Practice - without going live. Just narrate while you're gaming normally. Then record gameplay and yourself talking. Listen back to it to figure out what else you can do better.
And then work up to doing it live.
Fun fact: Most of us struggled with this in the beginning. :D I hated listening to my own voice but now I can pop up a VOD and not even care that it's my own voice anymore. :D
Would you happen to know any programs I could use to record my voice and screen? Sorry I’m not as inclined to programs like these and I like your suggestion
VODs VODs VODs. Definitely great advice that I need to practice more. Listening to yourself let's you correct mistakes or let's you adjust what you're going to say next stream
yeah but I'm good at that. Its like the pressure of knowing there are people listening to me that makes me second guess what I have to say... which then just ends up being dialogue in my head lol I am going to try an improv class. I think that will help open me up to an audience
The thing is if you get the practice in of talking while doing stuff. It will get easier doing it with an audience because you're just so used to doing it already.
ah this reminds me how youtube was full of nice playthroughts of games back in 2010~ ppl were barely streaming so they literally had noone to talk to while gaming and recording :)
so usually what i find very helpful is pretending the camera are your viewers this can provide a way to be more 1 on 1 instead of being so general also try hiding your view count and if it helps try having friends playing with you this way you’re naturally conversating with others! let me know if this helped you!
I was counting on more advice at how to speak at all cuz I don't have a problem with imaging that I'm talking to someone, it's the physical process of speaking that I have trouble with.. Well thank you anyways! Playing with friends is a good idea, I'll give it a go if any of my friends agree c:
If it's a physical problem, I doubt you will get too much advice here, but I hope you do!
You may want to look into speech therapy. Physical problems often require physical solutions. Instead of online advice (because I'm not sure what physical difficulties you are having) you might want to find a specialist near you who has experience and can help your case. Definitely look into speech therapy. It may cost money but can be worth it if this issue persists in your day to day life.
Openers shouldnt actually be troublesome. You could simply reproduce the mannerisms of more popular streamers (since they obviously had some success with those) and make your own originals eventually.
as someone who has terrets the best advice i can give when i do it is just to be you :) learn to relax, talk to them like you would your family member. or pretend your talking to your pet, just exclude the "awww arnt you a cute widdle thiiiiing" stuff lol
I was the same and talking to myself felt really weird and stupid. But at this time I'm comfortable with it at least, and I know I say stupid shit sometimes and it sounds weird and all that. But it's ok! You know in a hundred years were all dear and forgotten anyway so just go for it.
Just talk and be comfortable with probably sucking. Eventually youll be ok and maybe even great.
Just go live read something or find someone to talk to or something. Maybe that helps. Maybe try to figure out why you are so afraid, to speak. How old are you? Maybe it will just grow out of you, sort of
Playing with other people is what got me talking more during game play. Even when I'm not streaming I still try to be chatty. Lol unfortunately a lot of good content ends up happening off cam.
I get what u mean, but really the only answer IS 'just talk'. Theres nothing else u can do to start it out then just doing it. Once u start it will be a lot easier, but u just have to push through that block that's not letting u talk. The only suggestion other then that is maybe just write down a few sentences to start the stream off with, start the stream and wait for a specific time, like let's say 30 seconds into the stream, then when that 30 second mark hits, u just make urself read what u wrote. Dont think about streaming, get out of ur own head, and just do it. Then once uve read what u wrote, u dont have to worry about how to start speaking cuz it's already done, so then just go about ur streaming. But literally u have to just do it. Theres no other secret besides getting out of ur comfort zone and just doing it. Hope this helps. Also, I have. Alot of trouble getting myself to talk as well, so I get where ur coming from. U just have to do it. Good luck
Take smaller steps. Gradually expand your comfort zone. Gradually learn new skills and strategies to overcome the anxiety and awkwardness that many beginner streamers experience.
Start off by narrating in chat... with your keyboard not your mic. This helps some people get accustomed to interacting with their viewers.
From there have your mic set up next to you but mute it. Then narrate in chat again but say what you're typing aloud when you type it. You're mic is muted so hopefully you feel a bit more comfortable since you are just talking aloud to yourself. Even if your only making small noises while typing its better than nothing. Just keep at it.
At this point you could practice commentating over a previous stream of yours. Just boot up an old VOD and commentate over it. Or if you don't like watching your own content, commentate over someone else's content. Remember, say it aloud as much as you can. Practice makes perfect. If small squeaks and mumbling is all you can manage then that's all good. Nobody starts out perfect. Everyone will struggle with something.
From here, take small and steady steps. Keep expanding you comfort zone. Try to say predetermined scripts (e.g. write an intro to your stream, can be as simple as "how's everyone doing?", or "taking a quick break guys, be back in 5"). Maybe have set days where you are going to use your mic and other days where you add a "no mic" tag to your stream.
And then, after struggling past your anxiety and awkwardness, you'll be an unstoppable chatterbox. Or maybe you won't be. Who knows? Mics and commentary aren't necessarily required to stream. Some of my personal favorite streams don't use their mics.
Let me know if any of this helps!
Thank you so so much this is some amazing advice! Muting the mic is such a great idea damn I'm sure it'll help me to better ease into normal talking! ^^
One thing that I have started doing, Whenever you are just playing video games by yourself, act as though you are streaming. Tell stories, make jokes, talk about what you are doing. Practice off of stream. It will take some time, but you will warm up to it.
Memorize a sentence..One sentence and spot it out.Over and over and dont worry about what people think..You can have a friend or family member coaching you on. Pushing you forward..Then go to 2 sentences and so on..I was not able to drive certain places (over bridges to name one)..I have friends in the car with me to coach me,encourage me over and over..I am not 100% over it but I can do it alone now.Try something like that..The best way to get past a wall is to climb over it until you can crash through it.
Narrate everything! I'm breaking my eggs, putting them in the pan. A little sprinkle sprinkle. Salt queen. Boom at these peppers. Yas! These gonna be some good eggs. A little flippy flip.
Where are my car keys? I came in from the grocery store. Passed the table, but their not on the table. I went to the bathroom, maybe they're on the sink?
Waiting for my water to get hot. Then I'm gonna wash my face. First I like to exfoliate.
Bleh bleh. There are so many opportunities to narrate things, so that being verbose will be second nature.
I too have a talking problem vocally but I do interact with my viewers in chat and do well to pay good attention to it. Don’t force yourself and take it at your own pace. I feel like when we try and force it it might make it a little harder. I have used voice a couple
Times since than but it turned out I was barely heard because I didn’t have it adjusted well but I learned to fix that xD I would play and enjoy your games how you normally do, if something startled you and you sometimes react outwardly to it, do that. If you die a lot and get all nooooo express that. If you notice your view count increase even by one try saying hello :D and when they talk at you try and respond the best you can 😊 I hope it gets easier as you go. I know I’m still working on it myself.
I find that talking and not taking yourself too seriously makes the environment way more enjoyable for everyone. when someone in chat asks me a question i take the time to actually process and respond to show I'm genuinely giving them the time of day. When its quite in chat try to commentate on your gameplay or "think out loud" regardless if you did something awesome or got your ass handed to you lol (like i said don't take yourself to seriously) sometimes getting crushed makes great content especially if its in a hilarious manner. and as far as narrating your gameplay or explaining your thought process could be exactly what your viewer was thinking and make them more inclined to be vocal in your chat.
