Ever wanted to live a life like Phineas and Ferb, with a new adventure every day (at least during summer vacation)?
Have you dreamed of being beloved worldwide, showing how interesting life can be, or how interesting your life actually is?
What about becoming a worldwide sensation, brushing shoulders with celebrities like Manny Pacquiao or Cristiano Ronaldo, just like IShowSpeed?
If any of this interests you, then maybe IRL streaming is something you should check out.
And wouldn’t you know it, this article is your first step in trying it out yourself!
Before proceeding, what exactly is the difference between IRL (In Real Life) streaming and vlogging, or even just clicking the “go live” button on Facebook or other social media platforms?
The key differences are in customizability and the likelihood of being scripted.
While both IRL streaming and vlogging offer a glimpse into the life of the livestreamer, making for a more intimate experience, IRL streams are more spontaneous and often more entertaining.
With that out of the way, how do you even get started with IRL streaming?
First, Decide On Your Platform
You’ve decided to start livestreaming, but for each livestream that’s streamed elsewhere, or clips that are spread, it will always need a platform to be streamed on.
There are a multitude of options available, and success will vary from streamer to streamer. You could be the next IShowSpeed on YouTube, TechTourist on Twitch, or a combination of both like CDawgVA.
At the end of the day, you’ll need to start somewhere.
Each of the following platforms has its own pros and cons, but the experience you want to give the viewer will rely on which platform you choose to stream on.
Here’s a quick guide from personal experience on several of the platforms you could IRL stream from:
- YouTube
YouTube is a great starting point, primarily for the Creator Studio support and ease of visibility. It also has clip support and is an excellent spot for viewership, with short-form content supported by YouTube Shorts. - Facebook
Facebook also has its own Creator Studio with the functionality to monitor stream activity, like likes, shares, and comments. The caveats, however, are mobile support and the need to have an FB profile, unlike the other platforms where you can watch anonymously. - TikTok
TikTok is the king of short-form media and has the most eyes on it. However, it requires the streamer to use a vertical format, which may not be as suitable for IRL streaming. Another caveat is the need for a minimum of 1,000 followers before being able to livestream. But if TikTok’s on the table, you probably already meet the follower requirement. - Twitch
Twitch is my home base streaming platform and a versatile one at that. Compared to the other platforms mentioned so far, it has many ways to earn an income, between ad revenue and game integration, while allowing for customizability with alerts. It’s definitely worth trying out, although it may get difficult to oversee over time. Automods and regular moderators are your best friends. - Kick
Kick is very similar to Twitch, except for how loose its policy is in comparison. There’s a bigger pay cut in favor of the streamer, though you should only look to this platform if your IRL stream content would be considered more risqué than anything else.
Next, Your Content
You’ve got your streaming home, so now let’s decorate it with the type of content you’ll be sharing.
As a livestreamer, remember that your content is what you’re going to do live, which will be shown on stream. While gaming streamers have games as their backbone, IRL streamers can literally and figuratively do anything and everything under the sun. You could go for a cooking stream, cover events, or maybe go on a hike and bring chat along with you.
If you’re the type to have conversations with chat in random environments, that’s perfectly fine too.
Remember, as the livestreamer, you dictate your content—not the other way around. You could even go knitting in random environments. At the end of the day, IRL streaming is a diverse way to stream, and you just need to find your niche and go for it.
Finally, the Equipment
You have your plans laid out, but what’s left before you start your streaming journey is the equipment.
While some streamers, like IShowSpeed, may have an amazing setup with high-quality audio and visuals to start, you don’t really need much more than a smartphone with a decent microphone and camera. You can always upgrade over time, depending on your needs and goals as an IRL streamer.
Taking outdoor streaming as the primary example, here’s what I’d recommend investing in or starting out with, in order of relevance:
- Smartphone
It has your camera and microphone, and that’s all you need to get started. It even has internet access, letting you stream directly to your chosen platform. - Power Bank
Having mobile data on will rapidly drain a phone, and the most you can get out of a full charge is around two hours. - Bluetooth Microphone
To improve audio quality, especially when streaming outdoors. - Gimbal / Phone Stabilizer
To help stabilize your shots. - Pocket WiFi / Alternative WiFi Source
This will ensure you have a consistent internet connection while on the go.
Ready, Set, Stream!
The world of streaming is ultimately diverse, but IRL streaming is a different animal altogether. Whether you’re the next IShowSpeed or not relies on a lot of factors, including luck. At the end of the day, if you’re doing outdoor streams, remember to have consent before trying anything too wild. Nobody wants a stampede out of nowhere, and not everyone’s keen on having their face out in the open.
It’s time to get out and touch some grass with chat, everybody!
