C H A P T E R VI

T H E A R T S OF IM PRESSIO N M ANAGEM ENT

In t h i s c h a p te r I would lik e to bring to g e th e r w hat h a s been s a id or im plied about the a t t r i b u t e s th a t a r e required o f a performer for th e work of s u c c e s s f u l l y s t a g i n g a c h a r a c te r , by referrin g briefly to som e of th e t e c h n iq u e s of im p re ssio n m anagem ent in which t h e s e a t t r i b u t e s are e x p r e s s e d . A s an in tro d u c tio n to t h i s attem pt, it may be well to s u g g e s t , in some c a s e s for th e se c o n d tim e, some of th e prin cip al ty p e s of p erform ance d is r u p tio n s , for it i s t h e s e d is r u p tio n s which th e te c h n i q u e s o f im p r e s s io n m anagem ent functio n to avoid. In th e beginning of th is report, in c o n s id e r in g th e general c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of p erfo rm an ce s, it w as s u g g e s te d th a t th e perform er m ust act with e x p r e s s i v e r e s p o n s i b ilit y , s in c e many minor, in a d v e r te n t a c t s hap pen to be well d e s ig n e d to con v e y im p r e s s io n s in a p p ro p ria te at the time. T h e s e e v e n t s were c a lle d 'u n m e a n t g e s t u r e s . P o n so n b y g iv e s an ill u s tr a tio n of how a d ir e c to r s attem pt to avoid a n unm eant g e s tu re led to th e o c c u r re n c e o f another.
O n e of th e A t t a c h s from th e L e g a t i o n was to c a n y t h e cu s h io n on w hich th e in s i g n i a w ere p l a c e d , and in otd er to p r e v e n t t h e i r fallin g off I s tu c k the p in a t th e back of the Star through t h e v e l v e t c u s h i o n . T h e Attach', ho w evet, w as not c o n t e n t with t h is, but s c c u r e d the end of t h e p in by the c a t c h to make doubly su r e . T h e r e s u l t w as t h a t when P r i n c e A lex an der, h aving m ade a s u i t a b l e s p c e c h , tried to g e t hold of t h e Star, he found it firmly fixed to th e cu s h i o n an d spe n t so m e rime in g e t t i n g it lo o se . T h i s rath er .spoilt the most i m p r e s s iv e moment of the ccrcm ony. 1

It should be added that the in d iv idual h e ld r e s p o n s i b le for co ntrib u tin g an unm eant g e s tu re may ch iefly d is c r e d it h is own perform ance by th is , a te am -m a tes perform ance, or th e perform ance being s ta g e d by h i s a u d ien c e. When an o u ts i d e r a c c i d e n ta lly e n te r s a region in which a perform ance is being given, or when a member of the a u d ie n c e in a d v e r te n tly e n t e r s the b a c k s ta g e , th e in tru d e r is lik e ly to c a tc h th o s e p r e s e n t flagrante delicto. T h ro ugh no o n e s in te n tio n , the p e r s o n s p r e s e n t in th e region may find that they have p a te n tly been w itn e s s e d in a c tiv i ty that i s q u ite in c o m p a tib le with the im p re ssio n th a t they are, for w ider s o c ia l r e a s o n s , in a p o s itio n to m aintain to the intruder. We deal h ere with what are s o m e tim e s c a l l e d 'in o p p o r t u n e i n t r u s i o n s .
'P o n s o n b y , op. eft., p. 351.

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T h e p a s t rife an d c u r r e n t round o f a c t i v i t y o f a given perform er ty p ic a lly c o n t a in at l e a s t a fe w f a c t s w hich, if in tro d u c e d d urin g th e perfo rm ance, would d i s c r e d i t or a t l e a s t w eaken the c l a im s a b o u t s e l f th a t the perform er w a s atte m p tin g io p r o je c t a s part o f th e d e fin itio n of th e s it u a t i o n . These f a c t s may in v o lv e w e ll-k e p t dark s e c r e t s or n e g a tiv e ly - v a lu e d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s th a t e v e r y o n e can s e e but no one r e fe rs to. When su c h f a c t s a r e in tro d u c e d , e m b a r ra s s m e n t is the usual r e s u lt . T h e s e f a c t s can, of c o u rse , be brought to o n e s a tte n tio n by un m eant g e s t u r e s or inopporcune in tr u s io n s . H ow ever, they a re more f re q u en tly in tro d u c e d by in te n tio n a l v erba l s t a t e m e n t s c r non-verbal a c t s w hose full s i g n i f i c a n c e i s not a p p r e c i a t e d by :he in d iv id u a l who c o n t r i b u t e s them co the in te r a c t io n . F o llo w in g common u s a g e , su c h d is r u p tio n s of p r o je c tio n s may be c a lle d ' f a u x p a s . Where a perform er u n th in k in g ly m a k es ari in c entional co n trib u tio n w hich d e s t r o y s h is own te a m s inv -'.e we may s p e a k of g a f f e s or : b o n e r s . Where a performer je c p s-fd iz e s the im a g e of s e l f p r o je c te d by the oth e r te am , we may s p e a k o f ' b r i c k s or of the perform er h a v in g ' p u t his foot in i t . ' : Unm eant g e s t u r e s , inopporcune i n tr u s io n s , and faux Das are s o u r c e s o f e m b a r r a s s m e n t and d i s s o n a n c e w h ic h a re ty p ic a l ly u n in te n d e d by the- person who is r e s p o n s i b l e for making them and w hich woa.lo be a v o id e d w ere th e in d iv id u a l tc < now in a d v a n c e th e c o a s c q u e n c e s of h i s a c t i v i t y . H ow ever th e :? a re s i t u a t i o n s , often c a l l e d ' s c e n e s , ' in w hich a n in d iv id u a l a c t s in s u c h a way a s to d e s tro y or s e r i o u s l y th r e a te n th e p o lite a p p e a r a n c e of c o n s e n s u s , and w hile he may not a c t si.~:.;ly in o rd er to c r e a t e suci? d i s s o n a n c e , he a c t s wich th e kno w led g e th a t th is kind c f d i s s o n a n c e is lik e ly to r e s u lt . T n e c o m m o n - s e n s e p h rase , ' c r e a t i n g a s c e n e , is a p t b e c a u s e , in iiifect, a new s c e n e is c r e a te d by s u c h d is r u p tio n s . The p r e v io u s and e x p e c t e d in te r p la y betw een th e te a m s i s s u d d e n ly forced a s i d e and a new drama forcibly t a k e s i t s p l a c e . S io .iifican tly , th is new s c e n e often in v o lv e s a s u d d e n r e s h u f flin g
1 Ivriquette

m a n u a l s p ro vid e c l a s s i c w a r n in g s a g a i n s t s u c h i n d i s c r e t i o n s . *'or e x a m p le , 2"he L a w s o f E t i q u e t t e ( P h i l a d e l p h i a : C a r e y , L e e & o l a n c h a r d , 1336), p*. 1 0 1 : K th e r e is an y o ne in th e company whom you do not know, be c a r e f u l how you Je t off any e p i g r a m s or p l e a s a n t l i t t l e s a r c a s m s . You might b e ver y witty upon h a l t e r s to a man w h o s e fath er h ad been h a n g e d . T h e first r e q u i s i t e for s u c c e s s f u l c o n v e r s a ti o n i s to know your c o m p an y w e l l . A n other ex am ple o c c u r s in T h e C a no ns o f G ood B reed in g , op. c i t , t p. 80 : . In m e e t i n g a friend whom you h a v e n o t s e e n for so m e time, a n d of th e s t a t e a n d h i s t o r y of w h o s e family you h a v e n o t been r e c e n t l y o r p a r t i c u l a rl y informed, yo u s h o u ld avoid m ak in g e n q u i r i e s or a l l u s i o n s in r e s p e c t to p a r t i c u l a r in d i v i d u a l s of h is fam ily t u n til you h a v e p o s s e s s e d y o u r s e l f o f k n o w l e d g e r e s p e c t i n g them . Some may be d e a d ; o t h e r s may h a v e m is b e h a v e d , s e p a r a t e d t h e m s e l v e s , or fa lle n u nd er so m e d i s t r e s s i n g c a l a m i t y .

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a n d r e a p p o rtio n in g of t h e p r e v io u s te a m m em bers into two new te a m s . Some s c e n e s o c c u r w h e n t e a m - m a te s c a n no lo n g e r c o u n t e n a n c e e a c h o th e r s in e p t p erfo rm an ce a n d blurt out im m ed ia te p u b lic c r it ic is m of the very i n d i v i d u a l s with whom th e y o ug ht to be in d r a m a tu r g ic a l c o -o p e ra tio n . Such m is c o n d u c t i s often d e v a s t a t i n g to the p erfo rm ance w hich th e d i s p u t a n t s o u g h t to be p r e s e n t i n g ; o n e e f f e c t of the quarrel i s to p ro v id e t h e a u d i e n c e with a b a c k s t a g e view, and a n o t h e r i s to l e a v e them with t h e f e e lin g th a t so m e th in g i s su r e ly s u s p i c i o u s a b o u t a p erfo rm an ce w hen t h o s e who know it b e s t do not ag re e. Another ty p e of s c e n e o c c u r s when th e a u d i e n c e d e c i d e s it c a n no lo n g e r play th e gam e of p o l i t e in te r a c t io n , o r th a t it no lo n g e r w a n ts to do so, an d s o c o n fro n ts th e perform ers with f a c t s or e x p r e s s i v e a c t s w hich e a c h team know s w ill be u n a c c e p t a b l e . T h i s i s w h a t h a p p e n s when an in d iv i d u a l s c r e w s up h i s s o c i a l c o u r a g e an d d e c i d e s to ' h a v e i t o u t with a n o th e r or ' r e a l l y te ll him o ff. C rim inal t r i a l s h a v e i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d t h i s kind of o p e n d is c o r d , a s h a v e th e l a s t c h a p t e r s of murder m y s t e r ie s , w here an i n d iv i d u a l who h a s th e re to f o re m a in ta in e d a c o n v in c in g p o s e of in n o c e n c e i s c o n fro n te d in t h e p r e s e n c e of o th e r s with u n d e n i a b le e x p r e s s i v e e v id e n c e th a t h is p o s e i s o n ly a p o s e . A n o th e r kind o f s c e n e o c c u r s when th e in te r ac tio n b e tw e e n two p e r s o n s b e c o m e s s o lo u d , h e a te d , or o th e r w is e a t te n t io n - g e tti n g , t h a t n earby p e r s o n s e n g a g e d in th e ir own c o n v e r s a t i o n a l in te r a c t io n a r e forced to becom e w i t n e s s e s o r e v e n to t a k e s i d e s an d e n t e r the fray. A final t y p e o f s c e n e may be s u g g e s t e d . When a p erso n a c t i n g a s a one-m an te am c om m its h im s e lf in a s e r i o u s way to a c la im or r e q u e s t and l e a v e s h im s e lf no way out s h o u ld t h is be d en ied by the a u d i e n c e , he u s u a lly m a k e s s u r e th a t h i s c la im or r e q u e s t i s th e kin d th a t i s lik e ly to be a pp rov e d and g ran te d by th e audience. If h i s m o tiv a tio n i s s tr o n g en ough, how ever, an in d iv id u a l may find h im s e lf m ak ing a c la im or a n a s s u m p tio n w hich he kn o w s th e a u d i e n c e may w ell r e j e c t . He know ing ly l o w e r s h is d e f e n c e s in th e ir p r e s e n c e , throw ing h im s e lf, a s we s a y , on th e ir m ercy. By s u c h an a c t th e i n d iv i d u a l m a k e s a p le a to the a u d i e n c e to t r e a t t h e m s e l v e s a s part of h is team o r to a llo w him to tr e a t h im s e lf a s part k>( th e ir te a m . T h i s sort of t h in g i s e m b a r r a s s in g e'nough, but when th e u n g u ard e d r e q u e s t i s re f u s e d to the in d iv i d u a ls f a c e , he s u f f e r s what we c a n c a ll h u m iliatio n . We hav e c o n s id e r e d so m e m ajor forms o f p e rfo rm a n c e d is r u p tio n u nm e ant g estu re s, inopp ortune i n tr u s io n s , faux p a s , and s c e n e s . T h e s e d is r u p tio n s , in e v e ry d ay te rm s , a r e 134

