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It’s been a long time since I wrote a blog here on TL. It used to be something I would do once a year, an update on how things were going and so on, or posting some cool photos from a trip etc. This year I wasn’t really having a great time and so I thought I’d wait to write something so I could be more positive. Sadly it just seems every day brings more bad news and so I figured I may as well write something now while I have some pent up frustrations.
Working Outside of My Stream
First I want to talk about how tough this year has been for me mentally. At the end of 2017/start of 2018 I got a lot of opportunities to travel to cast events, which was really amazing. It was actually everything I had wanted to achieve in my career. This is what I had always aimed to do – to be one of the best and to earn my way to these events. Sadly after WESG in March 2018 I didn’t really get many more offers.
I travelled to Italy for the QLASH Finals, but I took such a huge pay cut for the weeks of online casting & my regular fee that I essentially worked the finals weekend for free. I also got to go to Germany to cast Penthouse Party, where I worked for free after fundraising to afford my hotel. I attended HomeStory Cup as always, but not as a paid caster, just as a fan who made their own way there.
I was losing a lot of other online work as well. The WESG Qualifiers offered me such a small amount I couldn’t accept without admitting I was basically working for free. The WESG system in general cut down to only one main event and even there I was lucky as a last minute change to the broadcasting partner saw me picked up for the event, where I managed to go ahead and have one of my worst weeks of casting ever. Insomnia haunted me every night and I was casting long days on less than an hours sleep for the entire week. I did my cocasters and viewers a disservice and I was so disappointed.
WCS Spring rolls around and I’m having a lot of family problems, my mum was in hospital for two months with Encephalitis, something which we now know has affected her life forever. I was already streaming very little because of this, but suddenly there was a ray of sunshine – Blizzard contacted me to say it was likely they needed a replacement caster for the event and if I could clear my schedule they would confirm for me ASAP. So I cancelled all my events for the week, only to be told a few days later after my own asking that I wasn’t actually needed.
Earlier in the year, before my mum had gone into hospital, I had planned a trip to Korea to attend a GSL Finals. This was like a life-goal vacation/trip for me and it’s very rare that I travel somewhere that isn’t work related so I was excited to treat it as more of a vacation. Sadly this was just something else that came back to bite me in the ass. Because of my trip I lost the ability to be a part of the second season of the QLASH Invitational. I lost two other paid casting gigs offered to me during the time I would be away. I was so devastated I was on the verge of cancelling my trip, because I was so desperate to be able to work events and to get these opportunities.
In the end I went to Korea and honestly I didn’t have the amazing time I wanted to. I cut my days short so I could go back to the hotel and cast because my stream had been so poor lately that I was too anxious to skip broadcasts while I was away for Korea and HSC.
At this point I felt basically everything possible could have gone wrong for me. WCS didn’t seem interested in me for Summer, which means I almost certainly won’t do a WCS event this year. Then ASUS ROG came around. I won’t even go into the part where Blizzard forgot they were sponsoring my Team Liquid Map Contest Tournament and so allowed ASUS to initially schedule their qualifiers directly over it, because at the end of the day it got sorted even if I did lose some sleep and another day of my vacation trying to fix it.
From the moment it was announced I contacted an admin of the event to express my desire to cast. In the end it came around that I could be a community stream for the qualifiers/perhaps the event, so whatever. At least it was some extra content to cover. So I cast all of the qualifiers and as far as I knew I was allowed to be a community stream for the main event for whichever days they needed me.
What’s really bummed me out on this one is that when Kaelaris wasn’t able to attend the event I got completely ignored as an option. When I saw the initial talent line-up it made sense. It wasn’t huge, they got the best in Europe, and there wasn’t space for me. I get that,
I can accept that even if it sucks. For them to then need a replacement and find out they asked multiple people and didn’t even consider me because “Wardi is casting B Stream” it’s just infuriating. These are the opportunities I strive for day in and day out. They are the reasons I sit through long solo cast days with no pay as community streamer, to get in peoples good books and to be noticed.
