Being an essay on Audiencing

[thesuzukimethod]

There was actually some pretty informative talk on what it meant to be Audience now as compared to the early days in that recent "Let's Talk About Stuff" post. As I still consider myself Audience in addition to now being a player (and am apparently a model Audience member?), I figured I'd write up my thoughts. Ignore or not, whichever you like; I

Comments

[overacting]

Awesome and informative read. :Db

It's interesting to note (only on my part and my experiences) that I don't get tagged much by audience, and this is something that I HAD expected when Kyouya got in, if only for the fact that Host CLub really caters to fangirls and random commenting. In some ways, Renge can be seen as audience spokesperson and I would love to see Audience in some Host Club events!

[thesuzukimethod]

Thank you ^^b

That was one of the things that came up, actually - the relative lack of IC Audience interaction, especially compared to earlier in CFUD history. One of the suggested reasons was that Audience members had become too intimidated to comment ICly without getting a character in first, which is saddening.

It could be potentially hilarious to see Audience at Host Club events. Which actually makes me tempted to try and 'reserve' a character as Audience now. That's something I'll have to think about.

[spring_spring]

Y'know, regarding the players' comfort levels with information and such, remember that a majority of characters have a stats/permissions meme! In most cases this is one of the first 2-3 posts made in a character journal, so if audience is ever unsure? Just click the character journal and go look, and the question might be answered right there.

That said, as far as I'm concerned more audience is always good. Go taunt Kenpachi or give Shunsui hell about his flirting with women other than Nanao, audience often times has the chance to say/do things that can't be done ICly but are no less interesting and/or hilarious. And I seem to recall hearing that at least one in-camp IC relationship was partly formed by audience urging the characters? That sort of thing is totally cool and I for one would love to see more of it.

[thesuzukimethod]

I should probably edit that in somewhere.

Yes yes yes, exactly! There's so much to be done and yet no one's doing it! ...Well, I do a little, but it's not like I can be everywhere at once. I think Simon-mun mentioned Hiro and Kisa for that?

[spring_spring]

Yeah, one of the fun things about the audience is that they can potentially point out stuff that no one would ICly notice or mention. Which can be hilariously cracky or even spur on great new character development

[thesuzukimethod]

XD Did you read the thread I was 'inspired' by, or are you just psychic? Because you've just gone through a lot of the points that they did. (I would've tried to go through them too, but I kinda wasn't there at the time ^^a)

[empressofgo]

Hearty thumbs up here.

[thesuzukimethod]

Danke ;)

[laserdragon]

This was all a very interesting read, thanks for writing it. I would have just one suggestion to add. I think the one most very important thing to remember (and something that got me in some awkward moments before I was a player) is that as an audience member, you are a guest at this RP. The people who have gotten in as players worked hard to do so. Anyone is welcome to audience, or even delurk and be active audience, but they have not apped a character, and they are not a "player" in this RP. I know I love audience heckling, and it's made some of my favorite threads, but those threads are always much more fun when there is a clear audience/player line. I heckle characters OOC as well, but I still think it's important to remember that when audience, the "audience" is not a character. Remember that you're not intereacting with the character, you're giving the player something to play off of

[thesuzukimethod]

Okay, I could argue with the tone, but I think I get what you're saying. "Respect the players, kiddies; they worked hard to get this job where they are."

[laserdragon]

Aah, well, there's a bit about your tone I would disagree with as well. There is a certain tone of entitlement that I would not necessarily say I agree with in terms of audience's place. Audience heckling and playing fast and lose with the fourth wall are, to me, some very big draws of CFUD. Please don't misunderstand me there. However, I don't think its really "sharing the sandbox" so much as coming to visit our sandbox. I could be wrong here, mind you, but I don't know of a single other RP that allows people who have never aplied for playership (or have applied for playership and been rejected) still participate. And, if there are, I would say that the odds that they are doing it off of CFUD's model are pretty generous. I think some of your points up above are very excellent (such as giving unhelpful information or silly advice), but I think other parts (such as sharing your feelings about life and so forth) well, I just don't think as audience that's really necessary. To many of us, CFUD is a form of escapism. Trust me, if

[thesuzukimethod]

I guess we're probably going to have to agree to disagree in this case. Or if we could possibly move it to e-mail or something...?

[crowlinginmyskn]

Hey A++ this was really interesting to read, especially as an...almost 2 year audience lurker who just got in. Plus, I'm no critic but I think you write well, in that it's really clear, yet informing and entertaining at the same time.

[thesuzukimethod]

Oh wow, thanks ♥ It's always great to hear things like that, especially when it's something I care about like this.