Who are you and tell us about yourself?
Yeah! My name is Jeremy, but people tend to call me Jay because of my social media handle I use across multiple social media platforms(QuestJay). I tend to describe myself as your resident sad boy with a boomer's mind in a zoomer's body. I also describe myself as one of the most pop-culturally unaware people you will ever meet.
If you want to know a little bit more about me is that my personality in person and on stream doesn't align with how I tend to present myself in public. When I'm around people, I am secluded and isolated. I am an ambivert person but I associate myself as more of an introvert than an extrovert. I'm generally a shy and reserved person who doesn't speak up unless spoken to, but when I'm around people, I can be goofy and not be afraid of making myself look silly in public. I also tend to act like that protective big brother to everyone that I am hanging out with and making sure everyone is having fun. Although, it comes at a cost of me not being involved in whatever they are doing. I put others before myself but it makes me happy seeing those around me happy.
How did you get into Twitch and what did you like about it?
How I got into Twitch is pretty much how most of the new groups of Twitch users are getting into it. I was bored one day and was looking for something new to introduce into my life that wasn't: scrolling through Instagram trying to find inspiration for photos that I know I wasn't able to take till COVID was over. sitting at my desk, working my 9-5 job, or watching YouTube videos as background noise. So back in March 2020, I created my Twitch account but I didn't watch too many streams. I was mainly a YouTube watcher for the most part, so I would watch like past VODS of Twitch streamers on YouTube. It wasn't until I started watching big-name streamers and the idea of streaming myself didn't come about. August of 2020, I flushed out all the components for a streaming setup and started my stream. It was around this same time, I found a handful of relatively smaller, but well-known streamers who had become some of the best people I have gotten to know. I started streaming with the mindset that I was a former Youtuber who didn't have the passion for editing 10 minute long videos.
Generally, I saw Twitch and live streaming as a way for me to create and share content that I want and like without the hassle of editing a video. So Twitch enabled me to release my creative drive that had been held dormant for too long and putting something creative out there. What I like about Twitch is the community aspect of things because of how connected everyone and everything is. Compare to other social media platforms, Twitch has been the most enjoyable as it's something I can just hit one button and being able to share my thoughts or even a game/video I find enjoyable with those who are hanging out with me.
Generally, I saw Twitch and live streaming as a way for me to create and share content that I want and like without the hassle of editing a video. So Twitch enabled me to release my creative drive that had been held dormant for too long and putting something creative out there. What I like about Twitch is the community aspect of things because of how connected everyone and everything is. Compare to other social media platforms, Twitch has been the most enjoyable as it's something I can just hit one button and being able to share my thoughts or even a game/video I find enjoyable with those who are hanging out with me.
What are your struggles when it came to streaming?
There are many days where I struggle with wondering if anyone will even want to watch me if I go live. Even the simplest action of pushing that "Go Live" button gets hard at times because of my self-critique and self-doubt. When I do stream, even if it may now show on camera, I am always in my head questioning if I'm entertaining enough if I'm doing enough to keep my audience and viewers engaged, what is it I'm doing that is keeping them there and would it be okay for me to change something? I've learned that there are all kinds of viewers when it comes to streams and the struggle to grow the number ones who will always be there regardless of what you are doing on stream. Some only show up for a specific game or type of stream, some show up just to say hi and leave, and then some are always coming in lurking by keeping your tab open or staying active in your chat.
Another struggle that I've learned a lot from streamers that are partnered or "made it" is how to keep on growing and how to stay consistent and not get complacent. A big part of that is also the all-too-easy habit of comparing. We can't help but compare ourselves to other streamers especially when we used others as we view them as more successful than ourselves as the comparison. We start questioning ourselves again, doubting ourselves, and constantly in our minds thinking. Such as "What do they do that I don't? What do they have that I don't? Why do people watch them but not me? What am I doing wrong that they do right?" and countless other questions like that. Also, the struggle of everyone asking you if you're making money or are you famous on Twitch yet, especially those who aren't in the streaming community that would not understand how Twitch works. Additionally, we get more questions such as "Why would people watch you playing a game when they could play it themselves?" or "why would people watch you just talking to them like you are some kind of eboy/camgirl?" The importance of these struggles is to push out all the negatives even your own and stream because you find it enjoyable and love doing it.
What are your accomplishments and achievements as a streamer?
What I am most proud of in my journey so far as a streamer is the amazing community that I've been able to grow and cultivate. The members within the community have been a huge part of it growing and drawing others in. When I first started streaming, I thought I would only hit 50 followers for affiliate and keep at most 5 viewers watching me all the time. But here we are over 2 years later with over 700 followers and I can't even count how many of those are all regulars that constantly pop in and show up. They show me the utmost support by welcoming others openly and keeping the vibes up. Additionally, I am so happy that streaming has helped me go places and meet so many amazing people! I've been lucky enough to meet a lot of the bigger and popular streamers that inspire me along with meeting a lot of fellow smaller streamers who have an amazing community of their own and being able to connect and become part of each other's community. Being a little older than the average inhabitant of Twitch and being old as I am now, it gets tough to make friends, keep friends, and maintain friendships and connections that mean something. Streaming has given me that and so much more.
MisahChan Cookies |
My mindset right now is to remind myself why I started streaming in the first place and the people that are always there for me make the journey worth it. I had to learn to not worry about the numbers so much and put my focus into the content of my stream itself instead. If I have fun playing a certain game or doing a certain type of stream, creating a certain type of content then that will translate to people coming in to watch and have fun with the content I create. Also, I have to remind myself or have friends or other streamers to keep me in check to not get complacent and stay consistent.
What are your goals as a streamer?
My goal is to keep on growing the community that we have together along with continuing to enjoy the games we play and the adventures we share whenever there is a stream. The long-term goal of course is to get partnered but leading up to that, I just want to keep on having great streams with my community and hopefully bring in more viewers who enjoy the content I provide. The preparation for that is constantly reminding myself that the community we have together is amazing and there are real genuine people that truly support me and my stream. At the end of the day, it's about what I enjoy doing and sharing with those who are watching my stream.
What is some advice you would give to streamers that just started?
My genuine advice is to create the stream you want and make sure it makes you happy. Don't obsess over the metrics and numbers. Don't worry about your view count or follower count because you will add a lot of pressure on yourself. This will also make you feel like you are not enough if you don't see a number you are satisfied with. Additionally, tell the stories you want, play the games you want, and share the message you want. Since it is your stream, do things that will put a smile on your face and allow your content to do the talking.
Thank you for the interview Jay, Is there anyone you would like to shout out/thank?
No problem! I'm happy to do interviews like this anytime! First off, I'd like to thank you Peter for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts like this on a somewhat more in-depth level! It'd be really hard for me to pick and choose very specific people to shout out and show some love and appreciation to like everyone who has helped me get to this point is so numerous so I'd just like to thank everyone who has come by my stream and dropped a follow. Even just saying hi in chat means the world to me. So thank you all!!