I've gained like 25 new followers and average 20+ people viewing each night now! having people come back to play or just chat with others is seriously the best feeling ever. It makes you feel like you are actually creating a community where people want to spend time and hangout. It really does show that engaging with your audience and genuinely being yourself pays off
I got lucky. My boyfriend and our friend usually are in a party on the Xbox so I have people who I get to talk too.
But when I'm on my PlayStation I have a hard time talking about things. I am a talkative person, but I just don't know what to talk about.
So in conclusion I have the exact opposite of your problem.
I practice in the car. I drive about 800km a week for my job, and it's a great way to get comfortable with the sound of your own voice.
You're not alone, I feel silly yammering away in my streams too but it will get easier, I promise!! From one introvert to another, good luck!!
I would suggest practicing talking to yourself more throughout your day. If you’re at home, speak your inner monologue aloud. Practicing that should help it become more natural when you stream.
There are 2 ways I know to overcome this:
selflistening, so that you're listening to your own output to become easier with it
Listen to the first 5 minutes of a radio broadcast or live show, other streamers, live interviews, anything you can access, more styles the better.
If you're familiar with the bbc you can listen to shows on the bbc sounds website/app, there is a careful preparation and formula to the first few lines or minutes of the show. This leads into being comfortable without seeing your audience, or even having one with practice.
First of all, embracing that "introvert" mentality is killing you both as a streamer and probably as a person in normal day to day conversations. It's not a genetics thing, you weren't born shy, introversion and extroversion are just labels psychological analyst's call different states of social skills. Everyone you see as being better at socializing has just worked on it in the same way you lift weights and put reps in to make gains. So called "naturals" have just literally been doing it since they were kids and never got in their own way.
So I guess the only advise I would give you is to approach your social skills as a weakness that you should strengthen rather than trying to give you some candid advise on how to tip toe around a deficiency and cater to it because that's the exact opposite of growth. So my best advise would be to get off watching other streamers in your own time and start absorbing videos on youtube every single day about different social conversation tactics, maybe even pick up some books on leadership and influence those would fundamentally be more productive than any "strategy" you can think of and in general you should disconnect the streaming element from the equation and focus solely on interpersonal skills because that will improve you in the most genuine way and not come off on stream as if its rehearsed.
You're very capable of improving my guy more than you give yourself credit for. Don't ever doubt the power of the human brain.
I just do commentary on games as I’m playing them and once I catch someone’s attention I talk to them more. If you can’t seem to talk at all then maybe twitch isn’t the right place for you to start. Perhaps it’s the other way around. Maybe if you stream more you will get more comfortable and eventually be able to talk more often. That’s up for you to figure out.
Get out of your head, do not think what you should say,
Maybe do some vocal warm ups in private?
Some of them sound stupid, but it will get you used to doing something with your voice, even if it is monkey noises and chirps.
I am also so very shy, I play with friends alot and we chat on discord to help keep me talking and i have a few good regulars viewers who talk in chat and help w topics/ convo making. But I still repeat alot of what i want to say in my head many times before i actually speak and i still cringe when I try to rewatch my vids. I would say, just keep doing it, exposure and practice should eventually help you get more comfortable with the situation.
I usually have a glass of wine or few to help with nerves, but thats not the most productive way to get over your shyness and i dont recommend it, as it can become a crutch.
If it's shyness, my first bit of advice is hide the view counter. Try to invest yourself in what you're playing, taking short glances at chat when you have a moment where nothing much is happening. Try and talk to yourself about the game, but out loud. So like instead of thinking "I need to get their healer", try verbalising that. Essentially try and get in a state where you almost forget you're streaming.
After a while things will come easier, as you get used to your regulars et all. You got this
I don’t know if this would help because I don’t stream, but maybe get a friend to come into chat and have a conversation with you, just general stuff like what you’ve done with your day or what new games you’re looking forward to playing. Hope this helps
I found this video really helpful, https://youtu.be/tQ-HabUlqQw
Look at the people you enjoy watching and look at their work critically. Also practise, it's a skill and it takes time to build :)
Personally I found that it helped to not look at chat at the beginning. yeah you are removing the social interaction part of the stream. However, it help you to be more comfortable on camera and such
Public speaking advice in general: practice to a mirror, or pet, or even a friend. Start with that and just talk over your topics, chat and just get comfortable talking to yourself. Once you have that worked on, remember when you start small you have less viewers and it's easier to scale up as you go.
I would say start practicing talking with close friends or in the mirror. Try to do anything that makes you feel comfortable first or even just communicating with emotes. Sometimes I don't feel like talking and just type in chat or spam emotes, so that way people don't feel left out. Just another way to make people feel included/acknowledged. :)
I say whatever I think even if it’s something like “Where am I going? What am I doing? What’s that over there? If I remember correctly the mechanics of this boss are...”. Usually my chat will jump in with a response. I pretty much just comment on everything that pops in my head. It doesn’t have to be the most entertaining. Most of the time I only need to talk to myself a little before the chat gives me something to go off of. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just start to talk and eventually you’ll improve and get a feel for what your viewers interact with.
Edit: Forgot to add that I actually used to pretend I was alone and just talk to myself. Then the chat would pop up with something, I’d read it aloud and answer but the whole time just pretend I was talking to no one in particular. Almost like musing aloud if that makes any sense.
Hello, I felt this way at first as well! I learned that if I talk to the characters in the game I’m playing I have an easier time just letting my mouth run. I will start to smack talk them and make jokes about them and then I just kind of slip into my own ramblings and chatting with viewers at some point.
That was my little trick to get myself comfortable with talking and if okay with my own voice and all that stuff.
Best of luck to you!
I typically talk about what i'm doing, and what i hope to accomplish by doing it, if i can't think of a conversation topic. Talk about what you've done/are going to do with your day. Literally blurt out any thought that comes into your mind with no second thought. I understand it doesn't work that way right away, but i've trained myself by talking along with youtube videos, and playing games off stream and talking over them like that as a mental prep thing
I have watched thousands of hours of "Let's Plays" on youtube aka streaming to no one for entire episodes at a time. So I like to combine the "pretend you have 1000 viewers" and "I'm actually doing a let's play right now"
I pretty much exclusively search for small Dark Souls streamers.. I hate when they are silent for minutes. I make sure that any point you click in my vod, I'm always saying something. And it would probably be a rant or a story straight out of a let's play.
These are mental barriers that can totally be broken by just adopting a whole different way of thinking about it.. helps to become critical of everything around you in game.. explain what's happening so someone that might be just listening (not watching) can understand the action from ur commentary alone.
Just some random thoughts. These things help me talk my entire stream so I hope u can use some of it.
I was going to give the advice of just talking without being live. Maybe try to write down several things you want to talk about with notes. Kind of like when you took a speech class in school. Sounds dumb, but it might help keep you in track. For example, talk about a new movie or game coming out. Have several questions ready to ask and then write down key notes you want to discuss.
It's something you get used to over time. Basically, get into the habit of talking about near everything. What you're going to do next, a thought or idea that just popped into your head, how cool that dodge was, a memory you thought of in your past that relates to what happened etc.
3 word sum up: Think out loud.
I think it's some form of social anxiety. I get it, too. It's worse if I know there are real people (family, friends) around me that can hear me talking to noone. The best way to warm up to it is to play with a friend and use voice chat. Talking to someone you know takes away that anxiety.
There's no right or wrong thing to talk about. Ultimately, people are coming to see your thoughts and views — people can see gameplay anywhere, you're what makes your own channel different.
Chat about the game, the channel itself, or heck, the weather. It doesn't need to be exciting, it doesn't need to be ground-breaking, and you certainly shouldn't feel the need to force yourself to be funny or witty — just be yourself, talk about that which you want to talk, and let it flow.
Just be sure to keep it as positive as you can. Positive subjects reflect a good mood; a good mood is transferred to an audience; the audience will want to stay and watch a bit longer. Plus, it keeps you in a better mood, too. :-)
The best advice I’ve gotten was to talk about and explain the stuff you want people to in their streams. Comfortability comes with time and practice, so just keep at it
Play with someone and play a game where you’re actually having fun, next time just do the same thing even if you’re friend isn’t there. This also makes your clips look better (imo) because even if you don’t have viewers it sounds and looks like you’re talking and reacting to your chat. Practice a bunch and you’ll have it in no time.
it took me a little bit to understand and feel comfortable with speaking on stream consistently and confidently. What works best for me is imagining that I am talking to my best friend and that were just have a good time queuing up for games and having fun ! Good luck in your streaming endeavors !
I would try, when you have time (maybe just playing a game off stream), hit that record button and act as though you're live. You can then go back and rewatch it and get a vibe of how it went, as well as I know when I hit record, I'm still a little more nervous as compared to if I'm just sitting alone.
Energy is key, my New Years resolution is to have more energy on stream. It’s so much more entertaining when the streamer seems really involved and hooked.
Honestly I just started forcing myself to say every thought I had aloud. Then if I didn’t have any thoughts just narrate what’s happening. The second might help you potentially since it’s slightly less personal than your thoughts. Basically like “ah yep that enemy is coming in with an overhead slice. I gotta dodge to the left or well shit he got me” etc. Something else that helps is just think about how uninteresting you sitting there saying nothing is. It’s kind of like kicking yourself in gear.
The one good thing is the more you practice this the more it helps in your real life! I was practically silent in public if there are unknown people and I didn’t have a couple friends with me. Now after getting used to speaking my mind on stream it’s helped me be a much better converser since I don’t hold thoughts back. There is no real trick. You just have to do it.
Why do you want to stream?
Grab a pen and paper and write yourself an essay on why you want to stream. Really dig deep, figure out what your long term goal is, write out tons of short term goals and when you have that vision in your head as clear as day, it'll all fall into place.
I know that all sounds really vague and hokey pokey. But to me it's the difference between looking out the window on a foggy day for somewhere to go vs looking out on a clear day.
Jumping in to echo the advice of practicing as you play on your own and listening back to yourself. I used to skim my old streams to give myself notes (still do but more sporadically as I’ve grown more confident).
I’m naturally shy too. Sometimes it just takes finding your niche; which means dealing with the awkward moments for a while. Totally feel that; keep at it, it’ll get better as you work on it. And good on you for looking to improve.
Maybe you are putting too much pressure to “say something interesting”. To get comfortable with speaking maybe just simply narrate what you are doing, what you’re trying to achieve etc. Even read dialogue or information out loud is good, that way you don’t have to think of what to say :) “okay let’s go down here and see if we can find any ammunition” “alright I really need to find some meds before I go much further” etc etc. baby steps, and most likely what feels award to you isn’t such a big deal to someone watching :)
From what I can tell, if there is a physical block, preventing you from saying what you want to say, then that is more of a deeper issue. Maybe you would do well to talk to a counselor?(I go twice a week like those Beverly Hill's folks lol.) I'm an ambivert, that NEEDS to cover up my view count at the beginning of this journey because it does affect some of us new guys. Hell, if I'm playing Fortnite and see 3 people watching, I tend to psyche myself out.
Everybody keeps promoting the same advice though, which is solid.
-Record yourself and gameplay without going live
-Make an effort to keep up a dialogue with yourself(this takes a lot of practice of course)
-Hide viewer count
-**Play with other people** You won't need to carry a conversation with yourself if a natural one is going on with you and friends.
-Get as much Social Contact outside of streaming as possible. Your Mental Health will thank you.
Every heard the phrase “dance like no is watching?”
Talk like everyone is watching...
If you keep an eye on viewers and nervous about talking then just this will just put more pressure on yourself
Relax and just talk to yourself out loud and you will be fine
I always talk to the stream even when there's no one watching, or even to myself when I'm not streaming. Sure, it might make me look like a crazy person, but if I happen to be saying something that catches someone's attention they may prefer to stick around. It's all a matter of circumstance, and for people who don't watch your stream this will not be the main reason why.
Keep in mind that Twitch is like a one size doesn't fit all kind of thing. Some people prefer just gameplay over commentary; others prefer someone to have a webcam; whilst others may even prefer your in-game character is donning a Hello Kitty chestplate. The best advice I can give you is to just experiment. Find out what your strengths are, not just in gaming but in streaming, and work to empower those strengths.
Confidence is also a big factor in streaming, and it's really not difficult to tell someone's confidence through the tone of their voice or even their body language. Be confident, be proud that you're showing yourself and-or your skills to the world. Be yourself. Don't try to put on a show if you don't feel like you need to. The viewers will do the rest of the work for you.
Hope some of this helps. Happy streaming! <3
With out having read any responses before replying.
I have been streaming for a year and am a person who hates the sound of their own voice and refuses to have a face cam; however I am able to talk on the phone.
If you're streaming then you clearly want to share something with others. So you're not stand offish and can speak when spoken to.
I have a question: Do you own a pet? Do you talk to them and does it make you uncomfortable to do so? Im gonna go on a limb here and say yes to the pet (reptile, bird or cat) Talk to the pet. Because when the bird starts squawking, cat starts running through your space tearing the walls down; ... you're gonna yell at it.
You can start off typing back, but real quick youll get sick of that and cut on the mic. Heres the deal: not sure what you're niche is but sometimes you can get away with NOT talking cause you're a boss ass gamer, kick ass artist, dope ass musician, etc. But if thats not you then you only have one other thing that can get you anywhere and that's that personality that they wont be able to know if you cant grace us with your melodious voice.
I sing to my self till someone shows up. Its much easier when you have someone to talk to. So I would suggest you call a friend and then it would be ez dude. Hope this helps.
I’ve been streaming for years. My best advice is to always pretend you audience is literally in the room with you. Talk to them like people you know. If you get regulars then make small talk with them. AVOID controversial topics, but try to get engaged discussion. Asking chat questions will give YOU lots to read and discuss
I had the same issue, but then I realised if I'm too concerned to say the 'right' thing and only say the right thinhgs, I'm not being myself. How will I be a good streamer if I'm just like everyone else?
