Category - Tutorials

Streamate Features

March 16, 2016

Streamate Review

When deciding which cam site you want to cam on, checking out Streamate is a great option. Unlike some sites where you can perform sexual acts in public, Streamate does not allow below the waist nudity unless you’re in a private chat session. The benefit to this is that your content won’t get stolen as often and distributed all over the internet and you don’t have to beg for tips. If someone likes your look, personality, or the things you offer, they’ll take you into private for a show.

There are three different kinds of shows you can do with Streamate: private, exclusive, and gold shows. For private and exclusive, you set your own rate that your fans pay per minute. Generally your private rate will be set lower than your exclusive rate. You can also choose to offer block sessions. Block sessions are “bulk” chat sessions where your fan pays for a committed amount of time with you (15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes). Depending on the length of the block session they choose, they get a discount off of your normal rate (5% for 15 minutes, 10% for 30 minutes, 15% for 45 minuttes, or 20% for 60 minutes). Once you have accepted a block session offer, you must stream for the entire time block, otherwise you won’t get paid and you could face account suspension.

In private chat, multiple fans can enter your room and watch the show. Because of this, most models will not take requests and just kind of do their own thing and put on a more general show. This way everyone is satisfied.

1)Exclusive is one-on-one, just you and the one fan who took you exclusive. Since it’s just you two in there, this is where you can take requests, use their name, roleplay, perform fetishes, and put on a more personalized show for them.

Gold shows are a bit different. When starting a gold show, you put in your room topic describing what you plan on doing in the show, how much each fan has to contribute into the show in order to watch it, the amount of gold (1 gold= $1 USD) you want to collect overall in order to start your show, how long your fans have to get you to that goal, and how long of a show you’re gonna put on. If you reach your goal before the timer is up, you’ll definitely start the show. If you don’t reach your goal in time, you can decide to cancel the show (none of your fans who tipped in will be charged and you will not be paid anything) or go ahead and do the show anyways. If you’re pretty close to your goal, it’s a good idea to just go ahead and start. Some fans will wait until they see if the show actually starts or not before they join. So you may end up hitting your goal during your gold show.

Streamate also has a very cool (and profitable!) newer feature: TV Broadcasts. These shows used to be broadcast on live television, but their television partnership has ended. However, the feature is sill active and a great way to pick up new fans! TV Broadcasts are very similar to gold shows. The main difference is that they are guaranteed shows. This means that even if you don’t hit your goal, you still get paid your entire goal! If you don’t hit your goal, Streamate will compensate you about 30 minutes after your broadcast has ended. TV producers hand pick who to give TV Broadcasts to and they set your goal based off of the average you usually pull in during a gold show. Another small difference is that you must turn off all music and move anything that could be a copyright infringement out of the view of your camera.

Your ranking on the site is partially based off of ratings that your fans give you. Fans are prompted to rate you between 1 and 5 stars after a private or exclusive session. When they first enter the show, be sure to encourage them to rate you 5 stars afterwards. Some models will even offer a video or photo in exchange for a 5 star rating.

And that takes us into another feature on Streamate: their messaging system. The way the messaging is set up on the site, you cannot message a fan unless they message you first. Make sure you always let your fans know this if you offer them a video or pictures after a show so that they know to message you first in order to claim it. Sharing any personal information/social media accounts/other usernames/other websites is against the rules on Streamate. But anonymous file sharing, such as through Dropbox, is allowed. Be sure that there is no personal information or watermarks (unless watermarked with your Streamate username or URL) on any of your videos or photos that you offer.

The final feature on Streamate that we’re gonna delve into is their integration with ModelCentro. ModelCentro is a CMS platform that allows cam models or independent models to easily run their own fan site. If you have a website through ModelCentro, you can link it with your Streamate account and advertise that link when you’re broadcasting on Streamate. You cannot give your actual website URL out, but instead a banner will be automatically generated on your Streamate profile. When your fans click that banner, they’ll be able to sign-up for your ModelCento website. Streamate and ModelCentro both keep a portion of your earnings when you get sign-ups this way. Your fans’ membership will automatically renew each month until they cancel. When they sign-up to your ModelCentro site through Streamate, you can also offer them a percentage off your private or exclusive shows while they’re a member of your site.