often c a l l e d ' i n c i d e n t s . When an in c i d e n t o c c u r s , th e r e a lity sp o n so re d by th e p erform ers i s th r e a te n e d . T h e p e r s o n s p r e s e n t a r e lik e ly to r e a c t by bec o m in g f lu s te r e d , ill at e a s e , em b a r r a s s e d , n e r v o u s , a n d t h e lik e . Q u ite l i t e r a l l y , th e p a r t i c i p a n t s may find t h e m s e l v e s o u t o f c o u n t e n a n c e . When t h e s e f lu s te r i n g s or sy m p to m s o f e m b a r ra s s m e n t becom e p e r c e iv e d , the r e a l i t y th a t i s s u p p o r te d by th e p erfo rm an ce i s lik e ly to be further j e o p a r d iz e d an d w e a k e n e d , for t h e s e s i g n s of n e r v o u s n e s s in m o st c a s e s a re a n a s p e c t o f th e in d iv id u a l who p r e s e n t s a c h a r a c t e r a n d no t a n a s p e c t o f th e c h a r a c t e r he p r o j e c t s , t h u s f o rc in g upon th e a u d i e n c e a n im a g e of the man behind th e m ask. In o rd e r to p r e v e n t th e o c c u r re n c e o f i n c i d e n t s and th e e m b a rra ssm e n t c o n s e q u e n t upon them , i t w ill be n e c e s s a r y for all the p a r t i c i p a n t s in the in te r a c t io n , a s w ell a s t h o s e who do n o t p a r t i c i p a t e , to p o s s e s s c e r ta in a t t r i b u t e s an d to e x p r e s s t h e s e a t t r i b u t e s in p r a c t i c e s em p lo y ed for s a v i n g th e show. T h e s e a t t r i b u t e s and p r a c t i c e s w ill be r e v ie w e d u n der th r e e h e a d i n g s : t h e d e f e n s i v e m e a s u r e s u s e d by perform ers to s a v e t h e i r own sh o w ; t h e p r o t e c t i v e m e a s u r e s u s e d by a u d i e n c e and o u t s i d e r s to a s s i s t th e perform ers in s a v i n g the p e rfo rm e rs s h o w ; and, fin a lly , the m e a s u r e s th e perform ers m u s t t a k e ill order to m ake i t p o s s i b l e for th e a u d i e n c e and o u t s i d e r s to employ p r o te c tiv e m e a s u r e s on t h e p e rfo rm e rs behalf.

Defensive Attributes and Practices

1. D RA M A TURG ICAL L O Y A L T Y . It i s a p p a re n t t h a t if a te a m i s to s u s t a i n the lin e it h a s ta k e n , t h e te a m - m a te s m ust a c t a s i f they h a v e a c c e p t e d c e r ta in moral o b lig a tio n s . T h e y m u st not v o lu n ta rily b e tra y th e s e c r e t s o f th e te a m , w hether from s e l f - i n t e r e s t or p r in c ip le . T h e y m ust n o t e x p lo it th e ir p r e s e n c e in th e front r eg io n in ord er to s t a g e th e ir own show , a s do, for ex a m p le , m a rria g e a b le s te n o g r a p h e r s who s o m e tim e s e n c u m b e r th e ir o f fic e su rro u n d in g s w ith a lu s h undergrowth of high fa sh io n . N or m u s t th e y u s e th e ir perform a n c e tim e a s an o c c a s i o n to d e n o u n c e th e ir team . T h e y m ust b e w illin g to a c c e p t minor p a r t s with good g r a c e a n d perform e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y w h en e v er, w h erev e r, an d for w h o m so e v e r the team a s a w hole c h o o s e s . And th e y m u s t be ta k e n in by th e ir own p erfo rm ance to the d e g re e th a t i s n e c e s s a r y to p reve nt them from s o u n d in g h o llo w and f a l s e to the a u d i e n c e . P e r h a p s th e key problem in m a in ta in in g lo y a lty of team m em bers (and a p p a r e n tly with m e m b ers o f o th e r t y p e s o f
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c o l l e c t i v i t i e s , too) i s to p r e v e n t t h e p erform ers from becom ing so s y m p a t h e t i c a l l y a t t a c h e d to the a u d i e n c e th a t t h e p erfo rm ers d i s c l o s e co them th e c o n s e q u e n c e s for chem o f th e im p r e s s io n th e y are b e in g g iv e n , o r in o th e r w ay s m ake the team a s a w hole pay for t h i s a t t a c h m e n t . In sm all c o m m u n itie s in B r ita in , for e x a m p le , t h e m a n a g e rs o f s t o r e s w ill often be lo y a l to the e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d will d e f i n e the pro d u ct b eing s o ld to a c u s t o m e r in g lo w in g te rm s lin k e d by f a l s e a d v i c e , but c l e r k s can fre q u e n tly be found who not o n ly a p p e a r to t a k e the r o le o f th e c u s to m e r in g iv in g b u y in g - a d v i c e but a c t u a l l y do so . 1 So, too, f illi n g s t a t i o n m a n a g e rs s o m e tim e s d is a p p r o v e of tip p i n g b e c a u s e it may l e a d a t t e n d a n t s to give u ndue free s e r v i c e to t h e c h o s e n few w h ile o th e r c u s to m e r s a r e le f t w a iting. O n e b a s i c te c h n i q u e th e te a m c a n employ to d e f e n d i t s e l f a g a i n s t su c h d i s l o y a l t y i s to d ev e lo p h igh ingroup s o li d a r ity w ith in the te a m , w h ile c r e a t i n g a b a c k s t a g e im a g e o f th e a u d i e n c e w hich m a k e s th e a u d i e n c e s u f f i c ie n tly inhum an to a llo w th e p erfo rm ers to c o z e n them with em o tio n a l a n d moral im m unity. T o th e d e g r e e t h a t te a m - m a te s an d th e ir c o l l e a g u e s form a c o m p le te s o c i a l com m unity w h ich o f f e r s e a c h perform er a p l a c e and a s o u r c e o f moral su p p o r t r e g a r d l e s s o f w hether o r n o t h e is s u c c e s s f u l in m a in ta in in g h is front befo re th e a u d i e n c e , to th a t d e g r e e it would seem t h a t p erfo rm ers c a n p r o te c t t h e m s e l v e s from d o ub t a n d g u ilt an d p r a c t i s e any kind o f d e c e p t io n . P e r h a p s we are to u n d e r s ta n d the h e a r t l e s s a r t i s t r y of t h e T h u g s by r e f e r e n c e to the r e li g io u s b e l i e f s and r itu a l p r a c t i c e s in to w hich th e ir d e p r e d a tio n s w ere in t e g r a t e d , a n d p e r h a p s we are to u n d e r s ta n d th e s u c c e s s f u l c a l l o u s n e s s o f co n men by r e f e r e n c e to th e ir s o c i a l s o l i d a r i t y in w h a t th e y c a l l th e ' i l l e g i t world an d t h e i r w ell-fo rm u lated d e n i g r a tio n s o f th e l e g i t i m a t e world. P e r h a p s chis notio n a l l o w s u s to u n d e r s ta n d in p a r t why g ro u p s th a t a r e a l i e n a t e d from or not yet in c o rp o r a t e d into th e com m unity a re s o a b l e to go into dirty-w ork t r a d e s a n d in to th e kind of s e r v i c e o c c u p a t i o n s w h ic h in v o lv e r o u tin e c h e a t in g . A s e c o n d te c h n i q u e for c o u n t e r a c tin g the d a n g e r o f a f f e c tiv e t i e s b e tw e en perfo rm ers and a u d i e n c e i s to c h a n g e a u d i e n c e s p e r i o d i c a l l y . T h u s fillin g s t a t i o n m a n a g e rs u s e d to be s h if te d p e r i o d i c a l l y from one s t a t i o n to a n o t h e r to p r e v e n t the formation o f s tr o n g p e r s o n a l t i e s with p a r ti c u la r c l i e n t s . It w a s found t h a t when s u c h t i e s w ere a l lo w e d to form, t h e m a n a g e r
l In the i s l a n d com mun ity r efe rred to in t h i s r e p o r t , I h e a r d a cle r k s a y t o a c u s t o m e r a s t h e c l e r k w a s h a n d i n g o v er a b o t t l e of ch erry pop t o him, < (I do no t s e e ho w y o u c a n drin k t h a t s t u f f . No one p r e s e n t c o n s i d e r e d t h i s t o be s u r p r i s i n g f r a n k n e s s , a n d s i m i l a r c o m m e n ts c o u l d be h e a r d ev ery day in the s h o p s on t h e is l a n d .
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so m e tim e s p la c e d th e i n t e r e s t s of a friend who n e e d e d cre d it before t h e i n t e r e s t s o f th e s o c i a l e s ta b l is h m e n t. 1 Bank m a n a g e rs an d m in i s te r s h a v e been r o u tin e ly s h if te d for s im ila r r e a s o n s , a s h a v e c e r ta in c o lo n ia l a d m in is t r a to r s . Some fem ale p r o f e s s i o n a l s pro v id e a n o th e r i l l u s tr a ti o n , a s th e follow ing r e f e r e n c e to o r g a n iz e d p r o s titu t io n s u g g e s t s :
T h e S y n d i c a t e h a n d l e s t h a t t h e s e d a y s . T h e g i r l s d o n t s t a y in one p l a c c lo n g en o ug h t o re a lly p e t on s p e a k i n g t e r m s w ith an y bo dy - T h e r e ^ n o t s o much c h a n c e of a girl f a llin g in love w ith s o m e g u y you know, an d c a u s i n g a s q u a w k . Anyway, t h e h u s t l e r w ho's in C h i c a g o t h i s w e e k i s in St. L o u i s n e x t t or m o ving aro u n d t o h a l f a d o z e n p l a c e s in to w n be fore b e i n g s e n t so m e w h ere e l s e . And t h e y n e v e r know w here t h e y 'r e g o ing u n t i l t h e y 'r e to ld . 2

