People have been watching people do things for centuries.
People have been watching other people do different activities forever.
The Roman Colosseum is confirmation of this, I know this because last July I spent 2 weeks in Italy and what a two weeks it was.
The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators. and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. (wiki)
So, what exactly does this have to do with Twitch and why people watch?
Keep reading to find out…
They Made A Huge A** Building Thousands of Years Ago to Watch People Do Sh*t
Think of all the man power that went into building the Roman Colosseum? All that time and effort and it was built so people could watch other people do things.
Crazy idea huh?
We did it then and we still do it to this very day. We watch sports, music concerts, TV, you name it and we will find a way to watch others do things.
Heck “people watching” in general is kind of fun (admit it you do it too!).
It’s Not Weird To Stream on Twitch
Anytime I tell someone (outside the gaming world) that I live stream myself playing video games for others to watch they immediately say…
- thats weird
- people actually watch you?
- don’t they have better things to do?
- I can’t believe people watch you play video games!
They say this because they’re missing the point that watching Twitch streams is no different than watching your favorite NFL team on Sundays.
Tons of streamers come to me and tell me…
- I’m afraid of losing games on stream…
- I’m not good enough to stream
- What if people tell me I stink at the game?
- No one wants to watch me because I’m not good enough
You don’t have to be “good” to be a great streamer! We tend to get caught up in our niche communities and lose grasp on the entire entity that is Twitch. We lose the bigger vision of what Twitch is and will become.
Stink at a game? Be a great entertainer…
…remember people have been watching people do sh*t for thousands of years…
I Watched My Friends Play Video Games Growing Up
Is that weird? I bet you did it too.
When I was in elementary school I would watch my brother play Madden.
When I was in middle school I would watch my friends play Final Fantasy.
When I was in high school I would watch my friends play Halo.
When I was in college I would watch my friends play Resident Evil.
Why?
It was once again a form of entertainment, but I believe it’s a step beyond just entertainment. Playing video games is often times considered a “lonely” activity.
When I spent all that time watching people play games it wasn’t just for entertainment it was a form of social bonding and there is no difference between that and watching your favorite streamers on Twitch.
You form relationships with the people watching. You work together to get through different game modes. You communicate with them and learn about who they’re as a person.
The connection is real and that is why I believe Twitch is a very special social platform to be apart of.
Think Differently
My challenge to you is to stop looking at your stream as “just a game I stream” and start thinking about how its a form of entertainment. Think about the emotional connections you can create with your audience.
How can you improve your stream in these areas?
Share in the comments below.
Be clear. Be concise.
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