Steamate’s current global ranking according to Alexa is 10,465 and 4,845 in the United States. Not as good traffic as some other cam sites out there, but still decent. If you like the idea of private shows as opposed to public shows (like the ones you would do on sites such as Myfreecams), Streamate is one of your best options.

Streamate Video Review

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Lighting Guide For Your Cam Space

March 14, 2016

Holly

Tutorials

Proper lighting is one of the most important factors when setting up your cam space. The correct lighting will not only eliminate annoying and unflattering shadows, but it will also greatly improve the overall appearance of your cam stream. If your room is too dark, your video may appear grainy or just not as sharp. If the lighting is too bright in your room, it could change your skin color and make you looked washed out.

Amazon offers many options for inexpensive, but professional lighting equipment. For best results, you’ll want three separate lighting sources. The first light you’ll want to set up in front of you, behind your webcam, pointed at you. You may have to adjust the height to reduce glare, but generally setting it up about the same height as yourself will be perfect. The next two lights should be on either side of you, but still in front of you. Again, adjusting them to be about the same height as yourself should work well. Some tinkering may be needed to get it just right. Play around with it until your illuminated without any shadows, shiny spots, or glare. Don’t make the mistake of setting up a light behind you. Not only will it show up on cam, but it may actually darken your stream.

If you’re still unsure of how to set up your lights, check out our visual guide at the end of this article.

If you can’t afford professional lighting right off the bat, don’t worry. Regular lights work well too. If you have floor lamps that are around the same height as you, definitely use those. If you have shorter lamps, put them on tables on either side of you if possible. You can also play around with different bulb shades to see what looks best. Some bulbs will give off a blueish, natural glow, while others will have a yellowish tint to them.

Hanging up colorful light strands can be a fun way to add character to your room. Icicle lights dangling from the ceiling behind you is a nice touch. Or attaching Christmas lights around the frame of your bed or couch looks cool too. You can even get light strands with your favorite characters on them: Hello Kitty, Star Wars characters, etc.

VISUAL GUIDE TO SETTING UP YOUR WEBCAM ROOM LIGHTS:

This first image shows an overview of how you will want to set your lights up in your cam room. One light directly in front of you, behind your webcam and two lights on either side of you, pointed at you, placed in front of you.

Your main light will be set up behind your webcam, directly in front of you. You’ll want to position it at about your same height for best results.

Your second light should be placed on the left hand side of you, but still in front of you. Make sure it’s pointed at you and at the same height as you.

Your final light should be on the right hand side of you, but still in front of you. Again, make sure it’s pointed at you and at the same height as you.

This last picture is a POV shot of what your setup should look like. Notice the three light sources, all pointed at you: one in front, one to the left of you, and one to your right.

Setting Up Your Cam Space

March 13, 2016

Holly

Tutorials

Setting your cam space up correctly

Setting up your camming space properly is incredibly important. You’re gonna want to choose an area that is private, visually appealing, can accommodate everything you plan on doing, and is comfortable for you.

When fans enter your cam room, the first thing they see is you, but the second thing is the overall appearance of your space. They want to see good lighting, no clutter, and decorations/props that fit your niche. If you’re into bondage and/or domination, maybe try adding some whips, handcuffs, or a strap-on somewhere in your room. If your thing is playing up being a cute, young teen, make your room bright, colorful, and girly. This helps the customer know what you’re all about without even having to ask. It also helps make the experience more genuine and real for them.

