10FROM10 | Twitch Gaming Streamers (Part 1)
Updated: Aug 20, 2021
On this blog post, both Tina and I have continued with this new regular series where we ask 10 Twitch Streamers 10 questions each relating to Twitch and all about their own personal experiences on the platform. Also for this blog post we have spoken to fellow Twitch gaming streamers and we have also included ourselves in this post. We both think that with such an amazing Twitch Streaming community, this will continue to be a really interesting blog series.
1eaf__ is a small games streamer who mods for a few musicians in the music community on Twitch. Though not a music streamer himself, the community in leaf's chat is mostly made up of those who enjoy the good vibes from the music community. If you want a small chilled stream full of honest positivity, retro SNES games, and fun colourful modern games, you will really enjoy swinging by to one of his gaming streams on Twitch.
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?
I'd heard rumblings about Twitch and seemed to have an account already in the past, but my first true experience of it was seeing the musician ortoPilot on there. I'd heard of him for many a year with him being a local Manchester musician, and he was broadcasting on Facebook Live before announcing that he was heading over to Twitch. I followed him from there and I loved the idea of being able to request a song via an interactive platform. Almost two years later, I mod for his community and stream myself!
I started my own stream initially for fun but within a couple of weeks I found myself furloughed by my job and I realised that I had a lot of time that I wanted to kill. My mental health took a huge hit with that and a few other things going on so it made sense to spend that time around my own positive community and gain that confidence back via their good vibes. I must admit that I have gotten very lucky with Twitch as I had a pre-existing community via modding for others!
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
I now always run a test recording on OBS before I go live. I feel like it is important to know how your stream is sounding and looking beforehand just so you can put that particular insecurity to one side. Other than that, I make sure that I always have a Huel at the ready - it's a balanced diet drink and I kinda swear by it!
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
The people. I think 99% of those who answer this question will tell you the same thing. You can find some real amazing people on Twitch. I understand that from a viewing point, it can be just as exhausting to give that time and energy - so when you know that someone is doing that for you, it gives you all the energy you need to carry on yourself.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
My most challenging experience has been choosing what to stream. I'd like to say my laptop is pretty damn good but any laptop has limitations. Some games just drop frames no matter what you try. As I do this for fun, I can always get around it by playing something else. I don't take myself too seriously and I am not trying to grow as a streamer. I actually consider myself a mod first, streamer second and always will. I think it helps me to deal with any challenges as I don't feel my true worth is through streaming, but, I enjoy it all the same!
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch music streamers?
Absolutely! The likes of ortoPilot, PlasticJosh, JoshJayPiano have been so supportive. Recently, I was raided by DanielleAllard and Levvvvis which was huge for me as I'm not a music streamer myself. The fact that they decided to go against the grain and raid me regardless was so unbelievably nice. I think the Twitch Music Community is full of so many lovely positive vibes - it's something that I can't say I always see from gaming streams - so to have a community of mostly music viewers despite me playing games is kinda like a dream for me!
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
Covid-19 actually meant that I could stream to a regular schedule, otherwise I'd have been grinding out the usual Monday-Friday 9-5. So actually, it allowed me to start streaming as my weekends are normally hectic. However, I actually went the complete other way and streamed too much and burnt myself out with my usual modding duties too. I now go without a schedule - I've noticed quite the huge dip in viewers, subs etc. as a result, but that's okay. I stream for fun chilled vibes rather than to become anything big. I feel more comfortable this way as it means that when I do find myself in regular employment once more, I am not setting unrealistic expectations to my community. I think that is the single most important thing you can be as a streamer - honest. Your vibe attracts your tribe. You can have your influences, but don't ever lose yourself.
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
I did find it to be a bit of a challenge but I think I have reached a point now where I can't get any more from my laptop. I think the next step would be a streaming PC and THEN the tech fun will begin. That's currently way out of my budget right now though. Again, I'm honest with my viewers that my stream is nothing fantastic, and I just try to present myself rather than anything too fancy!
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
It has helped me to gain a lot of confidence that has never really been there, and what little was there had disappeared with some personal events in the recent past. Twitch has helped me to gain that back and it has also allowed me to make some real close friends across the world. I feel like when the world is back to its normal self again and I attend a TwitchCon, I will share memories with these viewers of a real quality that only a select few of my real life friends could provide.
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
Find your reason to stream firstly - Is it for fun, is it to make money, is it to better your personal skills? Once you have that, just do it. Watch other streamers and share the love back, take their advice but don't be all take. Give where you can, be honest to your community, and they will empower you to achieve whatever goal you have in mind. You can do it.
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
Honestly, my stream won't be changing much at this point. It is never going to be anything big and I am completely okay with that. If you're reading this and you like the idea of a chilled small stream in which a music mod plays a mix of retro and recent colourful games without any big expectations, I think there's a place on Twitch for that. I hope you can swing by and enjoy the positive vibes.
CyberBB is a variety streamer and lover of all things sci-fi, hailing from the UK. She streams 6 days a week with a mix of indie and AAA games, and can probably be found carrying a turret or swearing at an inanimate object.
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?
I learnt about Twitch in early 2016, when I was introduced to CohhCarnage’s streams. After watching him stream and getting to know his community, I knew that this was something I wanted to do! I have always struggled to find communities that fit me, so being able to build my own in a space on the internet was perfect for me.
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
I spend time watching other streamers I admire, while doing my hair and makeup for stream. Taking this time for myself is almost meditative for me – it really puts me in the right frame of mind to hit that go live button.
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
Honestly, it’s the drive to be in this creative space, building a community. This is what I’ve wanted to do for several years now, and I’m dedicated to building something that I can be proud of, and that represents me. I’m still working on building my personality into my channel and it’s genuinely something I enjoy.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
I would say it’s a mix between being “on” for a certain period of time, at times when I might not feel confident, and being social outside of my own stream but within the streaming space in order to build more connections and find more like-minded people. I’ve always been fairly introverted, even on the internet, so it’s tough to put myself out there sometimes.
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch streamers?
I have! I think I’ve met all my best friends through Twitch, and some of them are streamers themselves. I’ve also recently joined a stream team, and that extra encouragement has been wonderful as well.
