What is IRL streaming and what do you need to start IRL streaming?

IRL is one of the main genres of streaming, alongside gaming and anything business-related, and is easily one of the most diverse in terms of content. You can find IRL content on most platforms and in most languages. But what is IRL streaming and what does it take to become an IRL streamer? We’ll cover some of the basics in this blog. 

What is an IRL stream?

IRL or “In Real Life” streaming generally refers to the broadcasting of live video content from real world locations and situations. This unscripted format makes IRL content authentic, genuine, and spontaneous, allowing viewers to build stronger connections with streamers.

Some IRL streams are run from stationary setups that include a computer, ethernet cables, and a steady power supply. For example, the IRL category includes live streaming art, running a live feed of animals, aquariums or zoos, and cooking live streams.

However, a lot of the time, people associate IRL to running a live stream from outdoors, like streamers who focus on travel vlogging. If you’re wondering what people might live stream when they’re out and about, here are a few more IRL stream ideas:

• Share your outdoor adventures, including hikes, long-distance motorbike trips, and camping.
• Stream your experiences with tourist attractions, landmarks, unique cultures and cuisines. 
• Invite viewers to join you as you run errands and go through everyday routines.
• Share dances, parties, and local celebrations – with people’s permission, of course! 

There’s a lot of freedom in what you can share with your audience. Plus, once you build a following, you can even start making money from your live stream.

How to IRL stream and build your setup

First, decide on the platform you want to stream to. This depends on the audience you want to reach. It’s always good to do a bit of research beforehand about viewer demographics, and the terms and conditions for streaming. 

How you choose the rest of your IRL live stream setup will depend on your budget and the kind of live stream you want to do. 

An easy way to get started is to live stream directly from your smartphone. Many streaming platforms offer mobile streaming, like Twitch’s IRL mobile broadcasting. You can even multistream using mobile-centric streaming software like Prism Live Studio, which allows you to add overlays and other web widgets.

However, smartphones aren’t without their limitations. There usually isn’t built-in stabilization in phones, and live streaming can drain your phone battery or cause it to overheat. You can find reasonably-priced stabilizer selfie sticks, phone coolers, and power banks to help address these issues.

Several IRL streamers also film from a GoPro, while using their phone as a hotspot. You’ll get better image quality, plus a GoPro has the advantage of built-in video stabilization, and is a lot more suited to outdoor adventures or cramped spaces.

Another option popular with pro IRL streamers is to buy an IRL backpack. IRL backpacks come with cellular modems, battery packs, encoders, and other equipment, forming a portable live studio. This allows high quality live streaming on the move, and you can even customize it to match your needs – however they’re not cheap and can range between $200 to $3,000. 

The non-negotiables 

Regardless of what equipment you decide on, there are some things you should always consider when streaming IRL.

1. Be aware of your surroundings – especially if you’re on uneven ground or crossing a road. Never take unnecessary risks, and always let people you trust know where you are.
2. Monitor privacy and security issues. Don’t film individuals, addresses, and other information without consent. Use cybersecurity protections to keep your content safe. 
3. Secure a fast, reliable connection. No matter how great your camera and audio are, your stream will still lag and fail if you don’t have a solid internet connection. A lot of urban areas will have 5G LTE networks with high speed data, but in more remote areas, you may have to explore other options.
4. Invest in a good mic. Outdoor noise is hard to control, so you’ll want a microphone with good sound isolation and wind protection. A good lavalier mic clips easily onto your clothing, so you can keep your hands free.
5. Find ways to engage with your viewers. If you can’t see your live chat feed, you won’t be able to respond directly to viewer messages. 
6. Plan for hiccups. The unpredictable nature of IRL streaming makes it exciting, but also means you may run into unexpected issues. Figure out what you’ll do when you run into technical difficulties, connection failures, or more serious emergencies. 

Set up your scenes and overlays before going live

Before heading out for your IRL stream, prepare your live stream layouts. Consider creating one scene for your front camera and another for your background camera. Add your live chat widgets and simple overlays to amp up the production value. 

Here at overlays.uno, we have a wide range of free animated overlays that can be controlled in real time via online interface. That means you can edit your overlays as many times as you want without having to download multiple ZIP files! 

If you’re looking for more tips on IRL streaming, or just want to check out how other people have set up their streaming layouts, join the official uno Discord to connect with a growing community of streamers.