|
The TL;DR Should Be At The Top So Here It Is Not going to Korea, going full-time e-sports, I'm gonna try hard and stream and create videos. Plz suggest cool Patreon ideas.
Change of Plans
So as some have seen on my twitter/today's cast, the plans to go to Korea are put on hold for now. A lot factored into it, but some of the factors include the frustration with working with recruiters/receiving crappy contracts and the realization that I'm not that desperate. I don't love teaching, I love SC2. I would work a 9-7 job for one, not the other.
People might still say anyone who decides to go 'full time e-sports' is crazy, and they're always gonna be a little right. But the biggest worry I had was not moving to Korea and teaching, but what would happen when I came back. A year, or even six months, is a lot of time to not be working in this business, y'know? I love it too much not to ride it as long as possible. We'll see where this goes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Being Full-Time
There's a few things I need to do. First things first: Treat this like a real job. Of course this is different and the expectations should be different (an 8-hour workday is normal for some jobs, but casting 8 or more hours everyday is a lot different), but studying and practicing is a part of being a caster. So in order to do this...
- I need to stream at least 4/7 days of the week, three hours or more.
- I need to get partnered on twitch, and get a sub button.
- I need to be more annoying to players. No, seriously, I need to ask them questions and get (paid) coaching.
- I need to study replays and keep up with changes in the game.
I'm also looking into making my own Patreon, but I want cool-ish reward tiers. My ideas right now are:
- Thank yous, monthly video thank yous, patreon night where they choose the game to be played, retweets of their choice, a patreon skype group, casting a game of their choosing, Twitch hosting, Patreon-only videos recapping the month, and making art of w/e they want.
And I also need to get a ~theme~. Like a brand. Or something.
Right now I'm trying to keep a weekly schedule on hand for everyone to see: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zRZzvHgnxjaBfAAB_z5L_NxwkTcUZkqxB-YG-eLn01I/edit?usp=sharing I'm working on talking with designers, and I have enough replays to study to last...forever.
Content Production
The problem with being a caster is your schedule isn't set weekly. Sometimes you have IEM followed by WCS followed by ZOTAC followed by a BTTV tournament. But in the downtime, I want to work on a couple of 'shows'. I don't really want to promise something I can't deliver, so let's just say they're cool ideas that might pop up on my Youtube every once in a while. I have a few ideas now but am always looking to ~expand~, but the nice thing about YT is that you can pre-record the vids, so scheduling isn't nearly as big of a conflict as a SC2 talk show, for example.
But What About Your FUTURE?!
I dunno, like many 20-somethings. I hope this could turn into something fun and cool and I could make a living off of it. Get my own place, travel the world, say I did something amazing. Make connections, watch this e-sport thing happen. Live life totes casj. I will win. Cheer for me please.
Edit: People making this a big deal makes me so embarrassed like (・_・; ) but also ಥ‿ಥ and (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
 
|
Good luck, it'll be hard to make it work.
|
Good luck show good games I will cheer for you
|
You're going to do well I think. It's also really good you're actually going to pester players about game related things[builds,decisions etc] - more casters need to do this.
|
Holy cow this is a really big thing. Best of luck! While I am not the most useful person, if I can ever help you with ANYTHING whatsoever, please don't hesitate to ask!
|
1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
FULL TIME ESPORTS
i hope things work out for you bro
|
Best of luck. Also.. here's the thing. In an event this doesn't work in the end, you can still say that you've tried to do something, which is your passion. And, that is, imho, a good thing. 
|
I think when you have an opportunity like this it's always great to pursue it if it's reasonable. Best of luck to you, make your life what you want it to be instead of how others think it should be.
|
On January 20 2015 10:19 lichter wrote:
FULL TIME ESPORTS
i hope things work out for you bro
It's a dumb term because I don't get any full-time benefits....EXCEPT EXTREME LEVELS OF PASSION.
loljk i want healthcare too which is why if I'm SOL in a couple of years it's back to boring jobs
|
Canada13389 Posts
On January 20 2015 10:25 ZombieGrub wrote:Show nested quote +On January 20 2015 10:19 lichter wrote:
FULL TIME ESPORTS
i hope things work out for you bro It's a dumb term because I don't get any full-time benefits....EXCEPT EXTREME LEVELS OF PASSION. loljk i want healthcare too which is why if I'm SOL in a couple of years it's back to boring jobs
You know if you successfully build a brand but decide you want a more serious job, the fact you've built a brand actually helps you look for work
|
On January 20 2015 10:33 ZeromuS wrote:Show nested quote +On January 20 2015 10:25 ZombieGrub wrote:On January 20 2015 10:19 lichter wrote:
FULL TIME ESPORTS
i hope things work out for you bro It's a dumb term because I don't get any full-time benefits....EXCEPT EXTREME LEVELS OF PASSION. loljk i want healthcare too which is why if I'm SOL in a couple of years it's back to boring jobs You know if you successfully build a brand but decide you want a more serious job, the fact you've built a brand actually helps you look for work
The hope and dream is that while being full-time caster is awesome, taking a back seat in a more stable yet related field/position is possible and maybe even likely.
