Even if you already have a YouTube channel, you’ll need to follow some of these steps in this guide to make sure you can livestream. This will take some time to complete, but you only have to do it once.
To set up your first exclusive YouTube Live Event we’ll walk through the following:
- Verifying and activating your YouTube channel for Live Events
- Creating a livestream post on Patreon
- Managing comments for your Live Event
Important: If you don’t yet have a YouTube channel, click here to create one. Please note that you’ll need a Google account in order to set up a YouTube channel.
Verify your account and activate for Live Events
Step 2: Click the camera plus sign icon, and select “Go Live.”
Step 3: To verify your YouTube channel, select whether you’d like to receive a one time text or phone call and enter your phone number.
Step 4: Enter the code that you receive.
Step 5: You’ll need to wait 24 hours for your YouTube channel to be activated for Live Events. Once your account has bee activated, you’re all set to have your first livestream!
Creating a Live Event on YouTube
Note: If you are using the Classic Livestreaming version for YouTube Live Events, please go here for instructions on how to create your Live Event.
Follow the steps bellow to create a Live Event on the beta version of YouTube Studio:
Step 1: While logged in to your YouTube account, click the camera plus sign icon, and select “Go Live.” Ensure you're on the WEBCAM option.
Step 2: Give your Live Event a title, and select the date that you’ll go live. You’ll also want to select the option to keep your Live Event unlisted, so that it isn’t listed on YouTube.
Step 3: Click Next! YouTube will ask to take a picture for your thumbnail. Don’t worry – you can upload a different image after you’ve created your Live Event.
Step 4: Click the Share option, and copy the link that appears. This is the link you’ll use for your Livestream post on Patreon.
Using YouTube’s Classic Livestreaming?
Step 1: While logged in to your YouTube account, click on Events from the Live streaming section of your Creator Studio.
Step 2: Click the + New live event button.
Step 3: Give your Live Event a title, and select the date that you’ll go live. You’ll also want to select the option to keep your Live Event unlisted, so that it isn’t listed on YouTube.
Step 4: Click Create Event.
Step 5: Select your Live Event thumbnail and select single-use key, or reusable stream key. Save your changes. Once you’re done, click the back button to go to your Live Events manager.
Step 6: Grab your Live Event link. This is the link you’ll use for your Livestream post on Patreon.
Posting your Livestream link to Patreon
Step 1: Select the option to create a new Post, and choose “Livestream” from the options.
Step 2: Select the option to Use YouTube Live.
Step 4: Enter your YouTube Live link in the field provided. You’ll see your preview thumbnail appear.
Step 5: You’ll need to create a title for your post, and select who you’d like to have access to your livestream.
If you’re planning on starting your livestream immediately, feel free to publish your post now.
If your livestream is several days away, we recommend publishing a teaser post to get patrons excited, and schedule your post to publish an hour or so before you go live. You can let patrons know the exact time you’ll be live in the title, or description of the post.
Managing comments on your Live Event
While your YouTube Live Event will play from your Patreon livestream post, comments that patrons leave on the YouTube Live Event directly (on YouTube’s site) will not populate in the comment section of your post.
The same is true for your post comments – if patrons make a comment in the comment section of your Patreon post, it will not populate on the comment feed of your YouTube Live Event.
Example of comments on both pages:
To ensure you’re getting both sides of the conversation, we recommend having both your post page, and your YouTube Studio page open at the same time. That way you won’t miss any of your patrons’ comments.
Want to turn comments off for your YouTube Live Event?
You can control whether or not you allow commenting directly on your YouTube Live Event. You’ll want to take this step while you’re setting your Live Event up.
After you’ve titled your Event, and scheduled the time, click More options > Advanced settings and toggle off the comments.