Depending on the site you cam on, having a poster, neon dry erase board, or chalkboard in the background is a great idea. It encourages engagement and sometimes competitiveness! You could have a list of your top tippers for the month.That will encourage your fans to compete for the number one spot on that list. A sign could also be used for informative purposes: such as listing
videos you have for sale, contests that you’re currently holding, or a tip menu. Be creative with it! Figuring out the surface you want to work on is also important. You want to make sure you’re comfortable, that way you can put on your best possible show every time. Some models are most comfortable on a bed, futon, or couch. Some prefer an office chair. Some models even cam from the floor! Figure out what bests fits your needs. Or maybe even switch it up from time to time depending on the kind of show you’re doing.

As we talked about in a previous article, webcam lighting is crucial. Getting the correct lighting equipment and positioning it correctly will make all the difference in the appearance of your cam stream. You’ll be able to eliminate shadows and get rid of any graininess. After all, your customers are there to see you. Make sure they’re actually able to! Click Here For a Visual Guide to Webcam Lighting

Take advantage of holidays! When there’s a holiday coming up, switch things up and decorate your cam space for that particular holiday. Not only is it fun, but it gives your fans something new to talk to you about. You’re bound to get flooded with compliments! You can also use the holidays to run special holiday-themed contests and giveaways. If it’s Valentine’s Day, write their username on a heart if they tip a certain amount. Or hang up a customized ornament for them around Christmas time. Again, be creative here and do something that your fans can engage in.Now your space is all set up and you’re ready to go!

Getting Started on becoming a cam model

March 10, 2016

Sarah G

Tutorials

1 Comment

Getting Started Being A Webcam Model – What To Do First:

So you want to be a cam model? Now that you’ve made that decision, it’s time to get yourself all set up. If you don’t already have high speed internet, it’s time to upgrade. Your internet speed plays a big factor in your ranking on almost every cam site. To test your current internet speed, run a speed test at www.speedtest.net. The main thing you’re gonna want to look at is your upload speed. If it’s below 1.0 Mbps, you’re gonna want to upgrade to something faster. This will not only make your cam stream run smoothly, but it will also reduce the delay in your chat room when interacting with fans.

The next step is getting a laptop or desktop computer that can run the software needed to cam. Every cam site has their own software, and there’s even additional webcam software that you can download from the internet. Some are more advanced than others, and require a faster computer. If your computer remains near 100% CPU or lags when running your camming software, it may be time to upgrade. A computer with an i7 processor (or it’s equivalent) and 3 GB of RAM or more is recommended for optimal performance. If possible, it’s also a good idea to use a wired connection. It’s usually faster, and much more reliable that going wireless. To setup a wired connection, you just connect your computer to your modem or router using an ethernet cable.

We can’t forget about the webcam itself! Even if you have a newer laptop with a built-in camera, you aren’t going to get the quality that you get with an external webcam. Aside from that, it’s nice to be able to pick up and move your camera around for some shows. There are two webcams that every established cam model will recommend. The first is the Logitech C920. You can pick one up on Amazon for around $70-$75. It’s a great camera that shoots in full 1080p HD. If you’re looking for a camera with some extra features, the Logitech BCC950 Conference Cam is a great option. This camera also shoots in full 1080p HD. One of the perks of this camera is the remote control that it comes with. With the remote, you can move your camera in all directions and zoom in and out without having to physically move your whole camera. It has a noise-cancelling microphone built into it, so your fans will be able to hear you loud and clear even if you’re moving around, dancing, far away, etc. This cam is a bit more expensive though. On Amazon, it will run you around $200.

So you’ve done all the upgrades, but your cam stream is still looking dark or grainy. Good lighting can make all the difference! Natural lighting is great if you’re camming during the day, but professional lighting works just as well… day or night! You can find inexpensive, professional webcam lighting on Amazon. There’s some decent ones on there for around $50. When positioning your lights, you’ll want to place your light sources in front of you, behind your webcam. This way it’ll light up your face and make you look vibrant. You may need to adjust the height or position of your lights to prevent glare, especially if you wear glasses. But with just a little tinkering, you’ll be able to get it just right. Never use fluorescent lighting! You may think it’ll work well because of how bright it can be, but it’s very unflattering on cam.

Video on How to become a webcam model

Well, those are the basics! Now you are ready to select a webcam site to work on.