The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

Questions need answers. If you can’t come up with an answer, it limits the ways in which you can serve the spect and the story. Here are some ways to make answering questions easier.

Answer with ease – When someone asks you a question, relax. It’s not a race to the answer. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Take your time and allow the answer to be simple and obvious.

Answer before you know – Trying to think of an answer can lock up your brain. If this happens, go before you know. Start speaking before you know what you’re going to say. Let the details appear as they come out of your mouth. It’s a leap of faith to answer before you know, but with practice, answers will show up, even when you don’t know what they’re going to be.

Answer with confidence – Curiously, questions are easier to answer when you speak with confidence. If you feel uncertain on the inside, speak with assurance on the outside. Answers will show up more easily. If you have trouble coming up with an answer, don’t stall. Speak with confidence and answer before you know.

If you don’t understand, ask – If you don’t understand a question, ask for clarification. Echo questions are especially helpful for this.

“Who’s your POC on the mission?” “POC?” “Your point of contact. Who is it?”

Direct answers

Simple, straightforward answers work well. Unless you’re doing it for story purposes, there’s no need to equivocate. If you’re asked a question, answer it clearly and directly.

Answer the unspoken question – The most important answers are often to questions that don’t even get asked. When spects don’t understand what’s going on, they tend not to ask questions for fear of looking stupid. You can recognize when they have unspoken questions because spects play more hesitantly. Put yourself in the spect’s shoes. What is unclear? Identify the unspoken question and answer it clearly and directly.

Gage is roughhousing with the spect in a friendly and physical way, but the spect is holding back because he’s questioning who this inter-actor is supposed to be. Recognizing this, Gage answers the unspoken question by saying, “Come on, you’re still my little brother. Don’t they teach you self-defense at the police academy?”

The answer is “yes” – Answering yes is not a rule. However, it is a useful principle. When spects ask questions, they’re often asking permission for something to be true, even when a positive response might lead to a negative outcome.

“We don’t have to work this weekend, do we?” “Yes, we do.”

Keep it simple – Answers don’t have to be longwinded. Short, simple answers are fine. They invite spects to dig deeper.

“Have you ever killed anyone?” “Of course.” “What do you mean, of course?!”

Keep it between you – Good scenes focus on the characters who are present. To keep the scene about you and the spect, answer questions in a way that builds a connection.

“Where are you going for your vacation?” “Athens, and you’re coming with me.”

EXPANSIVE ANSWERS

Answers can do more than just provide basic information. They can also introduce exposition and insights, while including a bit of style.

Answer with additional details – One of the simplest ways to give an expansive answer is to include additional details.

“What did you see?” “Only one guard; their security here is a joke.”

Answer with a reveal – Answers can be used to reveal important and surprising information.

Billy has been flirting with a beautiful stranger whom he met in a bar. When he asks to see her again, she responds, “I think one evening has been enough or me to see what my half-brother is really like.”

Answer with a point of view – When you answer a question, it’s an excellent opportunity to share your perspective on the topic. You can imply the answer to a yes/no question by answering with your character’s point of view.

“You won’t get into any trouble, will you?” “I don’t mind a reasonable amount of trouble.”

Answer with a status report – Another expansive way to answer a yes/no question is to give a status report that implies a yes or no.

“Did you take out the target?” “He’s lying in the morgue, even as we speak.”

Answer with the reason – Yet another way to respond to a yes/no question is to provide a reason that implies the answer.

“Do you want another whiskey?” “I’ve got an early client tomorrow morning.”

Answer with a story – Some questions can be answered with a story that includes the answer.

“Who is Nasya?” Kyle tells a story about his time on a kibbutz, where he and Nasya first met.

Answer beneath the question – Instead of answering a question, you can address the motivation behind it.

“What show did you see?” “I’m sick and tired of your needing to know where I am every minute of the day and night.”

Answer with a roll-off – This list-style answer creates the impression that your character is knowledgeable. It can also be used to make things seem overwhelming.

“What’s fun to do here on the cruise?” “We’ve got shuffle board, volleyball, basketball, mini golf, two spas, four pubs, movies, bingo, karaoke. and the casino.”

Resist, then answer – You can resist answering a question, but have such a great need to share that you wind up answering it anyway.

“How did the job interview go?” “I don’t want to talk about it.” “OK.” “It was terrible. I was late. I forgot my resume. I was totally unprepared.”

Physicalize the answer – Not every answer needs to be verbal. Some questions can be answered by showing something from which the answer can be inferred.

“What branch of the military did you serve with?” Deke pulls up his shirtsleeve to reveal the United States Marine Corps tattoo on his shoulder.)

If your physical answer involves a prop, you also have something that can be reincorporated in the story later on.

“So Kayla, did you get admitted to Harvard?” Kayla proudly holds up a letter postmarked Cambridge, Massachusetts.

HIDING ANSWERS

While some answers clarify and add more information, other answers conceal and mislead, sometimes in ways that are evident to spects, and other times not.

Answer something else – You can avoid giving an answer by answering a different (but related) question. It helps to add supporting information.

“Where are we going?” “It’s not far. We’re almost there.”

Sidestep the answer – You can get spects to dig deeper with their questions if your answer sidesteps what they really want to know.

“Are you leaving me and the kids?” “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

Minimize the answer – An answer can share important information disguised as something insignificant.

“Why did you become a police officer?” “Because of my dad, I guess.” (The officer’s father is a notorious member of organized crime.)

Answer with a question – You can turn a simple question into an issue by being a little paranoid and answering the question with a question.

“What do you know about Chemcore Industries?” “What are you accusing me of?”

Answer with a lie – Not every answer has to be true. Your character can also lie. Be careful how much you use this approach. When spects learn that you’ve lied to them, they start to question everything in the story. It’s a difficult place for spects to play from.

“Where are you going?” “The library. I’ve got some studying to do.” (The character is actually going out partying.)

Answers clarify or conceal story elements, and can be given in direct or roundabout ways. Good answers impact relationships, advance the narrative, or do both.