Dreamscape’s Mission Takes Shape at Hannibal YMCA
Dreamscape’s Mission Takes Shape at Hannibal YMCA
In 2018, Hannibal YMCA’s Group Fitness & Aquatics Coordinator reached out to Dreamscape Foundation seeking guidance and assistance on how to make their YMCA facility – and its programs – more accessible. The effort was inspired by one of their wheelchair-bound members, Audrey Pickett, who wanted to be more involved but was facing accessibility challenges at their facility.
Dreamscape Foundation immediately responded, and has since been providing advice on accessibility options and resources, as well as contributing funds to support the programs and equipment that would make accessibility possible.
The collaboration sparked a movement; one driven by Audrey’s determination to make the world more accessible for herself and others. She experienced firsthand how the fitness equipment and programs at the YMCA can improve her life, her personal strength, and her mobility.
Beyond that, she found a sense of community at the YMCA that accepted her, encouraged her, and offered opportunities to be involved with the organization. She wanted other individuals in her community with disabilities to have these same opportunities. Thus, Dreamscape Foundation remained in contact and continued to support her in these efforts.
Below is an update on her story.
From Student to Instructor: Audrey is an Invaluable Asset to the YMCA
In addition to her attending her physical training sessions, Audrey is now an instructor teaching Pound classes at the same YMCA that she helped evolve to accommodate accessibility needs. The class is a high energy cardio, conditioning, and strength training program that utilizes special drumsticks called “Ripstix.” The exercise uses these sticks to combine rhythmic beats with Pilates- and Yoga-inspired movements, and is easily modified to suit participant’s unique level of abilities.
“When I first started taking Pound two years ago, I didn’t ever think I was going to be teaching it,” Audrey confessed. “I didn’t even think I was going to last a class. But then I kept going back.”
When asked about how the last two years have impacted her, she said, “It’s made me a better person, and it’s made me stronger. I realized that I can do more than I thought I could do.”
Audrey has always enjoyed teaching and has desired to do so in some capacity. However, being a Pound instructor at the YMCA is an opportunity she never imagined would be a reality when this all began. She attributes her growth to both her dedicated practice and effort as well as the support of the people around her.
Beyond teaching, Audrey is also an active YMCA volunteer. Recently, she helped assemble food boxes for their USDA-funded food program called Meals On The Go. The program provides one week’s worth of food per box for youth ages 18 years and younger.
“I love this place,” Audrey said. “It’s my second home.”
Audrey continues to serve as a huge driver for accessibility at the YMCA. Her voice has led to several changes, including adapting the handicap restroom to be more accessible.
“Audrey mentioned that the stall was very tight, and she really couldn’t get in there, turn her chair and shut the door,” said Hannibal YMCA CEO Eric Abts. “And we appreciated that perspective. We moved on it pretty quickly, and got it switched over. Now it’s better for everyone.”
Looking forward, Audrey aspires to continue to grow, expanding her capabilities as a Pound instructor and possibly return to school to expand her education.
“I wanted to say we’re extremely thankful to Dreamscape Foundation for making this possible,” Eric said. “You guys have been wonderful. We’ve had this relationship with Dreamscape for well over a year now and it’s just been a blessing.”
« PreviousJohan Yusof Reaches for the Stars in This 5-Day Charity Event
Johan Yusof Reaches for the Stars in This 5-Day Charity Event
Johan Yusof may have first graced the streaming community with his handsome voice and smooth dance moves in 2018, but when it comes to singing and dancing, he is a seasoned veteran. Yusof began performing on stage 21 years ago, planting his roots in theater before branching out as a Japanese pop (J-Pop) singer.
Before COVID-19, he could often be found performing at anime conventions across Malaysia and Singapore. However, the pandemic restricted live performances, spurring this multitalented artist to connect with his audience via a safer, digital venue: Twitch.
Johan Yusof Becomes a One Man Show on Stream
Like so many across the globe, COVID-19 had a significant impact on Yusof’s career and aspirations. As the world cocooned within the safety of their homes, he found himself pressed to find new avenues of income.