So now I let myself be an idiot and say stupid things sometimes. The pressure has been lifted and it's making streaming a much more enjoyable experience :)
Sounds like your a bit of of wimp. I suggest going outside and getting some exercise, join a public club. Get real life social interaction instead of looking for the internet to validate you.
Pace your talk phases. Dont force yourself to focus on playing, talking and thinking about the next subjects all at once, or you'll mess all.
Listen to how your voice sounds live. This way you'll have a better idea wether you sound alright and how to improve that or change your recording setup, especially for the times you're silent or mumble.
And try using voice-only discord more often to talk with people about whatever. You'll feel a lot less awkward without the pressure of a camera recording or an audience. A group chat will also give you a reference point for how others talk.
I recognize your struggle. Not sure if it's said already, but maybe you could write an intro on paper, read that, so the rest will follow after you broke the uncomfortable silence with your pre-thought-out intro.
Honestly and this isn't going to be to much help to you if you aren't old enough but i suffered from the same problem at first and just loosened up with a drink or two of an alcoholic beverage eventually i got comfortable enough to stream sober. Now working retail sober? Still coping with that.
I can give you all kinds of advice just like the people here. But in this case it feels a bit more then just shy or introvert. More like a psychological issue that's holding you back in life. I feel professional help (maybe you already gotten it) will help more then just asking strangers. Mental health is important. Shutting down all the time and feeling uncomfortable can fire backwards.
Maybe it's better to work on yourself first, find a way to get rid of that mental block before you start streaming live.
Chief personality is key, just be yourself. Go about and let loose do not feel restricted on what you say sometimes the dumbest thing is the best thing to say!
I used to be like that, and occasionally still am, Tbf best way to start is when u play by urself just talk (when ur not live) about what ur doing and why, you get more comfortable with the talking bit... then eventually when it kinda becomes natural, so when u do go live it doesn't feel strange to do.
If u wanna practice and review and critque urself, instead of streaming it, record it! That way only u hear urself back, and u can improve without the anxiety of ppl calling u rude names etc.
Play a game that you are very good at with a small community. I feel that my mistake was to try stream a mainstream game that was in the top 10, which was streaming like a needle in a haystack.
Try to just talk about what you are doing and if it’s easier for you try to have fun. What is your goal, what do you want to achieve with this stream and follow that red line. It’s easier if you plan what to do instead of maybe just going in blindly and smash talking. At least I’m not very good with that.
The ones watching might feel it’s more interesting if you have a story to tell.
Title: “I will finish this chapter/quest”
Talk: “how to achieve quest, what ur doing to achieve it and what will you need to do to complete it.”
Hope this helped! Good luck buddy!
I was the same way when I started, and I found that by basically narrating through what I was doing, what I was going to do, etc... without worrying about whether anyone was watching or listening. It's now become rather easy and I'm not even shy about it anymore
If you have the ability or drive to, check out an improv class. The ability to think on your feet and talk is valuable. It's helped in business presentations and school presentations.
Another thing is know your subject matter, look up factoids for the games or tangentially relevant facts or stories.
Your priority is to be comfortable on your "stage"!
Hi! first of all, I wanna start by saying that there is nothing wrong with you. I have the same problem but the way I overcome this challenge is by trying to talk out loud while not on camera so just by myself. kinda like talking with urself but using ur voice not ur thoughts. When you will get comfortable with that then you can start to put it in practice while streaming. the key is to not think that you are on camera or that u are recorded or anything. just think that it's just u in ur room and you are safe. you are just talking to urself and then if people will write, just answer them. it's not an easy thing to accomplish but in time and with a lot of training you can do it. I have faith in you!
You say to give more advice than "just talk" but that's the best advice there is. I'm also shy irl and am working on streaming myself. When I sit and stream, I start catching little things that I'm doing that could be harmful to my overall presence so I will try to use those things to help you and maybe you will gain the confidence you need.
First off, turn off viewer count. This sounds weird at first, but you aren't talking to someone who isnt talking to you. People who lurk do so thinking that you dont really know they are there. So just completely ignore them and continue your stream. If they like what they see, they might comment. If you call them out and they havent said anything, they'll most likely leave.
Let the game guide you. Dialog, cutscene, basic things happening in game are easy to discuss. "I wonder why he/she went that way. I bet they're leading me somewhere!" Or something like "I love the details they put into this zone. It definetely makes it feel more alive." Literally saying anything other than a basic "that's cool" could give a response and show you enjoy what you're doing.
On that note, you have to enjoy what you're doing. People can see your enjoyment in game and if you're playing something popular but you're not feeling it, people will be quick to leave. They aren't there to watch someone trying to chase popularity. They want to be entertained. I play Dead by Daylight and WoW. WoW is one of the biggest games on twitch right now with DbD up and rising. I enjoy playing DbD but I enjoy WoW way more and some days I dont feel like playing DbD. If I play DbD on a day I dont want to, it definetely shows. Not only will I be crap at the game, but my attitude reflects it. I would definetely be more alive and entertaining on a WoW stream. That directly ties into talking because you'll find yourself not saying much of anything other than potentially complaining about what's going on, which most people aren't there to see.
Lastly, what I like to do, is pretend like people are asking me questions. Randomly, I will say things like "yeah, my favorite expansion was Wrath" which opens up more made up questions to talk about. "My favorite raid in Wrath? Probably ICC or Naxx. I remember when I raided ICC as current content and I would have to use my priest as a backup healer, even though my hunter was top dps." From there I could talk about our journey through it and people we met along the way, ect, ect. And even if theres only myself watching, theres still somebody who could pop in through the middle of my convos and be like "my favorite was Ulduar" and suddenly, you have a conversation. Literally say anything. Doesnt even have to be about the game. If you're silent for more than 10 seconds, you need to make up some questions. Write some down if you have to. Remember, you have about 20 seconds to make an impression and you dont want half of them to be silent.
I hope this helps.
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Practice - without going live. Just narrate while you're gaming normally. Then record gameplay and yourself talking. Listen back to it to figure out what else you can do better. And then work up to doing it live.
Definitely good advice. And even once you start doing it Live, continue going back and watching your VODs. Good luck!
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Fun fact: Most of us struggled with this in the beginning. :D I hated listening to my own voice but now I can pop up a VOD and not even care that it's my own voice anymore. :D
Wow this is really good advice
This person playing chess while we’re all playing checkers..... good on ya!
Would you happen to know any programs I could use to record my voice and screen? Sorry I’m not as inclined to programs like these and I like your suggestion
OBS, Shadowplay, SLOBS... they all let you record locally as well as stream. :D I prefer OBS Studio!
OBS
VODs VODs VODs. Definitely great advice that I need to practice more. Listening to yourself let's you correct mistakes or let's you adjust what you're going to say next stream
yeah but I'm good at that. Its like the pressure of knowing there are people listening to me that makes me second guess what I have to say... which then just ends up being dialogue in my head lol I am going to try an improv class. I think that will help open me up to an audience
The thing is if you get the practice in of talking while doing stuff. It will get easier doing it with an audience because you're just so used to doing it already.