|
Well I for one am looking forward to it.
|
As for my part I belief that if you try to follow your dream and to something that you really like you will always be more successful than the other way round. Fingers crossed for you and your efforts - I'll definitely support the journey of yours.
|
1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
On January 20 2015 10:34 ZombieGrub wrote:Show nested quote +On January 20 2015 10:33 ZeromuS wrote:On January 20 2015 10:25 ZombieGrub wrote:On January 20 2015 10:19 lichter wrote:
FULL TIME ESPORTS
i hope things work out for you bro It's a dumb term because I don't get any full-time benefits....EXCEPT EXTREME LEVELS OF PASSION. loljk i want healthcare too which is why if I'm SOL in a couple of years it's back to boring jobs You know if you successfully build a brand but decide you want a more serious job, the fact you've built a brand actually helps you look for work The hope and dream is that while being full-time caster is awesome, taking a back seat in a more stable yet related field/position is possible and maybe even likely.
The administrative side of esports is applicable work experience that some companies may find valuable. Just gotta reach out to the right people
I hope some day more people consider writing for TL as a sort of sports journalism internship
|
Full time esports... living the dream. Good luck
|
Best of luck with the venture, youre one of the great hard working pillars in the sc2 community and you can make it happen.
If youre looking to do more content and casting from time to time, would be cool to have you a part of the Collegiate Star League
just sayin
|
|
|
|
|
Good luck in your endeavor!
I'm not creative enough to suggest any patron rewards tho. :-\
|
Poland104 Posts
Good luck ZombieGrub. Your knowledge of the game is impressive for a not progamer, hope you will succeed!
|
I think you can do well. Good luck!
|
On January 20 2015 11:31 Liquid`MaNa wrote:
Good luck ZombieGrub. Your knowledge of the game is impressive for a not progamer, hope you will succeed!
yes, unlike his fellow partner unfortunately 
|
On January 20 2015 10:25 ZombieGrub wrote:
loljk i want healthcare too which is why if I'm SOL in a couple of years it's back to boring jobs
You could get free healthcare if you move to Canada, perhaps marry a Canadian!
|
good luck, thanks for making sc2 more alive !
|
Good luck! you're a really good caster and deserve to be part of the premier circuit! thank you for making basetrade watchable
|
Good luck ZG! Hope this works out well for you. Definitely sounds like a more exciting prospect than jumping into a possibly less than ideal situation in Korea etc. This is something you will love doing and can put 100% effort in.
|
met you at DC LAN 2 weekends ago, I could already tell the passion you have for the game... that alone gives you a headstart into most endeavors.
Wish you the best of luck and we'll be following one of our local's progress intently rooting for you!
|
Congrats on the commitment and sticking to it.
Good luck!
|
Good luck ZG!
I'll keep an eye out for any content and your stream.
|
Best of wishes to you ZG!
|
Hells yeah! I'll pledge to your Patreon. ^_^
|
United States8476 Posts
As someone who is newly full time esports, wish you the best of luck, Jess.
|
We met down at Battlegrounds DC and you were nice enough to take me on a tour of the White House if you recall - You have character, grace, and intelligence and can go far if you choose to. Best of luck!
|
Awesome! I really look forward to seeing new stuff besides casting. glgl~
|
Best of luck Jess, you'll be able to do it for sure!!!
|
Haven't watched too much of your casting but I've liked what I've seen. Wish you good luck!
|
You seemed really nice when I met you at IEM Toronto. Good luck, and Zombiegrub for Blizzcon 2016!
|
GL!
You've done very well and more from you can only be good for the scene.
|
United Kingdom31935 Posts
Good luck! People following their dreams is always great!
And you can count on me as a viewer
|
|
|
I'm sad to hear you won't go to Korea, I had a lot of fun there.
My first SC2 live event was the GSL final between Nestea and Boxer (MKP) AND IT WAS AWESOME.
At the same time . . . recruiters in Korea, yeah some of em are a breed apart.
I understand things have been on a decline for English teachers there for the last 2 years or so. Less Government school teachers, stricter rules at hagwons. And the people with the good jobs know it and ain't moving. So shittier contracts for those left over.
Anyway, good luck.
