A Glimpse into the Daily Lives of Successful Live Streamers

If you aspire to be a full-time live streamer, understanding the daily life of professional streamers is crucial.

Watching successful streamers play video games, interact with fans, and earn a substantial income can be tempting to those who are interested in live streaming. However, turning into a professional streamer requires more than just sitting in front of a screen and playing games. It demands hard work, patience, and a lot of effort outside of live streaming.

If you want to know how to become a successful streamer, you should have a clear understanding of what a typical day looks like for a full-time streamer. Here are some insights into the daily life of a professional streamer.

Is live streaming a viable career?

While it’s possible to make a living out of live streaming, it’s unlikely to achieve the revenue and popularity levels of the world’s top streamers. With 8.07 million active streamers on Twitch alone, the competition is fierce, and building a following takes time and a lot of work. However, if you’re willing to put in the effort or have a pre-existing audience on another platform, you can eventually turn live streaming into a full-time job.

What does a professional streamer do all day?

Professional live streamers broadcast live videos of themselves to an online audience. While most streamers play video games, some streamers engage in activities like painting or cooking. They interact with and entertain their viewers, bringing personality to their broadcasts. For streamers who play popular video games, having a unique personality is key to standing out among other streamers who play the same games.

When they are not live streaming, professional streamers spend their time promoting their channels, connecting with other streamers, and creating content for social media networks. The most successful streamers also establish a presence on YouTube, which requires hours of video editing and postproduction.

What makes a streamer professional?

Full-time streamers are those who earn a living from their live streaming. There are various ways to make money as a streamer, including donations on third-party platforms like Patreon, affiliate marketing, brand sponsorships, and selling custom merchandise. High-earning streamers rely on multiple revenue streams to make up their salaries.

Average full-time streamer salary

Pinpointing an average salary for live streamers is challenging as it depends on several factors, including the frequency of streaming. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the top three highest-paid Twitch streamers in 2021 were Ninja at $25 million, PewDiePie at $20 million, and Shroud at $12 million. However, these are the top streamers on Twitch, and earning this much in your first year of streaming is unlikely. The Business of Apps estimates that a streamer who broadcasts 40 hours per week on Twitch can earn between $3,000 and $5,000 per month.

Additional monetization options

To earn a full-time streamer salary, content creators often resort to various monetization options such as enabling donations on third-party platforms, pursuing affiliate marketing, partnering with brands for sponsorships, and selling personalized merchandise.

Another novel income source can be unlocked through the use of AI technology offered by Framedrop.tv. Additionally, streamers can monetize their stream highlights by unlocking them with credits on the website. High-earning streamers typically leverage multiple revenue streams to supplement their salaries.

Becoming a full-time streamer takes time and effort, and most streamers start as a hobby on a part-time basis. If you aspire to be a professional streamer, you should consider taking the same route. Remember that if you stream full-time, you’ll be self-employed and responsible for calculating and paying taxes on your income.

Is it worth it to become a live streamer?

Becoming a live streamer can be a fulfilling career choice, particularly for those who enjoy connecting with new people. Despite the hard work that goes into it, if you genuinely love live streaming, it won’t feel like a chore. However, like any profession or hobby, there are both advantages and drawbacks to streaming, and it’s up to you to determine if it’s worthwhile.

On the positive side, being a live streamer provides opportunities to meet new people, develop presentation and speaking skills, enhance research and creative thinking abilities, learn about content creation and marketing, and gain the freedom to stream from anywhere. Additionally, there is plenty of online information available to help you get started, and no certification or qualifications are necessary. Plus, you get to be your own boss.

On the other hand, to make a decent income, you will need to put in a significant number of working hours, which can be exhausting. Being live constantly can also be draining, and there is almost no job security, nor any benefits or insurance since you are self-employed. Additionally, if networking is not your strong suit, you may find it difficult to grow your audience. A powerful PC is required for video game streaming, and you may become a target for criticism.

How to become a successful live streamer

To become a successful live streamer, several critical factors will influence your success, including setting streaming goals, finding your niche, developing your personality, producing high-quality content, complying with ethical standards, maintaining consistency, and avoiding burnout. Famous live streamers like Pierre “FraeslarN” Johansson and Tyler “Ninja” Blevins recommend having fun, enjoying yourself, and staying levelheaded while keeping the bigger picture in mind.

Interviews with famous live streamers

Discover what it’s like to be a professional live streamer by delving into interviews with some of the biggest names in the industry. These insightful conversations offer an inside look into the daily life of a streamer.

One such streamer is Pierre “FraeslarN” Johansson, a Swedish variety streamer on Twitch who streams for several hours each day, five or six days per week. Despite starting with no following at all, he saved up some money so he could stream full-time and support himself. His advice to new streamers is simple: have fun and enjoy yourself, and viewers will do the same.

Another well-known streamer is Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, who has become a household name in the world of gaming. In his interview, he shares that his main goal is to stay levelheaded and keep growing his brand. You can watch the full interview with Ninja to learn more about his journey to becoming one of the most successful streamers in the world.

If you’re curious about the daily lives of live streamers, there are plenty of short films and documentaries that provide an inside look. Here are some options worth checking out:

• Living the Stream: This documentary features a group of streamers who discuss online gaming, Twitch, and how to make a living as a streamer.
• Inside the Daily Life of a Live Streaming Star in China | Op-Docs: In this short documentary from The New York Times, a film crew follows a Chinese streamer as she broadcasts to millions of viewers every night and earns thousands of dollars each month.

• Streamers: This web series follows Will, a streamer who reflects on his four-year journey on Twitch. He shares insights on how to build a community, monetize live streams, and navigate the ups and downs of the platform.
• The People’s Republic of Desire: This documentary explores YY, a social networking platform in China where live streamers broadcast daily and fans send them virtual gifts worth thousands of dollars.

Wrapping up

While being a streamer may seem glamorous, it’s important to remember that success requires hard work, dedication, and a love for the craft. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort for networking, promotion, research, editing, and content planning, you may just have what it takes to turn streaming into a professional career.