200 episodes tracked since 2020 about →
Episode 298: Manu Smith, Mystery Pinball Theater 3000
PodcastAnalysis updated 2d ago37 min listen
A staple at Free Gold Watch in San Francisco and on his very unique Twitch channel, hear more from Manu about his pinball loves, Willy Wonka, other streamers, video tips... and dancing.
Highlights
- Free Gold Watch was the reason Manu started streaming at all; Matt Henry and the San Francisco Pinball League inspired him to build a streaming rig
- Manu built a virtual pinball cabinet called Mystery Pinball Theater 3000 approximately 11 years ago (around 2009-2010) as the foundation for his streaming setup
- Personality is more important than technical equipment for successful streaming; upgrading cameras or lighting alone won't increase viewers
- Most pinball streamers with serious equipment investments earn back far less than they spend; it is a passion-driven hobby, not a financially viable endeavor
- Free Gold Watch has 50+ pinball machines and is a major competitive hub with top players including André Massé-Koch, Brian O'Neill, Zach Wollens, Eric and Louise Wagonsoner
- Manu streams only three days per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) from a mix of home and Free Gold Watch
- Manu's YouTube channel 'Pull My Focus' focuses on digital filmmaking education and has about 150 videos; it serves as both a marketing tool for his post-production company (Pixel Valley Studio) and content that helps pinball streamers
- A video about 'How to use OBS over Zoom' got 21,000 views while a video about video lighting got only 282 views, suggesting demand shifted during 2020 pandemic
Notable quotes
“Freegal Watch was the whole reason why I stream at all.”
“I am fully aware, and I tell this to everyone, that 99% of the stuff I do on my stream is absolutely ridiculous and not necessary...It's a manifestation of my personality.”
“It's the person they want to hang out with. It is the reason I watch different streamers, listen to different podcasters. The content, it's all the same, right?”
“I don't show up to Jack to see pinball. I show up to see what is he going to say next.”
“You invest a lot of money when you're a streamer, and it's not like the little bits and follows and subscribes. No, they don't even come close to paying for the amount of money you put into it.”
“I hate everything jeff i hate everything up to the point where i hit stream i am not kidding you”
“It's when we're done. It's doing the editing. It's like, oh, my God.”
“Look, don't think we're telling you not to do this, but be clear on why you're doing it.”
Entities
- Willy Wonka· game
- Free Gold Watch· organization
- Pixel Valley Studio· organization
- San Francisco Pinball League· organization
- André Massé-Koch· person
- Carl D'Angelo· person
- Courtney Schaffer· person
- Deadflip· person
- Derek Lipkin· person
- George (Don't Panic Flip)· person
- Greg Creech· person
- Jeff Teolis· person
- Manu Smith· person
- Matt Henry· person
- Micah Smith· person
- Paul Marino· person
- Victoria Shen· person
- Wolfman· person
- Mystery Pinball Theater 3000· product
- Pull My Focus· product
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