, but to report. Phylicia "Flitzi" Whitney is a presenter - and she tells us exclusively how to become one and what it takes.
Take another breath, look at your notes. Have you memorized everything? Yes. There's still time for a few speech exercises: "A, O, E, I, U." The vowels loosen the tongue. Then it's time for the spotlight... That's how Phylicia "Flitzi" Whitney's everyday life looks. She is one of the few German Esports presenters and works for Sport1 and RTL, among others. Reporting on a new video game? A live moderation for the ESL championship? No problem, that's exactly Flitzi's world.
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Presenter Or Presenter In Esports?
Stand in front of the camera, smile, guide through the event. That's not that easy, no matter if it's an Esports event or any other report or event. The most important thing is the journalistic craft, because presenters are usually journalists with additional training in speech and moderation. "How do I appear in front of the camera? What movements do I make? How do I emphasize what? Every movement in front of the camera is crucial," Flitzi knows. "The most important thing is good preparation and practice, practice, practice."
Esports is a pretty dynamic industry for that. Constantly changing: new teams, new players, new games, new tournaments and tournament forms. To stay up to date, you have to deal with the topic of Esports on a daily basis. Of course, the best way to do that is to like gaming itself. "I got excited about gaming and Esports at an early age. In the past, the scene was less known and I did reports and coverage on it. The industry has grown, just like the reporting," says Flitzi, who has her own format on Sport1, for example, and is considered a Sat.1 games expert.
What Does It Take To Be A Good Presenter?
So what are the magic ingredients for the job as a presenter? Flitzi knows: "Developing potential, training, stamina and a thick skin." Why? Because the industry is highly competitive and there are many envious people on the way to the top or in front of the camera. "I used to shake with excitement, my voice broke. Since then I have found my way to be self-confident." And you can see that in her latest job: In front of the camera of the ESL Championship in CS:GO, she looks confidently into the lens, smiles and literally pulls you along into the exciting final matches.
And there was even an additional challenge: Due to the Corona virus, the final was held online. In other words, a studio moderation, no stage and live feeds to the players. A dangerous construct, considering how the German Internet is infamous for its bad, unreliable connection. But of course a moderator has to be prepared for such cases - and Flitzi is. Fortunately, the ESL Championship runs flawlessly and somehow manages to be a good substitute for a live event - which is probably also due to the charming moderation.
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On Air
A job like moderating the ESL Championship is something special for an Esports and gaming enthusiast. But you have to be careful not to get too carried away by the matches. "Of course, you're also full of suspense yourself: who's going to win? Sometimes you have your secret favorites, but I them all the best. After all, my job is to provide professional, objective reporting."
Would she herself ever reach for the keyboard and mouse instead of the microphone? The presenter has to laugh. "I think I would accidentally shoot myself in the knee or something similarly embarrassing. I'd rather stick to the tried and true." Privately, however, Flitzi likes to play games. Whether Fallout, Fahrenheit, Fifa or her favorite shooter Rainbow Six: Siege. She has already moderated events for the latter, but the associated Six Invitational is right at the top of Flitzi's moderation wish list. And as Esports continues to grow, there are more and more tournaments, certainly in Rainbow Six: Siege as well.
We wish Flitzi all the best on her way and are already looking forward to the next Esports event, through which she will accompany us in front of the camera.