Thus, Yusof turned to Twitch, making it his new stage. He brings energy and entertainment as a one-man show on his channel, which consists of a mix of him dropping moves in Just Dance, playing video games, singing, doing impersonations, and even acting out dares posed by his viewers.
“I’m glad I had streaming to fall back onto,” Yusof confessed. “Even though it’s not very easy, I’m glad that at the very least, this is something that I could do at home and be able to make the best out of it.”
Although singing is his self-proclaimed first love, dancing also holds a special place for Yusof. His mother was a professional dancer whose career had her performing at festivals, on stage and even on television. Now that she is retired, he feels the need to take up the baton.
“Part of the reason I’m dancing a lot on stream is because I want to continue carrying on my mom’s legacy as a dancer,” he said.
For those who have never tuned into Yusof’s streams, they’re like a party with an open invitation. He dances in a room illuminated by colorful lights, and engages with an active chat in between songs and requests. The experience is, in many ways, more intimate than the concerts and shows he put on previously. It offers a two-way street that allows viewers to become a part of the experience rather than simply observing it.
“I enjoy connecting with people from all different walks of life, to have that kind of interaction, to be able to chat with a lot of people, and to get to know them,” he said. “Putting on a show at the same time is something I find something very, very, valuable to me. It’s something that I really enjoy and really cherish.”
To him, it’s not just about performing but making his viewers feel happy.
Johan Yusof’s “Five Days of Fireworks” Takes Flight in July
When Yusof first received the invitation to do a fundraiser for Dreamscape Foundation, he felt the need to dig deeper into the non-profit’s mission and the ways it uses its funds to help others. The more he learned about our mission, the more he felt compelled to support it.
“Dreamscape’s MO [modus operandi] is basically to help out those within the disabled community, and I feel that what I do streaming, or gaming, or even dancing or singing for that matter, is for everyone to be able to enjoy whether they able-bodied or not,” he said. “And if there are ways for the disabled community to do what they love to do, what they want to do, and what they’re passionate about doing, without having to be forced to conform to any sort of limitations, I would love to help them out in any possible way.”
That help will be taking the form of a multi-day fundraising event called “Five Days of Fireworks.” Scheduled to take place from July 1 to July 5, the schedule is as follows:
- Thursday, July 1, 2021:
- Just Dance 2021 (9AM – 1PM EST)
- Friday, July 2, 2021:
- Karaoke JOYSOUND for Nintendo Switch (9AM – 1PM EST)
- Just Dance 2021 (9PM – 1AM EST)
- Saturday, July 3, 2021:
- Either Mario Kart 8 Deluxe / Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (9AM – 1PM EST)
- Sunday, July 4, 2021:
- Just Dance 2021 (9AM – 1PM EST)
- Monday, July 5, 2021:
- Just Dance 2021 (9AM – 1PM EST)
To participate in this event, tune into Yusof’s Twitch channel, and donate by visiting the Tiltify Campaign.
« PreviousNext »VoidedMods Invite You to Join Family Game Night
VoidedMods Invite You to Join Family Game Night
Freckles and Farce, GranDaddySkulls, Legend of Layne, and ItsAMeWolfie were once moderators (aka “mods”) for the same Twitch streamer. During that time, they found chemistry and friendship beyond taming the Wild West that is a streamer’s live chat. But in 2020, those duties came to an abrupt end.
“Recently, the person we had been modding for decided to step away from Twitch and continue on their own path, and we looked at each other and went, ‘Well, we can’t just stop. We love this.’ So we decided to start our own stream,” Skulls explained.
The departure of the streamer they modded for triggered the birth of their own streaming channel on Twitch called VoidedMods.
The Streaming Quartet and Their Community
The streaming quartet may share a history as moderators, but each of them has their own personality.
Freckles “brings the weird” to their streams and community. She’s known for dropping random facts and bringing humor and levity to the conversation.
Layne delivers “high BS energy” and keeps the conversation flowing.
Skulls feeds off of Freckles’ humor, expanding on the inevitable odd fact and fueling the banter within the conversation. They are also the one that “goes after the money”, meaning they encourage opportunities for monetization within the stream to help fund the VoidedMods channel.
