I recently had a conversation with LadyKDA, or Lady, who is a member of the streaming community and someone thinking about becoming a streamer. LadyKDA is a member of the newly formed FoxFyre gaming and streaming community and was selected as Featured Fox for December 2018, a recognition of involvement in that community. You should also check out LadyKDA’s Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
Take a moment to introduce yourself! Who are you?
Hiya! I’m Lady. I’m an aspiring content creator and soon to be streamer. I’m a tired mommy to a gremlin. Gamer. Smartass. Let’s 1v1.
What’s KDA stand for in LadyKDA?
Okay, so when I first played SMITE, right, everything was about your Kill Death Assist, or KDA. “Omg! you suck! Your KDA is negative” “Oh my god, I have so many assists because you keep kill stealing” “My KDA is better than yours”. That like … haunted me lmao. And then I played Overwatch. The KDA didn’t matter? It’s a team based game, kill everyone and get to the point. So KDA finally subsided from my brain. Until I started playing Call of Duty. Then here it is again “Omg! Your KD ratio is awful” “You’re a girl you can’t play video games” … And then boom. K/DA. A virtual K-pop group about the females in League of Legends. A fire ignited in me. My KDA mattered again and now it’s time to show these little boys who came to play. And, honestly, I’ve never been more focused. That song woke something up in me and I have actually grown as a gamer in the small amount of time that it’s been out.
How’d you find the FoxFyre community?
I was friends with Sideshow and he brought my long lost twin Veroicone around. We clicked instantly and it was only a matter of time before I was invited to join FoxFyre.
What does being a Fox mean to you? What are you hoping for as part of the community?
Honestly, I’ve never seen a community so caring and tight knit. Everyone cares about everyone. Being a Fox has changed my outlook on the gaming community. This is what a gaming community should be. No matter the skill level, the gender, the age; everyone gets along and has a great time together. I’ve already received what I wanted out of it. I received friends, teammates, and lifelong memories (and dank memes).
I hear the community has inspired an interest in starting to stream? Are you going to take the jump?
Absolutely! Everyone seems to have so much fun streaming and it’s so freaking cool to jump in a stream to just have fun, cheer them on and chat. And, if I’m being honest, I’m a stay at home mom who spends her time cleaning, tending to my daughter, watching cooking shows and playing games. Why not try and stream? I spend so much of my time on the computer anyway.
One of the things, for me, about gaming, that I don’t like is spending tons of time and not having anything to show for it, so, like what you said, I feel like, if I’m going to spend time on something, I should have something to show for it. Basically, I want some creative output, so, for gaming, that means streaming and archiving videos of my streams. It’s kind of a deal I make with myself so I feel like the time I spend on the games wasn’t simply lost. So, hey, yeah! Do it!
There’s a part of me that used to care a ton about Skill Rating, or SR, gain and stuff but now I just like to play it purely for the enjoyment. It kinda sucks the fun out of the experience when someone is going full try-hard mode and being kind of a dick about it. Know what I mean? I have several friends who get insanely competitive when I just wanna play and learn to get better. But not necessarily on a competitive level, if that makes sense and/or answers your question lol.
Who are you hoping to be as a streamer?
I just want to make someone’s day. Even if it’s just one, I’m content with that. I don’t care about being good at whatever game I’m playing (though winning is always fun lol).
Heck yeah, I don’t think I’m good at most of the games I play either, but I think the discovery of the game as I play it is my story, for most of the time. I mean, if people only streamed games they were super good at, all streams would be speed runs and only last 10 minutes or less! Ha!
Basically yeah! like I play quick play in overwatch almost exclusively to see what kind of plays I can get. Can i get 3 people plus in this shatter? Can i get play of the game with this dva bomb? With this solo queueing dva combo with my emp if i get the whole team? I don’t know but we’re about to find out! PRESS Q!
If I can laugh, and make the you laugh in the process, my job is done.
I’m not laughing. Oh, wait. Now I am.
Hehehe, glad you got a giggle in. <3
Any projects other than streaming you want to mention? Any hobbies or interests you want to mention?
I’m in the artsy stuff. Though I’ve never been too proud of it. Here lately I’ve found that spark again and I would want to do some make arts and crafts type streams. I think that would be pretty cool.
Do it!
What’s your current setup like for streaming? Or, what stuff are you hoping to have for your streaming setup?
