A small treatise on some aspects of vTubing and fans thereof
The word of the day is kayfabe. The word of the day is parasocoal. The word of the day is symbiosis.
And this is about why none of these are bad words.
Kayfabe -pronounced 'k-feeb'- is acting a role in real life for a real life audience. It's an wrestling term that dates back to the beginning. It's etomology is a little muddy, some are of the opinion that it dates back from carnie culture and is a corruption of the pig-latinized 'be fake'. Which would be 'ee-bay ake-fay'. But I digress. That's what it is, that's what it means; to act a character and be fake.
Parasocial is, to put it bluntly, to simulate being in a society.
Symbosis is to develop a relationship where both entities give and take to and from each other; both being beneficial to each other in some fashion but also using each other.
A vTuber must have all of these aspects. A vTuber must delineate his or her life from the role he or she is acting, however one must also have some measure of play-acting in their routine. To have a digital puppet that one controls and gives personality to, one must be willing to become caught up in the act and find themselves in that character. So saying: a vTuber must enjoy his or her character. If one doesn't they will invariably grow to hate their job and worse, their fans. Fans who are part of the kayfebe. The act cannot be one sided. For example Jane cannot put on her Rikka Tsuchinoko digital puppet and still allow the fans call her Jane, nor can the fans be allowed to call her Jane. Rikka must be Rikka, Jane must be Jane. Rikka must also allow people to form some small attachments to her, and she some small attachments to them, else the kayfebe shall not work.
That, dear reader, is where parasocial comes in. Faux social. Fake social. You know that Rikka isn't real, I know Rikka isn't real, Jane knows Rikka isn't real. But Rikka must be real for a little while to a few people. Rikka must have likes and dislikes, she must have tastes and things she detests, she must be given life. With that life she must allow her viewers to form an attachment with her, a sort of friendship or at least a feeling of camaraderie, and it it imperative that is also returned on her part. Surely, she mustn't remember every aspect of all her viewers but completely disregarding them is ill advised. Pick out names, remember factiods that are interesting, but above all respond to them. Keep in mind that you must do this with people who are not enrolled to a monthly membership to you, but also free viewers as well. Engagement and the relationship formed of engagement -even if it's a pretend relationship- is important for growth of the vTuber in views and in entertainment factor.
Which leads directly into symbiosis. A vTuber must allow herself or himself to grow and change over time. Not necessarily a character arc featured in traditional media but a growth of ability and confidence. The audience, in turn, will do so as well, changing and evolving just as the vTuber does. Yet, just as the vTuber effects the audience, the audience effects the vTuber. Rally behind him or her and they shall get excited. Multiple users have a bad day all by coincidence? The sour attitudes can make the vTuber become dour and moody. Or, in a reversal, the vTuber can cheer the audience up, give joy and enjoyment in an otherwise bad spot.
All three of these aspects, and many more, are imperative to have a genuine vTuber experience, both behind the rig and watching it. Please be cautious to not break these general guidelines, lest your growth stymie or cease or worse your audience/vTuber leave you. An audience/vTuber that is 'in' on the fun and enjoys themselves are ones that stick around.
