With the aim of spreading joy, Gingersnaps67 fills her streams, videos and podcasts with an eclectic mix of content, ranging from playing Minecraft and horror games to editing photos and raising money for charity. Below, Gingersnaps67 talks about how she got started, her content choices, the gear she loves, and more!
What (or who) inspired you to become a streamer and how did you get your start?
I wanted to be a creator for quite a few years. I loved the Markipliers and Jacksepticeyes of the world but I didn’t have the confidence to put myself out there. I had a near-death experience at work in 2020. I think a switch flipped in my brain after that experience and within 10 days I was doing my first Twitch stream. I chose Twitch because it was “easier to start,” but I had established some friends there. It allowed me to get comfortable putting myself out there. Now I create on Twitch and YouTube, and I have a podcast.
You have described yourself as a “variety streamer,” streaming games, but also incorporating arts and crafts, charity fundraisers, and more. What’s the overall experience you try to create for your viewers?
I want my viewers to have a safe place for them to be themselves and support each other. I have a huge variety of interests and want to express all of them. There isn’t enough time in the day to entertain them all, so instead I pick out my favorites. Whether it’s photo editing, horror games, Minecraft, or chatting about causes that are important to me, I want my space to be welcoming and inviting to all who come across it. Either way, it’s a space that I want to be comfortable in and I want others to be just as comfortable in.
How do you choose the games you stream? Are they generally the games you like to play for fun or are there other criteria that figure into your selection?
I play the games I enjoy. I look at what games I want to play, then I look at what fits my stream or event. If people like the games that I play, they will hang out for the game; if they like my vibes and stream, they will stick for whatever game. I try to enjoy myself because that’s what people want to see. Sometimes I do themes during Halloween or around a charity event, but it’s always games that I want.
You dedicate a considerable amount of time on your stream and other platforms to charity work and raising awareness of mental health issues. Why is this such an important focus for you?
Not to be a downer but I struggle with my mental health. I have for as long as I can remember. I know so many people do. I want to help people talk about it, end the stigma as it were. I struggled a lot in silence with my mental health and I don’t want anyone to feel how I felt. It’s OK to not be OK as long as you are trying to get better. Now that I am in a better place, I want to make a difference in and out of streaming. I would rather have a sleepless night and talk to someone who is having a hard time than lose them forever. If you’ve ever experienced that, you know exactly how it feels. Remember, Always Keep Fighting.
What creative pursuits do you have outside of gaming and streaming? Do you envision any of these becoming part of your stream in the future?
I want to get back into playing instruments. I am not much of a performer but I do love playing casually. It’s been years since I played an instrument or sang in any sort of semiserious way. I also want to get back into writing. I have a love for writing but time is a factor. I enjoy exploring different story possibilities. I haven’t written in a few years due to a head injury, but I have been wanting to explore that creativity again. Outside of that, I am painting more off stream. I paint abstract representations of people and it’s a nice form of expression.
Can you tell us about your basic streaming setup? What qualities do you value in audio gear and other hardware?
My setup is an ever-evolving mishmash. My main stream setup has a midrange PC I built, an Audio-Technica AT2020 XLR hooked up to a Wave Link by Elgato, and a variety of cameras. My portable setup is a gaming laptop, a Harbinger mixer to hook up my travel Audio-Technica AT2020 XLR, and sometimes a webcam. I use a lot of the same gear when I film or do photography shoots.
I am rather picky about my audio gear. I need easy-to-use and clear audio. I have a podcast that
started during the Pandemic. Having good audio for an audio podcast is super important. I was recommended the AT2020 by someone in the music world. I now own two and use them almost exclusively for all of my content. I love how the mic sounds without audio processing and it only sounds better the more I work with it.
AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone
What advice do you have for others who are looking to get into streaming?
Just do it. Start with whatever you are comfortable with and build from there. You don’t need any fancy gear. Do what makes you happy and don’t care about numbers. Do it because you want to and do things that you enjoy. The gear will come, the people will come, enjoy yourself and people will gravitate towards that. I started streaming three years ago on a 12-year-old PC, no webcam (then a flickering webcam), and an old $60 headset. Now, I have a lot more, but I still know my roots. Some of my best streams don’t have any fancy gear involved.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
It’s never too late to start something new or follow that dream. I feared starting content creation after almost a decade and now that I am doing it, I am so happy. Do I put a lot of work into it? Yeah. Does it stress me out sometimes? Yeah. But do I love it? 100% If you want to get into music, do it! If you want to start woodworking, do it! Do things that are scary and outside of your comfort zone. You will grow and change in beautiful ways. The next day is never guaranteed, so live life with no regrets. Learn from “mistakes” and don’t give up.
Follow Gingersnaps67
Twitch
YouTube
Podcast
See previous Creators of the Month:
Creator of the Month – Shaun Sunday
Creator of the Month – trinketsorceress
Creator of the Month – RyanBetson
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