Wolfie, by contrast, is the grounded one. He serves as the anchor that brings this high-energy, fun-loving group back down to Earth.
Together, they create an atmosphere that draws in a diverse and inclusive community that is as much a part of the VoidedMods stream as the streamers themselves.
“I would consider us variety streamers, as we play a different game every time. But as a Twitch stream, I would say we’re very community based,” Layne said. “Everything we do, all the decisions we make, and the games that we play [are] for the people on our Discord server. It’s all based on what we hear from them.”
When VoidedMods aren’t engaging their viewers live on stream, they’re actively communicating and hanging out with them in their Discord server, The Lost Void, where they hold all kinds of activities, including movie nights and open mic nights.
VoidedMods Takes Pride in Creating an Inclusive Environment
One of the biggest things VoidedMods prides themselves on is the inclusiveness of their community. All of them are members of the LGBTQ+ community, and they actively speak out on their desire to create a place where people feel welcome and safe.
Periodically during their stream, viewers will see a message that says, “On this stream we, the VoidedMods, believe that black lives matter, black trans lives matter, women’s rights are human rights, we condemn anti-Asian violence and hate, we support the rights of disabled people, and we embrace the entire rainbow of the LGBTQ+. If you do not align with these beliefs, you are free to leave but please leave in peace.”
It’s this kind of message and motivation to create an inclusive environment that inspired them to support Dreamscape Foundations mission to bridge the accessibility gap.
“[Dreamscape Foundation] really goes along with our usual ‘charity wants,’” Skulls said. “We want equality, we want people to feel welcomed, and we want people to have the world to be accessible to them… We want people to come into our community and feel like they have equal rights and equal love and equal attention. A charity like this meshes so well with what we’re trying to put together for our own community.”
Join in on the Fun and Games in VoidedMods’ Charity Stream
On June 26, 2021, VoidedMods will put on a charity stream that aims to raise $600 for Dreamscape Foundation. The theme is Family Game Night.
“I kind of came up with this concept because we’ve always seen ourselves as a family,” Freckles said. “We’re going to be doing different games that are common for families to play [like] Monopoly and Uno. We might throw in Scribble It! because it’s kind of like Pictionary.”
Want to be a part of this fun-filled Family Game Night? You can tune in from anywhere. The charity stream will begin at 2:30pm EST on their Twitch channel and is scheduled to last for at least six hours.
« PreviousNext »Drop Into MrsGothicc’s Fall Guys Charity Stream on May 16, 2021
Drop Into MrsGothicc’s Fall Guys Charity Stream on May 16, 2021
MrsGothicc’s Twitch handle may sound a little dark, but don’t let the name fool you. This non-profit streamer designed her channel with a bright mission in mind: to raise funds for charities. Dreamscape Foundation will be the beneficiary of her efforts in May as she launches a charity stream with a target goal of raising $500 for our mission.
MrsGothicc’s Humble Beginnings as a Gamer and a Streamer
MrsGothicc’s first console was a Nintendo 64, where she played classic titles like Donkey Kong 64, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Super Mario 64. Back then, gaming was a casual hobby that she engaged in off and on. However, when she bought an Xbox 360 to entertain herself in between her studies in college, it leveled up her love for gaming. She attributes this renewed passion to a game called Bioshock. It quickly became her favorite, sparking a long-term love affair with the franchise.
MrsGothicc entered into the streaming world in early 2020 as a way for her and her husband to have fun together during the global pandemic. With the world on lockdown, it became their shared hobby. The pair began with a simple setup, streaming directly from their Xbox One consoles to Microsoft’s now-retired platform, Mixer.
Through this experience, she quickly discovered that streaming wasn’t just about watching people play video games. It was about community, and the connections people formed over it.
“Meeting people through streaming is one of the biggest saving graces over the last year,” she said.
Using Her Streaming Channel as a Vehicle for Charity
After Mixer closed, MrsGothicc moved her channel over to Twitch where the vision and purpose for her channel began to take form.
