Chapter 3: It's Not Just About Money & Fame

The prospect of one day being a partnered streamer is a good goal to drive you, but don't let the thoughts of attending gaming conventions (current pandemic notwithstanding), having money coming in from hundreds of subscribers, and thousands of followers consume you.

Let it motivate you sure, but you've got to get there first.

Enjoy what you do as a streamer for the now and not the then.

That sub button and the perks that come with it are a long way away and if anything? It may never happen.

You could work hard at it constantly and possibly never achieve it, which isn't being said to discourage you. I mean we did just cover dealing with discouragement ya know?

So, I say possibly in the spectrum of 'what if?' It's not impossible and one day you may get to that point, but that is then and if.

Right now, see it as a hobby and do it for the sheer fun of doing it. Don't let the thought of materialistic gains get your hopes up because you have a road ahead of you that you have to travel carefully instead of trying to speed right to the destination, which could result in a severe crash and burn.

And If you ever do achieve partnership? Congrats, but remember your roots and that you are representing a brand, a community. and not just yourself.

This also means harder work to go along with the perks of partnership.

Other people following in your stead will look up to you and your image reflects on them, so give an image as one who looks at the deeper things than money and fame.

When I myself went for (and I admit was eventually denied) partnership on Mixer, I wanted to achieve it for the sake of using my status as such to help inspire much smaller channels, to hopefully have better turnouts for my charity streams, and to simply have a shot at more exposure beyond my own wants.

That, and I wanted to help pay my mom's bills and pay back those who've stood by me over the years.

There's an irony in these guides in that I do them to give others more self confidence in their ability as a streamer while I tend not to give myself much credit.

But one place that I do have a lot of belief in myself is that I know I'd be a good example of a partnered streamer.

I say this not out of cockiness let alone claims that I 'deserve it' because in the end? That's decided not by me but those who may take the time to watch me and who themselves believe I deserve such.

I say I'd be a good partner because I've had this goal of wanting to help others well before I became a streamer. And once Glimesh launches? If they do some form of partnership program down the line I'll be shooting for earning that goal.

But no matter what I'm in this for more than just me.

Yea, there is that part of me who dreams of being successful as a livestreamer one day and having an apartment full of a lot of cool stuff to showcase on my Instagram and YouTube channel while also being able to travel, meeting fans and all that.

But I stay focused on now and more down to earth goals based around just trying to put out the best content I can. If I achieve all that some day then its an awesome bonus but right now I just want to be able to raise another $1000 for Extra Life like I did for the charity in 2017 and help others succeed while I pave my own road to those possible goals that would benefit myself life itself.

That aside, in my time streaming, I've seen several people I considered friends change after they got their sub button and I ain't talking of for the better. And its been heartbreaking.

One of the worst ways I've seen such changes being that they got arrogant, as if they were doing all the work and their viewers were beneath them, when without their viewers? They never would've got that partnership and if anything just like all streamers? Would just be doing a practice stream every night in preparation for support that would never come.

As I said in the preceding chapter, only wanting to support other streamers as big or bigger than them out of fact that they wouldn't have anything to gain from supporting a very small channel.

I've seen some partners belittle others for only bringing a raid of two or three people instead of appreciating the thought behind said raid and the show of respect from one streamer to another. More so given that out of the thousands of streamers live at the same time as them that could've been raided? That streamer chose them.

I've seen others tell a viewer that followed them that it didn't mean anything unless they donated or subbed, as if their time wasn't enough and the streamer was a Pay Per View channel that was too good for free viewing. Not caring that the viewer could've been some kid who didn't have the means to actually tip or subscribe.

Its another thing that drives me because I want to at least try and inspire other streamers to be the right kind and not any of that. Be it if I'm partnered or not, popular or not.

I'm not the best streamer out there by any means and I'll even admit that when I went for partnership on Mixer? I wasn't ready and still had a long way to go as a streamer, but I have my head on straight for what I want to make of my channel and what's important when it comes to streaming, even though many a time I've gotten pretty frustrated about events concerning my goals not working out. This includes being denied partner.

But in the end I reminded myself that I needed to stay focused and keep going.

If you ever get that sub button? Don't put down other streamers because their method of streaming isn't as 'profitable' as yours in terms to follower gain and overall growth, nor go around acting like you're entitled to more than others by posting 'Drop Raids/Subs/Donos Here' in your stream title. If you treat those who support you like they're never enough? Then honestly you don't deserve their support.

Its not about who has more follows, subs, donations, etc.