2. DRAM ATURGICAL D IS C IP L IN E . It i s c ru c ia l for th e m a in te n a n c e of the te a m s p e rfo rm an ce th a t e a c h member of th e te am p o s s e s s dram a tu rg ica l discipline,, and e x e r c i s e it in p r e s e n t i n g h is own part. I refer to the fact that w hile the performer is o s t e n s i b l y im m ersed a n d g iv e n o v er to th e a c tiv i ty he i s perform ing, and i s a p p a r e n tly e n g r o s s e d in h i s a c t i o n s in a s p o n ta n e o u s , u n c a l c u l a t i n g way, h e m ust n one th e l e s s b e a f f e c tiv e ly d i s s o c i a t e d from h i s p r e s e n ta t io n in a way th a t l e a v e s him free to c o p e with d ram a tu rg ica l c o n t in g e n c ie s a s th e y a r i s e . He m u st offer a sh o w of i n t e l l e c t u a l and em otional in v o lv e m e n t in the a c tiv i ty h e i s p ie s e n t in g , but m ust k eep h im s e lf from a c tu a lly b e in g c a r rie d away by h is own s h o w l e s t t h is d e s tr o y h i s in v o lv e m e n t in the t a s k of p u ttin g on a s u c c e s s f u l p erfo rm an ce . A perform er who i s d i s c i p l i n e d , d r a m a tu r g ic a lly s p e a k in g , i s so m e o n e who rem e m b ers h i s p a rt a n d - d o e s not commit unm eant g e s t u r e s or faux p a s in perform ing it. H e i s so m e o n e with d i s c r e t i o n : he d o e s not g iv e th e sh o w aw ay by in v o lu n tarily d isclo sin g its se c re ts . H e i s s o m e o n e w ith ' p r e s e n c e of m i n d who c a n c o v e r up on th e s p u r o f t h e m om ent for in a p p ro p r ia te b eh a v io u r on the part of h i s te a m -m a te s , w hile all th e tim e m a in ta in in g th e im p r e s s io n t h a t he i s m erely p la y in g h is part. And if a d isru p tio n o f the perform ance c a n n o t be a v o id e d or c o n c e a le d , th e d i s c i p l i n e d perform er w ill be p rep a re d to offer a p l a u s i b l e r e a s o n for d is c o u n tin g t h e d is r u p tiv e e v e n t, a jokin g manner to remove i t s im p o rta n ce , or d e e p apo lo gy and s e lf - a b a s e m e n t to r e i n s t a t e t h o s e h e ld r e s p o n s i b l e for it. T h e d i s c i p l i n e d perform er i s alg o so m e one with ' s e l f - c o n t r o l . '
' O f c o u r s e t h i s b e t r a y a l i s s y s t e m a t i c a l l y faked in so m e co m m ercial e s t a b l i s h m e n t s w here t h e c u s to m e r i s giv en a ' s p e c i a l * c u t p r i c e by a c l e r k who c l a i m s to be d oin g t h is in o rd er to s e c u r e the buyer a s a s t e a d y p e r s o n a l c u s to m e r. 2 C h a r l e s Hamilton, Men o f th e Under world (New Y o rk : Macm illan, p. 222 . 1952),

137

He c a n s u p p r e s s h i s e m o tio n a l r e s p o n s e to h i s p r iv a te pro blem s, to h i s te a m - m a te s w hen th e y m ake m i s t a k e s , a n d to th e a u d i e n c e when th e y in d u c e untow ard a f f e c tio n or h o s ti lity in him. And h e c a n s to p h im s e lf from la u g h in g abo u t m a tte rs w hich are d e f in e d a s s e r i o u s and s to p h im s e lf from ta k in g s e r io u s ly m a t t e r s d e fin e d a s hum orous. In o th e r w ords, h e c a n s u p p r e s s h i s s p o n t a n e o u s f e e l i n g s in o rd e r to g i v e th e a p p e a r a n c e of s t i c k i n g to t h e a f f e c tiv e lin e , t h e e x p r e s s i v e status quo, e s t a b l i s h e d by h i s te a m s p erform an ce, for a d is p l a y of pro s c r i b e d a f f e c t may not only le a d to im prope r d i s c l o s u r e s and o f fe n c e to th e working c o n s e n s u s but may a l s o im p lic itly e x t e n d to the a u d i e n c e the s t a t u s o f te a m member. And th e d i s c i p l i n e d perform er i s s o m e o n e w ith s u f f i c i e n t p o i s e to move from p r iv a te p l a c e s of info rm ality to p u b lic o n e s of varying d e g r e e s of form ality, w ithout a l lo w in g s u c h c h a n g e s to c o n f u s e him. 1 P e r h a p s th e f o c u s of d r a m a tu r g ic a l d i s c i p l i n e i s to be found in the m a n a g e m e n t of o n e s f a c e and vo ice. H ere is the c r u c i a l t e s t of o n e s a b i lity a s a performer. A ctua l a f f e c tiv e r e s p o n s e m u st b e c o n c e a l e d a n d an a p p r o p r ia t e a f f e c tiv e r e s p o n s e m ust be d is p l a y e d . T e a s i n g , it o ften s e e m s , i s an inform al i n it ia t io n d e v i c e em ployed by a te am to train and t e s t the c a p a c i t y of i t s new m em bers to ' t a k e a j o k e , th at i s , tn s u s t a i n a frie n d ly m anner w h ile p e r h a p s not f e e lin g it. When a n in d iv id u a l p a s s e s s u c h a t e s t o f e x p r e s s io n - c o n tr o l, w h eth e r he r e c e i v e s it from h i s new te a m - m a te s in a s p ir it of j e s t or from an u n e x p e c te d n e c e s s i t y of p la y in g in a s e r io u s p erfo rm an ce , he ca n th e r e a f t e r v en tu re forth a s a p la y e r who c a n tr u s t h im s e lf an d be t r u s t e d by o th e rs . A very n ic e il l u s t r a t i o n of t h i s i s g iv e n in a forthcom ing p a p e r by Howard S. B e c k e r on m a riju an a sm oking. B e c k e r r e p o r ts t h a t th e i r r e g u la r u s e r of th e drug h a s a g re a t fe a r of finding h im self, w hile under th e in f lu e n c e of th e drug, in th e im m edia te p r e s e n c e o f p a r e n t s or work a s s o c i a t e s who will e x p e c t a n in tim ate undrugged p erfo rm an ce from him. A p p arently the irre g u la r u s e r d o e s not becom e a confirm ed re g u la r u s e r u n til he l e a m s h e c a n be ' high and y e t c a r ry off a perform an ce before nons m o k e r s w ithout b e tra y in g h im s e lf . T h e sa m e i s s u e a r i s e s , p e r h a p s in a l e s s d r a m a tic form, in ordinary family life , when a d e c i s i o n h a s to be r e a c h e d a s to t h e po in t in th e ir tra in in g a t w hich young m em bers o f th e team c a n be ta k e n to p u b lic a n d s e m i-p u b lic c e r e m o n ie s , for on ly when th e c h ild i s re a d y to k e e p control of h i s tem per will he be a tru stw o rth y p a r ti c ip a n t on su c h o c c a s i o n s .
1 F o r an

ex am p le

sec

Page,

op.

cil., 138

pp.

91-92.