“When I started to get into [streaming] more, I saw it as an opportunity to help people,” she said.
Prior to the pandemic, MrsGothicc actively volunteered with her local Ronald McDonald House Charity chapter, which helped to provide medical care and assistance to sick children and their families. However, health-related restrictions due to the pandemic put those effort on pause. Thus, she turned to streaming as a new avenue for giving back.
She set out to gain affiliation with Twitch in order to use her channel as a vehicle to raise funds for charity. Her goal was to upgrade her equipment and become a Twitch affiliate over the span of a year, but it happened much quicker. By December 2020, she achieved her objective.
Now she is a part of Sidequest, a team with more than 60 members ranging from newly affiliated streamers to seasoned streaming veterans. They conduct multiple charity events each month, both as a group and through individual efforts.
“It’s important to be a good ally – having a community that not only cares and supports others but also tries to do what they can to help those in need. Be the love and light we need in the world because that is what will make a difference.”
Join MrsGothicc on May 16 at 1:00PM EST to Raise Funds for Dreamscape Foundation
MrsGothicc will be holding a Fall Guys-themed charity stream benefitting Dreamscape Foundation’s mission on May 16, 2021. This 6-hour stream-a-thon will include multiple ways for you to earn prizes and interact with her via your donations:
- Donate $5: Receive a charity garland ring and Fall Guys sticker
- Donate $10: Choose the spice level for the “Spicy Bean Boozled” dare
- Donate $20: Choose a way to hinder MrsGothicc’s Fall Guys gameplay for 5 minutes by:
- Making her wear starry eye goggles
- Preventing her from swearing
- Make her play the game with her controller held upside-down
- Donate $50: Make her purposely lose the match by:
- Jumping off the map
- Standing still while others try to complete the map around her
The goal is to raise $500 for Dreamscape Foundation’s mission. Rewards for MrsGothicc’s community for achieving – or exceeding – these goals include a Dr. Thiccrespect E-Sport Stream (at $500 raised) or a stream where she cosplays as JarJar Blinks while playing Star Wars games (if $1,000 is raised).
To participate, tune into MrsGothicc’s Twitch channel Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 1:00PM EST.
« PreviousNext »Shellieface to Host Dreamscape’s next Charity Stream!
Shellieface to Host Dreamscape’s next Charity Stream!
Move over Baby Shark, there is a new family in town! Meet Shellieface, Papaface, Mamaface and Sisterface. This close-knit family is taking the Twitch community by storm and winning over the hearts of followers. Shellieface, legally known as Michelle Saliba, never thought her cute, but silly nickname would make the impact it has today. “Everything in the community now is Teamface. When I play Animal Crossing my island is called Islandface, or whenever we name characters it’s Somethingface and it’s like a huge joke,” she explained. “Even my parents joined Twitch and their handles are Papafacesays and Mamafacesays. It’s like a brand now.”
A Family Affair
With Shellie’s family being so supportive, not to mention involved in her streaming, you might be surprised to learn that she was not the first one to join the platform. “My sister joined Twitch first and has her own little handle, but we joke that she’s my number one hype woman,” Saliba laughed. “She’s the Michelle Obama to my Barack Obama.” The family support doesn’t end there. Michelle’s support also includes her brother-in-law, cousins and even her aunt. “I’m like this is so amazing that the family is getting involved,” she shared. “I love it.”Shining the Light
“Mental health is something that I think has been kind of underrated and under looked at. It’s so sad to see that not many people give it the foundation and the attention that it needs to keep us happy, moving and growing,” Shellieface explained. “I like to promote something where, you know, people can have their own light at the end of the tunnel.” The streamer shares multiple different options with her community, including one she uses herself called TalkSpace. With the added impact of the pandemic, as well as having a background in Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Saliba made discussing the topic of Mental Health Awareness a priority within her community.Making a Difference the Michelle Way
Michelle has always felt a calling to help people, but because she holds onto what other people share she knew being a counselor was never an option. Then, she was introduced to life coaching. “I’m actually looking at applying to programs now to become a life coach,” she shared. “I want to integrate that into my channel, so that I am available to help people in my own safe capacity where it’s not detrimental to myself. I can still assess people and help them get where they need to go in their comfort zone.”Shellie the ASMRtist
Sharing resources and life coaching are not the only ways Shellieface provides comfort to her community. “ASMR, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is essentially a tingling sensation that you can get, it’s just kind of like a reflexive response to a particular sound,” the streamer informed. “How it’s done is you turn the gain up on the microphone, speak in a very soft voice or sometimes not at all, and you just kind of do repetitive, gentle sounds that normally could be considered annoying, but when it’s done correctly is very soothing.” For anyone unfamiliar with ASMR, compare it to playing a white noise machine at night because it helps you sleep.Friday Night Fun!