To be left out because I volunteered to community cast is not just sad, it’s insulting. It makes me look like an idiot, woohoo I get to cast the B Stream on my own for 12 hours a day when everyone is focused on the main stream. What a great deal, I’m so glad I have that over getting to cast an offline event! I honestly don’t know how to properly put it into words because I am truly devastated by it and I don’t even know what to do anymore.
I was so upset I had to shut down my stream during my own tournament yesterday because I just had all these things in my head thinking am I doing the right thing? Should I just give up? I know they are stupid things to think, but at the end of the day there are so few opportunities that to miss one because of my own good will of volunteering… I still feel sick about it.
There’s no right decision, so I just went with what my morals told me to do. I informed ASUS I was no longer interested in community casting. How could I be? Can I ever be again? I’m at a weird point where I really thought it was still worth it for me to stream these events as a community streamer, but now I’m realizing it might actually be costing me opportunities because people only ever see me as the B Stream guy.
But let’s just talk quickly about something else that really bothers me in all of this, that’s very relevant to being the B Stream.
Why don’t large events pay for B Streams?
WCS don’t pay for the B Stream and for WCS Spring this resulted in them having no additional English coverage for the tournament. Other tournaments don’t pay for it either; they just think they are doing us casters a favour by letting us cast their events.
These are long days with often little reward because at the end of it most people’s eyes are on the main stream. Even if your viewership is up a lot of that viewership is caught on a second monitor, so your chances to monetize that viewership is extremely low.
The reality is it would be so cheap for them to pay for a B Stream in the grand scheme of things. $400 and boom you have a guaranteed stream where the caster is absolutely motivated and knows they are working for something, instead of the hopes of donations. Honestly add in $200 more and you could have the stream on one of your own channels, if metrics and branding is important to you. And these are just my rough estimated rates, there are other community streamers who will work for less.
$400 is nothing to these companies. It’s commonly known that a starting “day rate” for offline event work across esports is around $500 per day. But because the B Stream requires no travelling and you are working from home, you can literally get someone to be the B Stream for less than that, and yet they don’t. I honestly think it’s really disappointing and I hope this is something that will be looked at and thought about in the future.
Why my stream isn’t doing well
Did you know that for a stream with the average viewership of mine, the expected subscriber count is often 3-4 times, if not more, than my own subscriber count? This is something which has always been on my mind and I mention it sometimes on stream but I’m just going to write it down and get it out of me.
Trying to monetize content in StarCraft 2 as a caster is so difficult. There is a reason that the top tier casters such as PiG, Rotti, DeMuslim don’t sit around casting a lot on their own channels. People are more likely to support a streamer who is playing a game, than they are to support a streamer who is commentating a game. The ideas of casting separates you from the usual intimacy and sense of community that most streams hold and these are the things that usual drive subscriptions.
I try to adjust for it in my casting by being very interactive with chat during downtime, during slower parts of the games and by trying to have some fun and different conversations instead of telling everybody for the 8th time in a row that it’s a StarGate opening, yet this just nets the spam of “shut up and focus on the game”. It’s so infuriating because of the mental effect reading that over and over again has on you. It makes me doubt my own practices that I have developed because I know it is a good thing.
It makes streaming for me exhausting and it really drags on me lately. Two years ago I feel like I could cast a 16 hour day solo, go to bed wake up and do it again. More and more nowadays I find myself getting tilted at chat and these stupid comments which when paired up with a 6 hour stream in which I get $5 donated and one new sub, I truly ask myself what I’m doing.
It’s really hard to find more ways to push the monetization on my channel. Honestly one of the only reasons I’m doing alright this year is because of the Twitch Bounty Board. From doing these Twitch bounties, I have made more money in about 14 hours of streaming that I have from multiple months of SC2 casting put together. It’s really disheartening.
Did you know it costs me to stream?