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
Honestly, not that much, except that maybe people have more free time to spend in chat with me!
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
Oh this is a tough one! I’ve always had tech issues, I spent years with sub-par internet, trying my best to keep my stream online. I’m now at a place where I can stream most games I want to play with the setup I have… But now other things need replacing. It’s never-ending.
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
Twitch has changed my life completely. Streaming has given me friends, a community, a routine and healthier habits. That last part might sound strange for a streamer, but when people are encouraging you to hydrate or reminding you to go for lunch, it really keeps you accountable!
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
Besides the usual advice like “just be yourself”, I would say – multiple platforms. I’m by no means the model of a successful streamer, but being able to create multiple forms of content is how most people are able to grow in the current state of social media.
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
I hope to be able to build more! I’m working on designing and creating new overlays and alerts for my channel, hope to have a website up in a few months, make my background more aesthetically pleasing for the stream, and I’m currently growing my YouTube channel too! I’d also like to hit the requirements for Twitch Partner next year, even if I don’t get accepted on my first application. Now I read it back, this probably all sounds a little overambitious, but I know what I want to achieve!
DeadPirateBrandon is a comedy horror streamer/artist. Having spent a good chunk of his life on stage and performing for others, it wasn't until Brandon discovered Twitch that he found a forever home with this platform of wonderful people. Brandon strives to expand his community of wonderful and positive people, all while constantly coming up with new and ridiculous content.
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?
I had no idea what Twitch really was. I had heard about Twitch Plays Pokemon and that’s it. It was when an old co-worker of mine found out I was the resident “nerd” and started asking me about it. I started doing a tonne of research about the site and the people on it. Eventually I fell in love with the idea of streaming and having my own “show”. I took the dive a few months after joining Twitch.
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
I can be a terrible procrastinator, so I try not to think about it. If I think about it, then I start working on new content for the stream and I’ll push off my start time. It’s a terrible habit, even if I make really cool things because of it. The best thing I can do before stream is to just take a deep breath, zen out a bit and push that start streaming button.
Oh, and coffee. Always have that made way ahead of time.
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
I’m a workaholic. I used to dedicate most of my free time to my job. Now that my job IS content creation, I’m 1000% invested. But what REALLY motivates me is creating something that makes people smile and laugh. Though I’m usually the first person giggling when I make new content.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
Learning how to handle toxic people and where to draw the line. When I first started on Twitch, I had an influx of people that were trying to steer my stream to a place I didn’t want it to be. At the time I had to make the hard decision, do I cater to this group of people or take back the reins and make the content I want? With the support of my partner, Momonooox, I was able to get back on track and blaze towards the channel I wanted.
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch streamers?
Most established streamers out there are willing to take you under their wing. Live streaming isn’t a typical business model. You will run across people who produce similar content, and instead of seeing it as competition, you will likely have found a new friend. I have an extensive list of people I’m thankful for and all their help. I just try my best to pass it on and help uplift others as well.
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
I just moved to San Antonio, Texas, when quarantine hit. I was in an unfamiliar city and it was practically deserted. Being forced to avoid the public and stay indoors has really given me a lot of time to work on my content. I had to remember to step outside to get sun from time to time.
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
It can be incredibly difficult trying to stay up to date with tech. I’m someone who has the hardest time buying anything for myself, so I’ll just “make due with what I have.” I used to stream from a PS4 for months and months, it wasn’t until my partner purchased me a PC for my birthday did I make the switch. There’s a balance that I’ve tried to stick to since she did that for me. I know I don’t need the latest and greatest doodads to be successful (I’m looking at you expensive gamer chairs!), but when considering a new upgrade, will it make my stream better? Will there be a tangible benefit to it? Is it just something I want because it’s “cool”?
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
It’s given me a career. I’ve always wanted to do something like this, but this didn’t exist when I was younger. I spent my time directionless and mostly just trying different things. I’ve worked in promotions for a radio station, game master at a video game studio, and several other “creative” jobs. It wasn’t until I started streaming did it feel like something truly clicked.
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
Don’t worry about numbers. Make friends and try to find like-minded individuals. Avoid any hashtag that has “SmallStreamers” in it. Followers don’t mean anything if you’re not actively building a community. Make sure the content you create is making you happy.
It also helps if you have an incredibly supportive partner.
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
I’m looking to push the boundaries and try to pursue truly different content. I’ve done music video parodies and hosted my own online convention, but I want to go beyond that. I’m also looking to expand my content to other platforms, YouTube, TikTok, etc.
If I’m lucky, maybe Starbucks will notice me and reach out for a sponsorship. Coffee is very important to me.
Craig, Glaswegian (g1a5w3g1an), or Weegie is a Twitch addict, music blogger, coffee drinker and big sci-fi horror fan. He started streaming on Twitch on the 1st of January 2020, gaming on the Nintendo Switch. He is a big supporter of independent musicians and in promoting other Twitch streamers and he is also the very lucky other half of Miss TinafromMars.
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?
I first found out about Twitch through Natalie Holmes. She had been tweeting about it late in 2018, but I thought at the time it was only for gaming, linking to XBox for gamers to stream the games they were playing. I decided one night to click on Natalie's link in her tweets and the rest as they say is history. With regards to my own streaming, I met Tina through Twitch - think we first spoke to each other one night after Charlie raided Mari, back when I was modding for Mari. Shortly after that Tina started streaming herself, then at Christmas she surprised me with an Elgato Card that allowed me to stream with my Nintendo Switch, and so I started streaming on the 1st of January 2020. I mostly use my stream for community nights now, to bring everyone together.
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
My pre-stream rituals consist of getting SLOBS set up mostly. I have just the one display with my laptop so any games that I stream are displayed on it. Whether it is captured from the Switch or directly via Steam on the laptop, I generally just play my games within the main SLOBS window on the laptop. Then I check the various audio levels and have my Spotify Playlist of Twitch music streamers in the background, followed by getting the game up and running. Also a coffee and snacks for the stream are essential preparations.
