How much Twitch Streamers Make (and the insanity)

[Vexr]

Can't be bothered to dig out the original video, instead going off Asmongold's 'reaction'.

What it boils down to is that some relatively mediocre human beings by most measures are making four figures a month for combining game playing with being somehow entertaining(ish) in some emotionally reactive/social way, yet they're phenomenal money making machines beyond any reasonable person's wildest dream. At better levels on Twitch, they're making six figures a month, easy.

I've seen a bit of Twitch. I've seen the "hundred gifted subs" with just an acknowledgement by the streamer.

Yet I'm utterly mystified how there's anything happening on twitch that people are willing to throw money at. An individual has no voice, as the chat screen is scrolling at potentially dozens of entries per second. The pouring-money-into-a-twitch stream sub that people are actually doing is beyond my comprehension.

Sickens me TBH that this is such a lucrative industry. In my limited time witnessing this, I've seen 100 subs gifted with little gratitude and donations of $100 being ignored, with the odd person in chat pointing out that "lol $100 donation ignored".

Someone please explain it to me. Please explain how this is how money should be directed. Please explain the appeal, and suppress my vomit induction mechanism.

 

[Vexr]

It is pretty fickle - less so for those who've established themselves as big names but for others they can be popular one month and deserted the next going from 4 figures a month to $4 in the space of a few weeks.

It is crazy though - one of my childhood friends is doing the whole "e-thot" type thing and raking it in at the moment - seriously eye-watering amounts - though what the long term is like I dunno.

Can't say it is something that is keeping me awake at night - if someone can make money from it props to them.

It's in danger of keeping me awake at night. I had no idea the 2008 financial crisis had been resolved so thoroughly and wealth redistributed to a massive do-nothing electronic middle class.

Here's something worth monetary value from WoW TBC:

Absolutely 100% superior to anything Asmonfart or any 100k/a month scrub is scraping in for being viciously rodent faced, yet I'm sure in that era this video was produced out of nothing but 'just because' and to 'doing exceptional work'

I'm wondering what demographic keeps the streaming horror fund going. This is a diverse forum where many folks seem to have too much money. I look forward to hearing WTF is going through their mind chucking money at streamers like punters did at strippers in olden days.

 

[Vexr]

I couldn't help but edit the original post for this thread. When I made it my vocabulary was that of someone who's had a few too many on a Friday night, and had become resentful and developed a fixation on the word 'mediocre'.

The gist of the post remains the same.

I just don't understand what itch is scratched by those who throw money at these streamers, especially via gifted subs or direct donations. Is it to appear as a high roller perhaps amongst complete strangers? Is it worshipfulness of the streamer? Are there parallels to be drawn with those who publicly stake large amounts in casinos for spectacle, or who gift large sums of money to strippers? Even if only for a chat rather than anything sexual?

 

[Vexr]

As explained, different people enjoy different entertainment.... people who enjoy eastenders for example... I don't find it entertaining but I understand why they do (it entertains them).

Yes but I don't hear of donations given each episode or free TV licenses being gifted by high rollers regarding Eastenders. Whatever is going on regarding monetisation of Twitch streams seems to be scratching an itch on a far more personal level to those who actively divert their wealth to streamers. The idea of 'you're not supporting me, you're supporting the channel' or whatever is bonkers. They aren't a startup and their overheads are nothing compared to the revenue they're generating. And as for the implied threat they'll pull their content if they don't reach $1 million a year in subs/donations, how terrifying. I'm sure there's only about 100,000 people equally entertaining and willing to thrust themselves into the limelight playing games or whatever.

 

[Vexr]

Delete

 

[Vexr]

Delete

 

[Vexr]

Just ignore @Psycho Sonny , most people do.

Sound advice.

Seems like some gaming streamers make far more than the most dedicated ETHOTs (maybe that bathwater chick is the exception, can't exactly say I've run across anything other than hearsay and screenshots about that pink-haired gamer girl).

The entire gratuitous yet successful and massively profitable existence of this online economy is the only thing making me feel that another mega-recession is justified and necessary. Money must be taken away from the everyman that is fuelling this BS.

Beyond and above that, I wonder if this is a phenomenon particular to the US. Both girl wise and gamer wise. Mega bucks in the US potentially, yet £50 a week if a Brit tries it.

 

[Vexr]

Educational.

 

[Vexr]

Why do you feel so strongly about people making money from streaming? Why is that not okay yet The Rock filming a movie for 6 weeks and being paid $20m is? Why does a footballer earning vast sums not equally upset you? Streamers keep people entertained for hours on and show ads which generate revenue and get sponsorship money on top, why are you against them earning money if they're entertaining enough to have thousands of viewers?

I think what we've got with certain mega-streamers is more akin to the 'famous because they're famous' type of celebrities, i.e someone like Katie Price or 'that guy from Big Brother', etc. I've now finished with my brief stint viewing Twitch, but one streamer summed it up well with something along the lines of "Once you get to a certain point of popularity, you've made it. Any randomer coming on to twitch will see someone with 5 digit viewers and will think 'what's this idiot doing that's so interesting?', and there you have it.