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On Twitch, you can never log off

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Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#51

Post by weird-eye-issue »

Semaphor wrote: post #42
mbesto wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's an exception to the rule. Same with Shroud, Dr. Disrespect, etc. In fact there's a whole bunch of OG streamers who can play literally any game they want and they still have strong following (LIRIK, Soda, etc.) simply because they grinded out early on. Whereas for the middle of the road streamer (let's say 1-2k viewers at any given time), they can't take breaks or switch games without a huge dip in followers, and…

> Whereas for the middle of the road streamer (let's say 1-2k viewers at any given time) Sentences like that show me how far removed my twitch experience is from others. Middle of the road, 1-2k viewers. The biggest thing I watch has 200 something viewers, sometimes with a raid(s) we reach 300-500. Recently, I watched CohCarnage (because he had early access to an alpha releasing the next day), and he had a few thousa…

"we" didn't reach 300-500 viewers, the streamer did. If you want a parasocial relationship then I understand the appeal of smaller streamers

Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#52

Post by mscdex »

bakugo wrote: post #49
mscdex wrote: post #41

Every time I see articles talking about this subject, it's always completely focused on Twitch streamers that stream for a living. I would be more interested in hearing the contrast with streamers who stream for fun/not for a living. Which problems are the same between the two groups and which are unique?

> Every time I see articles talking about this subject, it's always completely focused on Twitch streamers that stream for a living. Because, for the most part, those are the only people affected by these problems. If you don't stream with the intent to maximize your viewer counts and profits at all costs - stream when you feel like it, play what you want, don't chase trends, don't encourage parasocial relationships…

I recognize that, but surely there could be overlap in some areas or problems unique to streamers who don't stream for a living.

For example, I could see streamers who stream for a potential social benefit may feel the need to chase trends, play the more popular games, and other similar things in order to increase/maintain viewership for more socializing opportunities. However they may also have a unique set of problems that streamers who do it for money do not have.

Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#53

Post by vimwizard »

I think a more interesting story would be about the people that grind for years and years and never make it. You're left without a useful skill and no money, and probably a deficit on your mental health because you didn't go out and talk to people in real life for years. I think its not at all worth getting into as a career because making it big is like starting out as an actor, you have to know people. If you hit it big and are complaining about being burnt out, just walk away. Sorry that you pissed away your money and don't own a house, I guess? Could live pretty damn well on the money you made from it for a decade or more if you have self control, and have zero debt. Find something else to do in the mean time.

What other career can you make as much money, with such a low barrier to entry in skill and capital? Pretty much every other job requires just as much sacrifice of your time with nowhere near the same earning potential. Most of the big earners started streaming within the last 5 years[2], and even then, the top 2000 streamers are making 100k+[1]. I heard YouTube streaming is paying even better now.

1. https://twitch.pages.dev/en 2. https://twitchtracker.com/statistics/active-streamers

Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#54

Post by weird-eye-issue »

mbesto wrote: post #29
weird-eye-issue wrote: post #27

Surprised this doesn't mention Asmongold. He just took months off from streaming and just came back like last week, and already just hit over 50,000 paid subscribers again. (In those months off he was streaming on his non-monetized alt channel where he doesn't feel any pressure with streaming and earns nothing.) Streamers have to also be doing YouTube or creating alternate revenue streams because live streaming will…

He's an exception to the rule. Same with Shroud, Dr. Disrespect, etc. In fact there's a whole bunch of OG streamers who can play literally any game they want and they still have strong following (LIRIK, Soda, etc.) simply because they grinded out early on. Whereas for the middle of the road streamer (let's say 1-2k viewers at any given time), they can't take breaks or switch games without a huge dip in followers, and…

You make it sound like they can play any game they want because they are popular. But it's the other way around. They are popular because they are entertaining to their audience regardless of the game

Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#55

Post by joshu »

I have a few hundred thousand followers on tiktok, and was posting a video every day. It was hard to keep up and then I just stopped. Traffic dropped way off and hasn't recovered when I do post something.

Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#56

Post by hardwaresofton »

deathofmurat wrote: post #25
jasonwatkinspdx wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

-- refresher on the guidelines - Be kind. Don't be snarky. Have curious conversation; don't cross-examine. Please don't fulminate. Please don't sneer, including at the rest of the community. Edit out swipes. Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive. -- https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Well stated -- it's impressive that a 1 hour old account thoroughly understands the guidelines this much. :)

Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#57

Post by imtyler »

Semaphor wrote: post #40

I watch a streamer (cooking) with a bunch of autoimmune diseases. She has a lot fewer people watching than anyone mentioned here (30-100, but a far higher percent than normal donate), but she’s also scared of taking days off, mainly because she knows it’s a job. It makes me sad when I see her stream while one of her diseases is flaring up, but unlike the rich streamers, they need the money.

"...she’s also scared of taking days off, mainly because she knows it’s a job..."

At risk of sounding cold, why would anyone think YouTube/Twitch is a job?

Honestly confused. Is there money there? Like, for an average person, aside from the platform celebrities?

Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#58

Post by Semaphor »

weird-eye-issue wrote: post #51
Semaphor wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Whereas for the middle of the road streamer (let's say 1-2k viewers at any given time) Sentences like that show me how far removed my twitch experience is from others. Middle of the road, 1-2k viewers. The biggest thing I watch has 200 something viewers, sometimes with a raid(s) we reach 300-500. Recently, I watched CohCarnage (because he had early access to an alpha releasing the next day), and he had a few thousa…

"we" didn't reach 300-500 viewers, the streamer did. If you want a parasocial relationship then I understand the appeal of smaller streamers

We, the community. If that bothers you, I’m sorry.

Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#59

Post by Semaphor »

imtyler wrote: post #57
Semaphor wrote: post #40

I watch a streamer (cooking) with a bunch of autoimmune diseases. She has a lot fewer people watching than anyone mentioned here (30-100, but a far higher percent than normal donate), but she’s also scared of taking days off, mainly because she knows it’s a job. It makes me sad when I see her stream while one of her diseases is flaring up, but unlike the rich streamers, they need the money.

"...she’s also scared of taking days off, mainly because she knows it’s a job..." At risk of sounding cold, why would anyone think YouTube/Twitch is a job? Honestly confused. Is there money there? Like, for an average person, aside from the platform celebrities?

It pays for all their food expenses, plus some extra stuff. As I said, the stream has a higher amount of people who donate than usual.

Several years ago, I watched a gaming streamer, even smaller. She lived in Croatia, and just the subs and irregular donations were enough to pay for most of her daily expenses.

Re: On Twitch, you can never log off

#60

Post by Semaphor »

RJIb8RBYxzAMX9u wrote: post #50
Semaphor wrote: post #40

I watch a streamer (cooking) with a bunch of autoimmune diseases. She has a lot fewer people watching than anyone mentioned here (30-100, but a far higher percent than normal donate), but she’s also scared of taking days off, mainly because she knows it’s a job. It makes me sad when I see her stream while one of her diseases is flaring up, but unlike the rich streamers, they need the money.

At her size, unless she needs to take ~weeks off per month, and more importantly, at unpredictable intervals, she can afford to stream fewer days. Too many of them are incorrectly assuming that they need to stream daily, when (e.g.) MWF will suffice. What many viewers value over long streaming hours is predictable streaming hours[*]. I've observed many promising streamers stream daily and for too long, burn out, then…

She doesn’t stream every day (and she has been doing it for 4 years by now), but the schedule is still hard when you are sick.
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