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
As my own streams are mostly community streams, being able to bring everyone together via cross platform games is a big motivation for me. To see everyone getting involved and having fun and enjoying the games and the chat, that makes it all worthwhile for me.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
My most challenging experience was my initial first stream. Receiving the Elgato Capture Card from Tina was a complete surprise. I literally got a knock at the door one afternoon and it was the capture card arriving from Amazon. I really had not planned to stream much before then, just spoken about it a bit, but after the surprise gift appeared, I started thinking about it more and initially setting up SLOBS was a challenge with audio levels. Also with me only just having the one display, that made the setting up part even more of a challenge. But I got there in the end after a few nervous moments on my first stream.
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch music streamers?
I have seen and experienced nothing but support from every single Twitch music streamer that I have ever spoken to. The music community on Twitch is an amazing and wonderful place, full of so many amazing and wonderful folk, talented musicians and friendly dedicated viewers and fans. I have made so many friends since I have been on Twitch, both distant ones from all over the world and some I have met in real life. I have even been Ukulele shopping in Glasgow with Natalie Holmes and helped to film a music video for her with her other mods. There are just not enough words in my vocabulary to describe how amazing the levels of support and encouragement you receive from other Twitch music streamers.
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
The Covid situation has had such an impact on both my streaming and life balance. During the first week of the lockdown in the UK, the company I worked for went into administration and I was made redundant. Due to this, I lost any energy or desire to stream for a while and I even took a break away from Twitch and Discord for a month, and thought about just not returning at all at one point. Also, I had been seeing Tina as regularly as we could prior to the Covid restrictions, and from the end of March, with her in Ireland and me in Scotland, it was not possible to physically be with each other while the lockdown restrictions were in place. We did get through it, and started seeing each other again recently, but literally as I type this, Ireland is in the middle of a 6 week full lockdown again and here in Scotland, we are back in a 3 week full lockdown, so for now it is back to no physical contact with Tina, and it is back to the video calls and WhatsApp/Discord chats. Also regarding the job situation, I am still out of work and have been trying to find a new job since March but in the current climate with everything that is going on, it is just proving more difficult that ever.
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
My stream setup is very minimal and basic. In fact at the moment I just stream with my old laptop and very basic (graphical) games. My living situation just now does not allow me to have anything more, but I hope that will change in the near future. I do have the Capture Card and the Switch and will return to streaming games with them as soon as I am able to.
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
Live streaming and just being on Twitch in general has changed my life so much. Firstly I have met the most wonderful, generous, and amazing person in Tina, who is now such a huge part of my life, and I just cannot imagine life without her now. I have also met so many amazing folk on Twitch who are now friends and will be for many years to come. My musical library has expanded so much since I have been on Twitch, and I now have my own Spotify Playlist made entirely from original songs from Twitch music streamers. There is one song from each of them, all amazing independent musicians, whose music I just could not be without. I have my playlist constantly on repeat both on my streams and when I am driving.
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
JUST DO IT! Really, that is all the advice you need. If you are thinking about it, just do it. Any technical issues you may have can be discussed with the amazing supportive community on Twitch and any nerves you may have about that first stream will all be gone as soon as you do. If you have already been active in streams and on Twitch prior to streaming yourself, the chances are you have a group of friends already who will be there to support your first stream and make you feel more at ease when you make that jump from viewer to streamer.
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
My future plans for my own Twitch stream mostly consist of, when I move house, to be able to stream more often with more content. I am very limited at the moment, but hopefully that is just a temporary situation, and eventually I hope to have a better setup for streaming.
LawrynW is a sarcastic British gaming lass with an obsession for coffee. Chatting away and telling it like it is, one caffeinated beverage at a time! Playing games including World of Warcraft, Minion Masters, The Talos Principle, Hunt Showdown, The Witcher series and also a wide variety of puzzle games.
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?
I found about Twitch as a viewer through a YouTube content creator and found myself watching it as a form of entertainment. As a streamer, I was inspired by EdPlaysJazz who said I should do it, so... well I did!!
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
Ha ha, my mantra is "Push Button, Go Live" to the horror of some other streamers who have horribly complicated Ableton related start-ups. I usually have coffee ready but otherwise I very much enjoy being spontaneous and fluid in my start up ritual. I start it quickly to stop and halt my nerves and anxiety.
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
In the current times, streaming has been a true saviour for my mental health. I have found new friends and life-long bonds through this platform and I feel blessed to be able to say I have my own community. It has lit my path through the dark times and ensured I have found the strength to carry on. I would have been a VERY lonely and depressed person without this.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
My most challenging experience so far on Twitch has also been a mental one. I have had to reconcile myself in terms of being "good enough" alongside a sense of guilt almost sometimes in terms of "People watch and support me, am I taking something from someone actually worthy?". It is a self esteem issue on my end, but again one I am slowly dealing with. I can be my own harshest critic at times. I can still struggle with going live if I notice my friends are live at the same time.
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch music streamers?
The Twitch Music community is a truly beautiful, magical and supportive space. EdplaysJazz, CallsignScarecrow, KibzyMusic, Holls and SO many more have been so supportive of me. EdplaysJazz is now one of my best friends and we met through his Twitch channel. The Twitch Music Community is somewhere you can always find someone who is talented, empathetic and creating something beautiful live for you anytime of the day or night.
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
Work has not stopped for me during the pandemic. Confidentiality means I don't speak about specifics but I have suffered as has everyone in their own ways. I haven't ever been able to have a stream schedule due to work, so the pandemic simply amplified that effect.
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
I just upgraded my PC, mic and camera. It was the first stream purchases made by me. I have my fellow streamer friend katrin_valkyrja who is my head mod and advises me on tech. As a life-long gamer, I really had everything to start my basic streaming. The prospect of buying stream specific technology is one I would need advice on and certainly at this time not do. Spawns are expensive!
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
Live streaming has certainly changed me in terms of putting me out into the world. I am most certainly not as antisocial as I was before streaming. I feel a lot more confidence in myself within certain aspects of my life. At times, in my mind I feel sometimes I am "only Lauren". Now that feeling is lesser than it has been in years. I also hope I entertain people. I have also raised money for charity via my streams so I feel blessed to be able to help good causes in this way.
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
If you are starting streaming, then be yourself and be kind to yourself. Do NOT put any expectations on yourself and remember to have FUN! It really doesn't matter if you have 1 or 100 viewers if you are not having fun. Streaming is for others for sure as the audience, but I firmly believe you have to start and end with doing this for yourself. Play things YOU enjoy and hang out with people YOU love and you will organically find something beautiful can grow that will enrich you and yours.
