Purpose To My Guides

While originally a single long guide prioritized for streaming on Mixer (RIP) created during my time on there, my plan from the start was to put together everything in this collection of topics as an all around source of support for new streamers in general that could be applied to other streaming sites, assuming they adjusted accordingly.

Streaming is a fun, although complex entertainment platform to delve into, but as you sit down for hours on end playing video games for a live audience (and a majority of the time just starting out? No audience) you'll find yourself possibly daunted or straight up terrified in your first days and especially hours of your growing hobby and possibly eventual full time career as a livestreamer.

If you're nervous about something you're wanting to do, take that as a possible sign of commitment because you want it to work out. That fear however shouldn't be overwhelming to where you can't follow those pursuits.

So, I'm hoping I can stave off some of that trepidation and ease your entry into your first livestream and hopefully beyond that.

Every section of advice on this website is something I've conceived as a growing streamer who has learned (and is still learning) the ends and outs along the way the past few years I've been doing this.

To give a bit of backstory on me, I first started out streaming with just a couple of friends watching me play a puzzle platforming game called LIMBO on Twitch in 2016 before cumulatively gaining 2000+ follows on Mixer (I joined when it was Beam before Microsoft took over and reached 1k, left for a while, and started over from 0 when I eventually came back before reaching 1k again).

As of now, I'm streaming on YouTube though I've been considering giving Kick a go and will also be seeing what Shareplay has to offer when they launch.

That said, I acknowledge that I'm not a widely known streamer with a huge list of accomplishments (other than what I've done for charity via Extra Life and of course these guides) and so my words and advice may not hold as much weight as that of much more established brands.

But a streamer doesn't have to have a wide following or any form of partnership to share what they've learned with others broadcasters.

So I sincerely hope my words help others out, especially when you have so many (not all) bigger channels and partners who show no concern for their peers and instead of being a positive influence on those who follow behind them? They let it all go to their head.

Such mindsets have been not only a key cause for lots of unneeded toxicity in the stream community, but also many events involving many partners on both Twitch and Mixer trying to use their influence and delusions of being immune to consequences to commit sexual abuse. It's obvious that is a dire need of much more kindness and positivity in the stream community.

Some of what you'll read in the following guides are from mistakes I myself have made and trial and error with hopes to keep others from doing the same, as well as mistakes I've seen others make.

And other things are what I've learned on my own through research and from being mentored by other streamers based on their experiences, as well as simple common knowledge.

Also, I will speak a bit more personal at times and give a blunt take on my advice based on prior events. Namely times I've seen others give very bad advice (to me and others), such as 'play a bait game to lure in viewers, then switch to what you truly want to play' and that hosting someone and lurking isn't good enough to help other streamers and properly network.

Overall? Everything in each section isn't mandatory and you're of course free to follow your own path be it if you see my advice as right or wrong, because in the end it's still opinionated advice from a streamer on his own path.

I just hope to get you off on the right foot while you hopefully learn from your own experiences and decide the best path for yourself as well.

Good luck in advance rogues.

-Masquemare (James)-