Most streamers sit down and stream on a schedule. They have some set time outside of streaming to work on other stuff, maybe YouTube content, perhaps improving the stream or whatever. For me that sounds like a luxury. On average it costs me $30-50 per stream to stream because there aren’t enough events to cast so I have to make my own. I spend about $1000/month minimum on events and I usually steam around 25 times a month, sometimes a bit more.
So not only is my subscriber count and whatever else down from usual averages, but I straight up have to pay to be able to create work for myself. Then people come into my chat and tell me I have 350 subs and so I should be doing just fine. Just something else that pisses me off. There’s not much else to be said on this one, it’s just something else to consider when I look at my future in StarCraft.
Obviously running my own events adds in extra hours of work as well. I have to do a lot of scheduling around other events, contacting players, setting up brackets, Matcherinos, Team Liquid threads, other promotion. On average I spend about 5-10 hours per week doing admin stuff before I can even look towards improving my stream, working on YouTube content etc. And that is 5-10 hours which I’m obviously not paid for, I’m literally spending money to do it.
Do I have a future in StarCraft?
For the first time in a very long time I actually don’t know if I do. While my stream has its ups as well as these downs, the downs really drag me along mentally and every time something like this happens it feels like it only gets tougher.
I don’t seem to have much potential in terms of working other events anymore, my own events are costing me a lot of money and I don’t really have any other approach other than to be a caster. So yeah, perhaps I am a bit negative in my mind today while writing this, but that’s been the feeling I’ve had throughout most of 2019 so I guess that’s the honest feeling.
I truly hope I can turn something around, or perhaps something clicks mentally so I can keep going and pushing out content like I have been. I truly love doing what I do when I don’t like the negativity get to me and when I don’t dwell on the negative parts.
Thanks for reading my emo blog.
 
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I know it's hard but don't let a few ignorant comments tilt you too hard. The vast majority of people on your stream support you, myself included. As for subs, it might help to know why I do it. It's coz u provide valuable replays. Others might be different reasons. I don't know if I agree with SC2 player vs Caster means more to a subscriber. It's the involvement and entertainment, and value (to me replays).
Do what's best for you, and I empathize with the casting opportunities and not being informed in time by Blizzard. They really need to get their act together with scheduling and communications. They need a project manager or more staff... the current ones are probably overloaded. The company might be too cheap to add another employee to help, but they should.
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Hey dude - I subbed last week, and get the frustration. I've even wondered why your sub count seems so low given the high quality of your content. I kinda once was very critical of you, but I genuinely feel like you've gotten way way better as a caster over the last year. I can only imagine how frustrating it is for you to not get called up.
One thing that might help - I've found it can be kinda hard to know when and what you are casting. Is there a google calender (with liquipedia links or something) that is available to viewers?
<3
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I try to adjust for it in my casting by being very interactive with chat during downtime, during slower parts of the games and by trying to have some fun and different conversations instead of telling everybody for the 8th time in a row that it’s a StarGate opening, yet this just nets the spam of “shut up and focus on the game”. It’s so infuriating because of the mental effect reading that over and over again has on you. It makes me doubt my own practices that I have developed because I know it is a good thing.
So, you make a conscious effort to be a less "professional" caster, since you fear it will cost you support of the community. You also complain that you are not being taken seriously as a choice for a "professional" caster, which costs you support from companies.
Is that the dichotomy you are struggling with?
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Sorry you've had a shitty year man. Hit me up if you ever need to chat.
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I like to support your stuff and do so regularly with donations to tournaments and a sub to your stream because I appreciate the work you do in the community and you seem to be a genuinely good dude.
But I'm also going to be 100% real here, I don't watch you for entertainment and that is a very big part for me with regard to watching streams. I want to be entertained first, the games come second. Only when there's nothing else going on, and I see players I like to see play, I tune into your stream. In terms of entertainment your streams are very bland for me.