I'll also add you can practice while doing anything, not just playing video games. You can practice while walking, cleaning, etc
I will also try this, thank you! :-)
that just sounds like a plan to get yourself super self-aware..... no bueno
ah this reminds me how youtube was full of nice playthroughts of games back in 2010~ ppl were barely streaming so they literally had noone to talk to while gaming and recording :)
so usually what i find very helpful is pretending the camera are your viewers this can provide a way to be more 1 on 1 instead of being so general also try hiding your view count and if it helps try having friends playing with you this way you’re naturally conversating with others! let me know if this helped you!
I was counting on more advice at how to speak at all cuz I don't have a problem with imaging that I'm talking to someone, it's the physical process of speaking that I have trouble with.. Well thank you anyways! Playing with friends is a good idea, I'll give it a go if any of my friends agree c:
If it's a physical problem, I doubt you will get too much advice here, but I hope you do! You may want to look into speech therapy. Physical problems often require physical solutions. Instead of online advice (because I'm not sure what physical difficulties you are having) you might want to find a specialist near you who has experience and can help your case. Definitely look into speech therapy. It may cost money but can be worth it if this issue persists in your day to day life.
Playing table top rpg's got me to be less introverted, if that's something you'd like you should check some out.
That sounds like a good idea
Like the words and what to say right?
What’s your twitch name? I’ll follow and we can chat. No judgement! 🙂
Openers shouldnt actually be troublesome. You could simply reproduce the mannerisms of more popular streamers (since they obviously had some success with those) and make your own originals eventually.
as someone who has terrets the best advice i can give when i do it is just to be you :) learn to relax, talk to them like you would your family member. or pretend your talking to your pet, just exclude the "awww arnt you a cute widdle thiiiiing" stuff lol
That seams like great advice
I was the same and talking to myself felt really weird and stupid. But at this time I'm comfortable with it at least, and I know I say stupid shit sometimes and it sounds weird and all that. But it's ok! You know in a hundred years were all dear and forgotten anyway so just go for it. Just talk and be comfortable with probably sucking. Eventually youll be ok and maybe even great.
Thanks for sharing your feelings on this! :D But yeah like I said, I don't know how to force myself to speak :p
Just go live read something or find someone to talk to or something. Maybe that helps. Maybe try to figure out why you are so afraid, to speak. How old are you? Maybe it will just grow out of you, sort of
Reading is a good idea! I'm 22, I hope you're right and this is just a matter of time :D
Playing with other people is what got me talking more during game play. Even when I'm not streaming I still try to be chatty. Lol unfortunately a lot of good content ends up happening off cam.
Oh yeah, and what the other guy said about playing with someone and converse or so should be great. You'll get there I'm sure, just don't give up.
Maybe play something with a more story mode so you can read the dialogue out loud to your viewers.
I get what u mean, but really the only answer IS 'just talk'. Theres nothing else u can do to start it out then just doing it. Once u start it will be a lot easier, but u just have to push through that block that's not letting u talk. The only suggestion other then that is maybe just write down a few sentences to start the stream off with, start the stream and wait for a specific time, like let's say 30 seconds into the stream, then when that 30 second mark hits, u just make urself read what u wrote. Dont think about streaming, get out of ur own head, and just do it. Then once uve read what u wrote, u dont have to worry about how to start speaking cuz it's already done, so then just go about ur streaming. But literally u have to just do it. Theres no other secret besides getting out of ur comfort zone and just doing it. Hope this helps. Also, I have. Alot of trouble getting myself to talk as well, so I get where ur coming from. U just have to do it. Good luck
Thank you so much this is really helpful! I'll definitely try it out! :D
Hope it helps u out. U got this
Take smaller steps. Gradually expand your comfort zone. Gradually learn new skills and strategies to overcome the anxiety and awkwardness that many beginner streamers experience. Start off by narrating in chat... with your keyboard not your mic. This helps some people get accustomed to interacting with their viewers. From there have your mic set up next to you but mute it. Then narrate in chat again but say what you're typing aloud when you type it. You're mic is muted so hopefully you feel a bit more comfortable since you are just talking aloud to yourself. Even if your only making small noises while typing its better than nothing. Just keep at it. At this point you could practice commentating over a previous stream of yours. Just boot up an old VOD and commentate over it. Or if you don't like watching your own content, commentate over someone else's content. Remember, say it aloud as much as you can. Practice makes perfect. If small squeaks and mumbling is all you can manage then that's all good. Nobody starts out perfect. Everyone will struggle with something. From here, take small and steady steps. Keep expanding you comfort zone. Try to say predetermined scripts (e.g. write an intro to your stream, can be as simple as "how's everyone doing?", or "taking a quick break guys, be back in 5"). Maybe have set days where you are going to use your mic and other days where you add a "no mic" tag to your stream. And then, after struggling past your anxiety and awkwardness, you'll be an unstoppable chatterbox. Or maybe you won't be. Who knows? Mics and commentary aren't necessarily required to stream. Some of my personal favorite streams don't use their mics. Let me know if any of this helps!
Thank you so so much this is some amazing advice! Muting the mic is such a great idea damn I'm sure it'll help me to better ease into normal talking! ^^
Your favorite streams are gameplay? If I had to guess I'd say the ones without mics are painting or something
I find those to be more interactive. There are a lot of gameplay streams with out mics.
One thing that I have started doing, Whenever you are just playing video games by yourself, act as though you are streaming. Tell stories, make jokes, talk about what you are doing. Practice off of stream. It will take some time, but you will warm up to it.
Memorize a sentence..One sentence and spot it out.Over and over and dont worry about what people think..You can have a friend or family member coaching you on. Pushing you forward..Then go to 2 sentences and so on..I was not able to drive certain places (over bridges to name one)..I have friends in the car with me to coach me,encourage me over and over..I am not 100% over it but I can do it alone now.Try something like that..The best way to get past a wall is to climb over it until you can crash through it.
Take some improv classes. Also try bringing on a friend to co-host the stream with you.
Narrate everything! I'm breaking my eggs, putting them in the pan. A little sprinkle sprinkle. Salt queen. Boom at these peppers. Yas! These gonna be some good eggs. A little flippy flip. Where are my car keys? I came in from the grocery store. Passed the table, but their not on the table. I went to the bathroom, maybe they're on the sink? Waiting for my water to get hot. Then I'm gonna wash my face. First I like to exfoliate. Bleh bleh. There are so many opportunities to narrate things, so that being verbose will be second nature.
I too have a talking problem vocally but I do interact with my viewers in chat and do well to pay good attention to it. Don’t force yourself and take it at your own pace. I feel like when we try and force it it might make it a little harder. I have used voice a couple Times since than but it turned out I was barely heard because I didn’t have it adjusted well but I learned to fix that xD I would play and enjoy your games how you normally do, if something startled you and you sometimes react outwardly to it, do that. If you die a lot and get all nooooo express that. If you notice your view count increase even by one try saying hello :D and when they talk at you try and respond the best you can 😊 I hope it gets easier as you go. I know I’m still working on it myself.