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
Looking ahead, I would love to continue to grow my community. Having people in my chat to natter to while I play games is amazing! I have old and new friends mixing and hanging out. It has warmed my heart to see. Meeting people who I have bonded with through raiding someone random is always lovely. The world has so many people who are talented and, especially within the current world situation, are now showcasing it on Twitch. Discovering and hanging out with those people is the true joy for me. Bringing people together to hang out with me is something I aspire towards. The current world climate means I have felt the need to bring as much coffee and light to the world and people as I can.
My name is Erin (LikelyFormula), and I stream with my soon-to-be-wife, Stacy (LittleBit0403). We each use the she/her pronouns. We have been in a relationship since 2015 and got engaged on New Year’s Eve/Day 2020. We do not have a date set for a wedding yet but plan to set one as soon as we know when we can have a small one with a gathering of some family and a couple of friends.
We have always loved gaming together, and once we discovered streaming, it was natural for us to want to share our experiences with others. We play a variety of games and are live most evenings around 6 pm EST. Some of the games we currently play or have played are BO4 Blackout, MW Warzone, Fall Guys, The Forest, The Last of Us (1 & 2), Dying Light, Far Cry 5 / New Dawn, Spell Break, Spyro, Mario Bros., Alien: Isolation, Little Nightmares, 7 Days to Die, and the list continues. We enjoy open world games and typically lean towards first or third person shooters. We have a particular passion for Battle Royales too, but we really enjoy trying out all different kinds of games. We prefer co-op games, so that we can game together, but we do play single player games too and trade off while we sit next to each other on the couch.
We love to meet new people, so please feel free to stop by our stream sometime and chat with us! We look forward to it!
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?
LittleBit (Stacy) and I (LikelyFormula/Erin) found Twitch after we heard about Dr. Disrespect through discovering some YouTube videos of him and about him. His videos and the concept of streaming became something I was very interested in learning more about after that introduction. We played a lot of COD BO4 Blackout together at the time, and that led us to start searching for Blackout streamers on Twitch, and we found TeePee. Since then, we basically had his stream on in the background most days while getting other things done. We would learn little tips for getting better at the game throughout the day from him, and streaming became an even more intriguing concept at that point.
I’m not sure what gave us the final push in starting to stream, but we started out very basic… streaming directly from PS4 with our cheap headsets and mics. We also sought out other smaller streamers to watch, and specifically, ones with the LGBTQIA+ tag. We searched the tag so that we could know that the streamer was at least an ally of our community since we all know the gaming world can be a little toxic at times. We wanted to feel safe chatting and watching the stream.
We very luckily stumbled upon bmp_89 (aka Those Gamer Girls that consists of B and Jess). They had been streaming for quite some time and really encouraged and supported us continuing to stream and grow our channel. We couldn’t ask for better support and friendship than we have received from them. They are truly beautiful human beings.
We originally started streaming in December 2018 and streamed a couple of times a week consistently through October 2019. We took a hiatus for a bit because we were struggling with the loss of my grandmother and could not put forth the effort to do much more than the bare minimum at that time. We finally started back up and streaming again in May 2020. We still had no facecams at that point, but we were working towards getting comfortable with that and purchasing a webcam for that purpose. We now use facecams for each of us on the daily, which has definitely helped to further our connection with our viewers and community. We have been streaming consistently about 6 days a week since starting again, and we have been loving the process and loving the people we have been able to meet and get to know through our stream.
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
I would have to answer this with a “sort of” because we do not currently have a permanent room/desk setup for streaming. Since that’s the case, we have to get everything setup before going live each evening. I have a mobile cart that holds my monitors, camera, and mic that I roll over to the couch and then we work on setting up the lights and green screens for both of us. Stacy uses a small desk which is a bit more permanent of a setup, but still needs the green screen setup. We’re both in the living room together while streaming, so we also have to ensure our mic audio is without echo from each other (as much as possible).
Other than the setup, we typically grab some water to hydrate during the stream and take care of the dog’s dinner, etc. I get our social media posts ready beforehand, so that I can post those as soon as we go live. We check our camera settings, mics, game sound, and all the technical odds and ends to ensure all is good to go, and then it is time to finally click that go live button!
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
The amazing people that choose to spend their evenings with us is the most motivating aspect of it all. We basically get to hang out with a group of our friends every evening and talk about things that we are passionate about or just “shoot the shit” and laugh or continue with whatever the conversation may end up being. It is truly awesome. The other motivation for Stacy and I is that we genuinely enjoy gaming together, so we would probably be gaming in the evenings anyway, and we figure that we might as well share it with some great people, so they can have some laughs and fun along with us.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
I cannot say that we have had many challenges on Twitch. A consistent but relatively minor challenge that we have faced and will keep facing has been the continuous tech tweaking that is required for streaming, especially after any PC updates that always seem to break all the settings.
The other challenge for me, personally, was to have the courage to be on camera. I have never been the most excited person when it comes to being in photos and video. I also can be overly self-conscious, and it was really a struggle for me to dive into the whole facecam thing initially. However, I knew that being on camera was important to the entire stream experience. People want to see reactions and expressions, which I completely understand because I also want to see the same when I’m watching a stream. The way a streamer reacts is all part of the fun for a stream. I had my camera set up for a while before I actually went on camera. I kept planning to do it and then putting it off. Until one night, I abruptly said to Stacy, “You know what… I’m going to turn on the facecam tonight”, and I actually followed through with it and have continued to be on camera since then. That first step was the hardest, but it was not as bad as I had built it up to be. People were very supportive and kind. I know that eventually we will get some mean trolls who want to put us down, but I know that as long as I am okay with myself and Stacy with herself, then they can say and think whatever they wish to. It won’t change the way we feel about our overall selves. We mostly feel sympathy for a person that would make a conscious decision to be hateful and cruel to someone else because they must have a very upsetting existence to want to come into a stranger’s stream or in the comments on a social media post and be cruel and rude for the sake of possibly making the person feel bad about themselves.