This Friday, May 7, join Dreamscape Foundation and Shellieface in raising money to provide accessibility for individuals living with disabilities during our charity stream event starting at 8 pm EST. “The most important aspect of [the stream] is the awareness and the knowledge,” Michelle explained. “Knowledge to me is exceptionally powerful because then people can research it more, ask how can I make this better, and it only takes a handful of people to look further into that foundation to help. That’s what promotes the change.” « PreviousNext »Glinda Who? The Charity Witch on Twitch is Here To Make Magic!
Glinda Who? The Charity Witch on Twitch is Here To Make Magic!
A parent’s job is never done; an old, yet timeless, saying. Growing up is full of valuable life lessons we learn from our parents. Not only is a parent a child’s first teacher, but in many ways also their last. Voice actor, charity streamer and cosplayer Tiffany Witcher credits her mother for molding her into the woman she is today. “She told me when I was very young that the moment you let someone’s negativity encourage you and you give up is the moment you fail,” Witcher shared. “She said you should never give up on something you want.” Myra, Tiffany’s mother, wanted her daughter to follow her passions regardless of her disability or anything else, and what better way than to share her own.
A Mother’s Influence
“We did this thing together called Pets on Wheels, where you take your dogs to places for people who are disabled, to hospitals and retirement homes, and things like that. You take your pets, and they basically get to touch a dog and be closer to an animal that they unfortunately don’t have the opportunity to be close to,” the voice actor explained. “At the time, I was very young, so I would just kind of just be off in the corner while she did her work, but as an adult I see like all the stuff that she’s done for so many amazing people and touched on so many people’s hearts.” Like many of us, Tiffany did not fully understand what her mother was doing until much later in her life, but when she did it changed her forever.The Greatest Good Is What We Do For One Another
On April 11, 2017, Tiffany lost her mother due to Lupus, a disease that she shared with her mother. It wasn’t until Myra’s funeral that she really understood just how many people her mother touched. “She was a teacher, but she not only impacted students, she impacted people,” the charity streamer described. “There was someone that came from Pets on Wheels, and Girl Scouts came that she watched after when they were kids, who are now adults. It was just an amazing realization to see like so many people there celebrating her life just really touched me, honestly.”Continuing The Legacy
As Tiffany continued coping with the death of her mother, she found herself going through some of her mom’s old things. Unbeknown to her, she found out that her mother was also active in charities. “I was like, man, she did so much for other people and gave so much of her time, so other people could have better. I want to do the same thing,” Witcher recalled. “At first it started out with charity tables I would set up at conventions for the Lupus Foundation, and educate about lupus because that’s the disease that I have and of course the disease that took my mother.”“You do charity just because you just want to do some good and not get anything in return.” – Tiffany Witcher
During this time, Tiffany was already an active streamer on Twitch who openly talked about accessibility and chronic illness on her channel. Wanting to do more on the platform, she decided to do a charity stream to raise money for the Lupus Foundation. Once she discovered the potential of charity streaming, the Lupus Witch, also known as the Charity Witch on Twitch, was born. “I stopped doing the tables, and really started to dig into streaming to the point where I made a personal goal to do three charities a month, expect for the Month of May because that’s Lupus Awareness Month,” the Charity Witch on Twitch shared. “My anniversary is going to be in May; I started charity streaming May 2019, so my two-year anniversary is coming up.This Is Just The Beginning
Two years down and forever to go. In just two years, Tiffany has become an active member of six amazing stream teams, raised over $26,000 for charities, and was featured on the front page of Twitch for Black History Month and will be featured for Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The Lupus Witch has accomplished so much in such a short period of time, and has big goals for the future. “I want to get partnered, so I can make a charity stream team of Vtubers from all different backgrounds, and come together to have Vtubing charity streams every month,” she explained. “It’s something that I really have been pushing towards these last couple months.”Accessibility Advocate
