Twitch Broadcast: Artist Guide

by Jeremiah Chiu

Download PDF:Twitch Broadcast: Artist Guide

As bars, concert halls, clubs, and art spaces continue to be closed for the unforeseeable future—predicted (by some) to reopen at the earliest in Fall 2021— we now embrace our virtual venues. There’s a host of options: YouTube, Instagram LIVE, Mixer, Facebook Live, Twitch, etc… and here at QT, Twitch (via Amazon, sigh) is our new internet overlord. Why Twitch? Because watching a performance half covered by @username joined isn’t that satisfying.

Late April marked the launch of the Lumpen Radio Twitch with a great line-up of performances and continued weekly programming with like-minded artist support organizations Experimental Sound Studio, Neobeat, International Anthem, LA Experimental, Public Media Institute, and Lumpen Radio.

The Lumpen Radio Twitch channel is an extension of the station’s regular programming, providing an additional platform for artists to perform live concerts and interact with audiences. Working together with other organizations is critical in establishing protocol, practices, and transparency. The approach to Lumpen Radio Twitch is not to compete with other organizations, but to support the artists and venues that make culture, that contribute endlessly to all of the things we love. Support, not compete—novel approach, right?

The Experimental Sound Studio, or ESS, from Chicago, launched their Quarantine Concerts early in March and have quickly proven to be an invaluable resource during the pandemic. With nightly programming, audiences are able to directly support artists through donations during the performances. Their recent dis-batch shared that:

"114 artists have performed live from inside
their homes for thousands of audience members throughout the world…” and “the audience attending these shows, have raised nearly $14,000. That's $14,000 raised $5, $10, $25 at a time night after night.”

That’s definitely not nothing. That is truly something. For context, I can’t remember another time I’ve watched a performance of solo experimental/free saxophone with 500+ people around the world. Solo experimental music is thriving in these new virtual venues.

All of this is to recognize that there is real potential here, not as an temporary alternative, but long-term. With worldwide reach at the click of a stream, audiences can tune in from anywhere, and performers can collaborate on a global scale. Realistically, though, the proposal is not to replace the energy of being in a shared space during a performance, but instead to add an option for people that want to join virtually—$15/door, $1/screen.

So, if you’re looking to participate, let’s compile a list of venues. If you’re a venue, let’s provide a stream key or “/host [channel]”. And if you’re an artist, let’s get you set-up and streaming.

Below you can watch a couple of tutorials and download our Twitch Broadcast: Artist Guide—a simple how-to guide to get your stream up and running, generously compiled by ESS, Lumpen Radio, LA-Experimental, and myself. Extra special thanks go to Dustin Wong, Colin Blanton, Jon Leland, Alex Inglizian, Ben Billington, Brian Griffith, Brandon Alvendia, ESS, Lumpen, and the Quarantine Times.

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