Behind the Screen: What it Takes to Be a Content Creator
At Sessions College, we’ve noticed a fast-growing number of students who aspire to become content creators themselves. We were thrilled to sit down with Tristan to demystify the industry and explore the reality of content creation:
- Getting Started: How first-time creators can take the leap without waiting for perfection
- Essential Tools: The gear and software you actually need to get started
- Revenue Streams: How creators transition from passion projects to sustaining a full-time career
- Expert Advice: Practical strategies for building resilience, staying passionate, and handling the highs and lows of the algorithm.
Whether you’re a designer looking to branch out into animation or a student dreaming of launching your own channel, Tristan’s journey offers an invaluable roadmap for turning creativity into a career.
Getting Started as a Content Creator
Tristan’s journey into digital media began early. Growing up, YouTube was his primary form of entertainment, and like many in his generation, he was heavily inspired by the early era of Minecraft YouTubers. Those early creators sparked a desire in thousands of young gamers to transform their hobbies into creative outlets and eventually, sustainable careers. Tristan also cited the iconic fan-made web series Red vs. Blue created by Burnie Burns and his channel, Rooster Teeth. This series heavily influenced the direction of Toadsmoothie’s own Destiny-centered animated projects later on.
For years, video creation and editing remained a hobby for Tristan. However, when the pandemic hit, he began publishing content more consistently and describes those early days as a “slow burn”—a phase where he could throw ideas at the wall to see what stuck without the pressure of a massive audience.
The turning point came in May 2021. After applying for a job at a local pet store, Tristan turned down the offer that same day. Why? Because one of his videos crossed the 1,000-view threshold faster than anything he had published before.
As he put it, “Something about the style, the editing, the storytelling…it really resonated with people.” That rapid validation not only unlocked YouTube monetization for his channel but provided the confidence he needed to take on his content creation, full time.
The Tools of Content Creation
When Tristan published his first Destiny video years ago, he was armed with only a laptop, a $15 Blue Snowball microphone from Amazon, and Sony Vegas Pro editing software.
Over time, he was able to upgrade his hardware and software but emphasized that, “upgrading is a luxury, but it’s definitely not a need….you’re going to want to a microphone, a computer or phone of some sort, and editing software.”
The right tech stack depends entirely on the type of content you want to produce. For example:
- For short-form mobile content, such as for TikTok or YouTube Shorts, a smartphone and free editing app like CapCut are all you need to get started.
- For long-form gameplay and tutorials, you’ll need a computer, a dedicated microphone, and a more robust editing software like DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, or Adobe Premiere Pro.
While many independent creators teach themselves through trial and error, mastering industry-standard tools can accelerate your workflow. At Sessions College, we help creative students build technical mastery in professional software like Premiere Pro, equipping them to bring more complex visions to life.
Ultimately, technology is just the vehicle. The most vital tools any creator brings to the table are completely free: your unique perspective, your creative individuality, and the confidence to put your work out into the world.
How Do Content Creators Make Money?
Transitioning from a hobby to a full-time career in content creation requires diversifying your income. While lots of revenue stream options exist, the main ones powering the modern creator economy include:
Ad Sense (“The YouTube Paycheck”): Once your channel hits eligibility milestones, YouTube gives creators the ability to monetize their channels. This means that when you turn on Ad Sense, your video will qualify for ad breaks and displays and as the owner of the channel, you receive a kick-back for those ads.
Sponsors: As your audience and view counts grow, brands may reach out to sponsor segments within your content. These typically involve flat-rate payments for reading or displaying an integrated ad, which provides a vital financial safety net during dry spells.
Patreon: Ideal for creators with a dedicated community, Patreon allows fans to support you through monthly paid memberships (ranging from a few dollars a month to higher tiers). Creators offer specialized perks in return, such as exclusive Discord channels access, freebies, or one-on-one time with you over a video call.
YouTube Memberships: Some creators offer YouTube Memberships, typically for around $5/month. This allows your followers to get exclusive access to content that you put up just for them and often allows for special perks they can use during live streams as well.
Twitch Subs: Users can subscribe to their favorite streamers on Twitch so that they can skip the ads while watching you stream. This also affords them exclusive access to different community-created emojis, callouts during stream, or other perks defined by the creator.
Merch: Some content creators find success in offering shirts, hats, and other merch for sale but it’s profit margins are often thin, making it more complex and typically less lucrative than other options.
While there are certainly more revenue streams possible than what’s listed above, these are the main sources that the majority of creators today use.
Advice for Aspiring Content Creators
If you’re looking to turn your passion into a sustainable channel, Tristan’s blueprint comes down to a few fundamental rules for survival and growth in a crowded digital landscape:
- Find Your Niche: Focus on what genuinely interests you where you can offer a fresh perspective. Standing out with a unique angle prevents your work from getting drowned out among the millions of other uploads published every day.
- Prioritize True Passion: As Tristan notes, you simply won’t last without it. This sentiment is echoed across the broader creator community: top streamers often pose the ultimate litmus test: Do you enjoy the work so much that you would keep doing it regardless of what it pays? With millions of active creators competing for attention, the work itself has to be its own reward.
- Build Resilience for the Lows: Content creation comes with inevitable ebbs and flows. You need the willpower, patience, and emotional tolerance to weather drops in viewership without losing your drive.
- Keep Your Expectations Grounded: While setting big goals like reaching a million followers is exciting, go into the space with realistic expectations. Focus entirely on what you can control like making cool stuff, staying authentic, and having fun along the way.
Whether you are looking to master professional editing software, explore motion graphics, or simply share your creative passions with the world, the journey of a content creator starts with taking that first step. Tristan Becker’s path from a basic setup to a thriving community and directing cinematic fan projects proves that success doesn’t require a Hollywood budget—it requires patience, authenticity, and a relentless love for the craft. Stay curious, keep creating, and remember that the best stories are the ones you are excited to tell.
Build Your Portfolio With Us
If you are a high school graduate, you can study with experts in the industry by becoming a student with Sessions College. With various program levels available, students are able to build out their own education journey.
- Begin with the 24-credit Undergraduate Certificate in Digital Media. Learn the fundamentals of digital media production and begin building a body of work along the way.
- Advance to a 72-credit Associate Degree in Digital Media. Build advanced skills in filmmaking, video, and motion graphics, learn to market your skills, and finish with a guidance-backed portfolio.
For information on more Live Events from Sessions College, visit our Sessions Live page.
Jessica is the Lifecycle & Content Manager at Sessions College. Whether she is producing live online events, managing the Discord community, or designing helpful email communications, her focus is always on enhancing the student experience. Read more articles by Jessica.
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