Hey Kayla and Carisa, Thanks for speaking to the question of consent raised around psychological manipulation of spectators that I posed. I found your views on the issue very thoughtful, and I agree to a large extent. I should also point out that I haven’t seen Lindsay perform, and wasn’t speaking to her performance in my last message, but rather to the psychological trope in and of itself.
I think that a lot of what you were saying basically boils down to the idea that if you are doing what you are doing in order to make the volunteer more comfortable, to help them feel relaxed enough, or that they have permission, to open up, that is an incredible appropriate course of action to script into an act.
On the other hand, if it is ones intention to knowingly use techniques to get an audience volunteer to do something that they don’t want to do, then we have a bit of an ethical issue on our hands.
Is that a fair takeaway from what you were saying?
The point where I feel a little uncomfortable is with this idea that, as an experienced performer, one should read the comfort level of your volunteer, and use that to inform your course of action in your act. For sure, I think performers should be taking care of their audience members to the best of their ability, but I think when this idea of perceived comfort is used by performers as how they make the decisions of what is or isn’t appropriate, we get into very muddy waters. When it comes to “perceived comfort” it seems like this is extremely close to “implied consent”, and we know what a bunch of harmful bs that is. Perhaps it’s better, for me as a man, to be more tentative about buying into my judgement of the audience member’s perceived comfort. I’m just rambling at this point.
Anyways, sorry for always writing a book. I hope you find my messages welcome.
Great episode and great advice on getting compliance and permission from an audience member, and killing your “darlings” when they don’t serve your greater purpose. Comfort level for the spectator is a great way to think of it. I always say we should make them “part of the fun,” not make fun of them.
By the way, I was one of the gentlemen that was called on stage by Lindsey during one of her early appearances at the Castle and I was completely charmed. I’m a big fan! 🙂
BTW please continue to tell people (especially magicians) who come to a show (especially at the Castle) that if they sit up front they should not just sit there like a piece of statuary. If they’re going to stone face the whole show sit in the back 🙂
Hey Kayla and Carisa,
Thanks for speaking to the question of consent raised around psychological manipulation of spectators that I posed. I found your views on the issue very thoughtful, and I agree to a large extent. I should also point out that I haven’t seen Lindsay perform, and wasn’t speaking to her performance in my last message, but rather to the psychological trope in and of itself.
I think that a lot of what you were saying basically boils down to the idea that if you are doing what you are doing in order to make the volunteer more comfortable, to help them feel relaxed enough, or that they have permission, to open up, that is an incredible appropriate course of action to script into an act.
On the other hand, if it is ones intention to knowingly use techniques to get an audience volunteer to do something that they don’t want to do, then we have a bit of an ethical issue on our hands.
Is that a fair takeaway from what you were saying?
The point where I feel a little uncomfortable is with this idea that, as an experienced performer, one should read the comfort level of your volunteer, and use that to inform your course of action in your act. For sure, I think performers should be taking care of their audience members to the best of their ability, but I think when this idea of perceived comfort is used by performers as how they make the decisions of what is or isn’t appropriate, we get into very muddy waters. When it comes to “perceived comfort” it seems like this is extremely close to “implied consent”, and we know what a bunch of harmful bs that is. Perhaps it’s better, for me as a man, to be more tentative about buying into my judgement of the audience member’s perceived comfort. I’m just rambling at this point.
Anyways, sorry for always writing a book. I hope you find my messages welcome.
Smash (and Stab) the patriarchy.
Best.
Great episode and great advice on getting compliance and permission from an audience member, and killing your “darlings” when they don’t serve your greater purpose. Comfort level for the spectator is a great way to think of it. I always say we should make them “part of the fun,” not make fun of them.
By the way, I was one of the gentlemen that was called on stage by Lindsey during one of her early appearances at the Castle and I was completely charmed. I’m a big fan! 🙂
BTW please continue to tell people (especially magicians) who come to a show (especially at the Castle) that if they sit up front they should not just sit there like a piece of statuary. If they’re going to stone face the whole show sit in the back 🙂