Talking about mental health and physical health is an important part of being a charity streamer, but for Tiffany Witcher it is personal. “Another reason why I talk about a lot of chronic illnesses and accessibility in games is because I notice things for myself that need to be changed on the platform. I suffer from Lupus, Epilepsy, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren Syndrome,” she informed. “There’s so much that needs to be fought for on Twitch whether it’s the trans tag, warning tags, or just the safety and well-being of the viewers and the streamer.”Join Us For A Wicked Good Time
Dreamscape is bewitched to announce that we are partnering with the Charity Witch on Twitch herself, Tiffany Witcher, for a 12-hour charity stream this Saturday, May 1, starting at 7:30 am EST to provide accessibility for those living with disabilities. “I’m doing this in memory of a woman that did this basically as long as I knew her as a kid,” the Charity Witch opened up. “I’m doing this in her memory, fighting for her honor, and I know what I am doing is right. I know that deep down in my heart.” Prepare for fun, laughs, games and a few surprises from the witch herself. « PreviousNext »FOXDIE Gets Hardcore During His Two-Day Charity Stream with Dreamscape Foundation
FOXDIE Gets Hardcore During His Two-Day Charity Stream with Dreamscape Foundation
Imagine a life full of travel, adventure, freedom and treasure. Sounds good, doesn’t it? As Captain Jack Sparrow put it, “always be yourself, unless you can be a pirate. Then, always be a pirate.” For the last three years, Jake Cooper, better known as Foxdle, has gotten to experience the pirate lifestyle thanks to the video game, Sea of Thieves. “People love piracy; people love the sea, sailing, that freedom,” Cooper shared. “I think that is why I really enjoy the game is the freedom.” Foxdle’s love for Sea of Thieves got him recognized by the game’s developer, Rare, and he became an official partner of the game.
The Game That Changed It All
Although Jake had been streaming off and on for the past six years, it wasn’t until he found Sea of Thieves that things changed. “When this game first came out and I saw it, I was like that is a game that I could literally stream every single day for thousands of hours,” he recalled. “And I did, and I built a community around that.” After building his community, Cooper knew he wanted his channel to be different, and different it became.Standing Out
“I went with a different approach than most streamers that I base my characters around my appearance on stream, so I will wear my pirate outfit that I wear in game,” Foxdle explained. Not only can viewers expect cosplay on the channel, but they can expect a unique approach to playing. Jake likes to challenge himself and push the limits of what he can do in a game. “For instance, I spent probably thirteen hours trying to transport a barrel of snakes in a game for no reason once so ever, something difficult, something different,” he described. “The developers of the game noticed it and they made it an easter egg in the game because they liked it so much.”If You Build It, They Will Come … To Your Etsy Shop
When thinking about giveaways for the channel, the streamer said he wanted his giveaways to matter. “I started with skulls from the game that you normally sell for gold,” Foxdle stated. “I would do monthly giveaways and they were really popular, but the demand was so high that people were willing to pay for them and it went from there.” The demand for his replicas pushed Jake to open up his own Esty Shop. To create the 3D models, the gamer uses a virtual reality software called Oculus Medium to mold virtual clay with his hands. After the design is created, the process continues with printing, painting and sanding before the replica is complete.Not Just A One Game Man
As a streamer, not to mention a life-long gamer, Cooper’s ultimate goal is to become a variety streamer. “I think as you grow as a streamer and you aren’t locked down to a single game that people naturally will go to something else,” he admitted. “Everybody will want to be a variety streamer at some point, you cannot play the same game for five years straight and not get bored.” For Jake, he plays whatever appeals to him, and currently that is Valheim. Valheim is a survival game, and in true Foxdle fashion he puts his own twist on how he plays the game. “Right now I am playing it where I have done pretty much everything before with no risk, and now I am playing it on hardcore,” he explained. “I like the challenge, so what that means is if my character dies then I will delete my character and restart from fresh.”Playing Valheim for Charity
