PandaTV
In the bustling realm of Twitch, there exists a figure whose journey transcends the confines of pixels and controllers. Meet PandaTV, an Australian streamer who has a commitment to not only entertaining his fans but also to giving back to the less fortunate. Pario recently sat down with PandaTV to discuss what led him into the streaming space, how he has evolved as a human, & finally his latest philanthropic endeavour, Project Panda.
Hailing from the heart of Western Sydney, PandaTV's roots are a common tale. "I'm just a rat kid from Western Sydney," he quips, reminiscing about bygone days spent navigating internet cafes & the early internet. In finding a safe sanctuary in gaming PandaTV took a moment to highlight to Pario the potentially dark alternative route his life could have taken.
"In Parramatta, it was either the pool hall or an internet cafe. People kept getting stabbed at the pool hall, so I was like, 'I'm going to go hang out at the internet cafe.'"
Little did he know that these early ventures into cyberspace would lay the foundation for a career in the content creation space.
These days streaming & content creation is a field that many view through the lens of alluring monetary gains. However, PandaTV is a staunch advocate for passion-driven content.
"You've got to love it," he asserts, dispelling the myth of instant success & financial prosperity. "You have to have a passion for streaming & need to want to do it as a fun hobby. Most of the people that I've met that start this off with the mindset of 'I'm going to make money' fail."
Shifting Twitch Landscape
Over his 13 years on the platform, PandaTV has been a first-hand witness to the evolution of the Twitch platform.
PandaTV sights notable, & often controversial streamer Amouranth as "the best example" of the shift in content on Twitch. Unlike many others, he celebrates Amouranth’s success.
"People give her crap & say, 'Look at what she did' or 'Look at the content she's making.' At the end of the day, do whatever you do to make money," he told Pario. "With the money that she made from doing that kind of spicy content, she bought three service stations & a pool toy company. She's brilliant. She made like $50 million in 2 years. If I could jump around in a pool & make $50 million, that wouldn't be a treadmill behind me, it'd be a bloody pool!"
In a somewhat similar vein, PandaTV has reinvested a very significant portion of his streaming income into outside ventures. Most notably, his charitable effort, Project Panda.
Project Panda aims to improve the lives of the less fortunate. Born out of his upbringing & a desire to leverage his platform for altruistic endeavours, Project Panda encapsulates a multifaceted approach to philanthropy, encompassing everything from toiletries distribution to advocacy.
"When it started I was just buying toiletries & providing essential supplies in backpacks... These days Project Panda isn't just the backpacks. It's everything that I've done over the years rolled into one thing, whether that be talking about streaming or talking about where I came from to where I'm at now."
For aspiring streamers & content creators, PandaTV offers a few pearls of wisdom gleaned from years of toil & triumph.
"Consistency is key," he asserts, emphasising the importance of reliability in building a dedicated audience. "If you can only be on for 2 hours a week, be on for the same 2 hours each week. Cause if people enjoy your content, they need to know when they can find you."
PandaTV also cautions against overindulgence in technology, "Don't go out & spend $10,000 on a setup! There are a lot of people on this platform where their schtick is that their mic is crap & people love it."
Then lastly, he extols the virtues of simplicity & authenticity in content creation.
"Just have fun! If you enjoy Stardew Valley, play Stardew Valley. If you enjoy World Of Warcraft, play World Of Warcraft. If you enjoy Call Of Duty, play Call Of Duty. It's as simple as that."
As PandaTV gazes into the future. He is unfazed by the spectre of uncertainty & remains resolute in his pursuit of happiness.
"I'm not out here trying to become a gazillionaire, millionaire from streaming. If my bills are paid & I enjoy what I do then I’m happy. I've been able to do that for the last 13 years. If that means it lasts another couple of years, so be it. If that means it lasts another 12 years, so be it."
Follow PandaTV’s creative journey at: Twitch.tv/PandaTV
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