No matter my looks or what someone might choose to say about me, I can still find solace in the fact that I always try to be kind and compassionate and loving towards others. As long as I am those things, to me, the rest really doesn’t matter much at all.
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch streamers?
Absolutely! I see a lot of people speaking of bad experiences on Twitch, but we have had overwhelmingly positive experiences on the platform with viewers and other streamers. Some of the closest people in our lives are other streamers, and their support of us and other streamers is immense. We always try to support other streamers in any way possible too. We are passionate about streaming and enjoy talking about the aspects of streaming, and typically, other streamers are similar to us in that. We do not mind if people come into our stream and let us know they also stream. We actually encourage it, for the most part. We have found that the majority of streamers know where the line is in sharing information about their stream in others’ chats because they would want the same for their own. We have had more positive experiences than negative experiences with being supportive of fellow kindhearted streamers. It is an amazing thing too - when you are genuinely supportive of others, they tend to also want to be supportive of you. While we never expect or need anything in return, it is heartwarming to see the support and care for helping each other.
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
The current situation with Covid-19 has made it much easier for us to stream consistently and at the times we do for the duration we do. I currently work from home because my employer shut down the office because of Covid-19. Since I no longer need to commute to an office, I have gained back a couple of hours in my day, as well as being able to get a little more sleep, since I do not have to get ready to go into the office.
We have been really committing to streaming consistently because of this new found free time. When/if I do return to an office, it will be nearly impossible to stream at the same start time and for the duration that we do currently. We will still stream consistently, but we will probably have shorter streams and our start time will have to be later.
There are a lot of struggles that have come with the Covid-19 situation, and I deeply feel for those that have not been as fortunate as we have and who are really struggling. I wish it was not that way and would change things if it meant bettering that for everyone.
While we still can, we are taking advantage of any positive lifestyle changes that have come about as a result.
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
I would have to say a bit of yes and no. We made a commitment to ourselves to reinvest any funds we acquire through streaming back into the stream by continuing to work on upgrades that will better the overall quality for our viewers. We want to give back to them by upping the quality, since they have been willing to support us either monetarily or otherwise. That being said, tech gadgets are typically not cheap. We have to plan for upgrades and save up to be able to afford them. Saving up might mean that our upgrade is months down the road, but we have made a commitment to continuously improve however possible and whenever possible. We have many ideas for updates we want to make to improve the overall quality of the stream, and we know that we will be able to do those things in time, so we remain patient and focused and will continue chugging along with those goals in mind.
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
The biggest impact for us that has come about from live streaming has been the sheer number of genuinely kind and open people we have met and gotten to know as a result. We have met more people since starting to stream that fit into that category than we have met in our entire lives. It is truly an amazing experience and one that we never planned on but are sincerely grateful for.
We have best friends that we have made through streaming and gaming. We have so many great friends that have been insanely supportive of us, and we know they would have our backs anytime and we would have theirs. We have gotten to know people more in depth and at a quicker pace than in “normal” life through streaming. People are more open to share parts of themselves and let you in when we are sharing parts of ourselves with them. The more open we are, the more we learn about and get to know everyone else. Not to sound too “sunshine and rainbow-y”, but it has been truly astonishing to us.
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
We are always open to offering advice to anyone interested in streaming, and we welcome anyone who ever wants to stop by and discuss or ask questions.
Discoverability is difficult on Twitch, so I would highly suggest that you post content from your live streams or other relatable content to other social media platforms consistently. Don’t worry about perfection, just start posting, and you’ll learn how to improve it over time. Posting as often as possible on as many other platforms as you can will help people discover you more quickly than never posting at all because you’re afraid of it being imperfect. Perfectionism can freeze your growth if you allow it to stop you from posting content. Remember, no one is perfect, and the imperfections can be the most interesting parts of a person. So embrace yours! :)
The number one priority is the people in your chat. The only alternative to get away from this is if you are a pro player of the game(s) you stream because then people might only be coming around for your professional gaming abilities. For all others who stream, PEOPLE IN CHAT MUST ALWAYS BE THE PRIORITY.
Talk as much as possible, and when you do, then get used to and practice talking even more. If no one is in your chat or you have zero viewers, talk anyway, as if people are there. Practice as if you have a tonne of viewers, so that eventually you have a chance of making that your reality. Talk about what you are doing in the game, what you are thinking, why you are making the decisions you are in the game, come up with anything to continue talking as often and as much as possible. You and your personality are what makes watching you play a game interesting. If you choose to be completely silent while playing the game without providing any feedback, most people that stop by your stream will end up leaving shortly after they arrive. This might be harsh for some people to hear, but it is the truth. You might get the random person to stop by who is considering buying the game you are playing and simply wants to see what the gameplay is like. That random person might stay for a while or even that entire stream, but I would guess that they probably will not return after that initial visit. That is, unless you are talking and creating the interest within them to come back. I promise that you have things you can talk about even if you don’t think that you do. It takes reminding yourself to talk and practising each and every stream. Talk about the sandwich you had for lunch or what the best method is for cleaning your dishes - I am sure you think I am joking, but I promise that I am not. Any conversation on any topic is better than saying nothing. You never know, somebody watching might discover that you have a really good tip on the best method for tying your shoelaces.
Beyond the importance of the people in your chat and talking as much as possible, once you have the ability to upgrade your mic, prioritise and do it. Prioritise audio quality first and then video. Audio quality alone can make a person stay or leave your stream. If a person cannot hear you very well, there is too much background noise, the game or people in your party are louder than you are, there is audio feedback of some sort that is jarring to their ears… any of these reasons will turn someone away quickly. To check how your stream sounds, watch at least parts of your VODs as routinely as you can. If the audio is not great for you, it is not great for anyone else, so make adjustments and keep trying. No one gets it right immediately, it takes listening, learning, and adjustments to continue to make it better.
Lastly, remember to have fun and have that be the main reason and drive every stream. If you are streaming because your end goal is to have tonnes of followers, viewers, and to be “famous”, you are streaming for not-so-great reasons that may be disappointing and discouraging for you in a short time. Find your passion for having fun with gaming and interacting with people. If you lack that passion, you may be better off trying something else. Growth is typically very slow, over multiple years, so unless you enjoy what you are doing, it may turn out to be a miserable experience of constantly watching your numbers staying stagnant. Stream with passion and fun and those around you will feel that from you and want to join in - that is how you will be successful, find success with having that passion being what drives you and let the rest fall where it will.