3. DRAM ATURGICAL C IR C U M SPE C T IO N - L o y a l ty and d is c ip li n e , in the d ra m a tu rg ic a l s e n s e o f t h e s e te rm s, a r e a t t r i b u t e s r e q u ir e d of te am -m a tes if th e s h o w they put on is to be s u s t a i n e d . In a d d itio n , it will be u s e fu l i f th e m em bers of th e te am e x e r c i s e f o re s ig h t and d e s i g n in d e term in in g in a d v a n c e how b e s t to s t a g e a show . P r u d e n c e m u s t be e x e r c i s e d . When th e re i s l i t t l e c h a n c e of b ein g s e e n , o p p o r tu n iti e s for r e la x a ti o n c a n be t a k e n ; when th e re i s l i t t l e c h a n c e o f b ein g put to a t e s t , th e c o l d f a c ts c a n be p r e s e n t e d in a glow ing lig h t and the perform ers c a n p la y th e ir p a rt for a l l it is worth, i n v e s t i n g ic with full d ig n ity . If no c a r e and h o n e s t y are e x e r c is e d , then d is r u p tio n s are lik e ly to o c c u r ; if rigid c a r e a n d h o n e s ty a r e e x e r c i s e d , th e n th e perfo rm ers are not lik e ly to be u n d e rsto o d ' on ly too well but they may be m isu n d e rsto o d , in s u f f ic i e n tly u n d erstood, or g r e a tly lim ite d in w hat th e y c a n build o u t of th e d ram a tu rg ica l o p p o r tu n iti e s o p e n to them. In o th e r w ords, in th e i n t e r e s t s o f th e te a m , perform ers will be req uired to e x e r c i s e prudence and c i r c u m s p e c ti o n in s ta g in g the show , prep a rin g m a d v a n c e for lik e ly c o n t i n g e n c i e s and e x p lo itin g th e o p p o r tu n itie s th a t rem ain. T he e x e r c i s e or e x p r e s s io n of dram a tu rg ica l c irc u m s p e c tio n t a k e s w ell-know n form s; so m e of t h e s e te c h n i q u e s for m anaging i m p r e s s io n s will be c o n s id e r e d h e r t. O b v io u sly , o n e s u c h te c h n iq u e i s for th e te am to c h o o s e members who a re lo y a l and d i s c ip li n e d , and a s e c o n d one i s lor th e team to a c q u ir e a c l e a r id e a a s to how much lo y a lty and d i s c i p l i n e i t c a n rely on from t h e m em bership a s a w hole, for th e d e g r e e to which t h e s e a t t r i b u t e s are p o s s e s s e d will m arkedly a f fe c t t h e lik e lih o o d of ca rry in g off a perform ance and h e n c e th e s a f e t y of i n v e s t i n g t h e perfo rm an ce with s e r i o u s n e s s , weight, and dig n ity . We w ill a l s o find t h a t th e c i r c u m s p e c t perform er w ill attem p t to s e l e c t th e kind of a u d i e n c e th a t w ill g iv e a minimum of tro u b le in te rm s o f th e show th e perform er w a n ts to put on a n d t h e sh o w he d o e s not w a n t to h a v e to put on. T h u s it i s rep orted th a t t e a c h e r s often favour n e i th e r l o w e r - c l a s s p u p ils nor u p p e r - c la s s o n e s , b e c a u s e both gro u p s may make it d ifficu lt to m a in ta in in t h e c l a s s r o o m th e kin d o f d e f in itio n of th e s it u a ti o n w hich affirm s th e p r o f e s s io n a l t e a c h e r role. 1 T e a c h e r s w ill t r a n s f e r to m i d d l e - c l a s s s c h o o l s for t h e s e d r am a tu rg ica l r e a s o n s . So, too, it i s reported th a t som e n u r s e s lik e to work in an o p e r a tin g room ra th e r th a n on a ward b e c a u s e in the o p e r a tin g room m e a s u r e s are ta k e n to e n s u re t h a t th e a u d ie n c e , who num bers only o n e, is soon o b liv io u s to th e
1 B e c k e r,

'S o c ia l C la s s

V ariations . .

op.

cit., pp.

461-462.

139

w e a k n e s s e s of th e show , p e rm ittin g th e o p e r a tin g te am to r e la x and d e v o te i t s e l f to the t e c h n o lo g i c a l r e q u ir e m e n ts of a c t i o n s a s o p p o s e d to the d r a m a tu rg ic a l o n e s . 1 O n ce th e a u d i e n c e i s a s l e e p it i s e v e n p o s s i b l e to bring in a ' g h o s t s u r g e o n to perform th e t a s k s th a t o th e rs who were th e re will l a t e r c l a im to h a v e done. 2 Sim ilarly, g ive n t h e fa c t th a t h u s b a n d and w ife a re req uired to e x p r e s s m arital s o li d a r ity by both s h o w in g th e s a m e regard for t h o s e whom th e y e n te r ta i n , i t i s n e c e s s a r y to e x c l u d e from th e ir g u e s t s t h o s e p e r s o n s about whom h u sb a n d and w ife feel d if fe r e n tly . 3 So a l s o , if a man of in f lu e n c e an d p o w e r i s to make s u r e th a t he c a n ta k e a frie n d ly r o le in o f fic e i n t e r a c t i o n s , then it w ill be u se fu l for him to hav e a p r iv a te e l e v a to r an d p r o te c tiv e c i r c l e s of r e c e p t i o n i s t s an d s e c r e t a r i e s s o t h a t no o n e ca n g et in to s e e him whom he m ight h a v e to t r e a t in a h e a r t l e s s o r s n o b b is h f a sh io n . It will be a p p a r e n t th a t an a u to m a tic w ay of e n s u r i n g th a t no member of th e te a m or no member of th e a u d i e n c e a c t s im p rop erly i s to lim it th e s i z e of both t e a m s a s much a s po ssib le. O th e r th in g s b e in g e q u a l, th e fe w e r the members, th e l e s s p o s s i b i l i t y of m i s t a k e s , d i f f i c u l t i e s , and tr e a c h e r i e s . T h u s s a l e s m e n l i k e to s e l l to u n a c c o m p a n ie d c u s to m e r s , s i n c e i t i s g e n e r a lly th o u g h t th a t two p e r s o n s in th e a u d i e n c e a r e m uch more d if f i c u lt to 1 s e ll than on e. So, too, in som e s c h o o l s th e re i s a n informal ru le th a t no t e a c h e r is to e n t e r th e room o f a n o th e r t e a c h e r w h ile t h e o th e r i s h o ld in g a c l a s s ; a p p a r e n tly th e a s s u m p tio n is t h a t it w ill be lik e ly th e new p erform er w ill do s o m e th in g th a t th e w a itin g e y e s of the s t u d e n t a u d i e n c e w ill s e e a s i n c o n s i s t e n t w ith th e im p r e s s io n f o s te r e d by t h e i r ow n t e a c h e r . 4 H o w ev er, th e re a r e at l e a s t two r e a s o n s why t h i s d e v ic e o f lim itin g t h e number o f p e r s o n s p r e s e n t h a s lim i t a t i o n s i t s e l f . F i r s t , so m e p e rf o rm a n c e s c a n n o t be p r e s e n te d w ithou t th e t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e of a s i z e a b l e number of te a m m a te s . T h u s , a lth o u g h a g en e ral s t a f f a p p r e c i a t e s th a t th e more o f f ic e r s th e r e a re who know the p l a n s for t h e n e x t p h a s e o f a c tio n , th e more lik e lih o o d th a t som e one w ill a c t in s u c h a
' U n p u b l i s h e d r e s e a r c h r e p o rt by E d it h L e n t z . It may be n o te d t h a t th e p o l i c y s o m e t i m e s follo w ed of p i p i n g m u s i c by e a r p h o n e s to the p a t i e n t who i s u n d e r g o i n g a n o p e r a t i o n w i t h o u t a g e n e r a l a n e s t h e t i c i s a m e a n s of e f f e c t i v e l y rem oving him a s an a u d i e n c e for t h e s p o k e n word.
2 Solomon, o p. c i t . , p. 108.

p o i n t h a s b e e n d e v e l o p e d in a s h o r t s t o r y by Mary McCar thy, ' A F r i e n d of the F a m i l y , r e p r i n t e d in Mary M cCarthy, C a s t A C o ld E y e (New Y o t k : H a r c o u r t B r a c e , 1950). 4 B e c k e r , ' T h e T e a c h e t in t h e Auth ority S y ste m of th e P u b l i c S c h o o l , op. c i t . , p . 139.

3 T his

140

way a s to d i s c l o s e s t r a t e g i c s e c r e t s , the s t a f f will s ti ll hav e to le t e n ough men in on th e s e c r e t to pla n an d a rran g e th e ev e n t. S eco n d ly , it a p p e a r s th a t in d iv i d u a ls , a s p i e c e s of e x p r e s s i v e equipm ent, a re more e f f e c tiv e in a c e r ta in s e n s e than non-hum an p a r t s of the s e ttin g . If, then, an in d iv id u al i s to be g iv e n a p l a c e o f g r e a t dram a tic p ro m in e n ce, it may be n e c e s s a r y to employ a s i z e a b l e c o u rt-fo llo w in g to a c h i e v e an e f f e c tiv e im p r e s s io n of a d u l a ti o n aro u n d him. 1 h a v e s u g g e s t e d that by k e e p in g c l o s e to th e f a c t s it may be p o s s i b l e for a perform er to s a f e g u a r d h is sh o w but t h i s may p rev e n t him from s ta g in g a very e la b o r a te o n e . If an e la b o r a te show i s to be s a f e ly s t a g e d i t may be more useful to remove o n e s e l f from the f a c t s r a th e r th a n s t i c k to them. It i s f e a s i b l e for a n o ffic ia l of a relig io n to c o n d u c t a solemn, a w e so m e p r e s e n ta t io n , b e c a u s e th e re is no r e c o g n iz e d way by which t h e s e c l a im s ca n be d is c r e d ite d . S im ilarly, th e p r o f e s s io n a l t a k e s th e s ta n d th a t the s e r v i c e he p erfo rm s i s not to be jud ged by th e r e s u l t s it a c h i e v e s but by th e d e g re e to w hich a v a i l a b l e o c c u p a t io n a l s k i l l s h a v e bee n p ro fic ie n tly a p p l i e d ; an d , of c o u r s e , the p r o f e s s io n a l c l a i m s th a t only the c o l le a g u e group ca n m ake a judgment o f th is kind. It is there* fore p o s s i b l e for the p r o f e s s io n a l to commit h im s e lf fully to h is p r e s e n ta t io n , with a l l h is weight and d ig n ity , know ing that on ly a very f o o lish m i s t a k e will be c a p a b l e of d e s tro y in g th e im p r e s s io n c r e a te d . T h u s we c a n u n d e r s ta n d the effo rt of tr a d e sm e n to o b ta in a p r o f e s s io n a l m a n d ate a s a n effort to gain con tro l over th e r e a lity th e y p r e s e n t to th e ir c u s t o m e r s ; and in turn we c a n s e e th a t s u c h c o n tro l m a k e s it u n n e c e s s a r y to be prud en tly hum ble in the a i r s one a s s u m e s in performing o n e s tr a d e . T h e r e would a p p e a r to be a r e la tio n b e tw e e n th e am ount o f m o d e sty em p lo y ed an d th e tem poral l e n g th o f a perform ance. If the a u d i e n c e i s to s e e only a brief p erfo rm an ce , th e n the lik e lih o o d of an e m b a r r a s s in g o cc u rre n c e will be r e la tiv e ly sm a ll, an d it will be r e la tiv e ly s a f e for th e perform er, e s p e c i a l l y in anon ym ous c i r c u m s ta n c e s , to m a in ta in a front th a t i s rath e r false. 1 In A m erican s o c i e t y th e re i s w hat i s c a l l e d a te le p h o n e v o i c e , ' a c u l tiv a te d form of s p e e c h not em plo yed in f a c e - to - f a c e ta lk b e c a u s e of th e d a n g e r of d o in g so. In B rita in , in th e k in d s of c o n t a c t between s t r a n g e r s th a t are
1 In brief an on y m o u s s e r v i c e r e l a t i o n s , s e r v e r s becom e s k i l l e d a t d e t e c t i n g

w h at they s e e a s a f f e c t a t i o n , an d s i n c e t h e i r own p o s i t i o n i s made c l e a r by t h e i r s e r v i c e role they c a n n o t return a f f e c t a t i o n with a f f e c t a t io n . At t h e s a m e tim e, c u s t o m e r s who are w h at they c l a i m to b e often s e n s e t h a t t h e s e r v e r may not a p p r e c i a t e t h i s , and s o the c u s t o m e r may f e e l a s h a m e d b e c a u s e he f e e l s a s he wou ld feel w ere h e a s f a l s e a s he a p p e a r s to be.

