“Smart Play: Vlogger Camp,” Smart’s multi-city convention for aspiring content creators, wrapped up last November 29, on its fifth and last leg at Mapua University in Manila.

The convention brought together top vloggers and hundreds of students from selected colleges and universities, in tackling compelling content that can catapult budding social media stars.

Rizza Diaz hosts and facilitates discussions at the fifth and last leg of Smart Play: Vlogger Camp in Mapua University.

Smart Play: Vlogger Camp kicked off at Ateneo de Davao University in August, followed by Siliman University in Dumaguete in September, Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Laguna in October, and University of Baguio and Mapua University this month.

From its five legs nationwide, the serial digital event featured top vloggers and content creators – award-winning travel vlogger Wil Dasovich; cosplayer and gaming enthusiast Alodia Gosiengfiao; fashion and lifestyle vlogger David Guison; food and travel vlogger Erwan Heussaff; and sneaker vlogger, digital publisher, and Smart and PLDT executive Carlo Ople. Each content expert shared invaluable experiences that led to successes in social media, from technical know-how to unique content creation, to making money through online videos.

Mapua University gives guest vloggers a warm welcome at the Smart Play: Vlogger Camp.

Mapua students entertain their schoolmates at the last leg of Smart Play: Vlogger Camp held in campus.

During the Mapua University leg, Dasovich tackled the basic technical elements of vlogging in “Gearing Up.” He covered topics such as creating a YouTube channel, using the appropriate equipment, utilizing free resources, angle shots, and audio.

Dasovich tackles the basics of setting up online presence.

Guison capitalized on his passion for fashion in his topic “Finding Your Niche.” He advised trying out different platforms to find one that fits and advocated brand-building and self-marketing as keys to staying relevant in the dynamic world of vlogging.

Guison tackles finding one’s niche as a vlogger: “The number of subscribers do not matter as much when you have loyal followers who appreciate your content.

Sneakerhead and all-around digital publisher Ople shared a wealth of tips in “Monetizing Your Online Presence.” He advised young people to consume less and create more content. He also tackled specific ways to earn from vlogging and leveraging online strengths and weaknesses.

Ople makes a case for pursuing a career as a vlogger, sharing opportunities for monetizing one’s online presence.

Gamer-turned-cosplayer and vlogger Gosiengfiao gave her insights on “Delivering Creative Content,” including ways of coming up with fresh content that will keep subscribers interested.

The event also featured four interactive pods, with themes that are among the most-watched on YouTube: the sports pod featured news and information about favorite athletes and teams; the fashion and beauty pod had a glamour lighting set up and fashion brands to try; in the music booth, people could record themselves while covering songs and upload these as content; and the pop culture booth had movie and tv show clips to which people can record their comments on video. Participants also enjoyed a photo booth with an “instagrammable” light show.

Smart Play: Vlogger Camp featured interactive pods where aspiring vloggers can sample creating videos about the most-watched categories on YouTube: sports, music, fashion and beauty, and pop culture and entertainment.

With Smart Play: Vlogger Camp, Smart encourages subscribers to “gigafy” their passions with promos like GIGA VIDEO+, which come with FREE 1 hour of YouTube. Smart’s Free YouTube For All offer, can be accessed by simply dialling *123# and registering to select promos.

For more info and updates on Smart Play: Vlogger Camp, visit www.smart.com.ph/Pages/smartplay