|
Full article
Your average news story about streaming site Twitch usually begins with a statement that's meant to shock readers: You can make a living playing video games.
But this isn't really news to anyone who's followed the platform over the past four years. Twitch is now the No. 4 highest trafficking site on the Internet during peak hours, putting it right behind Netflix, Google, and Apple. If you’re sleeping on the effect that gaming has on the Internet, think about how the second youngest company (Netflix) on that list was founded 14 years before Twitch existed.
Yes, you can make playing full-time video games a full-time job. But what's less known are the details: How much can you make? And how exactly do you make it?
I spoke to one of the more successful streamers on Twitch, Steven Bonnell (often referred to by his Twitch name Destiny) to break down how a career in streaming works.
Twitch publicly details how its users can monetize their streams, though it doesn’t go into specifics on the average amount of money flying into bank accounts. Bonnell has an advantage over the average, casual streamer on Twitch—he’s a partner.
To become a partner, Twitch requires that your average viewership be above 500 and that you stream at least three times a week. New users coming from sites like YouTube should apply only if they have over 15,000 views per video and over 100,000 subscribers. The advantages of being a partner? First, you can add a broadcast delay, which makes it possible to stream a tournament without having cheaters on the other end updating players with what the other team is doing. Another benefit is the more applicable here: You can get subscribers. Partners charge $5 monthly to allow for private chats, emoticons, and whatever else the streamer can come up with.
Twitch doesn't go into specifics on its website. How much money could be made for $5 subscriptions? How much of that money does Twitch pocket? What are the rates on ads, especially with a tech-savvy audience that mostly has AdBlock installed. Bonnell, a mega-popular streamer known for his skill in StarCraft, broke down how he makes money streaming, looking at every single revenue stream. He has 62,071,582 total views at the time of publication.
|
"Bonnell works roughly 60 hours a week" lol
anyway. cool writeup
|
Canada11355 Posts
On April 22 2015 10:12 -Switch- wrote:
"Bonnell works roughly 60 hours a week" lol
Assuming you're not doubting the actual amount of time he puts into his stream, how is his work less valid than someone who sits in an office plugging numbers into a spreadsheet?
|
On April 22 2015 10:15 Fecalfeast wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2015 10:12 -Switch- wrote:
"Bonnell works roughly 60 hours a week" lol Assuming you're not doubting the actual amount of time he puts into his stream, how is his work less valid than someone who sits in an office plugging numbers into a spreadsheet?
There was also a tournament that he organized, which took a huge amount of time to pull together.
|
On April 22 2015 10:31 IntoTheheart wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2015 10:15 Fecalfeast wrote:On April 22 2015 10:12 -Switch- wrote:
"Bonnell works roughly 60 hours a week" lol Assuming you're not doubting the actual amount of time he puts into his stream, how is his work less valid than someone who sits in an office plugging numbers into a spreadsheet? There was also a tournament that he organized, which took a huge amount of time to pull together.
That tournament was phenomenal, and he got so much unjustified hate from being transparent with donation distribution iirc.
He works his ass off.
|
I have often wondered about this, thanks for posting
|
On April 22 2015 10:15 Fecalfeast wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2015 10:12 -Switch- wrote:
"Bonnell works roughly 60 hours a week" lol Assuming you're not doubting the actual amount of time he puts into his stream, how is his work less valid than someone who sits in an office plugging numbers into a spreadsheet?
With any line of work you have to evaluate each case specifically and not give into generalizations, there's plenty of low effort entitled streamers out there making a living while being obnoxious and generally fostering a bad culture, then there's the high effort streamers who keep a schedule and put alot of thought into their content. It's the internet I'm sure you've seen both.
|
Good $$$ if you can develop a big enough fan base. Most new streamers will get reality hit hard on them if they aren't lucky or dedicated enough
|
On April 22 2015 10:15 Fecalfeast wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2015 10:12 -Switch- wrote:
"Bonnell works roughly 60 hours a week" lol Assuming you're not doubting the actual amount of time he puts into his stream, how is his work less valid than someone who sits in an office plugging numbers into a spreadsheet?
because no one does spreadsheets for fun or grows up as a hobbyist in a community of people who all enjoy playing with spreadsheets together and then later becomes a spreadsheet rockstar who creates and discusses spreadsheets from their bedroom for an online audience of thousands of people
lol, seriously though, of course entertainment is a valid industry, but let's not put our heads in the sand and pretend there's no difference between doing a soul-crushing office job and being an entertainer. because that is what a streamer is, an entertainer. actors and musicians do "valid work" too, but like a gamer/streamer, they're pursuing a talent close to their heart which they grew up with and being paid money for it. it's a dream gig. if streamers couldn't stream for money they would have to do... what everyone else does, which is get a regular job. so it's hard to sympathize.
edit: one more point is that the entertainment industry literally exists based on public interest, which doesn't change. if you're going to be an entertainer you have to know when you start out that you will live and die on your audience's interest in your craft. it's not like working at a mcdonalds where all you have to do is show up and do your job, you're going into the business of entertaining people and convincing them to give you money for what you do
|
I would like to point out to people who say that Destiny/other streamers don't have a "real job". They do. A valid job at that, as well as the fact that Destiny has stated that he has held several job doing physical labor and the like and has said that streaming professionally is just about as hard as those jobs, if not harder.
|
This thread is going to get pretty fun by page 3.
