This is not a guide for those that want to be lewdtubers/erotic vtubers

[Delroy]

What this is/isn’t​

This isn’t meant to be a guide on how to be a virtual cam performer. It is a collection of information that might be useful to someone who is interested in doing this. My hope is that by posting this other people will be encouraged to suggest improvements and corrections. Or even be so incensed to make an actual good guide to prove me wrong.

Also I’m going to be using the term “Model” to refer to the 2D or 3D digital avatar that the performer uses. This is the standard terminology in digital animation but unfortunately overlaps with the term used for a performer.

You are not going get Projekt Melody Numbers​

Lots of people have seen how many viewers and tips Projekt Melody gets and have thought. “I could do that and be as successful as she is”. Melody’s success is a combination of talent, marketing and opportunity that can’t be repeated. She is now a big name by general audience vtuber standards. If you measure your success by comparing yourself to her you are going to end up burnt out.

Most lewdtubers get viewership in the 20-200 range. Quite a few lewdtubers have to have other sources of income in addition to NSFW streaming, For example voice acting, motion capture acting, SFW streaming…

Helpful Technical Links​

The following are links to useful information about the technical sides of setting up a vtuber avatar. These are primarily designed for general audience vtubers but information also applies to lewdtubers.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Fofamit


https://www.youtube.com/user/CloverFoxWolf

It is important to keep in mind the following things:

• A technically “better” model doesn’t mean a stream will be better.
• When commissioning a design it is important that your character designer and rigger know what it is going to be used for. This is important for consent and also so they know what to rig.
• Pay your artists. You should not perform for nothing and you shouldn’t expect others to either.
• Make sure you have all the copyrights sorted out on your model.

The Penis problem​

“vroid studio” a popular tool for building vtuber avatars doesn’t support penises. If this is an issue you might have to use a different tool.

Talk To Your Site​

Talk to the site you intend to stream via before you start streaming. Make sure that they know what you intend to do and that you can comply with their requirements.

Your Voice​

Since your body is hidden behind your model your voice becomes the primary means of connecting you as a person with your audience. In a way you lewdtubing has much in common with voice acting or phone sex operators. Describing to the chat what is happening to you, what you are feeling is a key part of the experience.

However even if something sexual isn’t happening to you at this moment you should be avoiding dead air by discussing things that interest you, promoting upcoming streams, dirty talk, making little calls to action to encourage chat participation (eg “I love how my butt looks from this angle do you?”). Getting someone to type “Yes” makes it easier for them to type something more, this gives you stuff to bounce off of and reply to which builds the parasocial relationship you have and encourages tipping.

Health And Safety​

In addition to the health and safety risks that are associated with camwork lewdtubing has some additional risks,

Since your voice is important and you are going to be doing a lot of talking you need to ensure the health of your vocal cords. There are guides on line for voice actors and singers about warm up exercises, what you should and shouldn’t drink and other considerations to protect your voice. If you do decide to speak using a tone that is not your normal one. Ensure that it is one that doesn’t require you to strain as this can in the long term cause serious damage.

Many VR and motion capture rigs are physically taxing to wear for a long time, especially if you are moving a lot (for example dancing, crawling on the floor etc). Combined with the expectation of a certain amount of energy most lewdtuber performances are around 2 hours long.

Culture​

Lewdtubing culture draws a lot from general audience vtubing culture and game streamer culture. Watching their performances will help you understand what is expected of you. A fictional persona isn’t required (this is me using a vtuber avatar is perfectly acceptable) but people do enjoy the fantasy. Revealing your real face isn’t as taboo as it is in the general audience Japanese scene but you most likely will wish to indicate what content has your real face if that is something you are sharing because some members find that immersion breaking.

Vtuber etiquette discourages members talking about other performers in your chat, unless you mention them first. Having your mods police that especially when it is phrased in the form of a comparison (eg “You are better the X”) is going to help keep your chat nontoxic.

Avoid implying (even if you believe it) that vtubing is less difficult than flesh and blood streaming. Doing so besmirches the skill and effort of your fellow vtubers many of whom will have fans in your audience. You are basically insulting other entertainers and indirectly the people who enjoy them. It’s not something that will end well.

Avoid overlapping if possible. The audience for lewdtubers is small and at this point in time directly competing is going to split both your audiences. That being said their is a benefit to starting a stream just after another vtuber has finished.

