Lots of news to report as well as some thoughts

Hi, everyone!

I'm sorry for being such a stranger on this blog.  Things have been quite busy here at the Phloxworthy Workshop.  In fact, there's a new branch here, which itself is a news item!

Phloxworthy Labs open for business!

I created a second channel on Twitch to try new technologies, techniques, software, hardware, and assets without messing up my main channel.  This will also test updates to existing streaming stuff as well.  Additionally, I'll try out other streaming setups, e.g. StreamLabs OBS (I'm mainly a StreamElements OBS.Live as well as bare-bones OBS girl here) so I can get the feel of it so I can render aid for those who are starting or are needing troubleshooting.  I'm also testing technologies that can be used for others to make use of.  That way we can all benefit from the work I'm doing!

If you'd like to check in on the goings-on in the Labs, feel free to drop by at https://twitch.tv/PhloxworthyLabs.  Feel free to give a follow, watch, comment and even (constructively) criticize what's going on.  It's not on a set schedule (it's pretty much guerilla, streams going up and down at my discretion) with any programming to speak of.  All that said, do beware of scuff.  While that's something to try to avoid on the main channel, this one fully expects it to happen, and that's okay!  That's what it's for!

Milestones of note

Debut

I debuted officially on February 12, 2021.  I made sure the VOD wouldn't get deleted on Twitch.

Also, like Rana of comfyRana, I'm considering doing a YouTube debut at some point.  I may have to update the slides again to reflect the passage of time and the fact I'm streaming on YouTube for that outing.  More on that as details present themselves.

Follower milestones

I hit 100 followers earlier in the week in January that saw my Phasmophobia collab with KeikoKup, Kim and HoneyKub.

Yesterday, I hit 200 followers!  I am happy beyond words right now!

Emotes are coming!

One of the things that happens on Twitch with Affiliate, later Partner, is that you get emote slots to stick custom emotes in.  Since becoming affiliate, I have yet to have some emotes to put up for your use as subscribers.

Until now.

As of this writing, I commissioned xMiss Nothing to craft my first five emotes.  They not only reflect me and my nerdiness, but more importantly, THEY ARE SO CUUUUTE!

Other CapEx investments

I picked up a few items to help with my streaming and VTubing.  One of which is a brand new microphone and interface.  The mike is a Sterling ST151 and a Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface.  They sound so good!

I also picked up a small "vlogger's light" to more uniformly light my face for the face trackers to pick up.  One suggestion I have if you get these "panel lights" is that if they come with diffuser filters, use them.  I also suggest you use one that is colored in such a way that it doesn't blow your eyes out since it has to face you while you're doing your streaming.

Finally, I picked up VTube Studio and purchased the webcam tracking support which recently came out on Steam.  I first started streaming with VTube Studio, but problems with my phone forced me to migrate to PRPR Live for a time.  A suggestion I have is to keep both on hand as you may never know which will work better with a given setup.

Other thoughts

One other final thought:  Recently, I followed a smaller VTuber's media as they were getting ready to stream.  When they came on, after I greeted them, they told me on-stream that they had noticed that I'd done so, saying "Wow, I got followed by another VTuber!"  I don't necessarily consider myself a big VTuber, despite having been at it longer than the person I was following.  I realized that, if anything, I'm big to SOMEbody.

Further, the abovementioned "SOMEbody" may even be a VTuber bigger than you.  When you stream, you never know who may come in.  That "SOMEbody" is an aspiring VTuber who's looking for inspiration.  That "SOMEbody" may be a pre-debut VTuber looking for ways to polishing their presentation as well as inspiration for how to do their debut.  That "SOMEbody" may be that post-debut VTuber seeing who all is out there, enjoying their talent. That "SOMEbody" may even be one of the biggest VTubers out there, yet they find your material and/or presentation thereof interesting, enlightening, informative, entertaining.  I see it all the time with other smaller VTubers.  For all you know, that one big VTuber you're a fan of may even be a big fan of you.

My message is this:  Other VTubers are watching.  Whether it's the smaller VTuber starting out, seeing who's following them, or a bigger veteran VTuber watching out for the newest acts to support or to simply enjoy, they're watching.  They may even be watching you, enjoying you, getting inspiration from you, wanting to support you, see you grow.  

Conclusion

That's about it for the time being.  Being a VTuber is a constant process of getting better and up-to-date equipment, assets and material.  These take investments of time, money, and talent.

Ultimately, the one thing one has to consider when it comes to updating and improving is oneself.  It's not always an easy thing to identify what could use improvement, but if you can find areas which can use improvement, make it happen!

That feeds into the thoughts I had above:  As a VTuber, you take inspiration from others.  As you go about your activities, others, even the bigger ones, may take inspiration and interest in you.

It sometimes pays to look at the bigger picture.  It's just like with the real world, like how not just normal people can be fans of celebrities, celebrities can even sometimes be fans of ordinary people doing something to make a difference.

In your own way, make that difference!

Much love,

--Katt.  =^.^=