Get ready to risk it all during this two-day charity stream with Dreamscape Foundation as we team up with Foxdle this Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20, starting at 10 am EST. We will be raising money to provide the assistance that is necessary to meet today’s numerous disability needs through technology for those living with disabilities. Join us for some guaranteed entertainment, celebrated wins and unfortunate losses during this hardcore run Valheim server base. “The idea is to be hardcore where the viewers jump in, but when their character dies they have to leave and then invite someone else in,” Jake shared. “It should be really good.” « PreviousNext »It’s A Rocket League Of Their Own Charity Stream with Thanovic and Dreamscape
It’s A Rocket League Of Their Own Charity Stream with Thanovic and Dreamscape
Everyone loves a good transformation story; rags to riches, weak to strong, tears to cheers. In the case of Ethan Robson, better known as Thanovic, he went from timid to talking. “Before I went to uni I was incredibly shy,” Robson recalled. “Even in my first year of uni, I remember I didn’t speak to anyone for the first six days of class and it was 9-5.”
Thanovic went from being a shy introvert to having a large online following. Today he has 125,800 followers on Tiktok, 242,000 subscribers on YouTube, and 82,100 followers on Twitch (March 11, 2021). Not too bad for the quiet kid.
Overnight YouTube Sensation
Before Robson became the well-known streamer he is today, he was just a regular college student enrolled in courses, working a part-time job, and playing video games. “I was in university for stage and screen acting, and I was working a job as a waiter, as all unemployed actors do,” he laughed. “I was playing [Rocket League] in my spare time.” Ethan started uploading videos to YouTube as something to do on the side while looking for acting jobs, and then his YouTube channel took off. Soon after his YouTube success, New Zealand went into lockdown. Thanovic decided to use this time to try and grow his following on two other very popular social medias, Twitch and Tiktok.“Tick tock on the clock, but the party don’t stop, no.” – Ke$ha
As the most downloaded app of 2020, TikTok is not a social media platform to underestimate. “I decided to get on TikTok because all the content creators I had spoken to said this is the best way for growth,” Thanovic told. “I was sitting on 200,000 subs on YouTube at that time, so I was like I think people will recognize the name on TikTok and people will follow because this is Thanovic I know from YouTube.” Ethan definitely had the right idea, and his followers on TikTok jumped from 4,000 to 100,000 in one month. Due to his success on TikTok, the content creator used the platform to promote his Twitch channel.The Perfect Balance
“There’s a very different thing between my YouTube and my Twitch,” Robson explained. “On YouTube it’s all about education and kind of helping, and on Twitch I don’t really want to be doing the same stuff.” While each platform serves a different purpose for the streamer, they both focus on his love for Rocket League (RL). Ironically enough, Thanovic was not always a fan of the game that he ultimately built his career around. “I didn’t originally like it, but then I got addicted because I was bad at it,” he admitted. “I really liked the high-skill ceiling and knowing I have a long way to go.”Creating Your Own Path
Ethan’s dedication to improving his game has come full circle and made an additional lap. On YouTube, Thanovic’s channel is filled with informative gameplay, tips and tricks for improvement, and an opportunity for fellow RL players to ask questions. His channel caught the attention of one of the owners of GamersRdy, who asked if he was interested in building a RL course for the website. “He said you can do whatever you want on the course, but you are known as the tutorial guy, so I think it would be good to have you on board,” Robson recalled. “I ended up making a course from beginners to what was the top rank of the game; essentially furthering up on the stuff that I do on YouTube to help players of all ranks get to that next step.”Rocket League Charity Stream
