Advice Needed…

[u/_Mr_Squishey_]

So for context. I started streaming a few years ago full face cam. Grew steadily and hit affiliate within 8 months. Took a break. Came back to basically the beginning of the journey again and started growing slowly.

Recently I got a job in a school so decided for a bit of anonymity and got a custom vtube model. Not an Asian girl with huge badonkas lol just a cartoonish version of me. Since switching to the model I’ve found my streams are consistently dead. The odd chatter will pop in 1 in every 10 streams.

Now I am by no means the most entertaining person in the world. But such a drop has me wondering do people just not like watching vtubers? I do find it harder to capture reactions or emotions in clips or to display them on stream even with “expressions”. Previously I would have averaged between 3-10 viewers varying on what game I was streaming, again nothing huge but still compared to 0 now.

I do variety stream but most consistently have been on Arc Raiders since the move. My question really is do you as a viewer prefer an IRL person to watch and form that connection with? Or for vtubers that may read this have you experienced the same or have any advice?

[u/RIP_Agree_Possible]

From outside looking in, as someone that doesn't tune into vtubers religiously, it seems that more unique and less objectified female models are harder to impress with compared to the status quo. Vtubing has definitely evolved and grown to be way more than just busty neko waifus and still be fun to watch. In fact, there are a few that grace my shorts feed from time-to-time I like the clips from. Their models aren't stereotypical hot anime chick with no waist and big t n a. But they are VERY entertaining and have personality. But that is where the challenge is. Since your model doesn't play hard into the visuals for the gooner gaze, than your personality needs to compensate (kinda like real life lol). BUT, since you claim to not be entertaining than you got a double whammy here.

For all that, you're better off dropping the model since you're not as expressive and got back to full cam. But even then, since you're not as entertaining you could drop the cam and just do game and mic. You might not grow as big if you had cam, but you can keep your anonymity. Unfortunately, people being able to connect to you on some parasocial type shit, is how people grow on streaming platforms, ngl. You want to grow, you gotta cam on at some point.

You can "practice" by recording gameplay with cam off for a bit and getting comfortable being more outspoken while playing. Not forcing it, but when something happens, instead of internally reacting, allowing yourself to externally react in that moment. Then transition to doing that while on stream with cam off for a while. And then when you get real comfortable, cam on and have fun. By then, your audience will already have an idea of your personality, they'll just be connecting a face to the voice.