The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

Stories are full of struggles to achieve goals—from small goals, to scene goals, to the overarching story goal. Some goals are won; others are lost. Overall, spects should win more than they lose. It builds their confidence and keeps the story moving forward.

In your effort to be supportive, don’t hand spects solutions or solve their problems for them. This gives them the win, but you’re the one who achieved it, which makes the achievement far less satisfying.

To craft the spect’s win, regulate the effort spects need to exert to attain a goal. If it’s too easy, and the achievement is unsatisfying. If it’s too hard, it’s frustrating. Take a tip from Goldilocks and find the effort that is “just right.” The degree of effort required should be based on spects’ commitment. Gauge their investment, then provide resistance that is a bit more than that. When spects need to step up their game to achieve their goals, wins become satisfying accomplishments.