The endgame lesson of your training to live streaming journey…

Streaming 401: Out from the Dojo, into the Big Leagues

The guide to state your presence in the online community, get perks and payment.

Shaurya Shrivastava
5 min readAug 21, 2022

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You’ve trained for this very moment. Now is the time you enter the showdown from the training arena. (image credits: istock photos)

Previously, on Streaming 101, 201, and 301, we discussed the preliminary information and the steps for further initiation. We talked about brawns and beauty, practices and protocols, and whatnot. And now, we’ve reached the last checkpoint where you’re going to be taught how do you get recognition online and on the way, end up earning some perks and bucks to run your life. So, without any further ado, let’s begin….

First off, let me clear some things straight. The fact that your sole profession is streaming isn’t going to cut it through all the time. Second off, you have to integrate several online strategies to make a living and still be that star-streamer you’ve always desired to be. But fear not, as harsh as it may sound, there’s a silver lining that could prove to be the possible solution to your problem.

This is the graph you should aim for an ideal consistent streamer. Initially, it would vary, but with all your efforts and stakes, the Sun shall rise and shine upon you.

As for patience, getting your massive viewership won’t be a cakewalk. You have to be patient and optimistic even if you have zero viewers. As far as intelligence is concerned, you need to deploy some tools, tactics, and craftsmanship to make your streaming journey much less painful. But all of this is just for the briefs, time to go into full details and understand every aspect accordingly.

The best way to set your foot outside the dojo is to create a gaming portfolio. Within your portfolio, make sure that for the time being, you go one-man army, a.k.a. play solo. Play your games at the solo level and do a consistent grind and improve your rank in the process. Build a social network of consistent players ready to play with you.

The best way to get social among fellow gamers and live streamers are to reach out to the community platforms like Discord and Twitch.

Make sure that the community you build is made through your hard work and not mercy. Patience and consistency will work for you if you’re still concerned about recognition. Also, remember to pay your respects to everyone online. You may not realize the potential opportunities they may hold for you, opportunities that could change your life in ways that you could barely imagine.

The best way to create a portfolio, in my opinion, is to stream on the platform of your choice and meanwhile post some gameplay, montage or Instagram Reels, or TikTok videos that depict your critical moments like a killing spree, a full-on rampage, clutch or an ace. And do involve practices like random promotions, affiliate marketing, giveaways, reviews, and Q&A’s so that the audience feels connected to you and your parent organization knows that it has its money invested in the right person.

Here’s a little screenshot to show you a real-life gamer & livestreamer portfolio. (image credits: StoneMountain64)

Use the internet to your advantage by involving tools and research to improve your overall credibility and increase your chances of recognition. Usage of tools like TubeBuddy, SEO and skills like graphic designing, and usage of mature streaming platforms like Twitch (Seriously, I love their working model, although this article is not for any kind of promotion). Of course, the streaming platform of your choice does play a crucial role, but that’s a topic for some other day.

A particular set of tools and methodologies is used to promote yourself, your content, and your channel. (image credits: Google and istock photos)

The organizations and their members work on a ‘Quid Pro Quo’ basis. You give them something they want, and in return, they’ll give you something that you want. You give them the output they desire, and in return, they’ll bestow you with gifts of grandeur like paid partnerships, sponsorships, special assistance, and even perks that they might provide you as a form of professional relationship-building and courtesy. Usually, organizations are known to keep streamers, content creators, and esports players under contract. As an aware citizen, make sure you read the contract carefully, as it contains all the terms and conditions under which you’ll be working for them.

Everything in life comes at a price. In this case, it’s called the barter system; that is, you get your kind if you pay in kind.

I would say this is all that you need to know. There’s a lot more, but they deserve a specific article. Now that you’ve reached your final destination, it's time to get out of the training grounds and face a savage stand-off against potential contenders. Keep these facts in mind, keep your calm and march ahead with your head held high and your soul is screaming out your potential. Remember, streaming is a never-ending journey, and the thing about never-ending journeys is that it’s all about the endless pursuit of learning something new and improving yourself each day.

Word of advice: If you’ve read the entire streaming articles series from part 101 till here, one thing I can tell you guys and girls for sure is that come what may since you have read, trained, and applied the knowledge gained so far, you’ll realize that you probably won’t need me to tell this, but the fact is that….

You may not realize this now, but you are.

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Shaurya Shrivastava

A Computer Science graduate, passionate writer, avid gamer, techie. Someone who believes in expressing rather than impressing.