Buzz
Many might be familiar with Duy Tham's viral videos of 'accidentally' dropping, tossing, or releasing iPhones from great heights. People assume he's wealthy and more than that...
From being an English language student (Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam) completely 'foreign' to content creation to becoming a notable figure with 1.4 million YouTube subscribers and 573 million views, and 3.1 million TikTok followers, Duy Tham's (real name Ngô Đức Duy, born in 1995) life hasn't changed much.
Duy doesn't flaunt or acknowledge his social media fame, nor does he harbor excessive ambitions. The Vinh Phuc native simply collaborates with his team, makes plans, and moves forward. Beyond the YouTube silver button lies the gold button and many 'challenging games' he sets for himself.
The Shock of the First Clip
A tech, entertainment, travel reviewer with plenty of humorous and attention-grabbing ideas and an incredibly charismatic speaking style on YouTube and TikTok is remarkably reserved in real life. Duy Tham realizes this isn't advantageous, especially with his background in diplomacy and as a future reviewer.
Duy's Career Serendipity: No Grand Dreams or Ambitions
'My first video was about unboxing the iPhone SE. Back then, filming was simple with just a Samsung phone, not as fancy as now. The video only focused on the product without showing my face. Yet, it took me about 1.5 hours to script a 5-minute video. Lacking confidence in front of the camera, I stumbled over words,' confides Duy Tham.
The unboxing video didn't meet expectations, with low views and only about 30 comments. Duy vividly recalls staying up, reading and rereading every comment, feeling stressed, even shattered. It was the first time Duy understood the pressure of this job, all from viewers he couldn't see.
'Not a single positive comment. 100% of them criticized my dull voice, stumbling over words... It's an experience I'll never forget. I kept waiting for new comments, for praise - seeking solace, but of course, there was none,' he reflects.
'Ah, so this is what YouTube work entails. Thankfully, fellow creators encouraged me, and gradually, with each video, the audience embraced it. I think people have gotten used to my style by now,' he adds.
Nearly 7 years into content creation across social platforms, Duy shares that initially, he only had a simple dream of having his own channel. Then came the YouTube silver and gold buttons, and 3 million followers on TikTok.
Realizing it wasn't overly difficult to achieve the milestones many social media content creators dream of, Duy also admits part of it was luck. When he started his YouTube channel, concepts like content creators or YouTube weren't well-defined, and the market was relatively small, offering a huge opportunity.
Of course, unlike the leisurely image many have of the job - 'going out, dining, or just unboxing expensive items for shock value,' content creators like Duy also face pressures of innovation and avoiding monotony in style and content.
'At the time I started, no one could imagine a day when people would transition from long-form YouTube videos to short TikTok clips.
This transition happened so rapidly, it's dizzying. Some of my colleagues now feel regret for not transitioning their content to short videos sooner. By the time they decide to, it's too late.
In the next 5 years, I believe my profession will evolve even further, possibly discarding what's considered good content now. There might emerge a platform threatening both TikTok and YouTube, much like TikTok threatens YouTube and Facebook now.
Take TikTok for example, the platform is beginning to integrate shopping features into an app we only thought of as for watching videos. Who knows, in a few years, these platforms might introduce us to new forms of interaction we thought impossible.
Anyone in this profession should be ready for change. If you notice a platform or a trend starting to influence viewer preferences, you have to adapt immediately. Social media and content will never wait for anyone, confides Duy Tham.
There's no concept of easy money
'I don't think of myself as an idol. When I'm out, many people meet me and call me an idol, claim to be my fans, but I don't think I'm that significant. I'm just an ordinary person, sharing things I find enjoyable, interesting for others to see,' shares Duy.
Duy shares that he's often rumored to be very wealthy after becoming famous. But Duy just laughs it off, saying the real wealthy people (and talent) are in the company he works for (Schannel). For new fans, that thought might be understandable, but according to Duy, anyone who has followed him since the early days knows Duy Tham rose from ground zero in both finances and career to where he is now.
'If you want to earn more money, want a better life, then you have to pay a price, with your own effort and hard work. Just holding a camera won't make your life better overnight. It takes a very long time,' he emphasizes.
For those who think being a content creator is all rosy, with high income, luxurious life, I'll tell them, every profession is like that, there's no concept of easy money, reflects Duy.
Duy always wants to tell newcomers that the internet is a place where people have the right to comment without responsibility. This job is as stressful as any other. Another challenge is the market saturation with numerous platforms emerging, bringing in new faces and unique ideas, even resorting to shocking content for views. One of Duy's principles is to avoid controversial content, focusing on providing positive direction for viewers.
'Opportunities are always there for those starting from zero. Besides talent, genuine patience and diligence will still find a place in today's market,' - says Duy.
