Goodbye, YouTube. Welcome back, Twitch.

I’m gonna try to keep this short, as no one likes a novel of a post, but there’s a fair few things to cover, so bear with me. Let’s get the big part out of the way:

I'm returning to full-time streaming, and no longer focusing on trying to build the YouTube channel.

I know I recently made a vid talking about my excitement for the rest of this year, and that sentiment remains true. But then I looked at the numbers. Now, you’ll hear content creators say “Don’t look at the numbers!” all the time, and that’s true…

…unless this is your job. And that’s the heart of the matter. This is my job, and after 8 months of creating crafting vids on YouTube, I’m nowhere near where I was when live-streaming makers & crafting on Twitch. It could be the algorithm, it could be the changing culture that favors shorts on YouTube. Whatever the case, it doesn’t change the reality:

On Twitch I could pay bills. On YouTube, I can’t. They literally moved the goalpost for becoming a partner shortly after I launched the crafting video series. I've no sponsorship opportunities, and little chance for collaboration.

This Patreon helps, and I mean that. When I say it makes these builds possible, that’s not an exaggeration. Your support pays for materials, tools, minis, etc. Unfortunately, it’s just not at the point where it can pay for the production side of things: rent, electricity bill, internet, and food.

Food’s pretty good, yeah. I’m a fan.

Long story short, while Twitch has problems (and believe me, I know them all too well), but it feels like the work is appreciated there more than on YouTube, at least by my community. I may not have the growth opportunity as a maker on Twitch, but my aspirations have always been small. I want to entertain, teach people how to do the things I do, and keep my lights on.

So that's what I'm going to do, just, y'know, in real time again.

Let me wrap this up by answering any lingering questions, particularly for Patreon supporters.

Q: How will this affect the Patreon?

A: It won't. The only perks being removed are the blooper and early vid perks, since there's no vids. I will have a dedicated section at the end of every stream where those that were listed in video credits will still be listed.

In fact, without the need for a long video production schedule, this gives me more free time to work on other extras here. Illustrations/coloring pages, new wallpapers, and new designs for my Threadless shop, including the desk mats I mentioned in the video and on Twitter.

Q: What will this Patreon be funding if you get paid on Twitch?

A: Same thing it always has: the builds themselves, and better equipment. My payouts on Twitch, when they do happen, will be taking care of the pesky adult price tags that make life possible.

Q: Are you taking down your YouTube channel?

A: Absolutely not. I'm proud of the work I did there. In fact, I'll be setting up a system that will allow me to record the raw footage of crafting from streams to put up on YouTube. They'll just be crafting footage/timelapses set to music, but they will still include links to everything I use.

Q: What do you mean "full time streaming?" What will the schedule be?

A: For now, at least three days a week. After we move and get settled in August, that schedule will me Tuesday through Friday, potentially M-F. As we're changing timezones, I'm looking at the best time in the afternoon to stream that won't overlap my streaming friends too badly.

Q: I don't want to support Twitch.

A: That's not a question, but I hear you. Twitch has made some major missteps, and it's true that they take half of what an Affiliate makes in subs. That being the case, you can support me directly here (for cheaper than a monthly sub on Twitch), or via Ko-fi. Both go into the Lab fund for crafting.

And I think that about covers it. Naturally, if you have any questions (and this is whether or not you're a supporter here), feel free to ask them below, or on Twitter, and I will answer them asap.

I gave it my best shot on YouTube, and I am glad I did. But, freelancer life. We gotta go where we can eat.

Until next time, Horns Up.
X.R.
~The Artificer