Life Among China’s ‘Apprentice’ Livestreamers

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Making a name for oneself online isn’t as easy as it used to be. For those unwilling to sign a contract with a promoter, apprenticing with an established streamer is an attractive option. “The first thing you need is a handle — something simple, catchy, and easy to remember,” explains Uncle Iron, a well-known livestreamer based in the central Chinese city of Changsha. “Then there’s your bio, which is like your business card, and is written specifically for the fans. You also want to add a little info about yourself and something about your values, or that will attract people.” Uncle Iron’s latest crop of mentees listen intently as he goes through his pre-stream checks, hoping to glean something that could help them jumpstart their own livestream dreams. There are an estimated 15 million people in China working as livestreamers. A handful, like the “Lipstick King” Li Jiaqi or the wildly popular English tutor Dong Yuhui, are bona fide stars, but the vast majority are ………………………………