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
We want to continue to improve the quality for our viewers. We are saving up for a second PC, so that Stacy and I can play PC games together, which will increase the options for games to introduce to our stream and viewers. We would like to better our channel’s branding too, likely by commissioning an artist for a logo and channel screens designs, etc, so that it is all more pleasing to the eye and informative for everyone.
Overall, we want to continue to make our streams a place where people like to hangout and chat with us and/or everyone else in chat, where they can make new friends and build deeper friendships. We want our streams to continue to be a safe space for people to share and be open, particularly for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community because we know how important it is to have a safe space through the journey and struggles that “being different” can entail.
We will continue to encourage kindness and compassion in our streams and conversations. We always appreciate when our viewers welcome new people and take the time to say their hellos and goodbyes to all because it helps the overall experience for people in feeling accepted and recognised for who they are.
Laura (Lj94games) was formally known as JohnnyDoggo on Twitch, and is a gaming streamer from Scotland. After a few gentle nudges from lots of lovely Twitch folk, Laura decided to try her hand at streaming. She has 3 dogs: Aluko the Siberian Husky, Johnny the Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross and Bailey the Chocolate Labrador/Collie cross. All 3 can be seen on the #DoggoCam on stream while Laura is gaming. In-between streams, Laura will most likely be out enjoying walks with all 3 of them.
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?I've known about Twitch for years but never used it - historically I'm not a big fan of watching video games, I would rather play them myself. About 2 years ago now I discovered that ortoPilot was starting to stream on Twitch, so I joined to see what all the fuss was about. I discovered that Twitch WASN'T just for gamers and found a whole world of talented musicians thanks to this. I even had a stupid username because I never intended to chat but that all changed VERY quickly as I was welcomed in and made myself at home.
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
Usually my pre-stream routine starts a few hours before by giving the dogs an extra walk. But right before I stream I run around like crazy letting the dogs outside again, setting up the dogs "bed" for the stream camera and making sure I have enough juice and snacks to last the stream.
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
Lots of things have motivated me. First and foremost, the amazing encouragement I've received from so many amazing people keeps me motivated. Then I'd also say streaming has helped me organise my daily life better than I ever have before. Seeing the improvement in that area alone motivates me and has been a huge boost to my mental health over the last few months. I've been unwell for a number of years now and been unable to work and so to be able to do something I love (gaming) and be productive with it really picks up my day. The idea of potentially building a career out of a life-long hobby and passion still gives me flutters in the stomach because its been a dream come true. Streaming consumes a good portion of my day but it energises me and gives me a real boost.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
Myself! I am my own biggest challenge. Initially I didn't want to stream - the idea of putting myself out there terrified me because of the ideas I had (still have) about myself. The biggest challenge was definitely the first few streams. I'm currently working on not comparing myself to other streamers as a means to put myself down - it's a daily battle but it has been worth the fight. I've also struggled with scheduling. I feel like setting a schedule and being consistent is key but I've not perfected it yet.
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch streamers?
EVERY DAY! I consider myself so fortunate to have some absolutely amazing friends on Twitch, I might not have met most of them in real life but I consider them true friends. My whole stream wouldn't exist if it wasn't for them and my channel wouldn't be what it is without them. Craig (g1a5w3g1an) and TinaFromMars initially persuaded me to start streaming and they have very patiently stuck by me ever since, being incredible moderators for my channel, but, most importantly, they've become friends who I can always trust should I need advice, talk ideas over with or just to lend a listening ear when I need to rant. I met a lot of my Twitch friends through the music category and I'm still astounded by their support, the first major milestone for my channel was my first double digit raid from a music streamer! There are all sorts of communities on Twitch but the love and kindness doesn't know any limits in that respect which still blows my mind.
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
Honestly? I feel very fortunate that I'm one of the few people whose life HASN'T been turned upside down by Covid-19. I already wasn't working due to illness and I'm quite happy being alone and not socialising, I'm a bit of a hermit crab in that sense. For me lockdown has been survivable. Now with the looming second lockdown in Scotland I feel like I might stream more through the day because if I can help cheer up one person's day by doing something I love that gives me fulfilment and makes my day a lot better too!
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
Knowledge wise, no. Money wise, yes. I'm very fortunate that the PS4 has a pretty reliable and user friendly streaming function so tech wise my stream is very much plug in and play. However all the other odds and ends and any stream upgrades would be a challenge if it weren't for the support I've received from lovely people. Thanks to everyone's support we've almost achieved my second goal I've set which is to get a PS5. It's difficult for me to take the step and set these things in action because of my own pride etc..
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
I couldn't begin to describe the changes I've went through in these last few months. As I mentioned earlier, my organisation and productivity during the day has increased tenfold (I'm well known for top quality procrastination skills). Most importantly though streaming has taught me a lot about myself, it's taught me that I'm not quite as awful, useless, stupid (the list is never ending) as I thought I was. It has given me a slight confidence in myself that I've never had before. I'm a work in progress though so I'm teaching myself to be kinder to myself finally after being told for years that I need to stop being so horrible about myself.
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
Just do it! If you're passionate about your hobby, I can guarantee others will be too! If I can stream despite my numerous issues and lack of confidence anyone can. You don't need to be perfect, just be real and be yourself, don't compare yourself to others either. You are you and nobody wants to see someone trying to be someone they're not. As long as you are being yourself the viewers will come and soon enough you will find you have an amazing community behind you and supporting what you do because you are YOU.
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
For now I simply plan to just keep going! I'm aiming next year to have a PC and capture card so I can stream Nintendo Switch games and other games that I've missed on PC over the years. More short term than that, I'm aiming to have a little bit more structure to my schedule and I'm starting that soon by making weekends dedicated to horror games!
Melissa (mel_calz) is a 28-year old variety streamer from the US. Mel's first ever stream on Twitch was on March 31, 2020, starting off streaming mainly Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but having since expanded to now to include a pretty wide variety of games.
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?
I first heard of Twitch from a friend of mine who is a professional Gears of War player, but because he is a competitive gamer, I didn't realise there were more casual gamers streaming on Twitch as well. It wasn't until a few years later that I had another friend tell me she streams The Sims on Twitch just for fun, so I figured if she could do it, I might as well give it a try too!
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
I wouldn't say I have any super complicated routines; I mainly just make sure my setup looks good and do a quick test recording to make sure the audio is also good, especially if I'm streaming a new game. Well, I guess I also try to eat dinner before stream so you don't hear my stomach grumbling, haha.
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
To be honest, I have been furloughed from my job since March, so I really haven't had much else to do! I actually got a capture card probably 5 months before I even started streaming, but with my job, I felt like I had no time or motivation to get started. So I try to think that if there is one good thing that comes out of COVID, it's that it gave me the opportunity to start streaming, because I really don't know if I would have started while I was working full-time.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
I think my biggest challenge so far, and this is still kind of a challenge for me to this day, is deciding what exactly to stream. When I first started streaming, I would mainly play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and always played with viewers. Playing the same game consistently, especially games like Smash that have a loyal following, makes it a lot easier to grow faster. But I was just getting burnt out of playing the same game every single stream. When I started switching up the games I would stream, I stopped growing as fast and my average viewership went down. It's definitely not as easy to grow as a variety streamer, but I would rather have people join my streams because they enjoy hanging out with me and my community than because they like the game I'm playing.
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch streamers?
Yes! The Twitch community has been overwhelmingly supportive. I really wasn't sure what to expect when I first started streaming, but most people are great and the trolls are few and far between.
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
Like I mentioned earlier, I probably wouldn't have even started streaming if it weren't for COVID. I don't really know what streaming would have been like before while I was working full-time, so it's hard to say!
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
I am absolutely awful with tech. Luckily I have some friends, and now streamer friends as well, who have a lot of patience and have helped me a lot! I just try to make small improvements as I go, and not go crazy making too many changes at once.
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
With the current state of the world, being stuck at home all day, it's really nice to be able to start a stream, or turn on someone else's stream and feel like I'm hanging out with friends. I think Twitch has just opened my eyes and made me realise that friendships online are just as valid as real life friendships, and I'm just grateful that I discovered that during quarantine.
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
My biggest piece of advice would probably be that watching other people's streams and getting to know them and their community is just as important, if not more so, than just making your own stream perfect. Twitch's algorithm is pretty terrible and there is a lot of competition, so it can be hard to get viewers sometimes. Having support from the get go can be super helpful.
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
I really have no idea! There's so much uncertainty in my life right now during quarantine with my job situation, so I am just trying to make that my main priority. But regardless of what happens, I plan to keep streaming frequently!
Craig, also known as MrChromeCRZ, has been a variety streamer on Twitch since the start March this year. Craig is in his mid-twenties and is an amateur actor and former physics student. He streams a variety of content from video games to music reviews to just chatting streams. Craig's home is strategy games such as Xcom and sports games like Rocket League, but he also has branched out into shooters and action RPGs as he has grown!
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?
I have been on Twitch as a sporadic casual viewer for a long time, at least 4 years by this point and the idea of live streaming has always been something I had wanted to try out since I first started watching. I am a natural born entertainer and an amateur actor so when Covid struck and the job market froze, I found myself with an abundance of free time and a need to be creative, so I decided to take the plunge and start streaming a variety of content from games to just chatting.
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
I am not one for superstitions but I will usually always make a cup of tea just before I go live to sip as I am streaming. Unless it is a music stream where I will often drink beer instead.
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
I see it as practice for my acting which keeps me motivated. I have been in improvised shows in the past so hosting a live stream is very similar to that I find where you know your own content but adapting to people's reactions is the entertaining and difficult part.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
My most challenging experience has to have been the shift in my schedule changing my audience and almost starting afresh.
When I first started streaming I would stream 5 times a week at approximately the same time each day and have a regular influx of viewers. Then when I got a job, moved house and had no usable internet for a while it crippled my ability to stream and when I returned I could only do weekend streaming at non consistent times. Therefore I have found it difficult to maintain my audience.
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch streamers?
I have had encouragement from a wide number of streamers. A good friend of mine Lawryn (twitch.tv/lawrynw) started streaming a few months before I did which kind of inspired me to jump in, and my housemate at the time, Max (twitch.tv/cranerfish), started when I did so we could encourage each other as we grew. With regards to support, one of my first regular watchers who then became one of my mods and now one of the people closest to me, Lena, (twitch.tv/thelena) has been my absolute rock of support whenever I had difficulties or lacked the motivation to stream and to her I am truly thankful.
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
Without Covid I wouldn’t have had the time to start streaming so it was a blessing in that way regarding my streaming/life balance. It's become a hobby which I tend to keep going once the world goes back to normal, I now cannot imagine my life without streaming.
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
I find it incredibly hard to keep up with stream tech. To say my technology is barebones is an understatement. I stream console games from a borrowed PlayStation and PC & music content from a rig which I bought made up from used show parts for £150 in 2018. I used a borrowed mic up until late this year when I could no longer borrow it and moved to a headset which I bought for £25. One of my dream goals is to actually own a rig to stream grand strategy games with my followers.
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
The most drastic way it has changed my life is that I now talk daily to many streamers and have joined a wonderful group of friends who I cannot imagine my life without!
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
I have three pieces of advice for anybody thinking about streaming.
1) Just start. The hardest thing to do is start and once you get the bug you will have the drive to keep going.
2) Don’t look at your numbers religiously. Celebrate new viewer highs when you can but don’t dwell on viewer lows it happens to everybody.
3) Consistency = Growth! If you wish to grow stream at the same times each week and become part of your audience’s routine.
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
In the immediate future tech upgrades are required so that my streams do not fall behind what I want to play. PS5 or a new rig is the goal in order to stream the latest content and keep growing. In the meantime I will probably go back to my roots and replay Xcom2 with some added challenges!
TinafromMars is a wannabe gaming streamer from the Emerald Isle (Ireland). She is mostly seen appearing in music streams and modding for CharliePlaysGuitars and PaultheBrave09, but began streaming The Witcher 3 in November 2019 to a grand total of three bots. Tina is notorious for yelling loudly at an impending death, yelling quickly and repeatedly when she screws up, but generally likes to create a community of positivity and love. She can also be seen on her other, better half, Craig's (g1a5w3g1an) community streams.
1. How did you find out about Twitch and what made you take that step on to the platform?
Strangely enough, I found out about Twitch whilst watching "The Chaser" where Jenny Ryan was discussing how her boyfriend uses Twitch to look at people playing games. At the time I put it to the back of my mind, but then after discovering ChristopherOdd on YouTube playing one of my favourite games, I decided to join and find him on Twitch in August 2019. Having zero clue how to use the platform, it happened that he was hosting another streamer, CharliePlaysGuitars, so I went to check out his channel. The warmth of Charlie and his community is something that I will never forget. From then on I was a permanent fixture on his channel. How I came to streaming myself was partially out of fascination, with a pinch of boredom. I was playing my game and just thought, "What difference would it be if I played this by myself or to a bunch of people?", so I plugged in a headset and went live directly from my PS4. It was so effortless and I was hooked from that moment on (even if I was just speaking solely to myself at the beginning).
2. Do you have any pre-stream routines or rituals to prepare for stream before you go live?
With regards to mental preparation, none. I work flexible hours so I cannot always guarantee a stream when I would like and a lot of the time it is spontaneous and last minute. On the technical side, I make sure that my camera and microphone are working fine and at least one controller is fully charged. The great thing about streaming directly from console is that there is not much set-up needed. The not so great thing is I cannot provide overlays and depend a lot on looking at chat for updates. There is even a !ding command on my channel, as I have a tendency to miss out on events such as subs/gift-subs (starts sobbing).
3. With live streaming being very time and energy consuming, what is it that motivates you?
I would have to say my community motivates me. We are a small community, but a very close one. We try to motivate each other as much as possible. One person in particular who motivates me to stream, is my wonderful other half, Craig (g1a5w3g1an). He often encourages me to stream when I would not even be considering it and they tend to be some of the best streams I have. I am so grateful to have him in my life.
4. What has been your most challenging experience on Twitch to date?
The most challenging experience for me has been the gradual shift in my channel. When I started out first, I had gotten to know so many different people who hung out actively in my channel and ended up sharing a Discord community, but after a while we all drifted from each other. That at first was tough to deal with. But I became more appreciative of the people who visited the channel regularly, who communicate and hang out in Discord and who have been so supportive of each other in particular through these very tough times. We have become a Twitch family and I adore them for that.
5. Have you found much support and encouragement from other Twitch music streamers?
Tonnes. Every music stream I go to has been a life-saver for me. I have discovered so many amazing and inspirational people who are so incredible in their support of others. I had tried out a stream or two with music and just having these incredible musicians pop into my channel to say hello and hang out has been mind-blowing. I even had some music streamers raid with their huge communities and I was so overwhelmed. So generous and kind!
6. What impact has the current situation with Covid-19 had on your streaming / life balance?
Covid has had a serious impact on me regarding my personal life as well as my streaming. Due to being on furlough, I became more available as a mod on channels and became a mod for CharliePlaysGuitars in June 2020. However, I ended up streaming a lot less due to issues with my mental health. I became far more reserved, isolated myself a lot from my family, and felt like I was falling into a downward spiral. At that point I was in a fresh long-distance relationship with Craig, but with lockdown happening, I had no clue when I would see him again. Communicating with him through Discord/WhatsApp/Twitch as well as modding took my mind off the situation, but at the same time I felt I could not bring the same positivity to my streams. At the time of writing, Ireland is going back into lockdown again, but I feel this time I am much more prepared as to what will happen and can cope with it far better. Plus, at the time of writing, I am beginning a new job where I will be working from home, so hopefully I will have more stability which will help create a more consistent schedule and more availability as a moderator. I am also trying to limit my time online and focus more on getting outdoors to improve my mental health.
7. Do you find it a challenge keeping up with stream tech and with upgrading your stream?
I would ideally like to have a stream set-up where I could play music as well as game, but with that also comes the hassle of trying to get all the settings right and having to deal with OBS. Streaming directly from a PS4 gives me all that I need for the moment as a gaming streamer. I am looking forward to the moment where I can afford to upgrade my stream, but I am in no rush at the moment. I am not going to apply unnecessary pressure to myself to achieve that as soon as possible - it will happen when it happens.
8. To what extent has live streaming on Twitch changed your life?
Discovering Twitch has changed my life in so many ways. Not only have I discovered the wonderful Twitch Music Community, who are now like an extended family, but I am a part of an amazing community of people who are all dabbling with streaming and who are like a close family to me. We spend a lot of time in each other's streams or taking part in community streams. They have been the best support network.
But most importantly, albeit very unexpectedly, through Twitch I came across the person I would love to spend the rest of my life with. Meeting Craig on Twitch came out of the blue, but we instantly connected. Before lockdown and when restrictions eased, we tried to visit each other as much as possible. Now I cannot imagine not having him in my life. So I am grateful for Twitch in many ways.
9. Is there any advice that would you give to anyone who is looking to start live streaming?
I know many people have said "Just do it!", but it really is that simple. I just plugged a headset into my PS controller, linked my Twitch account, and went live. Through the generosity of my community, I managed to fund a better microphone and a camera. But no matter how insignificant you think your equipment is, nothing is too small to stream on Twitch. More importantly, enjoy yourself. Allow yourself to dictate your streams, not your audience. If you feel like streaming a certain game, which you think may not attract many people, still stream it. You will enjoy it a lot more. And be yourself!
10. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your own Twitch stream?
I hope to one day have the technology to potentially stream music, but would also love to be able to do co-op gaming streams with Craig. I believe this will happen sometime in the future, but for now, more pressing issues take precedent. But it will happen some day!
Tina and I would both like to say a huge thank you to each of the 8 gaming streamers: Ryan, BB, Brandon, Lawryn, Erin & Stacy, Laura, Mel, and Craig, for being a part of this blog post with us and for taking the time to answer our questions and allowing us to share their replies. We hope to continue this series as we are really enjoying it and look forward to bringing you more updates with more Twitch music, gaming and variety streamers. Watch this space folks.
Please click on the image below to check out all the other posts in this amazing blog series...
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