Streaming Issues and a Supplies Update

For the past few days, I've been having issues streaming on Twitch. I use the software OBS Studio to send me stream over Twitch, and lately, out of the blue, I find CPU warnings and an unstable upload bit rate. I've had dropped connections, a choppy feed, OBS crashing upon exiting... It's frustrating, and I need to find a way around it. Sooner, rather than later, too.

On the upside, I've got pretty much all the most essential equipment for the charity stream. Today the gaming headset and coloring book arrived from Amazon. The microphone I'm told sounds great, and they're so comfortable I was able to wear them most of the day.

The coloring book for when I need to chill on stream arrived, and it is the cutest frigging coloring book ever! None of that overly busy crap. Just cute pictures of unicorns to color. I also got a pack of 64 Crayola crayons to use with it from Walmart. You know, the box with the built in sharpener? Yeah, the good stuff. *wink*

I ordered a rainbow of yarn from Joann.com for the Huggy Bears, and the canvas for the Donation Mural. I just got the notice this morning they were shipping.

From Fabric.com, I ordered some fabric for making an envelope pillow case for the donor names. I just couldn't find a unicorn pillow I liked, and my sewing skills are so bad I didn't trust myself making a DIY unicorn to write on. The fabrics are lovely, though. I also got tubular TMNT fleece for the No-Sew Fleece Blanket I'll be making on stream. The shipping notice for these was also sent to me this morning.

Along with the crayons, I got some gold sharpies from Walmart. I'm hoping these will work on the pillow, and make for a fancier item than just black sharpies would. I got some yarns for the scarf, however the yarn I picked up for the main body of the scarf is the wrong weight. I'm going to have to look for something thinner. No real problem, just means I have some nice yarn for playing with.

From the Michael's craft store, I picked up some small tubes of acrylic paints. They were in the school supplies bin for $5, and they had a nice range of colors for only 12 tubes. Canvas was on sale, buy one get one free, so I picked up a couple 3x3 canvases to practice on.

I'm currently waiting for Amazon to ship the double salt licorice. I'm getting 6 pounds of the stuff, so I don't run out.

Most of what is left on the wishlist at this point is a multiple USB 3.0 hub, a USB 3.0 extension, a C270 webcam (for the headcam when painting), and some packaging supplies.

As far as figuring out what's wrong with my streams, I'm going to try streaming over YouTube, and if that fails as well, I'll know it's OBS Studio having problems. If it streams successfully, I'll know it's more likely Twitch "being Twitchy", as they say. But that will wait until tomorrow. I'm frustrated at this point, having to remake all my OBS scenes after a reinstall and having to re-setup my channel bot.

But, things are otherwise going as planned. Hopefully I will have better news next update.

The Proposed Charity Stream Schedule

I've worked out a preliminary schedule taking into account the resources I have as of now. It is bound to be changed and tweaked as the month goes by and as my resources change. Stream start and end times have changed from my original plans so that I net 48 hours of live time, making up for the two scheduled naps. I will probably need a couple power naps as well- I still need to work out that detail.

All times listed below are CST (GMT - 6:00). Activities are scheduled around Twitch's audience peaks and valleys. Channel hosts will be worked out and announced at a later date, along with any co-hosts or Discord guests.

September 9
10:00 AM - Stream Starts
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Crocheted Love Knot Scarf
This scarf will be crocheted on stream and, upon completion, given away in a drawing.
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Jackbox Break
An hour break to rest and let loose playing Drawful and Quiplash with chat.
3:00 PM to Midnight - Scarf Part 2
More work on the scarf as needed. If it's finished before the first nap break, a game will be loaded after.