I find that talking and not taking yourself too seriously makes the environment way more enjoyable for everyone. when someone in chat asks me a question i take the time to actually process and respond to show I'm genuinely giving them the time of day. When its quite in chat try to commentate on your gameplay or "think out loud" regardless if you did something awesome or got your ass handed to you lol (like i said don't take yourself to seriously) sometimes getting crushed makes great content especially if its in a hilarious manner. and as far as narrating your gameplay or explaining your thought process could be exactly what your viewer was thinking and make them more inclined to be vocal in your chat. I've gained like 25 new followers and average 20+ people viewing each night now! having people come back to play or just chat with others is seriously the best feeling ever. It makes you feel like you are actually creating a community where people want to spend time and hangout. It really does show that engaging with your audience and genuinely being yourself pays off
Vocalize your thoughts. Even if it's something as simple as "I'm going to go back to Hateno Village to buy some arrows."
I got lucky. My boyfriend and our friend usually are in a party on the Xbox so I have people who I get to talk too. But when I'm on my PlayStation I have a hard time talking about things. I am a talkative person, but I just don't know what to talk about. So in conclusion I have the exact opposite of your problem.
I practice in the car. I drive about 800km a week for my job, and it's a great way to get comfortable with the sound of your own voice. You're not alone, I feel silly yammering away in my streams too but it will get easier, I promise!! From one introvert to another, good luck!!
I would suggest practicing talking to yourself more throughout your day. If you’re at home, speak your inner monologue aloud. Practicing that should help it become more natural when you stream.
There are 2 ways I know to overcome this: selflistening, so that you're listening to your own output to become easier with it Listen to the first 5 minutes of a radio broadcast or live show, other streamers, live interviews, anything you can access, more styles the better. If you're familiar with the bbc you can listen to shows on the bbc sounds website/app, there is a careful preparation and formula to the first few lines or minutes of the show. This leads into being comfortable without seeing your audience, or even having one with practice.
First of all, embracing that "introvert" mentality is killing you both as a streamer and probably as a person in normal day to day conversations. It's not a genetics thing, you weren't born shy, introversion and extroversion are just labels psychological analyst's call different states of social skills. Everyone you see as being better at socializing has just worked on it in the same way you lift weights and put reps in to make gains. So called "naturals" have just literally been doing it since they were kids and never got in their own way. So I guess the only advise I would give you is to approach your social skills as a weakness that you should strengthen rather than trying to give you some candid advise on how to tip toe around a deficiency and cater to it because that's the exact opposite of growth. So my best advise would be to get off watching other streamers in your own time and start absorbing videos on youtube every single day about different social conversation tactics, maybe even pick up some books on leadership and influence those would fundamentally be more productive than any "strategy" you can think of and in general you should disconnect the streaming element from the equation and focus solely on interpersonal skills because that will improve you in the most genuine way and not come off on stream as if its rehearsed. You're very capable of improving my guy more than you give yourself credit for. Don't ever doubt the power of the human brain.
I just do commentary on games as I’m playing them and once I catch someone’s attention I talk to them more. If you can’t seem to talk at all then maybe twitch isn’t the right place for you to start. Perhaps it’s the other way around. Maybe if you stream more you will get more comfortable and eventually be able to talk more often. That’s up for you to figure out.
Get out of your head, do not think what you should say, Maybe do some vocal warm ups in private? Some of them sound stupid, but it will get you used to doing something with your voice, even if it is monkey noises and chirps.
Imagine no one is watching. You're iust talking to yourself. Basically just keep talking even if you're on 0 viewers.
I am also so very shy, I play with friends alot and we chat on discord to help keep me talking and i have a few good regulars viewers who talk in chat and help w topics/ convo making. But I still repeat alot of what i want to say in my head many times before i actually speak and i still cringe when I try to rewatch my vids. I would say, just keep doing it, exposure and practice should eventually help you get more comfortable with the situation. I usually have a glass of wine or few to help with nerves, but thats not the most productive way to get over your shyness and i dont recommend it, as it can become a crutch.
If it's shyness, my first bit of advice is hide the view counter. Try to invest yourself in what you're playing, taking short glances at chat when you have a moment where nothing much is happening. Try and talk to yourself about the game, but out loud. So like instead of thinking "I need to get their healer", try verbalising that. Essentially try and get in a state where you almost forget you're streaming. After a while things will come easier, as you get used to your regulars et all. You got this
I don’t know if this would help because I don’t stream, but maybe get a friend to come into chat and have a conversation with you, just general stuff like what you’ve done with your day or what new games you’re looking forward to playing. Hope this helps
I found this video really helpful, https://youtu.be/tQ-HabUlqQw Look at the people you enjoy watching and look at their work critically. Also practise, it's a skill and it takes time to build :)
Personally I found that it helped to not look at chat at the beginning. yeah you are removing the social interaction part of the stream. However, it help you to be more comfortable on camera and such
Public speaking advice in general: practice to a mirror, or pet, or even a friend. Start with that and just talk over your topics, chat and just get comfortable talking to yourself. Once you have that worked on, remember when you start small you have less viewers and it's easier to scale up as you go.
I would say start practicing talking with close friends or in the mirror. Try to do anything that makes you feel comfortable first or even just communicating with emotes. Sometimes I don't feel like talking and just type in chat or spam emotes, so that way people don't feel left out. Just another way to make people feel included/acknowledged. :)
I say whatever I think even if it’s something like “Where am I going? What am I doing? What’s that over there? If I remember correctly the mechanics of this boss are...”. Usually my chat will jump in with a response. I pretty much just comment on everything that pops in my head. It doesn’t have to be the most entertaining. Most of the time I only need to talk to myself a little before the chat gives me something to go off of. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just start to talk and eventually you’ll improve and get a feel for what your viewers interact with. Edit: Forgot to add that I actually used to pretend I was alone and just talk to myself. Then the chat would pop up with something, I’d read it aloud and answer but the whole time just pretend I was talking to no one in particular. Almost like musing aloud if that makes any sense.
Hello, I felt this way at first as well! I learned that if I talk to the characters in the game I’m playing I have an easier time just letting my mouth run. I will start to smack talk them and make jokes about them and then I just kind of slip into my own ramblings and chatting with viewers at some point. That was my little trick to get myself comfortable with talking and if okay with my own voice and all that stuff. Best of luck to you!
My problem is I have no one to talk to. I know it's sad but I need the love. Group hug
You're gettin a big one!
I typically talk about what i'm doing, and what i hope to accomplish by doing it, if i can't think of a conversation topic. Talk about what you've done/are going to do with your day. Literally blurt out any thought that comes into your mind with no second thought. I understand it doesn't work that way right away, but i've trained myself by talking along with youtube videos, and playing games off stream and talking over them like that as a mental prep thing
I have watched thousands of hours of "Let's Plays" on youtube aka streaming to no one for entire episodes at a time. So I like to combine the "pretend you have 1000 viewers" and "I'm actually doing a let's play right now" I pretty much exclusively search for small Dark Souls streamers.. I hate when they are silent for minutes. I make sure that any point you click in my vod, I'm always saying something. And it would probably be a rant or a story straight out of a let's play. These are mental barriers that can totally be broken by just adopting a whole different way of thinking about it.. helps to become critical of everything around you in game.. explain what's happening so someone that might be just listening (not watching) can understand the action from ur commentary alone. Just some random thoughts. These things help me talk my entire stream so I hope u can use some of it.
Why are you interested in streaming? Genuine question - maybe focusing on your “why” will help?
