The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

When spects play as characters, they’re freed to say and do anything. They no longer need to worry what others might think because they’re playing as characters, not themselves. Spects can play in whatever way they like, and when it’s over, chalk it all up to the character.

Why require spects to be vulnerable, playing as themselves, while inter-actors play within the guise of characters? When everyone plays as a character, it levels the playing field.

The problem is, if left to their own devices, spects tend to play as themselves. They need permission to become fictional. This is why you endow them as characters. Your endowment gives spects permission to play as characters within the safety of the cloak of fiction.

The best character endowments are those that spects enjoy. Base your endowment on your read of them. Cater to their spect archetype. Some like being heroes. Others enjoy being rebels. Endow spects with characters that reflect the qualities that they exhibit. If she seems maternal, she could be your mother. If he seems philosophical, perhaps he’s a guru. It’s easier for spects to play characters that are somewhat like them.

When endowing characters, it’s good practice to assume a small world. Your character knows their character. This makes it easier to endow the following character elements.

Name – The first thing that you usually endow is the spect’s character name. It lets them know that they’re playing as someone other than themselves. When endowing a name, don’t phrase it as a question. Some spects will correct you with their real name, removing the cloak of fiction. (“Louis?” “No, I’m John.”) You can still ask questions, just don’t make their name part of the question. (“Welcome back, Louis. How was the vacation?”)

Occupation – It’s easier for spects to play when they know their character’s occupation. Are they a vagabond, a movie star, a kindergarten teacher? Knowing what they do makes it easier to engage in the fiction.

Relationship – Spects need to understand how their characters are connected to yours. Physicality and familiarity are a good way to endow a relationship, but don’t stop there. “Hey, sweetie,” accompanied by an affectionate pat on the shoulder could imply a girlfriend and boyfriend, a mother and son, or a waitress and customer. Endow relationships with oblique offers, but be sure to clarify the implications with a defined offer.

When endowing relationships, you’re also getting spects activated. If you endow them as your peers or subordinates, beware of instructing them. This gets in the way of them finding their own agency. When you endow spects as your superiors, it’s easier to avoid instruction.

Be aware when endowing romantic relationships. Sexual orientations vary. Spects may be willing to play an orientation other than their own, but stay alert for resistance and adjust the endowed relationship if necessary.

Normally, you endow a name, position, and relationship, then leave the rest of the character up to the spect. Occasionally there are times when other locked elements of character need to be endowed.

Backstory – If you need to endow the spect’s backstory, you can do it without sounding like bad exposition. Say how you feel about the past event, or assume that you know how the spect feels about it. Even if spects correct you, the backstory element still gets established.

Lucy pours Fiona a cup of tea, then pats her friend’s hand. “Fiona, I know your divorce wasn’t easy.” Fiona shrugs it off. “Actually it was. Probably the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Traits – Sometimes the spect’s character needs to exhibit a trait. You can endow a trait by using “If anyone is, it’s you.” This type of endowment works best when it aligns with how spects see themselves or wish they could be seen.

“If anyone is strong enough to get through this bankruptcy, Alan, it’s you.”

Actions – Actions are difficult to endow. Spects only accept endowments that they’d be willing to initiate themselves. A spect who wouldn’t play her character as unfaithful is unlikely to accept it as an endowment. If the behavior is something the spect would initiate (but hasn’t) it’s easier to endow. You endow an action by assuming that the spect has already done it, and responding accordingly.

Isabelle endows the spect as having done something thoughtful. “Thank you for the flowers, Milo. I thought everyone had forgotten my birthday.”

Goals – Another aspect of spects’ characters is the goals they pursue. One way to endow goals is to establish the context within which they would normally be accomplished.

To endow the spect’s goal of picking up her daughter at daycare, the inter-actor greets the spect with, “Mrs. Harrison. Amber had a great time playing with the other children today. I’ll go see if she’s ready.”

Goals can also be endowed through mild resistance.

The inter-actor endows the spect’s goal of visiting his father in the hospital. “I’m sorry, but we only allow family members to see patients during visiting hours.”

The reason to endow spects with characters is to wrap them in the cloak of fiction and give them a starting place from which to play. Leave most of the character up to the spect. It’s how they make the story their own. Only endow additional elements when the story requires it.