> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://livepeerfoundation-d4522ba3.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Choose an orchestrator

> Evaluate orchestrators on the factors that actually drive returns — reliability first, commission second — before you bond.

Choosing an orchestrator is the most consequential decision you make as a delegator. A well-run
operator with consistent reward calls and fair commission earns you meaningful returns; a poorly run
one can earn you nothing even with an attractive headline commission. Do this work in the
[Explorer](https://explorer.livepeer.org) before you bond.

## Before you start

You need LPT on Arbitrum One, a little ETH there for gas, and a wallet connected to the Explorer. If
that's not done yet, see [Acquire LPT on Arbitrum](/network/guides/delegator-acquire-lpt).

## Step 1 — Confirm active-set status

In the Explorer, filter to **currently active** orchestrators and open each candidate's profile. If
an operator isn't active now, your stake helps them compete for activation but **earns no round
rewards** until they're active.

## Step 2 — Check reward-call reliability

This is the first real quality gate — check it **before** commission or branding. Look at the recent
reward-call history.

| Strong signal                                    | Weak signal                        |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------- |
| Near-perfect reward calling across recent rounds | Frequent missed rounds             |
| No recent streak of misses                       | Long gaps                          |
| No sign of being underfunded for gas or absent   | Recent inactivity with no recovery |

A missed `reward()` means the whole delegator pool simply misses that round's inflation — there's no
catch-up. Common causes are operator downtime, poor automation, or running out of gas.

## Step 3 — Compare commission terms

Two settings, moving in **opposite** directions for you:

* **`rewardCut`** — the % of inflationary LPT the orchestrator keeps. **Lower is better.** `10%` means delegators share the other `90%`.
* **`feeShare`** — the % of ETH fees passed to delegators. **Higher is better.** `80%` means delegators share `80%` of fee revenue.

<Warning>
  Current Explorer surfaces show **Fee Share** (passed to delegators), not "fee cut." So for fee
  share, higher is better; for reward cut, lower is better. Don't let a great `rewardCut` distract
  you from weak reliability (Step 2).
</Warning>

## Step 4 — Check concentration and resilience

After reliability and commission, look at how much of total bonded stake the operator already
controls:

* Are they comfortably active, or just above the cutoff?
* Are they already highly dominant?
* Are you comfortable adding to that concentration?

From a pure-yield view, big operators aren't automatically better. From a network-health view,
delegating only to already-dominant operators worsens centralization.

## Step 5 — Look for durability

For meaningful positions, also weigh: how long they've been active, visible governance participation,
whether they communicate publicly, and whether their history shows consistency rather than one good
month.

## Selection checklist

* [ ] currently active
* [ ] reliable recent reward-call history
* [ ] acceptable `rewardCut` (lower is better)
* [ ] acceptable `feeShare` (higher is better)
* [ ] not uncomfortably concentrated
* [ ] durable enough for your risk tolerance

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I delegate to more than one orchestrator from one wallet?">
    No. One bonded position maps to one orchestrator per wallet. Use separate wallets to split.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if my orchestrator later becomes inactive?">
    Your stake stays bonded but stops earning round rewards until they return or you redelegate.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How much ETH should I keep for gas?">
    A small, reusable Arbitrum ETH balance for the initial delegation plus later claims,
    redelegation, or unbonding. Think "small reusable balance," not a fixed dollar amount.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Delegate your first LPT" icon="hand-holding-dollar" href="/network/tutorials/delegate-your-first-lpt">
    Execute the bond now that you've chosen.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manage your delegation" icon="gauge" href="/network/guides/delegator-manage">
    Claim, compound, redelegate, and exit.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>