Plan ahead. Align your priorities. Be your own greatest cheerleader.
Those tips come from five leading experts in the gaming industry who shared how to find success – and stability – as a creator.
We talked to five leaders on our Influential Voices list with Raidiant about what it takes for a career in gaming. Here’s what they had to say.
Read more: Hear a YouTube manager's top tips on how to take your career to the next level
What purchases did you prioritize early on to help grow your career?
A working mic – seriously. Working in eSports requires being in a lot of meetings. You need to make sure you are taken seriously. Invest in ways that help you show up as your most professional self, then upgrade your gaming system as the work comes in. I actually have an Ally Bank Spending Account and the buckets feature made it easy to organize my money and account for what I had as I built out my system.
Read more: Learn how to keep your expenses on track with spending buckets
What are some unexpected financial aspects of your job to consider?
Taxes. You need to be saving a percentage of what you earn, not for your savings, but for taxes.
The second thing would be those unrelated, but related expenses: Transportation costs, health insurance and emergency savings.
You were named a “Rising Star” by Raidiant, what advice would you give to someone considering a career in content creation or gaming?
Understand that things don't come overnight. It takes a lot of work, focus and dedication. And sometimes – even with all those things – it might not necessarily happen right away. Remember why you're coming into this space. There is often a misconception that this work is easy and good for a quick dollar. It doesn't necessarily work out like that. You have to have a clear focus of your why’s and then focus on those when you encounter the highs and the lows of content creation.
How have you navigated inconsistent income throughout your career?
I try to save as much as I can – and I am always saving more than I spend. Payments can be very unpredictable, especially if you're just relying on streams or subscribers. If you have sponsorships, they may not pay you until a month after the work is done. My biggest advice is to always save as much as you can. And don’t expect to get any money back when tax season rolls around.
What’s a challenge you faced in your professional journey? What advice would you give to someone who’s going through something similar?
The inconsistencies [in schedule, pay and gigs are] tough, and that can affect your mental health. You’re your own boss, so you have to be your own cheerleader, too. There’ll come a time when you’re afraid opportunities will stop coming in. Prepare for it with savings and backup plans, but don’t let it knock you down. Also, remember this is your life – speak up for yourself and don’t miss out on the little things while you’re trying to push through to something bigger. Enjoy the now.
What role does preparation and research play in the success of on-camera hosts?
When I first started, preparation was more important than research – there wasn’t a lot of research to do, the scene was small. But they are equally important now. The world we work in is fun, but you still have to be professional and credible. A lot of the work you do – the prep, writing reviews, research – those aren’t all billable hours, but they’re important for your growth and for the quality of your output.
What steps can one take to thrive in a competitive creative industry?
There's always going to be natural competition. The best thing to do is embrace it and use it as a way to find motivation and inspiration for your work. The reality is that competition pushes us to do better, think ahead to the next disrupting thing and challenge others to step up as well. It’s mostly friendly competition – and the audience always wins in the end.
What tips do you have when it comes to leveraging social media and online platforms to showcase your work and attract opportunities?
Your social media is essentially your currency within the industry. Sponsors and partners will pay attention to your follower count and your reach as a creator. However, it is vital – for the sake of your connection to your audience – that you create quality content to ensure they remain entertained and dialed into your brand of creating.
How have you navigated inconsistent income throughout your career?
I honestly didn’t navigate it very well. I racked up credit card debt to attend events and I’ll be dealing with that for the next decade or so. The best advice I have here is to know your numbers and keep a budget as tightly as you can. As freelancers and creatives, we don’t get the perk of reliable income, so it’s important to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
How can aspiring journalists differentiate themselves? Any advice on finding unique angles or stories to cover?
One of the most important things I did as a new journalist was to actively seek out stories in places other writers weren’t looking. Knowing there was no way I’d get the top personalities when I started, I sought out players whose fandom I knew would appreciate hearing from them most. I’d encourage newer writers – within reason – to chase the more offbeat stories that interest them. Go for what makes your heart happy and readers will likely enjoy the ride.
Influential voices
Learn about other leaders on our Influential Voices list with Raidiant, and be sure to engage in the gaming and creator space yourself through Ally Arena and Creator Cache.
The views, information or opinions expressed are solely those of the individuals involved and do not represent those of Ally.
