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Post by toddevf on May 26, 2016 17:03:36 GMT -6
As of late, I've been seeing a disturbing trend of people getting into streaming with stars and dollar signs in their eyes. They feel they are (insert deity)'s gift to streaming, and try to build not content, or a community, but a revenue stream.
In the near 14 months I've been broadcasting on twitch (usually at a full time capacity), I've heard " you're a success" thrown around by people all throughout the internet. But what is success really? This leads me to the subject "For the right reasons."
Success is very subjective. What I see as success might not fit your view on it, and that's fine.
For me, streaming is a hobby. I do it to hang out with people and have fun. In my eyes, I see myself as successful. I have met some amazing individuals, been part of amazing communities, and had massive amounts of fun doing it.
What I'm trying to say is if you decide to give streaming a shot, don't gauge your success with numbers and money. Gauge it by asking yourself "are I having fun?"
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Post by kamidahobo on May 26, 2016 17:15:18 GMT -6
All of this is 100% right-on. The great thing is that technology is at a place that no matter what your goals are, in regards to a hobby, you can probably do them.
Want to learn to paint? Hundreds of resources are available on the internet to teach you basics. Want to learn an instrument? How to sew? Craft? Livestream? If you have the time, patience, and resources, the avenues can open up.
That being said, streaming live video game playing is a multi-faceted hobby that entails a number of different sub-hobbies, which makes it a bit more tricky to really establish in. You need to not only play games, but play games that are interesting for an audience, while also conducting live chat, be a 'personality', and know when to call a spade a spade and try new things.
The best advice I give new people is just 'do it', because what's the worst that could happen? Nobody watches? Well nobody was watching you before you started to stream, so all you have is opportunity in front of you, it's not like you'll go backwards from zero.
Now, when people get the stars in their eyes and want to make money, that's the moment the joy gets sucked right out of the hobby. Well, I could argue it's the same for any hobby, as if you're a great amateur golfer, but start wanting to go pro, your entire outlook changes on the sport, and what used to be important to you is now second fiddle to 'doing what the pros do' in order to get over with the crowd.
"Oh, my favorite streamer has a Be Right Back screen? Well then I definitely need a Be Right Back screen!" is one of the easiest traps to fall into: Usually design choices, or games being played, or audio quality etc, are decisions made because they have to answer a problem.
Case in point, you don't NEED a webcam to be successful on Twitch. However, saying 'Oh Lirik doesn't need a webcam, I don't either!' won't make your life any easier. Who knows, your chat engagement could go up tenfold if you have a webcam. On the other side of it, just because someone has a webcam doesn't necessarily mean your stream warrants one.
It's a game of checks and balances, but it's always fun to grow.
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Post by NerdintheBay on May 27, 2016 12:32:42 GMT -6
To be a successful streamer is almost like being a successful professional wrestler. You gotta know how to talk, be entertaining, perform 300+ days out of the year etc. All of these qualities needs to be honed & trained before you can even consider yourself a success.
Even then to be able to make this a full time job is another topic all together. Not everybody can do it or should do it considering their circumstances.
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Post by toddevf on May 27, 2016 17:56:17 GMT -6
To be a successful streamer is almost like being a successful professional wrestler. You gotta know how to talk, be entertaining, perform 300+ days out of the year etc. All of these qualities needs to be honed & trained before you can even consider yourself a success. Even then to be able to make this a full time job is another topic all together. Not everybody can do it or should do it considering their circumstances. I agree with you 100%. The schedule is enough to take it's toll on you physically and mentally. |
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