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g u a r a n te e d to b e v e ry b riefth e k i n d s in v o lv in g 'p l e a s e , * th a n k y o u , ' e x c u s e m e , .a n d ' m a y I s p e a k t o one hears m any more P u b l i c S chool a c c e n t s th a n th e re are P u b l i c School people. So a l s o , in A n g lo - A m e r ic a n s o c ie t y , th e m ajority of d o m e s tic e s t a b l i s h m e n t s do n o t p o s s e s s s u f f i c i e n t s t a g i n g e q u ip m e n t to m a in ta in a sh o w of p o lit e h o s p i t a l i t y for g u e s t s who s ta y more th a n a few h o u r s ; only in t h e upper-m iddle a n d u pper c l a s s e s do w e find t h e i n s t itu ti o n of t h e w ee k -e n d g u e s t , for it i s o n ly h ere th a t p erfo rm ers feel th e y h a v e enough s ig n eq uipm ent to bring off a le n g th y show . 1 T h e perform er who i s to b e d r a m a tu r g ic a lly p rudent will h a v e to a d a p t h i s p erfo rm an ce to th e inform ation c o n d i tio n s u nder w hich it m ust be s t a g e d . O b v io u s ly , he w ill h a v e to t a k e in to c o n s i d e r a t i o n th e in form atio n th e a u d i e n c e a l r e a d y p o s s e s s e s a b o u t him. T h e more inform ation th e a u d i e n c e h a s a b o u t th e perform er, th e l e s s l ik e ly it i s t h a t a n y th in g th e y l e a m during t h e i n te r a c t io n will r a d ic a ll y in f lu e n c e them. On t h e o th e r hand, w here no prior in fo rm ation i s p o s s e s s e d , it m ay be e x p e c t e d th a t th e in form ation g l e a n e d d u rin g t h e in te r a c tio n w ill be of r e l a t i v e l y g r e a t im p o r ta n c e . H e n c e , on th e w h o le, w e may e x p e c t in d iv i d u a ls to r e l a x th e s t r i c t m ain t e n a n c e of front w hen th e y a r e with th o s e th e y hav e known for a lo n g tim e, an d we may e x p e c t perform ers to tig h te n th e ir front when am ong p e r s o n s who a r e new to them . With t h o s e whom one d o e s not know, c a r e f u l p e r f o rm a n c e s a re req u ired . A n o th er c o n d i tio n a s s o c i a t e d with co m m u n ic atio n may b e cited. T h e c i r c u m s p e c t perform er w ill h a v e to c o n s i d e r t h t a u d i e n c e s a c c e s s to info rm ation s o u r c e s e x te r n a l to th e in te r ac tio n . F o r e x a m p le , m em bers of the T h u g trib e of In d ia a re s a i d to h a v e given t h e f o llo w in g p e rf o rm a n c e s d u rin g th e ea rly n i n e te e n th c e n t u r y :
A s a g e n e r a l rule chcy p t e t e n d e d t o be m e r c h a n t s o r s o l d i e r s , t r a v e l l i n g w ith o u t w e a p o n s in o rder co d i s a r m s u s p i c i o n , w hich g a v e them an e x c e l l e n t e x c u s e for s e e k i n g p e r m i s s i o n co acc o m p a n y t r a v e l l e r s , for chere w a s n o t h i n g to e x c i t e alarm in t h e t r a p p e a r a n c e . Mosc T h u g s w e r e m ild lo o k in g a n d p e c u l i a r l y c o u r t e o u s , for t h i s ca m o u f la g e formed p a r t o f cheir s t o c k - i n - t t a d e , an d w ell-arm ed t r a v e l l e r s f e l t no fear in a l l o w i n g t h e s e k n i g h t s of che r o a d co join them . T h i s f irs t s t e p s u c c e s s f u l l y a c c o m p l i s h e d , che T h u g s g r a d u a l l y won t h e c o n f i d e n c e of cheir i n t e n d e d v tccim s by a d em ean o u r of humilicy a nd g r a t i tu d e , an d feig n ed in c e r c s t in t h e i r a f f a i r s until f a m i li a r wich d e t a i l s of th eir h o m e s , w h eth er they w e r e l i k e l y to be m i s s e d i f m u rd ered, a n d if t h e y k n e w a n y o n e in t h e v i c i n i t y . S o m e tim e s t h e y t r a v e l l e d long d i s t a n c e s t o g e t h e r before a s u i t a b l e op portunic y foe tr e a c h e r y o c c u r r e d ; a c a s e is o n r e c o r d w here a g a n g jo u r n e y e d w ith a fam ily o f e l e v e n p e r s o n s for
1 On th e i s l a n d s t u d i e d by t h e wricer, so m e cr ofc ers felc t h e y c o u l d suscain

a m i d d l e - c l a s s sh o w for the d u r a t i o n o f a t e a , in so m e c a s e s a m e a l , and in* one or two c a s e s e v e n a w e e k - e n d ; b u t many i s l a n d e r s fe lt it only s a f e to perform for m i d d l e - c l a s s a u d i e n c e s on che front p orch or, betcer s t i l l , in che co m m unity h a l l , w h e r e (he e f f o r t s an d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of the sh ow c o u l d be s h a r e d by many t e a m - m a t e s .

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tw en ty d a y s , c o v e r i n g 200 m i l e s , b e f o re t h e y s u c c e e d e d in m u rd erin s t h e w h o le par ry w ith o u t d e t e c t i o n . 1 0

T h u g s c o u ld g iv e t h e s e p e rfo rm a n c e s in spice o f th e f a c t th a t th e ir a u d i e n c e s w ere c o n s ta n t ly on th e w atch for su c h perform ers (and quickly put to d e a th th o s e id e n tif ie d a s T h u g s) partly b e c a u s e of the in form ation al c o n d itio n s of t r a v e l ; o n c e a party s e t out for a d i s t a n t d e s tin a tio n , th e re w a s no w ay for them to c h e ck the i d e n t i t i e s claim ed by th o s e whom th e y en co u n te re d , an d if a n y th in g befell th e party on th e way i t would be m o n th s before they would be c o n s id e r e d o v e rd u e , by which time th e T h u g s who h ad performed for and then upon them would be o u t of rea ch. But in th e ir n a tiv e v i l l a g e s , th e m em bers of t h e tribe, being known, fixed, and a c c o u n t a b le for th e ir s i n s , b e h a v e d in an exem plary fash io n . Sim ilarly, c i r c u m s p e c t A m e ric a n s who w ould o rd inarily n e v e r c h a n c e a m is r e p r e s e n t ation of th e ir s o c i a l s t a t u s may ta k e su c h a c h a n c e w hile sta y in g for a sh o rt tim e a t a summ er re s o r t. If s o u r c e s of inform ation e x t e r n a l to th e in te r a c t io n c o n s t i t u t e one c o n tin g e n c y th e c i r c u m s p e c t performer m ust ta k e into c o n s id e r a t io n , s o u r c e s o f inform ation in ternal to t h e in te r a c t io n c o n s t i t u t e an o th er. T h u s th e c i r c u m s p e c t perform er will a d j u s t h i s p r e s e n ta t io n ac c o rd in g to t h e c h a r a c t e r of th e p ro p s an d t a s k s out of w hich he m ust build h i s perform an ce. F o r ex am ple, c lo th in g m e r c h a n ts in th e U nited S t a t e s a r e r e q u ir e d to be r e la tiv e ly c i r c u m s p e c t in making e x a g g e r a te d c l a im s , b e c a u s e c u s to m e r s ca n t e s t by s ig h t and touch whar i s show n for them, but furniture s a l e s men nee d not be s o c a r e f u l, b e c a u s e few members of the* a u d i e n c e can jud ge w hat l i e s behind th e front of varnish an d v e n e e r th a t i s p r e s e n t e d to them . 2 S im ilarly, if a h o u s e w ife i s c o n c e r n e d with sh o w in g th at s h e m a in ta in s c l e a n l i n e s s s t a n d a r d s , s h e i s lik e ly to fo c u s h e r a tte n t io n upon th e g l a s s s u r f a c e s in her liv in g room, for g l a s s sh o w s dirt all too c l e a r l y ; sh e w ill g iv e l e s s a t te n t io n ro the d arke r and l e s s r e v e a lin g rug, w h ich may well have b een c h o s e n in the b e lie f th a t ' d a r k c o l o u r s do n o t show the d i r t . So, too, an a r t i s t n e e d ta k e li t t l e c a r e with th e d e c o r of h i s s t u d i o in fact, th e a r t i s t s stu d io h a s becom e s te r e o ty p e d a s a p la c e w here th o s e who work b a c k s t a g e do not c a r e who s e e s them or th e c o n d itio n s in w h ich they are s e e n p a rtly b e c a u s e the full v a l u e of the a r t i s t s p ro d u ct c a n , or ought to be, im m ediately a v a ila b le to the s e n s e s ; p o rtra it p a i n te r s , on the o th e r hand, must pro m ise to make th e s i t t i n g s s a t i s f a c t o r y and te n d to u s e r e la tiv e ly
l S l eem an , op. c i l ., p. 25.
2 Con an t, op. c i t . , m a k e s t h i s p oint.