Mods​

Most motion capture technology makes typing difficult and even if you can type there are better things to be doing with your hands. Mods are needed in order to ban spammers and disruptive people from chat. Mods can also act as hype people to encourage chat interaction when it is flagging.

 

[AudriTwo]

Mods
Most motion capture technology makes typing difficult and even if you can type there are better things to be doing with your hands. Mods are needed in order to ban spammers and disruptive people from chat. Mods can also act as hype people to encourage chat interaction when it is flagging.

orrrr you can use bots to help with spam/flagged words. on pornsites mods can be the absolute worse, and its best to not trust a stranger with your business/audience. if you need mods, make sure its someone you trust and able to hold them accountable.

sites that give you the option to mod also have bot/app support.

 

[Delroy]

Honestly the idea that a mod wasn't someone know and trusted was so strange to me I didn't even consider it worth mentioning. A random stranger shouldn't be made a mod. I'll do some revisions in the morning.

 

[AudriTwo]

Honestly the idea that a mod wasn't someone know and trusted was so strange to me I didn't even consider it worth mentioning. A random stranger shouldn't be made a mod. I'll do some revisions in the morning.

you cant edit posts after 15 minutes.

newer models sometimes mod their big spenders only for it to blow up in their face. mods can sometimes sabotage the cammodel, un/intentionally. they can bogart the room and chase away members with tokens. model then is afraid to do anything about it because the mod spends.

 

[Delroy]

you cant edit posts after 15 minutes.

newer models sometimes mod their big spenders only for it to blow up in their face. mods can sometimes sabotage the cammodel, un/intentionally. they can bogart the room and chase away members with tokens. model then is afraid to do anything about it because the mod spends.

Well that's a pain. I'll edit my local copy and make sure I take on your points.

Lewdtubers almost universally make use of mods. Bots are a helpful tool but they don't allow the model to do things like say "Mods can you post a link to my socials in chat"[1] or "Oh its /that guy/ again mods ban him". At least once a session someone is going to join the chat totally confused why a "cartoon"[2] is on a streaming site and there needs to be someone to explain to them what is going on. At least for vtubers mods are typically friends of the model or from the developers who are creating the custom software that the streamer uses.

I totally agree modding a big spender is a mistake and the importance of getting a mod who understands what you want to do with your room and is on board with your vision.

[1] Yes you can have bots set up to post links like that on a regular basis. I haven't found anyone who likes that.
[2] Not a word I would use. That c-word is very close to being taboo.

 

[AudriTwo]

Lewdtubers almost universally make use of mods. Bots are a helpful tool but they don't allow the model to do things like say "Mods can you post a link to my socials in chat"[1] or "Oh its /that guy/ again mods ban him". At least once a session someone is going to join the chat totally confused why a "cartoon"[2] is on a streaming site and there needs to be someone to explain to them what is going on. At least for vtubers mods are typically friends of the model or from the developers who are creating the custom software that the streamer uses.

you could easily use macros/steamdeck with saved texts to send that out instead of relying on someone else to do so. my mouse has a numpad which i can easily select my saved texts. it's also not hard to ban someone even if you are in the middle of whatnot. three easy clicks. its okay to ignore them for a few minutes while they make a mess of themselves.

 

[Delroy]

you could easily use macros/steamdeck with saved texts to send that out instead of relying on someone else to do so. my mouse has a numpad which i can easily select my saved texts. it's also not hard to ban someone even if you are in the middle of whatnot. three easy clicks. its okay to ignore them for a few minutes while they make a mess of themselves.

I get that this works for you and most likely every other model who streams their real life bodies with a cam.

Motion capture gloves cuts down on fine finger control significantly. Operating a keyboard and mouse is not something that can be done with ease. Lewdtubers have settled on using mods. I'm am writing what the scene has settled as the solution to unique problems that they have.


Off topic. As someone with dysgraphia its good to see a dyslexic person out and about.

 

[AudriTwo]

I get that this works for you and most likely every other model who streams their real life bodies with a cam.

Motion capture gloves cuts down on fine finger control significantly. Operating a keyboard and mouse is not something that can be done with ease. Lewdtubers have settled on using mods. I'm am writing what the scene has settled as the solution to unique problems that they have.


Off topic. As someone with dysgraphia its good to see a dyslexic person out and about.

huh thats super neat. i have only seen ones where the hands are pre-animated. man technology is getting cooler. within 2 years, everything has changed so much.