Join Dreamscape Foundation as we team up with Thanovic for his first ever charity stream this Sunday, March 14, at 2 am EST. This charity stream will provide people with disabilities the tools and resources they need to achieve independence, and improve their accessible access in their everyday life. “If all I have to do is stream to help out a charity, it feels wrong not to,” Ethan admitted. “I am looking forward to this one a lot.” Get ready for some fun, entertaining and competitive one-on-one games with the RL educator himself. It’s time to get your head in the game. « PreviousNext »RabbitHouse Reaches New Heights for Dreamscape’s Charity Stream
RabbitHouse Reaches New Heights for Dreamscape’s Charity Stream
Can playing video games really rot your brain? For gamers who grew up in the 80s or 90s this question dominated the minds of parents and teachers alike. In the case of Connor Cunningham, better known as RabbitHouse, playing video games, more specifically Pokémon Silver, gave him the desire to learn how to read at a young age. “I guess that most kids would just sort of mess through all the text and get past it, but I was so into it that I was like I have to know everything, I have to be able to do everything,” Cunningham recalled. “Every word, ‘dad, what does this word mean? Mom, what does this word mean?’ Eventually it got to the point where I was able to play it on my own.” Not only did video games positively affect Connor’s life intellectually, but spiritually as well.
“Do you always need a reason to help somebody?” –Ash, Pokémon
RabbitHouse’s love for video games led him to watch gaming streams. “When I was a kid there was this group called the Speed Gamers, and they were trying to complete all the Pokémon games that were out at that point,” he shared. “I thought it was the coolest thing ever to go through all of that and raise money for St. Jude while they do it.” Eventually, Connor’s passion and interest in charity streams was too strong to ignore. “It got to a point where I was thinking, I could do this,” he recalled. “I’m confident in my ability to put together something like this, and really do something special.” As a charity streamer, Cunningham hopes that each stream he does is a little bit bigger than the last one to the point where he can eventually really make a big difference.Strength in Numbers
“The decision to start streaming as my way to make a difference comes from my thought process of what can I do that is the most immediate that can make the most impact right now?” RabbitHouse explained. “I have this moment that I am in right now and I won’t get this moment back, so what can I do to do the most with this moment?” Connor admits that the experience of COVID-19 last year left him frustrated in wanting to make a positive change, but feeling like he couldn’t make a difference. “The way you are going to do it is by coming together with other people, and coming together makes you all much stronger than you could be individually,” he stated. “I want people to know that they can be a part of something like this.”Sky’s the Limit
Cunningham has been defying the odds since day one. “I was born with a congenital heart defect called transposition of the great vessels, so basically when I was a baby all the tubes in my heart were kind of tied up in the wrong way” he described. “If I had been born 20 years earlier the surgery that fixed me wasn’t around at that point, so I wouldn’t have even made it.” Being born with this defect caused Connor to perceive himself as delicate or fragile, but as he got older his perception changed. “I made it through being a kid and I’m still here. I have a shot here,” RabbitHouse shared. “I’m at a point now where I am playing with house money, and everything from day one has just been icing on the cake.”Battle Royale for Accessibility
For his third official Charity Stream, RabbitHouse will be teaming up with Dreamscape Foundation this Sunday, February 21, from 7 pm – 10 pm EST to raise money for accessibility for individuals living with disabilities. “Unfortunately, a lot of people in that type of situation are brushed aside in today’s world,” Connor shared. “It’s an opportunity to step up and help out in a way that I haven’t done yet, so I am really excited to work with Dreamscape Foundation on this.” Cunningham will be playing the Battle Royale game Eternal Return. Time to put your strength, ability and wit to the test. « PreviousNext »Serreph is Dreamscape’s Own Guardian Angel for Charity Stream
Serreph is Dreamscape’s Own Guardian Angel for Charity Stream
To quote the great Dr. Seuss, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” For Brian Martin standing out was not always that simple. “I have the most common legal name in the world, so much so that there are twenty-six people with my first and last name in my city,” Brian Martin explained. Martin may not stand out in his Missouri town, but in the world of streaming he is one of a kind.