I don't know what you know about transitive verbs and conjugation, but I know you have this SC2 thing down.
|
Austria24417 Posts
THE ESPORTS TRAIN STOPS FOR NOONE
Except for you, welcome aboard!
|
Well baby grubs are larvae, so maybe your patreons could be Larval Zomblings or something.  But I guess it'd be a little weird if you don't play Zerg. (I have never seen you play, only cast, so no idea what race you play)
Grats in any case! Sounds like fun.
|
1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
On January 20 2015 16:09 DarkLordOlli wrote:
THE ESPORTS TRAIN STOPS FOR NOONE
Except for you, welcome aboard!
back to shoveling coals, young one
|
You are hereby metamorphosing into ZombieBeetle! I had been hoping you'd do this for a while, and while I probably shouldn't cheer at your Korean adventure falling through, this is one that benefits me as a consumer much more.
|
|
|
Good Luck!
You can make a series. I think Mr Bitter's 12 Weeks with the Pros was great to watch and also a great way to get people to know him.
|
Best of luck! Have pFun! ZombieGrub Fighting!
|
I guess working on a personal brand is a good idea since most people talk about Rifkin when they mention BTTV and you end up in the background... or work on being more dominant part of BTTV?
|
On January 20 2015 12:09 Legio wrote:Show nested quote +On January 20 2015 10:25 ZombieGrub wrote:
loljk i want healthcare too which is why if I'm SOL in a couple of years it's back to boring jobs You could get free healthcare if you move to Canada, perhaps marry a Canadian!
*cough*Kane*cough*
|
|
|
I wish you the best of luck.
Casting games played by subscribers could be a cool reward.
|
Gl hf, I wish you endless passhun!
|
Hell yea! gl hf
|
|
|
Yay! So happy you will be casting and streaming more! GLGLHF
|
Best wishes, I am a core fan.
I am also concerned and hope that you have a backup plan(just in case) this doesn't pan out as expected.
|
Good Luck ZG! I'm sorry to hear that the whole Korea thing didn't work out, but you didn't want to go there to be in a miserable situation. You have always been a good caster and help make BaseTrade TV what it has become so i'll definitely be watching whatever content you put out in the future
|
good luck!
some ideas:
- Bronze to Master series
- Sub vote race of the month
- Sub vote build orders
- Sub vote hair color
etc..
|
Wish you good luck and all the best.
|
United States33360 Posts
good luck, take Nathanias's job
|
hoi hoi.
gl, will be watching.
|
Good luck, take Waxangel's job
|
On January 21 2015 06:20 Waxangel wrote:
good luck, take Nathanias's job
No I like Nate. Send Rotti packing back hope to Euroland or wherever he's from.
|
Just one favor - please don't call out spammers/fakes without responding to the person first.
In Korea (I know you're not going but) transsexuals and gays are not as common in the western world.
In any case, first things first I've been meaning to reach you/Rifkin - I'm sorry I asked a Curious George question during the IEM Asia quals.
And good luck.
|
I think I summed it up on twitter.
But, who knows? Maybe casting will land you in Korea anyways. DoA, Artosis, Tasteless, Brendan, Wolf, and Moonglade wound up there. I like your current personal branding (well, style maybe) as perhaps the foil to the more silly Rifkin on BTTV. More of a serious caster, but that has a fun side.
As for personal branding as an esports personality... I got nothing. You're already at the top of the "not quite professional" caster heap (and probably would be professional if there were more casting gigs out there) in my opinion. Maybe just be you, but a little bit amplified. Be open to mobility - that's always a good thing. And be sure to keep track of ALL the things you do, not just casting. Don't be afraid to solo yolo when you need/want to.
hrm. This is all kinds of unhelpful so far. Patreon reward ideas - signed thank you card; will hold up fan's cheerful (within certain bounds) at an event if you can make it to one (probably as a reward after the patreon is funded to where you can actually go to an event); maybe fan requested video topic (within the area of StarCraft).
|
Good luck
|
Good luck ZombieGrub! Its great to see how BTTV has grown and hope for similar successes with your new ventures
|
Oh, if you're going to be successful on-line. Start with the shameless plugging.
There's an entire post there with no twitter, twitch or youtube address.
I'm too old to know how to social media correctly, but that's what I see other people do.
|
Go Zombiegrub!! I am a major fan!! You are adorable! Keep up the great work!!! Someone make a fan club for ZombieGrub!
I like rifkin too (no homo)
|
Re: downtime, if you are serious going full time esports you might want to consider branching out into other games as well, increase your exposure!
|
Good luck ZG! I love it when I come home from work and BTTV is broadcasting - As some suggest, why not some hearthstone or heroes?
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