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p r e p o s s e s s i n g , ric h -lo o k in g s t u d i o s a s a k in d of g u a r a n te e for t h e p r o m is e s th e y make. Sim ilarly , we find t h a t c o n f id e n c e m en m u st employ e l a b o r a t e an d m e tic u lo u s p e r s o n a l f ro n ts an d often e n g i n e e r m e t i c u l o u s s o c i a l s e t t i n g s , n o t so much b e c a u s e th e y l ie for a liv i n g but b e c a u s e , in order to g e t aw ay with a l i e of th a t d im e n sio n , on e m ust deal with p e r s o n s who h a v e b e e n a n d a r e going to b e sc ra ngers, an d o n e h a s to te r m in a te the d e a l i n g s a s q u ic k ly a s p o s s i b l e , L e g i tim a te businessm en who would p rom o te .n v e n tu re u n d e r t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s would h a v e to b e j u s t a s m e t i c u l o u s in e x p r e s s i n g t h e m s e l v e s , for it i s u n d e r j u s t su c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t p o te n tia l i n v e s t o r s s c r u t i n i z e th e c h a r a c t e r o f t h o s e who would s e ll to them . In short, s i n c e a con m e rc h an t must s w in d le h i s c l i e n t s u n d er t h o s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w here c l i e n t s a p p r e c i a t e th a t a c o n f id e n c e g a m e c o u ld be em p loyed , th e con man must c a r e f u lly f o r e s ta ll th e im m e d ia te im p r e s s io n th a t h e m ight b e w h a t in f a c t h e i s , j u s t a s th e l e g itim a te m erchant, u n d e r th e s a m e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , would h a v e to f o re sta ll c a r e f u lly th e im m e d ia te im p r e s s io n th a t he might be w hat h e i s not. It i s a p p a r e n t th a t c a r e will be g r e a t in s i t u a t i o n s w here im p o rta n t c o n s e q u e n c e s for th e perform er will o c c u r a s a r e s u lt o f h i s c o n d u c t. T h e jo b - in te rv ie w i s a c l e a r exa m p le . O ften th e in te r v ie w e r will h a v e to m ake d e c i s i o n s of fa r-re a c h in g im po rranc e for th e in te r v ie w e e on the s o le b a s i s o f inform ation g a i n e d from th e i n t e r v i e w e e s in te rv ie w -p e rfo rm a n c e . The i n te r v ie w e e i s l ik e ly to feel, and with so m e j u s t i c e , th a t h i s ev ery a c tio n w ill be ta k e n a s high ly s y m b o lic a l, an d he will th e re fo re g iv e much p r e p a ra tio n and thought to h i s p erform an ce. We e x p e c t a t s u c h tim e s t h a t th e in te r v ie w e e will pay much a t te n t io n to h i s a p p e a r a n c e and manner, not m erely to c r e a t e a f a v o u r a b le im p r e s s io n , but a l s o to be on the s a fe s i d e and f o r e s ta ll an y u n fa v o u ra b le im p r e s s io n th a t might be u n w ittin g ly conveyed. A nother exa m p le may be s u g g e s t e d : t h o s e who work in the field of rad io b r o a d c a s ti n g and, e s p e c i a l l y , t e l e v is i o n k e e n ly a p p r e c i a t e th a t the momentary im p r e s s io n they g iv e w ill hav e a l a s t i n g e ffe c t on the view th e a u d i e n c e t a k e s o f them, an d it i s in t h i s p a rt of th e com m u n ic atio n in d u stry t h a t g r e a t c a re i s ta k e n to g iv e th e rig h t im p r e s s io n and g rea t a n x i e ty i s f e l t th a t the im p r e s s io n g iv e n might not be right. T h e s tr e n g th of t h i s c o n c e r n i s s e e n in th e in d ig n i tie s th a t h ig h - p la c e d p e rfo rm e rs are w illin g to su f fe r in o rd e r to com e off well : C o n g r e s s m e n a llo w t h e m s e l v e s to be made up and to be to ld w hat to w e a r ; p r o f e s s io n a l b o x e rs a b a s e t h e m s e l v e s by g iv in g a d is p la y , in th e m a nner o f w r e s tle r s , i n s t e a d of a bout. 1
1 S e e J o h n L a r d n e r 's w eek ly column in N e w s w e e k , F e b r u a ry 22, 1954, p. 59.

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C i rc u m s p e c tio n on t h e p a rt of perfo rm ers w ill a l s o be e x p r e s s e d in th e way th e y h a n d le r e la x a ti o n o f a p p e a r a n c e s . When a team i s p h y s i c a l l y d i s t a n t from i t s i n s p e c t o r ia l a u d i e n c e a n d a s u r p r i s e v i s i t i s u n lik e ly , then g r e a t r e la x a ti o n b e c o m e s f e a s i b l e . T h u s we rea d th a t sm a ll A m erican N avy i n s t a l l a t i o n s on P a c i f i c i s l a n d s d u rin g t h e l a s t w ar c o u ld b e run q u ite inform ally, w h e r e a s a r e a d ju s tm e n t in th e d ire c tio n o f spit an d p o lis h w a s r e q u ir e d when th e o u tf it moved to p l a t e s th a t m e m b ers of th e a u d i e n c e were more l ik e ly to frequent. 1 When i n s p e c t o r s h a v e e a s y a c c e s s to th e p l a c e w here a te am c a r r i e s on i t s work, then th e am o u n t o f r e la x a tio n p o s s i b l e for the team will depend on t h e e f f ic i e n c y a n d r e l i a b i l i t y of i t s w arning sy ste m . It i s to be n o te d th a t thorough-go ing r e la x a tio n r e q u ir e s not only a w arning s y s t e m but a l s o an a p p r e c ia b le tim e l a p s e b e tw e e n w arning a n d v is i t, for t h e te am will be a b l e to r e la x only to t h e d e g r e e th a t c a n be c o r r e c te d d u rin g s u c h a tim e lapse. T h u s , when a s c h o o l t e a c h e r l e a v e s her c l a s s r o o m for a moment, h e r c h a r g e s c a n r e la x into s lo v e n ly p o s t u r e s and w h is p e re d c o n v e r s a ti o n s , for t h e s e t r a n s g r e s s i o n s c a n b e c o r r e c te d in th e few s e c o n d s ' w arning t h e p u p i l s will h a v e th a t th e te a c h e r i s abo u t to r e -e n te r, but it i s u n lik e ly th a t it will be f e a s i b l e for the p u p ils to s n e a k a smoke, for th e sm ell of sm oke c a n n o t be got rid of q u ic k ly . I n te r e s tin g ly enou gh, p u p ils , lik e o th e r perform ers, will t e s t th e l i m i t s , g le efu lly m o vin g far e n o u g h aw ay from th e ir s e a t s s o th a t when the w arning c o m e s th e y will h a v e to d a s h madly back to th e ir proper p l a c e s so a s not to be c a u g h t o f f- b a se . I would l i k e to m ention a final way in which, d ram a turg ica l c i rc u m s p e c tio n i s e x e r c i s e d . When te a m s c o m e into e a c h o th e r 's im m edia te p r e s e n c e , a h o s t of minor e v e n t s may o c c u r th a t a r e a c c i d e n ta lly s u i t a b l e for c o n v e y in g a g e n e ra l im p r e s s io n th a t i s i n c o n s i s t e n t with th e f o s te r e d o n e. T his ex p re ssiv e tr e a c h e r o u s n e s s i s a b a s i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f fa c e - to -f a c e in te r ac tio n . O ne way of d e a lin g with t h i s p roblem i s , ^as p re v io u s ly s u g g e s te d , to s e l e c t te a m - m a te s who are d is c i p l i n e d and will not perform t h e i r p a r t s in a c lu m s y , g a u c h e , or s e l f - c o n s c i o u s f a s h io n . A noth er m ethod i s to p r e p a r e in a d v a n c e for all p o ssib le ex p re ssiv e con tin g en cies. O n e a p p l ic a tio n of th is s t r a t e g y i s to s e t t l e on a c o m p le te a g e n d a before the ev e n t, d e s i g n a t i n g who i s to do what and who i s to do what afte r th a t. In t h i s way c o n f u s i o n s an d l u l l s ca n be avoided and h e n c e the i m p r e s s i o n s th a t s u c h h i t c h e s in th e p r o c e e d in g s m ight c o n v e y to th e a u d ie n c e ca n be a v o id e d too. A nother a p p l ic a tio n of t h i s programming te c h n iq u e i s to a c c e p t th e fact th a t p ic a y u n e e v e n t s s u c h a s who is to e n t e r a room f irs t
1 P age, op. cit., p. 92.

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o r w ho i s to s i t n e x t to t h e h o s t e s s , e t c . , will be t a k e n a s e x p r e s s i o n s o f r e g a rd a n d to a p p o rtio n t h e s e f a v o u r s c o n s c i o u s l y on t h e b a s i s of p r i n c i p l e s o f ju d g m e n t to w hich no one p r e s e n t will t a k e o f fe n c e , s u c h a s a g e , g r o s s s e n io r i ty in rank, s e x , te m porary ce re m o n ia l s t a t u s , e t c . T h u s in a n im p o rta n t s e n s e p ro to c o l i s n o t s o m uch a d e v i c e for e x p r e s s i n g v a l u a t i o n s du rin g i n t e r a c t i o n a s a d e v i c e for 'g ro u n d in g * p o te n tia lly d i s r u p t i v e e x p r e s s i o n s in a way th a t will be a c c e p t a b l e ( a n d u n e v e n tf u l) to a l l p r e s e n t . A third a p p l ic a tio n i s to r e h e a r s e th e w hole r o u tin e s o th a t th e p erfo rm e rs c a n b e c o m e p r a c t i s e d in t h e i r p a r t s and so th a t c o n t i n g e n c i e s th a t w ere no t p r e d ic te d w ill o c c u r u n d er c i r c u m s t a n c e s in w h ich th e y c a n be s a fe ly a t t e n d e d to . A fourth i s to o u tli n e b e fo reh a n d fo r th e a u d i e n c e th e l i n e o f r e s p o n s e th e y a r e to ta k e to th e p erfo rm an ce . When t h i s k in d o f b riefin g o c c u r s , o f c o u r s e , it b e c o m e s d if fic u lt to d i s t i n g u i s h b e tw e e n p e rfo rm e rs an d a u d i e n c e . T h i s ty p e of c o l l u s i o n i s e s p e c i a l l y found w here t h e perform er i s o f highly s a c r e d s t a t u s and c a n n o t t r u s t h im s e lf to t h e s p o n ta n e o u s t a c t o f th e a u d i e n c e . F o r ex a m p le , in B r ita in , women who a re to be p r e s e n t e d a t c o u r t (whom w e may th in k o f a s an a u d i e n c e for t h e ro y al perform ers) a re c a r e f u lly s c h o o le d befo re h a n d a s to what to w ear, w h a t k in d o f l i m o u s in e to a rriv e in, how to c u r ts e y , and w hat to sa y .

