We all love video games right? And we see our favorite streamers playing video games every day for hours and hours and we wonder….

How are Streamers Able to Play for so Long?

Simply put, streamers who are able to play every day for hours at a time are able to do this because they get paid to do so. Streamers who stream so frequently more than likely have enough followers, subscribers, and donations flowing that streaming has become their full-time job. 

Another thing that helps some streamers play for a long time, besides it being their job, is the use of  blue light protective glasses also known as computer/gaming glasses.

About a year ago I noticed I was getting headaches from being in front of a screen for a long time and so I decided to give these blue light protective glasses on Amazon a try.

These glasses turned out to be a major game changer and were very cheap. There are more expensive pairs out there, but for me the cheap pair I bought work just fine.

Now, if I know I will be spending a lot of time in front of a screen, I put on my glasses and my headaches have gone away. I see other streamers play with blue light protective glasses and this may be another thing that helps them play for so long.

How do Streamers Play the Same Game for so Long?

For this reason, it is important to choose a game that you enjoy. If you are going to be streaming for long periods everyday then you have to do something you enjoy to make it feel like less of a grind. If you force yourself to play a certain game that you do not like then you will lose interest quickly and you won’t be able to bring the enthusiasm and energy needed to engage people who come to view your stream.

Many people ask “how do streamers play the same game for so long?” The fact of the matter is that if you are trying to grow your stream you have to be known for a certain game, whatever that game may be. It will be much harder to grow and build a community if you are frequently switching games.

Find a game you like and stick with it. When you begin streaming do not worry so much about what game you choose. Sometimes choosing niche games to stream will help you gain followers who will support you just because you are streaming a game that not many people stream.

You do not need to stream the most popular games in-order to get views and followers.

Find a game that you enjoy, one that you can play daily for at least a couple months and see how that game builds your stream. If it is not growing your stream in the way that you would like then you might need choosing a different game IF making money from streaming is one of your goals.

How do Streamers Play for so Long with no Viewers?

This can be one of the most difficult obstacles aspiring streamers to overcome. When you begin streaming you will most definitely spend many hours streaming to no one. Like zip, zero. So get used to it, but do not let it discourage you.

If you do become discouraged by the lack of viewers then just try to envision what your end goal is. You may not be there now, but remember that “tiny strokes falls mighty oaks”. Your stream is going to grow little by little over time according to your effort and dedication.

Even when you have zero viewers you must still bring that same energy and enthusiasm that you would have if you had one thousand viewers. You should still explain your reasoning behind certain things you do in a game, get stoked when you do something epic, and get upset when you mess up.

Don’t be a robot. You still have to bring it, even if nobody is watching.

Often times streamers become boring and mundane because nobody is watching them. However, you must remember that the viewer count is not always accurate so if someone is lurking in your stream, and you are putting on a snooze fest then you probably just lost a potential viewer for good.

Remember that when you begin streaming you only get one chance with a lot of the people that peep your channel so do your best to make that one shot count. In other words, DON’T SUCK!

How to Make Money Streaming on Twitch?

To begin to make money streaming on Twitch you must first become a Twitch Affiliate. According to Twitch, in order to become a Twitch Affiliate you must have:

• At least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days
• At least 7 unique broadcast days in the last 30 days
• An average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over the last 30 days
• At least 50 followers

Within a few weeks after your channel becomes eligible, you will be invited via email, the Notification Area in the upper right corner of Twitch.TV, and on the Dashboard live tab.

Once you have been invited and you have clicked “Get Started”, it will take you to the Settings tab of your Dashboard where you can complete a short process to begin monetizing your channel with Bits. To learn more about that short process click here.

Affiliates can also have subscribers which is another way for streamers on Twitch to make money on Twitch. Subscribers pay monthly for a subscription to your channel and that money is divided between you and Twitch.

How Long does it Take to Start Making Money on Twitch?

As was mentioned, in-order to make money on Twitch you must first become a Twitch affiliate. However, becoming a Twitch Affiliate only allows you the opportunity to make money, but you have to gain subs and donors all on your own.

From experience, becoming a Twitch Affiliate should only take you about 1-3 months. If you stream consistently, create social media and YouTube pages to help promote your stream, and invite all your buddies to tune in while you stream then you should easily reach affiliate in 1-3 months.

Once you become affiliate, you should begin focusing on ways to build your community in-order to gain subs and donations for your stream. Many streamers make the mistake of trying to gain subs and donations but do not focus on building a strong and loyal community.

When you begin streaming, DO NOT solicit everyone who comes into your stream for subs and donations. Interact with your viewers, get to know them, and let them get to know you.

When people feel like they belong in your community, they will inevitably support you with subs and donations because they will want you to grow and to succeed because you are no longer just a random stranger, but a friend. And who doesn’t want to see their friends succeed right?

Not only will building a base of loyal followers help you in obtaining with subs and donations, but it will also help you to bring more people into your stream. People who like your stream, and you as a streamer, will invite their friends to come check you out which will go a long way in growing your stream.

The process of gaining enough subs and donations to make money comparable to a part-time job will take months, if not years of consistently streaming and posting on social media. Now consistently streaming does not mean 1-2 hours a few days a week.

If you are trying to make money you have to treat it as you would a part-time job and so you must put in at least 20 hours a week if you want to get noticed.

Streaming consistently is not the only thing that will help you to get noticed. You must also do things that will make you stand out. Why are people going to visit your stream over the hundreds of other streams out there? Is it you skill at the game? Is it your personality? Is it the game you stream? Decide what will make you unique and run with it.

If you are not doing things to make yourself stand out then really what is the difference between you and the hundreds of other channels out there?

As always, if you have any questions or just want to hang with me, stop by my Twitch channel here and say what’s up!

Playing video games for living sounds SWEET and it is possible, but it is a TON of work. Many people get burnt out and there is nothing wrong with that. Streaming can be a grind and a half and even if the rewards sound awesome, it really just isn’t for everyone.

If you want to get into streaming, then be patient and understand that it will take a lot of time for your stream to grow. It is something you will have to dedicate yourself to day in and day out.

I would also recommend not putting other life things like jobs, school or relationships on hold just to stream. Many streamers worked full time jobs or went to school and only streamed on the side. They didn’t stop studying or going to their job until their streams took off and you would be smart do likewise.

In the end streaming can be great! If you love video games and you like interacting with people then you really have nothing to lose. So get onto Twitch, start streaming your favorite game and lets’ see where your stream goes.