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being present and silent while waiting for the spect’s response
Sometimes spects need time before they respond. While waiting, if you fill the space with language, it keeps spects from speaking or taking action. When you want a response from the spect, stay quiet. Hold the silence. This allows room for spects to say or do something.
Exercises
Go where a variety of people are gathered together, e.g., on a subway, in a store, at a park. Observe individuals and guess what they might know about or be good at. Describe how you could incorporate each person’s strength if they were a spect in a given scenario.
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telling the spect what to do
In interactive performance, you need to get spects doing things. An easy (but counter-productive) way to accomplish this is by telling them what to do. In other words, instructing them. Unfortunately, this approach also makes things more difficult. If you instruct spects, they may do as they’re told, but they’re unlikely to do anything more. Instead of generating their own ideas, they’ll wait for further instructions. To keep them active you have to keep giving them instructions. It’s a lot of work, and frankly, it’s not much fun. Part of the fun of interactive play is being surprised by the unexpected things that spects bring to the table.
Topics
making it seem right when the spect doesn’t speak
When you’ve said something and the spect doesn’t respond, it can either feel awkward or appropriate. It all depends on how you handle it.
Exercises
A scene is played in which Player A tries to activate Player B. Player B begins by not engaging, simulating unconscious offers that a spect might make. Player A justifies Player B’s unconscious offers within the context of the scene.
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When spects feel the impulse to speak, they often take in a sharp little inhalation of breath. It’s a subtle, but clearly recognizable sound if you’re paying attention. When you hear it happen, stop whatever you’re saying and find out what’s on the spect’s mind.
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The more you talk, the less spects contribute. Allow room for others to speak. Say one sentence, maybe two, then be quiet. See what the spect has to say, and respond to that. This tool gets spects verbally activated and produces good give and take. It also keeps you from talking too much.
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giving excessive positive reinforcement
It’s good to reward spects with strokes when they exhibit desired behaviors, but beware of over-stroking. When strokes are too big, they feel fake. Keep strokes real and genuine or spects will feel like you’re patronizing them.
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