Training Tips for Inter-actors

Best Practices For Skill Development
by Jeff Wirth

published: 2024 Interactive PlayLab (e-book)

As Vince Lombardi reportedly said, “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” If you’re going to practice, do it right.

This 40-page handbook draws entries from the Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance to introduce tips, tools, and technologies to improve the practice process. It offers simple, practical advice to make your training more effective, efficient, and fun.

Contents include

Warm-ups – Create a routine to enhance training and performance.

The four stages of training – Steps to include in every training session.

Drills, exercises, scene work, and free play – A progression of approaches, from intentional to intuitive.

Skill quest – A method for fast-tracking the development of any skill.

Tools, not rules – How to stay creative and innovative while learning skills.

Training journal – A simple training tool that improves every facet of the work.

Wristwatch – An old-school tool to enhance a critical aspect of scene work.

Gimme Getter – A mobile app for random suggestions, including emotions, status behaviors, lines of dialogue, and more.

Transcription tools – A list of free voice-to-text apps that are critical when developing characters.

Experiential character development – Best practices when playing characters in public spaces.

Hosting rehearsal spects – How to recruit and take care of rehearsal spects at training sessions.

Debriefing spects – How to get the most out of interviews with spects after they’re done playing.

After action review – A post-play practice from Navy SEALs that leads to continuous improvement.

Solo training – Ways to practice when there’s no one else to play with.

If you want better results from the time you spend training, this book is for you.

This book is available for free with your purchase of Interactive Performance 101 or Interactive Performance 101 – Teacher’s Edition.