It's not a competition with you claiming to be the '#1 variety streamer/open lobby (< as I have actually seen)/The Real Slimshady (obvious exaggeration for the lulz)/etc, nor is it entirely about you.

There is a whole streaming site you're supposed to be setting an example for as the face of the community, not the ass of it.

That, and remember when I said people who follow you will reflect who you are?

Lets delve into a similar concept of statistics as to something I said previously.

You could be a popular but arrogant partner and have thousands of people in your community, but if the majority of what you have built is toxic and puts others down as well? Even outright refusing to watch other channels due to feeling they aren't as good as you? That doesn't benefit the site especially if your viewers attack other streamers, basically spreading that toxicity like a virus.

But a small yet compassionate streamer with maybe 100 people in their community who tries to be kind to others and support other channels? That smaller channel has the right mindset because their goal without even being partnered benefits the site more than someone who has a sub button but only cares about the benefits of partnership instead of the responsibility of it.

I could go the obvious route and quote a very well know line from Spider-Man about responsibility, but as much as I'm a comic geek? I'd rather take an example from one of my favorites in the Assassin Creed series so far, which is Black Flag.

Edward Kenway donned the garb of the assassins out of a chance to gain profit, while taking the 'Nothing is true, everything is permitted' maxim of The Creed more or less as a free pass to do whatever he wanted.

This want of benefits without understanding of what The Creed was ended up not only getting him in trouble, but also endangered the Assassins' Order.

Short version? Just because you choose to reap the rewards, it doesn't mean you don't reap what you sow when you neglect responsibility.

Me in example and stating this bluntly? I don't care how popular a particular channel is or if they have a sub button or not. I care about how they treat their viewers and if they treat them well? I'd want to send my own viewers and others in my network their way to help them grow and trust them with taking care of my viewers while they're doing so.

If I see signs of someone being self centered and treating their viewers like trash (ignoring them, belittling them, etc) I won't ever go by their channel again.

But if I see any streamer being respectful to others and showing that they are humble, welcoming, and simply appreciate whatever support they get even if someone does a (n)one man raid? I respect that regardless of what they play.

I'm not big on sports, but Resident Evil is my fave game series, hence the Umbrella Corp tattoo on my right wrist and me streaming the numbered entries from 0 to 7, Code Veronica, both Revelations, and both remakes to completion on stream. When 8 and the remake of RE4 come out I'll be adding them to the list.

However if I see someone playing Madden or FIFA being genuine and friendly to their viewers? I'll back them before I give another second of time to the guy playing RE3 that laughed when one of his mod's verbally attacked and banned a viewer for virtually no reason.

Look at this example, and keep in mind that this won't be the last house based reference I'll be tossing at you guys. I'll be doing the same in my chapters about channel panels and having a good facecam presentation later.

A streamer and his community should be the concept of a suburban neighborhood where everyone knows each other, looks out for each other, and when the members of that community visit the streamer's house? They aren't obligated to bring a gift though its appreciated if they do.

The mods are the police of that community who will assert the law when needed, but otherwise they're the type who'll smile and joke with you if they see you at a convenience store, reminding you that behind the badge? They're still a human being like you. And if you break a law that's not very serious? They'll tell you the error of what you did and let you off with a warning and a chance to learn from your mistake.

This is compared to a streamer and a community that acts like an ant hill with viewers that are a swarming mass all over the place trying to please a queen who is only concerned with increasing numbers. Anyone who comes into proximity of the hill may have to worry about mods who'll bite at the slightest thing they don't like with the viewers joining in on the attack.

Look past the statistics and at the sentiments, the quality over the quantity, the people behind the placeholder, and build something driven by passion over payment.

Because those viewers looking up to you helped you get there and don't owe you anything while you owe them your best in exchange for their time taken out of their life to watch you when they could of chosen anyone else. Time they won't get back.

And the other streamers, be they more popular than you or not, are a part of the reason the site continues to exist for you to be on.

Without your fellow streamers whether (and I say this about myself as well) you agree with their methods or not? The site can't grow.

And you as a streamer regardless of how big or small you are should strive to be a concept of what's good about the site moving forward instead of contribute to the toxic nature others may spread.

In the end, some streamers are fool's gold in that a lot of followers may see value in them and flock to them quickly once word of mouth gets out, only for them to not be what they seemed to be.

But you may be a diamond in the rough that just needs time to refine itself before its shine is seen.

Just don't let yourself get tarnished, be it before or after your value is seen.