Personally, I think... Destiny played it smart and should pat himself on the back 
Also, I'm shocked at how supportive the community is. Tens of thousands in subs and donations each year!
Well done guys.
|
I don't typically watch Destiny's stream because I personally don't find the personality he portrays appealing, but I have a lot of respect for his transparency and community involvement. Really interesting to read how much the top streamers make though!
|
On April 22 2015 11:02 Shadowfyre wrote:
I would like to point out to people who say that Destiny/other streamers don't have a "real job". They do. A valid job at that, as well as the fact that Destiny has stated that he has held several job doing physical labor and the like and has said that streaming professionally is just about as hard as those jobs, if not harder.
In my experience, those who use the "real job" argument do so out of jealousy and little more than that. Does it pay money? Then its a real job, the money is just as real as everyone elses.
|
1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
On April 22 2015 11:14 TotalBiscuit wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2015 11:02 Shadowfyre wrote:
I would like to point out to people who say that Destiny/other streamers don't have a "real job". They do. A valid job at that, as well as the fact that Destiny has stated that he has held several job doing physical labor and the like and has said that streaming professionally is just about as hard as those jobs, if not harder. In my experience, those who use the "real job" argument do so out of jealousy and little more than that. Does it pay money? Then its a real job, the money is just as real as everyone elses.
everyone is envious of the esports dream 
|
On April 22 2015 11:16 lichter wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2015 11:14 TotalBiscuit wrote:On April 22 2015 11:02 Shadowfyre wrote:
I would like to point out to people who say that Destiny/other streamers don't have a "real job". They do. A valid job at that, as well as the fact that Destiny has stated that he has held several job doing physical labor and the like and has said that streaming professionally is just about as hard as those jobs, if not harder. In my experience, those who use the "real job" argument do so out of jealousy and little more than that. Does it pay money? Then its a real job, the money is just as real as everyone elses. everyone is envious of the esports dream
Nothing wrong with it. I was envious of people in cool jobs when I worked a shitty job too. The difference is most people manage to keep their envy to themselves instead of going onto the internet and slandering people they dont like. Let me put it this way, you dont get 100+ death-threats a year for working in an office. That's a plus.
|
While I absolutely despise Destiny as a person in almost everything he says and does the transparency with his Twitch revenue has always been something you have to give him credit for. It is very, very valuable information from someone who puts a ton of time into their community and really tells you how successful it can make you if you are determined enough.
Thank you for the effort once again.
|
On April 22 2015 10:40 Aveng3r wrote:
I have often wondered about this, thanks for posting
you are welcome
|
Canada11355 Posts
On April 22 2015 10:49 brickrd wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2015 10:15 Fecalfeast wrote:On April 22 2015 10:12 -Switch- wrote:
"Bonnell works roughly 60 hours a week" lol Assuming you're not doubting the actual amount of time he puts into his stream, how is his work less valid than someone who sits in an office plugging numbers into a spreadsheet? because no one does spreadsheets for fun or grows up as a hobbyist in a community of people who all enjoy playing with spreadsheets together and then later becomes a spreadsheet rockstar who creates and discusses spreadsheets from their bedroom for an online audience of thousands of people lol, seriously though, of course entertainment is a valid industry, but let's not put our heads in the sand and pretend there's no difference between doing a soul-crushing office job and being an entertainer. because that is what a streamer is, an entertainer. actors and musicians do "valid work" too, but like a gamer/streamer, they're pursuing a talent close to their heart which they grew up with and being paid money for it. it's a dream gig. if streamers couldn't stream for money they would have to do... what everyone else does, which is get a regular job. so it's hard to sympathize. edit: one more point is that the entertainment industry literally exists based on public interest, which doesn't change. if you're going to be an entertainer you have to know when you start out that you will live and die on your audience's interest in your craft. it's not like working at a mcdonalds where all you have to do is show up and do your job, you're going into the business of entertaining people and convincing them to give you money for what you do
I never commented on the difference. I did, however, strawman the person I quoted by implying that I knew what exactly he was talking about, which is kinda lame.
I do have a question for you, though. What makes a job a "regular job" compared to streaming/entertainment?
To me the entire purpose of a job is to make money. Some people make money doing things they enjoy, which may seem unfair to those who are doing jobs they hate, but that doesn't make their job any less valid.
|
I actually figured it would be a lot more than 100k (pre-tax I assume), ad revenue really sucks for Twitch right now I guess. I remember people making 400+ a day from ads on Twitch in 2011.
would've liked to know how he feels about long-term viability, it doesn't seem very stable with how quickly the gaming, streaming and esports landscape changes. he doesn't anywhere close to the viewers numbers he did 3 years ago's that for sure.
|
On April 22 2015 10:34 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2015 10:31 IntoTheheart wrote:On April 22 2015 10:15 Fecalfeast wrote:On April 22 2015 10:12 -Switch- wrote:
"Bonnell works roughly 60 hours a week" lol Assuming you're not doubting the actual amount of time he puts into his stream, how is his work less valid than someone who sits in an office plugging numbers into a spreadsheet? There was also a tournament that he organized, which took a huge amount of time to pull together. That tournament was phenomenal, and he got so much unjustified hate from being transparent with donation distribution iirc. He works his ass off.
it really saddened me when people flamed him over the internet because he made money out of his tournament.
it was fucking pathetic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