I have literally nothing for it so far. I’m currently playing on a 720p TV and a tiny $20 microsoft office mouse. But once I get all the things I want to do for it, I’ll send you a “hey look at this!” email. ;)
Cool beans! And, definitely, I agree: stream with the gear you’ve got, for sure. I recently got an Nvidia Shield TV to try out, to play games I can’t on my main machine. I play that on an old TV with mouse and keyboard on the TV cabinet, and I sit on a milk crate turned over with a pillow on it! Totes janky! It’s DIY-awesome! So, I’m right there with you. I think that kind of stuff is part of the journey, part of the story worth telling, too.
Yes exactly! i kind want to do the whole “started from the bottom, not we’re here” kinda transformation picture. I’m excited for it!
What have been your primary resources for information as you’ve been getting ready to stream regularly, on how to do it and set it all up?
Veroicone has been a huge source of help when it has come to my youtube channel setup. She even helped me with editing my first video! Cayden has also a huge help when it comes to info about Twitch.
Cool beans! That’s definitely a cool part of being in a community with other streamers. Figuring things out can be a struggle! Not just when one’s getting started either, as I’ve joked about something breaking every time I start streaming … and it’s not really a joke. I mean, it’s a joke on me, to be sure. But, Murphy is every streamer’s co-pilot!
Oh, good ole Murphy’s Law. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t lol.
Have you gotten any advice about starting to stream that you’ve taken to heart?
Take comments about appearance with a grain of salt. Everyone has their self confidence issues. And people rip you apart on the internet. Also, if you’re looking to stream to only make money, you’re doing it wrong.
Pretty good advice, to be sure, and unfortunately too true. But, hopefully always more fun for you than the other thing as you keep doing it!
I’ve also just understood that blocking someone is way less stressful than being trolled.
Hell yes. No one is owed your attention or has a license to abuse, even if you’re a public live streamer. I must admit that I’ve personally, for various reasons, ended up with a hair trigger and no patience at all. Block quickly and forget easily. I’ve come to believe that is a primary tool to being online, even beyond Twitch. On Twitch I’ve stopped including chat on-stream and have automatic filters turned on at least low. I dread the time I may ever require mods, but, wow, it will be nice to have someone else see it before I do, and ban hammer it flat. I’m happy for interaction from viewers and soever, but that’s got to be a privilege that can be unilaterally revoked or else insanity prevails.
I have thickish skin now that I’ve been apart of the good ole internet for a while now. It took a lot out of me in the beginning. Lots of nasty things said. I will hold a conversation with whomever. But you will not degrade me. That’s not what this is for or about. Let’s just game and have some fun.
What stuff have you played, and what are you playing now?
My very first online multiplayer game to play was Smite. Smite will always have a special place in my heart and I always return after every or every other god drops. I then attempted to learn the ways of World of Warcraft, When the Warlords of Draenor expansion dropped, it just wasn’t for me. I’ve been addicted to Overwatch since the moment it came out. I play Call of Duty pretty often these days too. The Forest is getting a huge update just now actually and I already have it re-downloaded. I don’t really have a “type” when it comes to games. If it catches my interest, I’m normally always down to try it.
Heck, yeah. Play what is interesting and fun for you, and share that with others.
What goals do you have for the future with your stream and in the community?
Even being able to hit Affiliate would be super cool. That’s first on my little goal ladder. I’ll probably cry on my first donation lol. I want my stream to be somewhere a person can be like “Ah! Lady’s on!” and just come and chill. To just like feel at peace to just hang out and have a good time. I used to watch YouTuber GassyMexican’s stream for that reason. They had a segmant called Fu*ked up Fridays and me and my boyfriend would watch it every week. (This was pre-baby of course, so now our TV gets taken over by Frozen and Trolls.)
Oh wow, I’ve lost more TVs that way! I hate having to melt and bury a perfectly good TV when the frozen trolls infest … wait, what? Oh. Never mind.
This was so exciting! Brought me back to the Myspace days when you did surveys on your bulletin board lol!
Oh, you think we’re done, do you?! Muahahahaha. This conversation is an escape room. Good luck getting out.
Hehehe more questions! More more more!
No, sorry. I lied. This interview is as over as Myspace. You’re free to go. Please exit through the Gift Shop.
Awwww, RIP Myspace. Yay Gift Shop!! :D