This Thursday, September 3, the ZEvent concert, the charity marathon on Twitch, takes place at the Sud de France Arena, in Montpellier. This event marks the start of the tenth and final edition of the French live donation drive. For three days, from September 4 to 6, 333 streamers will do everything to raise as much money as possible, for the benefit of 22 associations.
For 20 Minutes, the creator of the event, the streamer Zerator, who immediately establishes familiarity with his interlocutor, agreed to explain why he chose to stop ZEvent, and what he plans for the future.
Why did you decide to end ZEvent?
Because we believe we have reached the end of this loop. Today, we have already done charity work before ZEvent, we will do it afterwards, we know that. But we prefer to stop when it’s at its best so that people keep good memories, have one last big party. It’s already incredible to have managed to last ten years. But here, we think that we want to leave room for others, and also be able to refresh our minds and do other things around charity, and leave ZEvent with everything it has managed to build over ten years.
But this decision represents a major loss for the associations, right?
So obviously, any event that disappears is a dead loss for the associations. However, I think we still managed to show that ZEvent gave rise to other events. Proof that in reality, one event allows for several events. So, whether ZEvent stops today or not, there are more and more associations that will be helped. Today there are almost ten charity marathons per year, it’s really absolutely colossal. Certainly, not all of the magnitude of ZEvent, but I think that in the end, we still have a lot of associations who will be more and more in demand. In any case, if we asked ourselves the question: “Isn’t that a shame for the associations?” ", we could even do a ZEvent every weekend, there are so many legitimate fights.
Speaking of associations, how did they react when they heard the news?
The associations are quite happy to be selected, honestly. But I also received messages saying that it was a shame, indeed, because it’s not necessarily easy to raise funds. It's getting worse and worse as the years go by. Because of the climate we are in, with the policies and also the fact that it is the crisis for most people. But their reaction is not too negative, because they are already very happy to be present. For our part, it has always been difficult, because we have always had to refuse associations, despite their all legitimacy to receive funds.
You were talking about stopping so that people would have good memories. Did you feel any weariness from the spectators?
I don't think there is viewer fatigue. Most people tell us it’s an amazing time. Indeed, there are streamers who, sometimes, have already told us: “I have the impression of having done the trick, I no longer know what to invent with my donation goals” [Editor’s note: challenges carried out by streamers at each level of donations reached] but those remain details. Today, if we stop, it is also to let some air and stop at the peak of what we know how to do.
ZEvent had to face several controversies and several criticisms, did this impact your decision?
People also said to me, are you stopping because it’s been criticized a lot or what? Critics are already in the minority. You should know that the ZEvent remains extremely positive 99% of the time. As I often say, if I had to stop at the first weariness or the first criticism, ZEvent would have stopped eight years ago, I think.
Did you expect to create something this huge at the start?
Honestly, it was impossible to anticipate. We started in a house, in a living room, by connecting the cables ourselves and we raised 170,000 euros the first year. It was already incredible. We said to ourselves: “but we will never do better, it’s impossible. » Today, we literally do a hundred times more since we make 16 million. The first time I felt the scale of what we were doing was in 2018, the ZEvent which raised the first million. It moved me to tears. I said to myself: “but it’s crazy, how far is this story going to go? »
Do you have a donation goal for this final year?
Years before, I said, if we don't beat him, it's not a big deal, it will already make a lot of money. This year, I'm starting to tell everyone, "Come on, we have to blow things up." » We made 17 million last year almost. There, making at least 20 million would be incredible. That would close this chapter in a very nice way.
