The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

There's nothing wrong with talking, but it’s easy to become over-reliant on it. Words are abstractions. Physicality is real. When you make physical offers, it brings more reality to the experience. This is why it’s good to physicalize your offers.

It’s easy to do. Stop talking and let your actions illustrate what you’re trying to communicate.

Kamal is looking out over the Grand Canyon. He can’t stop talking about how amazingly beautiful it is. When he realizes how much he’s been talking, Kamal physicalizes the offer by pulling out his camera and taking a picture of the awe-inspiring sight.

When you physicalize an offer, you cease to be a talking head. You also often discover physical elements that you can engage with in the present moment and reincorporate later on.

Physicalizing the offer is especially useful when doing space work. For something to exist, all you need to do is engage with it physically. Whatever you need is instantly at hand. You may need to clarify your space work with a line of dialogue, but the physicality adds a layer of depth to the language.

Jordan wants to tell her sweetheart how much she loves her. Instead of using words to communicate her feelings, she produces a bouquet of flowers from behind her back.

You can also use this tool when you’re playing real-world stories where space work isn’t used. You may not have the luxury of pulling a bouquet out of thin air, but you can still show how you care by giving your loved one a neck massage.

As the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” If you find yourself talking more than doing, physicalize the offer.