My advice is that you need to come to terms that you (currently) lack the charisma to continuously draw in big figures for your casts. Also you need to learn from other streamers to get people to donate more. There needs to be incentives for that. One of the ways to do that is to be more ballsy, a bit more controversial, get people engaged. If you want to stay away from that kind of content I can respect that, but I you need to realize that is what draws in the bigger crowds. Entertainment is a brutal industry and only the very top can make a decent living with doing this. If you don't see this going anywhere in the future you really need to take a good hard look at how you want to continue.
Finally, you definitely need to start having co-casters on your stream. The "entertainment gap" needs to be filled. The moment I hear Special, who you had as a guest a couple times recently, I immediately got hooked. That is something I want to listen to. Just have an open line to any pro-players that want to come on and tell them you can (perhaps) do some revenue sharing in the future if you manage to grow more. I'm sure there always a couple folks hanging out willing to drop in for an hour maybe.
I'll keep throwing in some money whenever I can to help the grassroots tournaments you organize. But I hope you can make some choices and make the stream more entertaining to watch. Also for a little bit of context of where I'm coming from. I think I'm a somewhat of an older dude in this community (36 currently) and I've been a business owner in the past. I learned what my strengths and weaknesses are, and one thing I'm definitely not is a good salesman. Sales and marketing are such a crucial part of the business, you might be focusing a great deal at "making your product" e.g. creating tournaments and casting them, but you can't bring it to market it's all for nothing, and maybe the market isn't there anymore for StarCraft II. That is the harsh reality unfortunately.
Good luck!
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I just want to say I tune into your stuff as often as I can and love it. I work two service jobs (70 hours a week), and something about your style has been keeping me coming back. I wish I could help. You're awesome. Not everyone has the same tastes and you tickle mine.
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Bisutopia19137 Posts
That does suck Wardi. While this year may be tough on you, I will say that I think your effort and casts have been outstanding this year and really enjoy everything you do. I hope you can find a way for this to pay off because you definitely make SC2 better for me.
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You are running a business. If the business doesn't run well then it is alright to vent your frustrations. What I hope doesn't happen is that some silly people in the community create a feel good fundraiser to help the poor caster.
It is your job to make sure that your career works out. If you can't fix it yourself, it might be time for a change of careers.
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It's a shame, but it is what it is. You're low on charisma and trying to make it in the entertainment industry. Viewers don't care about hard work and event management, they care about charisma and entertainment value. Considering the insane glut of SC2 casters that exists, I really don't understand what it is that you're expecting to happen here.
Now, if I were an exec in the e-sports division of a company like Blizzard or whatever, I'd be calling your phone off the hook to hire you in a management position because of your proven work ethic and event skills. But as a caster? It just doesn't make any sense. It's clearly not your primary skillset.
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Shame you're feeling down. I enjoy the cast you do and the work you put in to commentate games for us. I hope things get better.
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Wardi, I hope you remember that your own life and your own family are more important than the entertainment of a bunch of internet strangers. You need to do whatever is best for yourself. If that's Starcraft, great, if it isn't, also perfectly fine.
Best of luck.
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On July 31 2019 23:09 Wardi wrote:
Why don’t large events pay for B Streams?
WCS don’t pay for the B Stream and for WCS Spring this resulted in them having no additional English coverage for the tournament. Other tournaments don’t pay for it either; they just think they are doing us casters a favour by letting us cast their events.
These are long days with often little reward because at the end of it most people’s eyes are on the main stream. Even if your viewership is up a lot of that viewership is caught on a second monitor, so your chances to monetize that viewership is extremely low.
your pre-tourney work gets noticed by me. i can't speak for anyone else.
https://tl.net/forum/starcraft-2/525014-caster-feedback-thread?page=21#403
Blizzard has the ghaul to solicit more free streamers rather than flipping you $400. If its not profitable for you ... you must be as ruthless as the ATVI decision makers that are slowly and gradually cutting off support for SC2. Whatever you do... be ruthless man. Look out for yourself. Bet on yourself.
