An Interview with Jackbox Games Ambassador CoolCatChayse, Part 1
Hey gamers, Gnome here! I got to sit down with Jackbox Stream Team Member and Ambassador, CoolCatChayse! She’s got so much wisdom to share, we’re featuring Chayse in TWO blogs!
Recently, Jackbox sponsored an event that CoolCatChayse hosted in Las Vegas. So how did this happen in the first place?
CoolCatChayse contacted Jackbox with an idea for a hybrid in-person and streamed TikTok event. She had a clear plan, including the location, schedule, and budget. This event focused on bringing people together to play games. After speaking with her, we knew we wanted to support the event by helping cover venue costs and providing game keys and merchandise for giveaways.
It was great working with Chayse. She communicated clearly and had a strong vision for her event. We trusted her, and she went above and beyond to make sure both attendees and viewers had a fun experience.
In this first blog highlighting Chayse, we’ll dig into this sponsored event. We hope Chayse’s insight illustrates how Jackbox ambassadors can produce live and streamed events, using Jackbox to foster community.
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Question: Hi Chayse! Let’s jump right in. Last year, you traveled to Las Vegas and hosted a streaming event! Could you tell me more about that experience?
Answer: Last year’s Las Vegas streaming event was a huge milestone for me, both professionally and personally. It was my first sponsored event, and leading up to it, I was excited to bring my CCCommunity together in a new way and represent Jackbox in a live, in-person setting.
The day of the event, however, came with a few unexpected challenges. That morning, I learned that my car back home in Phoenix had been broken into, which was emotionally tough to process from another state. Later that afternoon, a power outage affected a large portion of downtown Las Vegas including the venue where the event was held. At that point, there was a real moment of uncertainty about whether the event could even move forward.
Once the power was restored and I was able to set up, everything clicked into place. The equipment performed beautifully, the setup looked exactly how I had hoped, and all of the anxiety I’d been carrying melted away once the show began.
I locked in and delivered one of the strongest shows I’ve ever hosted. Being in that moment, connecting with my CCCommunity, facilitating gameplay, and creating an atmosphere of fun and inclusion reminded me exactly why I do this. Any stress or uncertainty leading up to the event faded, because I was doing what I love and what I’ve worked hard to build.
Q: Sounds like the CCCommunity really came out in support. You had quite the audience both in person AND online during the event, was it difficult to juggle both elements of hosting?
A: Juggling both an in-person audience and an online audience definitely adds a layer of complexity, and it’s something I approached very intentionally. I went into the event knowing that both groups deserved to feel equally included, even though they were experiencing the show in different ways.
From a technical standpoint, I was running the main show from my travel laptop, using a side monitor to actively read and track live comments, managing a queue system for gameplay, keeping track of our stream goals, and keeping an additional phone on hand so comments could be read aloud in real time. Having those systems in place allowed me to stay connected to the online audience while still being fully present with the people in the room.
[….]I was able to create an experience that made both the in-person and online audiences feel seen, engaged, and part of the same event.
Q: This is really great information for new and old Jackbox streamers alike. Knowing how to manage all the ups and downs of a live event is incredibly challenging, but you did it!
Got a favorite moment from the event?
A: I do have a favorite mome
nt from the event, and it’s one that really captures what the day meant to me. My best friend and collaborator, @MagicMiketheMavenofMirth, was there in person helping me set up, and he can definitely attest to how nervous I was beforehand. Hon
estly, if Mike hadn’t been there, I don’t think the event would have gone nearly as smoothly as it did.
He helped keep me grounded and reminded me of the real reason I was there: To celebrate Party Pack 11, as well as bring people together, just like I do every night during my streams. Having that support in the room made a world of difference.
To top it all off, we were able to give out Party Pack 11 packages to three members of the CCCommunity, and seeing how excited they were was incredibly rewarding. That joy, that shared excitement is what made the entire event feel worth it.
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Are you interested in joining the Official Jackbox Games Stream Team or becoming a Jackbox Ambassador? We’re always looking for passionate, creative, and dedicated gamers to work with!
