Aim For The Heart

Hellen Keller said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Each guest’s heart is the target for the outstanding interactive performer. It isn’t as difficult as it may seem. But, you can’t be superficial. You can’t rely on performance tricksContinue reading “Aim For The Heart”

More Behaviors and What They Suggest

The definition of ‘interactive’ is a two-way flow of information, allowing people to influence or have an effect on each other. It’s commonly accepted that, as humans exchange information with each other, only 7% is done with words. Another 38% is in vocal tone. And the greatest factor in human communication (55%) is body language.Continue reading “More Behaviors and What They Suggest”

Seeing Into Someone’s Heart – Non-Verbal Cues

Without thinking about it, everyone does it. People broadcast their level of attention, interest and comfort in non-verbal messages. It’s a peek at what is going on in someone’s heart.  To put it into our terms, these messages are the very first offer you get from your scene partner. As you work, it is criticalContinue reading “Seeing Into Someone’s Heart – Non-Verbal Cues”

Gotta’ Walk the Walk

I’ve been away for a bit. I’m creating a character – using the same tools I talk about in this blog. Walkin’ the walk… Macbeth is the character. The show is an original comedy written by Lloyd Schwartz called Classic Couples Counseling. Lady M and I are one of the five sets of characters fromContinue reading “Gotta’ Walk the Walk”

Eliminate Reasons To Hold Back

Here’s a quick thought about what we do and the creative process. Sure, in our work we have to “color inside the lines”. That’s part of the whole process. We are part of teams that help us prepare performances and evaluate what happens in rehearsals. The final product belongs to many contributors. Still, I runContinue reading “Eliminate Reasons To Hold Back”

Pivot…  Spin…  Adapt

In your work as an interactive character, the Yes part of “Yes, and…” means accepting what the guest sends your way. The And is your response. Now, you could And them from a menu of lines or bits you know usually work. Imagine, instead, using their offer to make the connection more real. What ifContinue reading “Pivot…  Spin…  Adapt”

It’s Personal

The kind of connection we want between a character and a guest is a personal give and take. A two-way interaction. In the example in last blog entry, we got where the guest makes an emotional connection with the dinosaur. That’s one half of our interaction. Imagine, now, the character incorporates the natural human cuesContinue reading “It’s Personal”

What You Observe – Apply The Why

Let’s review. As humans we have very sophisticated programming to be social – to interact. At the beginning of every interaction you have two choices. Keep your attention on yourself or place your focus on the other person. If you focus on yourself, you become self-conscious and introspective. You miss the cues those other humansContinue reading “What You Observe – Apply The Why”

How Connections Are Made – First Step

You are wearing a character costume in an immersive environment. You’re staged in one place and there is a queue of guest waiting to meet you. Your job is to connect and have a fantastic interaction with every guest. The most fundamental way to connect with another person is to share eye contact with them.Continue reading “How Connections Are Made – First Step”

Connections

We are created with a deep, instinctive drive to belong, to love and to be loved. Connecting is a fundamental human need. It is so ingrained in us, we make the decision to like or reject someone in a matter of seconds. It’s a survival mechanism. We are hardwired to do that. To our instincts,Continue reading “Connections”