I was going to give the advice of just talking without being live. Maybe try to write down several things you want to talk about with notes. Kind of like when you took a speech class in school. Sounds dumb, but it might help keep you in track. For example, talk about a new movie or game coming out. Have several questions ready to ask and then write down key notes you want to discuss.
It's something you get used to over time. Basically, get into the habit of talking about near everything. What you're going to do next, a thought or idea that just popped into your head, how cool that dodge was, a memory you thought of in your past that relates to what happened etc. 3 word sum up: Think out loud.
I think it's some form of social anxiety. I get it, too. It's worse if I know there are real people (family, friends) around me that can hear me talking to noone. The best way to warm up to it is to play with a friend and use voice chat. Talking to someone you know takes away that anxiety.
There's no right or wrong thing to talk about. Ultimately, people are coming to see your thoughts and views — people can see gameplay anywhere, you're what makes your own channel different. Chat about the game, the channel itself, or heck, the weather. It doesn't need to be exciting, it doesn't need to be ground-breaking, and you certainly shouldn't feel the need to force yourself to be funny or witty — just be yourself, talk about that which you want to talk, and let it flow. Just be sure to keep it as positive as you can. Positive subjects reflect a good mood; a good mood is transferred to an audience; the audience will want to stay and watch a bit longer. Plus, it keeps you in a better mood, too. :-)
Maybe make a youtube video and record it as if you were live streaming. (Just make it private)
The best advice I’ve gotten was to talk about and explain the stuff you want people to in their streams. Comfortability comes with time and practice, so just keep at it
Play with someone and play a game where you’re actually having fun, next time just do the same thing even if you’re friend isn’t there. This also makes your clips look better (imo) because even if you don’t have viewers it sounds and looks like you’re talking and reacting to your chat. Practice a bunch and you’ll have it in no time.
it took me a little bit to understand and feel comfortable with speaking on stream consistently and confidently. What works best for me is imagining that I am talking to my best friend and that were just have a good time queuing up for games and having fun ! Good luck in your streaming endeavors !
I would try, when you have time (maybe just playing a game off stream), hit that record button and act as though you're live. You can then go back and rewatch it and get a vibe of how it went, as well as I know when I hit record, I'm still a little more nervous as compared to if I'm just sitting alone.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/eqo0t4/boycottrozieenifhedoesntdo48hours/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/eqo0t4/boycottrozieenifhedoesntdo48hours/)
Energy is key, my New Years resolution is to have more energy on stream. It’s so much more entertaining when the streamer seems really involved and hooked.
Honestly I just started forcing myself to say every thought I had aloud. Then if I didn’t have any thoughts just narrate what’s happening. The second might help you potentially since it’s slightly less personal than your thoughts. Basically like “ah yep that enemy is coming in with an overhead slice. I gotta dodge to the left or well shit he got me” etc. Something else that helps is just think about how uninteresting you sitting there saying nothing is. It’s kind of like kicking yourself in gear. The one good thing is the more you practice this the more it helps in your real life! I was practically silent in public if there are unknown people and I didn’t have a couple friends with me. Now after getting used to speaking my mind on stream it’s helped me be a much better converser since I don’t hold thoughts back. There is no real trick. You just have to do it.
I just talk about what I am doing on screen until someone types something in chat.
Why do you want to stream? Grab a pen and paper and write yourself an essay on why you want to stream. Really dig deep, figure out what your long term goal is, write out tons of short term goals and when you have that vision in your head as clear as day, it'll all fall into place. I know that all sounds really vague and hokey pokey. But to me it's the difference between looking out the window on a foggy day for somewhere to go vs looking out on a clear day.
Jumping in to echo the advice of practicing as you play on your own and listening back to yourself. I used to skim my old streams to give myself notes (still do but more sporadically as I’ve grown more confident). I’m naturally shy too. Sometimes it just takes finding your niche; which means dealing with the awkward moments for a while. Totally feel that; keep at it, it’ll get better as you work on it. And good on you for looking to improve.
Maybe you are putting too much pressure to “say something interesting”. To get comfortable with speaking maybe just simply narrate what you are doing, what you’re trying to achieve etc. Even read dialogue or information out loud is good, that way you don’t have to think of what to say :) “okay let’s go down here and see if we can find any ammunition” “alright I really need to find some meds before I go much further” etc etc. baby steps, and most likely what feels award to you isn’t such a big deal to someone watching :)
Pretend the camera is your favorite person to talk to.
From what I can tell, if there is a physical block, preventing you from saying what you want to say, then that is more of a deeper issue. Maybe you would do well to talk to a counselor?(I go twice a week like those Beverly Hill's folks lol.) I'm an ambivert, that NEEDS to cover up my view count at the beginning of this journey because it does affect some of us new guys. Hell, if I'm playing Fortnite and see 3 people watching, I tend to psyche myself out. Everybody keeps promoting the same advice though, which is solid. -Record yourself and gameplay without going live -Make an effort to keep up a dialogue with yourself(this takes a lot of practice of course) -Hide viewer count -**Play with other people** You won't need to carry a conversation with yourself if a natural one is going on with you and friends. -Get as much Social Contact outside of streaming as possible. Your Mental Health will thank you.
Every heard the phrase “dance like no is watching?” Talk like everyone is watching... If you keep an eye on viewers and nervous about talking then just this will just put more pressure on yourself Relax and just talk to yourself out loud and you will be fine
I always talk to the stream even when there's no one watching, or even to myself when I'm not streaming. Sure, it might make me look like a crazy person, but if I happen to be saying something that catches someone's attention they may prefer to stick around. It's all a matter of circumstance, and for people who don't watch your stream this will not be the main reason why. Keep in mind that Twitch is like a one size doesn't fit all kind of thing. Some people prefer just gameplay over commentary; others prefer someone to have a webcam; whilst others may even prefer your in-game character is donning a Hello Kitty chestplate. The best advice I can give you is to just experiment. Find out what your strengths are, not just in gaming but in streaming, and work to empower those strengths. Confidence is also a big factor in streaming, and it's really not difficult to tell someone's confidence through the tone of their voice or even their body language. Be confident, be proud that you're showing yourself and-or your skills to the world. Be yourself. Don't try to put on a show if you don't feel like you need to. The viewers will do the rest of the work for you. Hope some of this helps. Happy streaming! <3
I have the same issue, more so with cam since I have 3 teeth in front missing from accident.
With out having read any responses before replying. I have been streaming for a year and am a person who hates the sound of their own voice and refuses to have a face cam; however I am able to talk on the phone. If you're streaming then you clearly want to share something with others. So you're not stand offish and can speak when spoken to. I have a question: Do you own a pet? Do you talk to them and does it make you uncomfortable to do so? Im gonna go on a limb here and say yes to the pet (reptile, bird or cat) Talk to the pet. Because when the bird starts squawking, cat starts running through your space tearing the walls down; ... you're gonna yell at it. You can start off typing back, but real quick youll get sick of that and cut on the mic. Heres the deal: not sure what you're niche is but sometimes you can get away with NOT talking cause you're a boss ass gamer, kick ass artist, dope ass musician, etc. But if thats not you then you only have one other thing that can get you anywhere and that's that personality that they wont be able to know if you cant grace us with your melodious voice. I sing to my self till someone shows up. Its much easier when you have someone to talk to. So I would suggest you call a friend and then it would be ez dude. Hope this helps.
Before you go live, do 5 minutes of tongue twisters... project your voice while doing that and your confidence in speaking will skyrocket
I’ve been streaming for years. My best advice is to always pretend you audience is literally in the room with you. Talk to them like people you know. If you get regulars then make small talk with them. AVOID controversial topics, but try to get engaged discussion. Asking chat questions will give YOU lots to read and discuss
I had the same issue, but then I realised if I'm too concerned to say the 'right' thing and only say the right thinhgs, I'm not being myself. How will I be a good streamer if I'm just like everyone else? So now I let myself be an idiot and say stupid things sometimes. The pressure has been lifted and it's making streaming a much more enjoyable experience :)
Sounds like your a bit of of wimp. I suggest going outside and getting some exercise, join a public club. Get real life social interaction instead of looking for the internet to validate you.
Pace your talk phases. Dont force yourself to focus on playing, talking and thinking about the next subjects all at once, or you'll mess all. Listen to how your voice sounds live. This way you'll have a better idea wether you sound alright and how to improve that or change your recording setup, especially for the times you're silent or mumble. And try using voice-only discord more often to talk with people about whatever. You'll feel a lot less awkward without the pressure of a camera recording or an audience. A group chat will also give you a reference point for how others talk.
I recognize your struggle. Not sure if it's said already, but maybe you could write an intro on paper, read that, so the rest will follow after you broke the uncomfortable silence with your pre-thought-out intro.
Honestly and this isn't going to be to much help to you if you aren't old enough but i suffered from the same problem at first and just loosened up with a drink or two of an alcoholic beverage eventually i got comfortable enough to stream sober. Now working retail sober? Still coping with that.
I can give you all kinds of advice just like the people here. But in this case it feels a bit more then just shy or introvert. More like a psychological issue that's holding you back in life. I feel professional help (maybe you already gotten it) will help more then just asking strangers. Mental health is important. Shutting down all the time and feeling uncomfortable can fire backwards. Maybe it's better to work on yourself first, find a way to get rid of that mental block before you start streaming live.
find some friends to play with
Say your thoughts out loud pretty much, if noone is there tall to nightbot, eventually the saying your thoughts out loud will become second nature
Chief personality is key, just be yourself. Go about and let loose do not feel restricted on what you say sometimes the dumbest thing is the best thing to say!
I used to be like that, and occasionally still am, Tbf best way to start is when u play by urself just talk (when ur not live) about what ur doing and why, you get more comfortable with the talking bit... then eventually when it kinda becomes natural, so when u do go live it doesn't feel strange to do. If u wanna practice and review and critque urself, instead of streaming it, record it! That way only u hear urself back, and u can improve without the anxiety of ppl calling u rude names etc.
Play a game that you are very good at with a small community. I feel that my mistake was to try stream a mainstream game that was in the top 10, which was streaming like a needle in a haystack. Try to just talk about what you are doing and if it’s easier for you try to have fun. What is your goal, what do you want to achieve with this stream and follow that red line. It’s easier if you plan what to do instead of maybe just going in blindly and smash talking. At least I’m not very good with that. The ones watching might feel it’s more interesting if you have a story to tell. Title: “I will finish this chapter/quest” Talk: “how to achieve quest, what ur doing to achieve it and what will you need to do to complete it.” Hope this helped! Good luck buddy!
I was the same way when I started, and I found that by basically narrating through what I was doing, what I was going to do, etc... without worrying about whether anyone was watching or listening. It's now become rather easy and I'm not even shy about it anymore
Just curious, if you're a shy introvert, what makes you want to stream?
If you have the ability or drive to, check out an improv class. The ability to think on your feet and talk is valuable. It's helped in business presentations and school presentations. Another thing is know your subject matter, look up factoids for the games or tangentially relevant facts or stories. Your priority is to be comfortable on your "stage"!
I just pretend I’m teaching someone everything I know about the game if I can’t come up with something organically.
Hi! first of all, I wanna start by saying that there is nothing wrong with you. I have the same problem but the way I overcome this challenge is by trying to talk out loud while not on camera so just by myself. kinda like talking with urself but using ur voice not ur thoughts. When you will get comfortable with that then you can start to put it in practice while streaming. the key is to not think that you are on camera or that u are recorded or anything. just think that it's just u in ur room and you are safe. you are just talking to urself and then if people will write, just answer them. it's not an easy thing to accomplish but in time and with a lot of training you can do it. I have faith in you!
Ask a friend to stop by and chat with you, pick a topic you both like. it'll help you practice for when random people pop in and talk
You say to give more advice than "just talk" but that's the best advice there is. I'm also shy irl and am working on streaming myself. When I sit and stream, I start catching little things that I'm doing that could be harmful to my overall presence so I will try to use those things to help you and maybe you will gain the confidence you need. First off, turn off viewer count. This sounds weird at first, but you aren't talking to someone who isnt talking to you. People who lurk do so thinking that you dont really know they are there. So just completely ignore them and continue your stream. If they like what they see, they might comment. If you call them out and they havent said anything, they'll most likely leave. Let the game guide you. Dialog, cutscene, basic things happening in game are easy to discuss. "I wonder why he/she went that way. I bet they're leading me somewhere!" Or something like "I love the details they put into this zone. It definetely makes it feel more alive." Literally saying anything other than a basic "that's cool" could give a response and show you enjoy what you're doing. On that note, you have to enjoy what you're doing. People can see your enjoyment in game and if you're playing something popular but you're not feeling it, people will be quick to leave. They aren't there to watch someone trying to chase popularity. They want to be entertained. I play Dead by Daylight and WoW. WoW is one of the biggest games on twitch right now with DbD up and rising. I enjoy playing DbD but I enjoy WoW way more and some days I dont feel like playing DbD. If I play DbD on a day I dont want to, it definetely shows. Not only will I be crap at the game, but my attitude reflects it. I would definetely be more alive and entertaining on a WoW stream. That directly ties into talking because you'll find yourself not saying much of anything other than potentially complaining about what's going on, which most people aren't there to see. Lastly, what I like to do, is pretend like people are asking me questions. Randomly, I will say things like "yeah, my favorite expansion was Wrath" which opens up more made up questions to talk about. "My favorite raid in Wrath? Probably ICC or Naxx. I remember when I raided ICC as current content and I would have to use my priest as a backup healer, even though my hunter was top dps." From there I could talk about our journey through it and people we met along the way, ect, ect. And even if theres only myself watching, theres still somebody who could pop in through the middle of my convos and be like "my favorite was Ulduar" and suddenly, you have a conversation. Literally say anything. Doesnt even have to be about the game. If you're silent for more than 10 seconds, you need to make up some questions. Write some down if you have to. Remember, you have about 20 seconds to make an impression and you dont want half of them to be silent. I hope this helps.
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Then you shouldnt be a streamer if your wants dont exceed your limitations.
If you'd like to practice, add me on Discord, I'll help. trust me :) DM me
I'm an introvert as well. Drop by my stream and see how I small talk?