tom(strike) @ scottycon

As someone who's been around the EN Vtuber space for almost 6 years now, I can tell you that a lot of people within this space want you to play by the "rules" & when you don't you get ostracized or just straight ignored. This is why it feels so "high school." People don't like when people do stuff a different way. There is a lot of being shady behind the scenes, focusing on only interacting with others when numbers are high, etc. acting like if someone isn't fully "with you" then they must be "against you," when it's okay to just both exist in the space & not also vibe together. They will say they're mature & communicative, but behind the scenes they are petty & mean. A lot of people in entertainment spaces are cliquey & hold a high sense of self importance, so if you can't help them, they probably don't even want to talk to you. This also means, even if you "get in with them" they could be quick to turn on you when they no longer see your value. It's not worth it. People like this, aren't worth your time. Your time is precious & should be spent creating, not worrying about if someone who says they're your friend is actually talking about you behind your back. Of course this is not everyone! There are many Vtubers & creatives I've met who are super kind & so chill, on both the big & smaller ends of the space, but they often keep to themselves. They usually stay in their own lanes. This isn't to scare anyone interested in becoming a Vtuber or Streamer, it's just to be honest about what goes on. Not everyone is best friends or even on the best of terms & I see a lot of people assume that's the case. That everyone just loves everyone else... It's a complicated network of many creatives, with overlapping circles of, who all handle creating & growth very differently. TLDR; My wisdom on this is: ✦ Do your own thing ✦ Play by your own rules ✦ Walk your own road ✦ Don't care about other people's opinions of you ✦ & focus more of your time as a creator on actively creating! Not trying to get friendly with everyone & anyone, cause not everyone is out there to make real friends. They are out there to get ahead. In a creative career, your time should be creating! If it's mostly focused with stressing about what other people think well of you, or trying to get close to people that don't give you the time of day, stop. You can't control other people, but you can shift your focus to what you actually wanna do & people that will help you feel motivated to do those things you love! You do you & don't let people pressure you to be anything but yourself! ✨

PSA FOR ALL MAGFEST ATTENDEES: Sigma will be in attendance, and he seems to be involved as a contractor for the arcade. I don't think anyone who follows me needs to be reminded of all of the reprehensible things he has done, but do not let yourself or anyone you know near him.