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to provide the opportunity for spects to contribute
For spects to play as co-creators, you need to allow room. If you’re so busy making offers that there’s no room for spects to contribute, they become observers. Allow room for spects to say and do things.
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anything outside the time or style of the story
When playing stories set in particular time periods or within particular styles, anything that is outside the time period or inappropriate to the style is an anachronism.
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clarify what the spect doesn’t understand and hasn’t asked
Next to the fear of being judged, the biggest obstacle to spects’ ability to play is not understanding what’s going on. This is to be expected. Spects start off not knowing much about the story. They’re discovering it as they go along. If they don’t understand who someone is or what’s going on, it’s hard to play. It’s doubly-difficult when there’s no reason for their character to ask for clarification. To support spects, you need the ability to recognize and answer their unspoken questions.
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addressing a need before it is articulated
One of the most magical ways to make spects feel like you’re on the same page is to do a form of advance follow, giving spects what they need before they even have the opportunity to ask.
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thinking of something related to something else
If you hear the word “birthday,” what do you think of? Birthday cakes? Parties? Presents? Getting old? Whatever you think of, those are associations.
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getting spects to do things without instructing them
A long time ago I was a ballroom dancer with my sister. When we danced, people were always impressed. To be honest, I wasn’t very good. My sister, though, was brilliant. Not only could she follow, she could backlead.
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a list of the steps of action in a scenario
A scenario consists of a progression of beats. Each beat is defined by a step of action within the scene. A beat breakdown lays out the progression of action, helping the inter-actor map the journey of the scene. It also serves as a series of steps that assist with memorization of the scenario.
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