Protective Practices
I h a v e s u g g e s t e d t h r e e a t t r i b u t e s th a t team m em b ers m ust h a v e if th e ir te a m i s to perform in s a f e t y ; lo y a lty , d i s c i p l i n e , a n d c i r c u m s p e c ti o n . E a c h of t h e s e c a p a c i t i e s i s e x p r e s s e d in many s t a n d a r d d e f e n s iv e t e c h n i q u e s through w hich a s e t of p e rf o rm e r s c a n s a v e th e ir own sho w . Som e of t h e s e te c h n i q u e s o f im p r e s s io n m a n a g e m e n t w ere r e v ie w e d . O th e r s , s u c h a s t h e p r a c t i c e of c o n t r o l lin g a c c e s s to back r e g io n s and front r e g io n s , w ere s u f f i c ie n tly d i s c u s s e d in e a r l i e r c h a p t e r s . In t h i s s e c t i o n I w ant to s t r e s s th e f a c t t h a t m o s t o f t h e s e d e f e n s i v e t e c h n i q u e s o f i m p r e s s io n m a n ag e m en t h a v e a c o u n t e r p a rt in t h e ta c tfu l t e n d e n c y o f th e a u d i e n c e and o u t s i d e r s to a c t in a p r o te c tiv e way in o rd e r to help th e p erform ers s a v e t h e ir own show . S i n c e th e d e p e n d e n c e o f the p erform ers on t h e t a c t o f t h e a u d i e n c e an d o u t s i d e r s t e n d s to be under e s t i m a t e d , I sh a ll bring t o g e th e r h e r e som e o f the s e v e r a l p r o t e c t i v e t e c h n i q u e s t h a t are commonly em p lo y ed a lth o u g h , a n a l y t i c a l l y sp e a k in g , e a c h p r o te c tiv e p r a c t i c e might b e t te r b e c o n s i d e r e d in c o n j u n c ti o n with th e c o r r e s p o n d in g d e f e n s iv e p ractice. 146

F i r s t , i t s h o u ld be u n d e r s to o d t h a t a c c e s s to th e back an d front r e g io n s o f a p erform an ce i s c o n tro lle d n o t only by t h e p erform ers but by o t h e r s . I n d iv id u a ls volu n ta rily s ta y aw ay from re g io n s into which they h a v e not been in v ite d . ( T h i s k in d o f t a c t in re g a rd to p l a c e i s a n a l a g o u s to ' d i s c r e t i o n , w hich h a s a l r e a d y been d e s c r i b e d a s t a c t in regard to f a c ts .) And when o u t s i d e r s find th e y are a b o u t to e n t e r s u c h a r eg io n , th e y o fte n give t h o s e a lre a d y p r e s e n t som e w arning, in th e form o f a m e s s a g e , or a knock, or a co u g h , so t h a t t h e in tru sio n c a n be put off if n e c e s s a r y o r the s e t t i n g h u rrie dly pu t in order and proper e x p r e s s i o n s fixed on t h e f a c e s o f t h o s e p r e s e n t. 1 T h i s kin d o f t a c t c a n bec om e n ic e ly e l a b o r a te d . T h u s, in p r e s e n tin g o n e s e l f to a s tr a n g e r by m e a n s o f a l e t t e r o f in tro d u c tio n , it i s thought proper to c o n v e y th e le t t e r to th e a d d r e s s e e before a c tu a lly com ing into h i s im m e d ia te p r e s e n c e ; th e a d d r e s s e e then h a s tim e to d e c id e w hat kind of g r e e tin g th e ind iv id u al i s to r e c e i v e , and tim e to a s s e m b l e t h e e x p r e s s i v e m anner a p p r o p r ia te to s u c h a g re e tin g . 2 We often find t h a t w hen in te r a c t io n m ust p ro c e e d in the p r e s e n c e of o u ts i d e r s , o u t s i d e r s t a c tf u lly a c t in an u n in te r e s te d , un in v o lv e d , u n p e r c e iv in g f a s h io n , so t h a t if p h y s ic a l c l o s u r e i s not o b ta in e d by w a ll s or d i s t a n c e , e f f e c tiv e c lo s u r e ca n at l e a s t be o b ta in e d by c o n v e n tio n . T h u s when two s e t s o f p e r s o n s find t h e m s e l v e s in n eig h b o u rin g b o o th s in a r e s ta u r a n t, i t i s e x p e c te d th a t n e i th e r group will avail i t s e l f o f the o p p o r tu n iti e s that a c tu a lly e x i s t for o v e r h e a r in g t h e other. E t i q u e t t e a s r e g a r d s ta c tf u l in a tte n tio n , and t h e e f f e c tiv e p riv a c y it p r o v id e s , v a r i e s , o f c o u r s e , from o n e s o c ie t y and s u b c u ltu r e to an o th er. In m i d d l e - c l a s s A nglo-Am erican s o c ie t y , when in a p u b lic p l a c e , one i s su p p o s e d to k e e p o n e s n o s e o u t of o th e r p e o p l e s a c tiv i ty and go about o n e s own b u s i n e s s . It i s o nly w hen a woman d ro p s a p a c k a g e , or w hen a fellow m o to rist g e t s s t a l l e d in th e m iddle o f th e road, or when a baby le ft a l o n e in a c a r r i a g e b e g i n s to sc re a m , th a t m i d d l e - c l a s s p e o p l e feel it i s all righ t to break down m om entarily the w a lls w hich e f f e c tiv e ly i n s u l a t e them. In the rural is l a n d c u ltu r e stu d ie d by th e writer, d if fe r e n t r u l e s o b ta in e d . If any man h a p p e n e d to find h im s e lf in th e p r e s e n c e of o th e rs who were e n g a g e d in a t a s k , it w a s e x p e c t e d th a t he would lend a hand,
1 Maids a r e o f te n t r a i n e d to e n t e r a room w ith o u t k n o ck in g, or to k n o c k and

go right in, p r e su m a b ly on the th eo ry t h a t they arc n o n - p e r s o n s before whom any p r e t e n c e or in t e r a c t i o n r e a d i n e s s on the p ar t o f t h o s e in the room n e e d n o t be m a i n t a i n e d . F rie n d ly h o u s e w i v e s w i l l e n t e r e a c h o t h e r s k i t c h e n s with s i m i l a r l i c e n c e , a s a n e x p r e s s i o n o f h a v i n g n o th in g to h id e from e a c h oth er. * E sq u ire E t i q u e t t e , op. cit., p. 73-

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e s p e c i a l l y if t h e t a s k w a s r e la tiv e ly b r ie f a n d r e la tiv e ly s tr e n u o u s . Such c a s u a l m utual aid was ta k e n a s a m a tte r o f c o u r s e and w a s a n e x p r e s s i o n o f n o th in g c l o s e r than fellowisla n d e r statu s. O n c e the a u d i e n c e h a s b e e n a d m itte d to a perform ance, t h e n e c e s s i t y of b e in g ta c tfu l d o e s not c e a s e . We find th a t th e re i s a n e l a b o r a t e e t i q u e t t e by w hich in d iv i d u a ls guide them s e l v e s in th e ir c a p a c i t y a s m em bers o f the a u d i e n c e . T h i s i n v o l v e s : th e giving of a p roper am ount of a tte n tio n and i n t e r e s t ; a w i l l i n g n e s s to hold in c h e c k o n e 's own perfo rm an ce so a s not to in tr o d u c e too many c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , in te r ru p tio n s , o r d e m a n d s for a t te n t io n ; th e in h ib itio n o f all a c t s or s t a t e m e n t s th a t m ight c r e a t e a faux p a s ; th e d e s i r e , a b o v e *li e l s e , to avoid a s c e n e . A u d ie n c e t a c t i s so g e n e r a l a th in g th a t we may e x p e c t to find it e x e r c i s e d e v e n by in d iv i d u a ls , famous for th e ir m is b e h a v io u r, who are p a t i e n t s in m ental h o sp ic a ls. T h u s on e r e s e a r c h group r e p o r t s :
Ac a n o t h e r ti m e , th e s t a f f , w itho u t c o n s u l t i n g t h e p a t i e n t s , d e c i d e d to g i v e them a V a l e n t i n e p arty . Many o f t h e p a t i e n t s d id n o t w i s h to g o, but d id s o an y w ay a s th ey felc t h a t they sh o u l d n o t hurt the f e e l i n g s o f che s t u d e n t n u r s e s who h a d o r g a n i z e d th e p arty . T h e g a m e s in tro d u c e d by t h e n u r s e s w e r e on a very c h i l d i s h l e v e l ; many o f che pac iencs felt s i l l y p l a y i n g them a n d w ere g l a d when the pa rty w as over a n d they c o u l d go b ack to a c t i v i t i e s of t h e i r own c h o o s i n g . 1

We a l s o find that when perform ers make a s l i p of som e kind, c l e a r l y e x h i b itin g a d i s c r e p a n c y b e tw e e n the fo s te r e d im p r e s s io n an d a d i s c l o s e d r e a lity , th e a u d i e n c e may ta c tfu lly ' n o t s e e th e s lip or r e a d ily a c c e p t th e e x c u s e t h a t is o ffered for it. F u r th e r , we find th a t a t m o m e n ts o f c r i s i s for the perform ers, the w hole a u d i e n c e may com e in to t a c i t c o llu s io n w ith th e p erfo rm ers in order to help them out. T h u s we le arn t h a t in mental h o s p i t a l s w hen a p a t i e n t d i e s in s u c h a way a s to r e f le c t upon th e im p re ssio n of u se fu l tre a tm e n t th a t th e s ta f f is a t te m p tin g to m a in ta in , the oth e r p a t i e n t s , o rd in aiily d i s p o s e d to give th e s t a f f tro u b le , will t a c tf u lly e a s e up their w arfa re a n d w ith much d e l i c a c y help s u s t a i n th e q u ite fa l^ e im p r e s s io n th a t they h av e not ab s o rb e d th e m eaning of what h a s h a p p e n e d . 2 S im ilarly, at ti m e s of in s p e c t io n , w h eth e r in s c h o o l, in b a r r a c k s , in the h o s p it a l, or a t home, th e a u d i e n c e i s l ik e ly to b e h a v e i t s e l f in a model way so th a t th e perform ers who a r e b eing i n s p e c t e d may put on an exe m pla ry show . At
'W i l l i a m C a u d i l l , F re d e r i c k C. Redlicli, H elen R. Gilm ore a n d Kugene B. Bro d y , S o c i a l S t ru c ru re and I n t e ra c ti o n P r o c e s s e s on a P s y c h i a t r i c Ward, A m e r i c a n Jo u r n a l o f O r th o p s y c h i a t r y , XXII, 321-322. 2 S e e T a x e l , op. c i t . , p. 118. Vl'hen two t e a m s know an e m b a r r a s s i n g fact, a n d e a c h t eam k n o w s the oth er t eam know s it, a n d y e t n c M i e r te a m open ly a d m i t s i t s k n o w le d g e , we g e t an i n s t a n c e of w h at Robert b u b i n h a s c a l l e d 'o rg an izatio n al fictio n s.' S ee Dubin, op. c i t . , p p . 341-3^5-

