Guidelines for the Stream Manager and Handler

Stream Manager Guidelines

Primary Responsibilities

1. Chat Moderation:
   • Monitor chat for inappropriate, disruptive, or off-topic messages and remove them as needed.
   • Enforce audience guidelines to keep the focus on the project’s themes and purpose.
2. Audience Interaction:
   • Curate chat messages to share with the artist.
     • Only relay messages that are constructive, meaningful, or relevant to the project.
     • Use discretion to avoid overwhelming or distracting the artist.
   • Manage audience-driven commands (e.g., tether adjustments) and enforce cool-downs and stacking limits.
     • Ensure the channel-point tether commands are only a maximum of four 5-minute segments per hour.
     • While the bit-point tether commands are unlimited, they should be monitored to not significantly affect the art process.
     • Ensure no more than two tether commands are active simultaneously.
3. Technical Oversight:
   • Monitor the stream’s audio, video, and camera feeds to ensure high-quality output.
   • Adjust camera angles or focus as necessary to highlight the art, artist, or symbolic elements (e.g., mitts, tethers).
4. Communication with the Artist:
   • Provide only the information the artist is allowed to know (e.g., thematic suggestions, chat messages that align with project goals).
   • Maintain the agreed level of ambiguity regarding time, audience size, and chat actions.
5. Safety and Flow:
   • Work closely with the handler to ensure the artist’s physical and emotional well-being.
   • Step in if audience actions become overwhelming or if the project risks losing its focus on the art.

Handler Guidelines

Primary Responsibilities

1. Mitts Management:
   • Ensure the mitts remain securely in place for the duration of the session.
   • Adjust or tighten the mitts if they become loose or risk coming off.
   • Override any artist attempts to remove the mitts, while being mindful of their physical comfort.
2. Tether Adjustments:
   • Execute tether commands provided by the stream manager in a timely and controlled manner.
   • Adjust tether tension, length, or placement as required by chat commands or project parameters.
   • Ensure tethers remain functional but not overwhelming, maintaining balance between restriction and artistic focus.
3. Physical Interaction:
   • Use the gait belt handles to guide or reposition the artist as needed, based on project parameters or commands.
   • Avoid excessive or unnecessary physical intervention to keep the focus on the art.
4. Safety Oversight:
   • Monitor the artist’s physical condition and intervene if necessary (e.g., for hydration, discomfort, or unintended strain).
   • Notify the stream manager immediately if a situation arises that requires pausing the project or overriding audience commands.
5. Symbolic Presence:
   • Represent the theme of care-giving and control by actively engaging with the symbolic restrictions (e.g., adjusting tethers, applying resistance through the gait belt).
   • Maintain a balance between support and limitation to reinforce the project’s message.

Shared Responsibilities

1. Maintain Project Integrity:
   • Ensure that all actions align with the project’s themes and objectives.
   • Avoid introducing unnecessary elements or distractions that detract from the focus on the art.
2. Ensure the Artist’s Safety:
   • Regularly check on the artist’s physical and emotional well-being.
   • Have a contingency plan in place for emergencies or if the artist requires a break.
3. Encourage Audience Engagement:
   • Facilitate meaningful participation from the audience while keeping their influence balanced and controlled.
   • Redirect off-topic or disruptive engagement back to the project’s themes.
4. Collaborate Effectively:
   • Communicate clearly and consistently between roles to ensure smooth execution.
   • Resolve any unforeseen issues quickly and discreetly to maintain the flow of the project.

Key Considerations for Both Roles

• Prioritize Art: The focus of the project is the art, not the restrictions. Ensure that all actions, commands, and interactions support this central goal.
• Symbolism Over Sensationalism: Reinforce the project’s themes of autonomy, control, and resilience without allowing restrictions or audience influence to overshadow the message.
• Adaptability: Be prepared to adjust plans or strategies based on the artist’s needs, audience behavior, or unforeseen challenges.