The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

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When spects play as characters, they’re freed to say and do anything. They no longer need to worry what others might think because they’re playing as characters, not themselves. Spects can play in whatever way they like, and when it’s over, chalk it all up to the character.

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In interactive performance, spects are co-creators of the story. When they initiate offers on their own, spects are activated. Some spects are fully activated from the get go. They’re saying and doing things all on their own. However, most spects have some degree of hesitation. Here are ways to activate spects when you need to.

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a spect who doesn’t like playing in the unknown

Guarded spects want everything explicitly spelled out before they’re willing to engage in the fiction. Your best approach is to remain friendly, clarify ambiguity with defined offers, and reinterpret the subtext of their offers to fit the context.

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When you finish playing with spects, as wonderful as the experience may have been, the most significant value is still waiting to be had—the opportunity for spects to reflect on the journey they just traveled. This not only serves spects by giving them the time to consider their experience, it also provides you with valuable feedback to hone your interactive skills. Whenever possible, debrief spects after playing with them.

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Fiction isn’t real, but spects still need to care about it as if it were. Stories are more compelling when everyone cares about the fiction. This is why spects need to become invested.

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Interactive performances need spects. It only makes sense that you also need spects when you train. During rehearsals and performances, the spect wrangler coordinates the spects. When you’re training and there isn’t a spect wrangler, it’s up to you.

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Audience participation is nothing new. Magicians, comics, clowns, and street performers have been dragging “volunteers” into their acts for years. They don’t give their victims much of a choice. To be fair, their purpose isn’t usually to empower participants; it’s to have a foil to play off of. As an inter-actor, your agenda is different. You’re looking for a participant who will become a co-creator of the story.

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Let’s start by defining “difficult” spects. They’re not spects who are hesitant, unsure, or tentative. These are normal behaviors when spects first begin to play. Basic interactive techniques help these spects become connected, activated, and invested. Difficult spects are those who challenge the standard tools.

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Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance