If you’ve been thinking of starting a Twitch or streaming on YouTube, you’re probably wondering how to get started. Here are a few tips for your first livestream! You can stream video games, play some original tunes or covers on an instrument, open card packs live, or just chat. 

Gear

In order to start streaming you have to have the proper hardware. The basics start with a mic, headphones, and a stable internet connection. Not everyone uses a webcam, so you can decide what type of streamer you want to be. A great upgrade option is a GoXLR or a Stream Deck, which can help you monitor and control your audio on a handy separate device. 

Software

You will also need to download a capture software to start streaming. There’s several out there but a few popular ones are Open Broadcaster Software or Streamlabs. Streamlabs also has an app store that can add music, notification sounds, and analytics to your stream. You can also download screen elements or purchase custom emotes to deck out your stream. Don’t use a webcam? You can use a PNGTuber or VTuber on screen to add extra personality. 

Create A Schedule

Plan out when you would like to stream and for how long. You could choose to do it once a week, but the key is consistency. It’s easier to grow and retain viewers if they know when you’re going live. You can post your schedule on social media, your Twitch page, or your YouTube banner to let everyone know when to come watch your stream. 

Plan Your Stream

It’s smart to plan ahead. If you’re going to play some music, spend some time before the stream tuning your instruments and getting the songs you want to play ahead of time. If you’re playing a game, download it and make sure it runs properly before you go live. This will minimize technical difficulties when you get viewers watching. 

Find more lifestyle tips, hobbies, and local fun at the Olympus at Daybreak blog.