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Don't want be trash, but let's be honnest, even if i will be rude with some caster, even if i know this is not the point, the point is Blizzard don't do well is job and it's sad for you.
But since 2 years i was always thinking, why caster like Tod are still invited like a primary caster even if he is not involved in the game anymore ? It's like you come all 3 month, you take your money and you go back. On the other side you have streamer like Wardi or Emil, who are working so hard for this game, each day, still passionate, and they can't grow up cause it's seems Blizzard think actual team is good.
It's sad, cause it's easy to see when casters don't play the game anymore, and just watch some random stream to have some update on the meta.
Nothing more to say, you should be a primary caster now, if you are not it's cause Blizzard sucks on this, they should keep some change and try new casters each years to rewards all the guy who are still passionate and contents creator. But it's not, and we can't do anything about that, that's why i leaved this fucking mess, the game is no more fun, Blizzard don't care about his community as his should do.... Sometimes you know you have to make a choice (i'm not saying you have to stop, i am saying i did mine and i'm feel really better since i stop to be a SC2 caster, just my experience, but i think it's good to share)
I hope with all this post, things will be better for you, i will come to sub on your channel even if i don't watch SC2 anymore for supporting you, cause you deserve it for sur.
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I think the lesson here is, don't plan any vacations bro
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I'm a subscriber and a big fan. I think your frustration has been weighing on you a bit lately, though. A lot of times of late your energy and enthusiasm has seemed a little low and you've been pretty monotone at times.
With everything you've been dealing with, that's pretty understandable. I just hope you're able to clear your head for a bit and give it one more big push. I really appreciate the content you provide. I don't know if it will ultimately work out, but I think you're a valuable member of the game's community and are deserving of some chances.
The only other thing that I'd add is that there's nothing wrong with asking for career help. Maybe you already have, but you might lean on your connections in the community. Ask where people think you could improve, ask how people think you might be able to get a chance, ask if they can get you a meeting or a call. As I said, maybe you already do these things, but it's the sort of stuff that's made a difference in my career. People like to be turned to for guidance, and a lot of times they'll come through for someone who's a good guy and has ability, which you are and you do.
I'm rooting for you.
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I agree with you about the event organizers paying the 'B' stream caster. it would be a tiny amount compared to the total cost of the event and would help ensure that people are willing to do it as you say.
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Most of the money in the scene comes from Blizzard. If not for Blizzard's money, WCS would obviously be gone. Katowice would be gone. GSL would be gone. All of the big casters--Artosis, Tasteless, Rotti, Tod and so on--their incomes come mostly from Blizzard. Look at Esports Earnings. Serral made hundreds of thousands last year and most of it came from Blizzard. Blizzard is the scene's main patron.
Here's my question: how much support do Blizzard give to tournament organisers like Wardi, Rifkin, Olivia and Crank? Judging by your post, not much. I'm not going to go into your talent as a caster, but I would say your main strength is as an organiser. And I understand how it can feel like an injustice that the rest of the scene get to suckle at Blizzard's teat while the organisers of the online tournaments, who work the hardest to ensure that there is always professional SC2 to watch even when there are no premier tournaments going on, don't.
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On August 01 2019 02:44 Railgan wrote:
You are running a business. If the business doesn't run well then it is alright to vent your frustrations. What I hope doesn't happen is that some silly people in the community create a feel good fundraiser to help the poor caster.
It is your job to make sure that your career works out. If you can't fix it yourself, it might be time for a change of careers.
Solid advice^^ You might have to pivot. Maybe get a co-caster to provide whatever it is your (target) audience is missing. Or focus more on organising events (which I think is a skill that's easily overlooked) and pass part of the casting to someone else? It's a concession, and it's scary, but if business isn't profitable AND you're not enjoying it, it's time for change.
Whatever your next step will be, it will not go unnoticed by this community. You've shown time and time again that your heart's in the right place.
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I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling and upset. I hope things start going better.
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