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s u c h tim e s , te am l i n e s a re a p t to s h i f t s l i g h t l y and m om entarily s o th a t t h e i n s p e c t i n g s u p e r in t e n d e n t, g e n e r a l, d ir e c to r , or g u e s t will be f a c e d by p erform ers a n d a u d i e n c e who a r e in c o l lu s io n . A lin a l i n s t a n c e of t a c t in h a n d lin g th e perform er may be c i te d . When th e perform er i s known to be a b e g in n er, and more s u b j e c t th a n o th e r w is e to e m b a r r a s s i n g m i s t a k e s , th e a u d i e n c e , f re q u e n tly s h o w s e x tra c o n s i d e r a t i o n , re fra in in g from c a u s i n g th e d i f f i c u l t i e s it m ight o t h e r w i s e c r e a t e . I w ould l i k e to ad d a c o n c lu d in g f a c t a b o u t t a c t . Whenever t h e a u d i e n c e e x e r c i s e s t a c t, th e p o s s i b i l i t y w ill a r i s e th a t th e p e rfo rm e rs w ill le arn th a t th e y are b ein g ta c t f u l l y p r o te c te d . When t h i s o c c u r s , t h e fu rth e r p o s s i b i l i t y a r i s e s th a t th e a u d i e n c e w ill learn th a t th e perfo rm ers know they a re b ein g ta c tf u lly p ro tec ted . And th en, in turn, it b e c o m e s p o s s i b l e for the perform ers to le a rn th a t the a u d i e n c e k now s th a t the perform ers know t h e y are being p r o te c te d . Now w hen s u c h s t a t e s of in fo rm a tio n e x i s t , a moment in th e p erfo rm an ce may com e w h en th e s e p a r a t e n e s s of th e t e a m s w ill b reak down a n d be m o m e n ta rily r e p l a c e d by a com munion of g l a n c e s through w hich e a c h team o p e n ly a d m its to the o th e r i t s s t a t e of inform ation. A t s u c h m o m e n ts th e w hole d r am a tu rg ica l s tr u c t u r e of s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n i s s u d d e n ly an d p o ig n a n tly la id bare, an d th e lin e s e p a r a t i n g th e t e a m s m om entarily d i s a p p e a r s . Whether t h i s c l o s e v ie w of th in g s b rin g s sh a m e or la u g h te r , th e teams are l ik e ly to d raw r a p id l y b ack in to th e ir a p p o in te d c h a r a c t e r s .

Tact Regarding Tact

It h a s been a r g u e d th a t t h e a u d i e n c e c o n t r i b u t e s in a s i g n i f i c a n t way to the m a in te n a n c e of a sh o w by e x e r c i s i n g t a c t o r p r o t e c t i v e p r a c t i c e s on b e h a lf of th e perform ers. It i s a p p a r e n t th a t i f th e a u d i e n c e i s to em ploy t a c t on th e perform ers b eh a lf, the p erfo rm er m u st a c t in s u c h a w ay a s to make the re n d e rin g o f t h i s a s s i s t a n c e p o s s i b l e . T h i s w ill re q u ire d i s c i p l i n e and c i r c u m s p e c t i o n , but of a s p e c i a l order. For e x a m p le , it w a s s u g g e s t e d th a t ta c tf u l o u t s i d e r s in a p h y s ic a l p o s it io n to o v e r h e a r a n i n te r a c t io n m ay o ffe r a s h o w o f inatten tion . In o rd e r to a s s i s t in th is ta c tf u l w ith d ra w a l, th e p a r t i c i p a n t s who feel i t i s p h y s i c a l l y p o s s i b l e for them to be o v e rh e a rd may omit from th e ir c o n v e r s a ti o n and a c t i v i t y anythin g t h a t would ta x t h i s ta c tf u l r e s o lv e of the o u t s i d e r s , and at t h e s a m e tim e i n c lu d e e n o u g h s e m i- c o n f id e n t ia l f a c t s to sho w t h a t th e y do not d i s t r u s t th e sh o w of w ith d raw a l p r e s e n te d by th e outsid ers. S im ila rly, it a s e c r e t a r y i s to te ll a v is i to r 149

ta c tf u lly th a t th e man he w i s h e s to s e e i s out, it will be w ise for the v i s i t o r to s te p bac k from th e in te r-o ffic e te l e p h o n e so t h a t he c a n n o t h e a r w hat the s e c r e t a r y is being told by the man who i s p re su m a b ly not th e re to te ll her. I would l i k e to c o n c lu d e by m e n tio n in g tw o g e n e r a l s t r a t e g i e s re g a rd in g t a c t with r e s p e c t to t a c t. F i r s t , th e perform er m ust be s e n s i t i v e to h i n t s and rea dy to t a k e them, for it i s through h i n t s that the a u d i e n c e c a n warn t h e perform er t h a t h is show is u n a c c e p ta b le and th a t he had b e t te r modify it q u ic kly if the s i t u a ti o n is to be s a v e d . S eco n d ly , if the perform er i s to m i s r e p r e s e n t t h e f a c t s in a n y w ay, he m ust do s o in a c c o r d a n c e with th e e t iq u e t te for m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n ; he m ust not l e a v e h im s e lf in a p o sitio n from w hich e v e n the l a m e s t e x c u s e and th e most c o - o p e ra tiv e a u d i e n c e c a n n o t e x t r i c a t e him. In t e l l i n g an untruth, the perform er i s e n jo in e d to reta in a sha dow of j e s t in h i s v o ic e so th a t, should he be caughc out, he c a n d is a v o w an y claim to s e r i o u s n e s s and s a y th a t he w as only joking. In m is r e p r e s e n t in g h is p h y s ic a l a p p e a r a n c e , th e performer is e n jo in e d to u s e a method w hich a l lo w s of an in n o c e n t e x c u s e . T h u s b ald in g men who a f fe c t a h a t in d o o rs an d out a re more or l e s s e x c u s e d , s i n c e i t i s p o s s i b l e that th e y have a co ld , chat th e y , merely forgot to t a k e their h a t off, o r th a t ra in c a n fall in u n e x p e c te d p l a c e s ; a to u p e e , however, o f fe rs the w earer no e x c u s e an d th e a u d i e n c e no e x c u s e for excuse. In fa c t th e re is a s e n s e in which the c a te g o ry of im po stor, p re v io u s ly referre d co, c a n be d e fin e d a s a p erso n who m a k e s it im p o s s ib le for h i s a u d i e n c e to be ta c tf u l abo u t o b s e rv e d m is r e p r e s e n t a ti o n . aranniD In s p i t e of th e f a c t th a t perform ers and a u d i e n c e em ploy a ll of t h e s e te c h n i q u e s of im p r e s s io n m anagem ent, and many o t h e r s a s w ell, we know, of c o u r s e , th a t i n c i d e n t s do o c c u r a n d that a u d i e n c e s are in a d v e r ta n t ly given g lim p s e s behind t h e s c e n e s of a perfo rm ance. When s u c h a n in c id e n t o c c u rs, t h e m em bers of an a u d ie n c e so m e tim e s le a rn a n im portant l e s s o n , more im portant to them th a n the a g g r e s s i v e p le a s u r e th e y c a n o b ta in by d i s c o v e r in g so m e o n e s dark. P Q f'i^ red. i n s i d e , or sc ra te g ic s e c r e t s . T h e members of the a u d i e n c e may d is c o v e r a fun d am e n tal d em o crac y th a t is u s u a lly well h idden. Whether th e c h a r a c t e r th a t i s being p r e s e n te d i s so b e r o r c a r e f r e e , of high s ta tio n or low, th e in d iv id u a l who perform s th e c h a r a c t e r will be s e e n for w hat he la rg e ly i s , a s o lita r y p la y e r involved in a h arried c o n c e rn for h is p rod uction. Behind 150

many m a s k s and many c h a r a c t e r s , e a c h perform er te n d s to w ea r a s i n g l e look, a n ak e d u n s o c ia liE e d look, a look o f co n c e n tr a tio n , a look of one who i s p riv ately e n g a g e d in a d ifficult, t r e a c h e r o u s ta s k . De B eau v o ir, in h e r book on women, p r o v id e s an i l l u s t r a t i o n :
And in sp ic e o f a l l h e r p r u d e n c e , a c c i d e n t s will h a p p e n ; wine i s on h er d r e s s , a c i g a r e t t e b u r n s i t ; t h i s mar ks the d i s a p p e a r a n c e of t h e l u x u r io u s a n d f e s t i v e c r e a t u r e who bore h e r s e l f w ith s m ilin g o ride in t h e ballroom, fo t s h e no w a s s u m e s the s e r i o u s and s e v e r e look o f th e h o u s e k e e p e r ; it b e c o m e s a l l a t o n ce e v i d e n t t h a t h e r t o i l e t t e w a s n o t a s e t p i e c e l i k e f ire w o r k s, a t r a n s i e n t burst of s p l e n d o r, i n t e n d e d for the l a v i s h illu m in a tio n of a m om ent. It i s r a t h e r a r i c h p o s s e s s i o n , c a p i t a l g o o d s , an i n v e s t m e n t ; i t h a s m e a n t s a c r i f i c e ; i t s l o s s i s a real disaster S po ts, r e n t s , b o t c h e d d r e s s m a k i n g , bad h a i r d o s ar e c a t a s t r o p h e s s t i l l more s e r i o u s t h a n a bur nt r o a s t o r a broken v a s e ; fo r n o t o nlv d o e s th e wom an o f f a sh io n p r o j e c t h e r s e l f into t h i n g s , s h e h a s c h o s e n to make h e r s e l f a t h in g , a n d s h e f e e l s d i r e c t l y t h r e a t e n e d i n rhe wor ld H er r e l a t i o n s with d r e s s m a k e r a n d m illin e r, her f id getin g, h er s t r i c t d e m a n d s - a l l t h e s e m a n i f e s t h er s e r i o u s a t t . t u d e and h e r s e n s e of i n s e c u r i t y . 1 _______________ __________________
sD ilied

i de B e auv o ir, op. c i l . , p. 536.

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