September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day!
12:00 AM to 2:00 AM - First Recharge Break
This is the first 2 hour block set aside for sleep. The stream will be offline and hosting for this block. Tier incentives for the $10 and $40 levels will be honored provided you put a note stating what you'd like added to the mural, and (for the $10 tier) don't mark your donation anonymous. I will fulfill them after I wake up. The other two I cannot easily fulfill, as I will be asleep.
2:00 AM to 7:00 AM - Let's Learn How To Farm
I have never sat down to play Stardew Valley, so why not learn in the wee hours of the morning? Audience participation is encouraged.
7:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Hug Me Teddy Bears
This block activates the alternate $20 incentive tier! $20+ donations will entitle the donor to force me to change color no matter where I am in the pattern. I will be working from a simple teddy bear pattern in this block. These bears will be made available in my Etsy for the cost of shipping to those in need of a hug.
12:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Finding Love at Asagao Academy
Note the $20 incentive tier returns to the default food challenge. Audience input is encouraged as we try to date some of the hottest Let's Players on Youtube: The Normal Boots Club! This goes until we finish we finish a story arc or until 6 PM, whichever comes first. If we finish early, I will load up a short game.
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM - Second Recharge Break
This is the second 2 hours sleep break. The stream will be offline during this block, and will be hosting someone else. Tier incentives for the $10 and $40 levels will be honored provided you put a note stating what you'd like added to the mural, and (for the $10 tier) don't mark your donation anonymous. I will fulfill them after I wake up. The other two I cannot easily fulfill, as I will be asleep.
8:00 PM to Midnight - Hug Me Teddy Bears Part 2
$20 yarn color switcharoo reactivated for this block! More bears for a bit as we approach midnight and a new day.

September 11
12:00 AM to 5:00 AM - Stardew Valley Zombie Farm Crawl
Note the $20 tier rewards return to the default food challenge. An overnight festival of farming. Audience participation is encouraged, because I certainly won't know what's going on.
5:00 AM to 9:00 AM - No Sew TMNT Fleece Blanket
One last craft to work on. Let's see how sharp scissors and sleep deprivation mix, eh?
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Coloring and Drawing
I expect to be quite tired and confused by this time, so Crayola to the rescue! Quiplash and Drawful as well, if the chat wishes.
2:00 PM - Stream Ends

Going Through a Third Party vs Directly Through AFSP.org

I contacted AFSP.org a few days ago to let them know I was interested in raising money for them, and to get information and assistance if needed. I learned that AFSP.org has a very simple campaign creator- you make an "about" page and they provide the donations page automatically. I saw that going direct would also change how the donations were used: half would go to the national branch, half would go to the local branch of my choosing. It would also get around that pesky third party cut. It allows donors to choose whether they wanted to pay through Paypal or credit card, though the site doesn't state directly the payment processing fees from those third party handlers.

It's not a bad setup for it, to be honest, and I was seriously considering using it for the above very good reasons.

Tiltify.com on the other hand has much more in depth campaign creator and is made with streamers in mind. It's easy to create incentive tiers, donation amount goals, a schedule, and to edit everything as the stream is rolling. It can embed your stream, and offers a small bar for your layout to track donations and progress.

On the downside, 5% is taken out of each donation, though it is used to maintain the website. They are upfront about payment methods removing a cut as well for processing.  Through Paypal, 2.9% + 30 cents are taken from the donation for processing. Through First Giving Credit Card Processing, 4.5% is taken out, which is higher, but might be available to more people.

Both options have very good points and a couple downsides. They are very valid venues, and I think they serve different purposes.

AFSP.org's simple process is great for a simple campaign. No bells, no whistles. Here is my page, please donate. Tiltify.com is great for a production and a group effort. If I was doing a low-key campaign, it would have been perfect to go through AFSP, and I think for future campaigns I will. However, with a bunch of giveaways, donation tiers, and a virtual marathon of stream time, with things bound to change over the course of the weekend, Tiltify.com seems the best route.

I will still use Tiltify as originally planned for this campaign. There will be a lot going on, and I expect the easier it is to edit things, the better. Expect a maximum of 10% removed from the donation for processing and site maintenance, and a minimum of 8%. About $90 - $92 of every $100 will go to AFSP directely.

I do recommend checking out AFSP.org's campaign creation page should anyone wish to do a much quieter stream campaign, or fund raising in general. It will allow for a higher percentage of donations to go to them, plus you can direct half the raised funds to your local chapter, which is awesome.

On another note, I have been working out a tentative schedule, which I will talk about next update. Just working out some kinks.