Do you have a daring performance idea that can’t be confined to a stage? Maybe you want to gradually tie-up a partner during a tango. Maybe you want to walk semi-nude around in a cage to convey the boundaries we all walk around with. Or maybe just maybe you want create a special throne to lavish patrons shoes and boots with the care and attention they deserve.
These are just some of the amazing and wonderful interactive performances we’ve had in years past. We cherish our interactive performers as they bring a different level of titillation to our festival and the experience of our patrons. Our Interactive Performance Lead awaits your emailed proposal!
What is Interactive Performance?
Interactive performance (previously referred to as Ambient performance) at Seattle Erotic Art Festival is performance art that breaks the 4th wall by using the entirety of the festival space as the stage. Interactive performers engage directly with our guests, creating an immersive environment. Performances “roam” around the event, making use of cozy corners as well as busy passageways to create improvised, intimate, hyperlocal experiences. We delight and challenge festival goers by weaving stories, expressing ideas, and inviting engagement. This year there is a focus on unfurling a story.
As an interactive performance artist, you not only stimulate attendees to contemplate and appreciate the erotic; you embody the erotic. Developed, roaming characters spin an energetic web of art around the entire event, invoking fresh perspectives and contemplations, and moving attendees to communicate with friends and lovers about desires, consent, questions and nuances of their experience.
Call for Interactive Performance Art
Please email your proposal to interactive@seattleerotic.org, providing the information requested below by January 15, 2019. Accepted performers must be at least 21 years old by April 26, 2019. Artists may only submit performance art of their own creation.
Interactive performance can include dance, movement, improv, spoken word art, acoustic music, singing, pure silence, visual art, clever props, technology, costuming, body art, drawing, and many other forms of expression.
Amplified sound is generally not accessible (e.g., portable speaker) for performances. Please keep in mind singing, spoken word and instrumental performances can be very challenging to hear in this environment; these would need to be truly “hyperlocal” experiences. The overall construct of the performance will work best if it conforms to the existing environment. Technical needs such as sound, lighting, or use of a specific space or prop should be identified and communicated as early in the process as possible in order to try to work out reasonable solutions, so please submit early!
Professional performance experience is NOT required to be an interactive performer but professionalism is. We encourage all confident, creative artists to submit proposals! Most importantly, we are here to create a mutually respectful platform for everyone involved.
You may have an erotic performance in mind that you envision as a stand-alone piece. As an interactive performer, we encourage you to re-imagine it as a performance you deliver in parts as you move from one place to another, embodying a character or a story as you roam, and igniting guests as you do. You draw people in, they follow you; they can’t wait to see what happens next… We will workshop promising proposals with you.
There is a minimum time commitment: an all-cast kick-off meeting, 1 phone call, 1-2 workshopped rehearsals with an interactive performance director, and one final dress rehearsal Thursday, April 25th. Dates of meetings and rehearsals are to be determined. We will do our best to accommodate as many schedules as possible. Exceptions can be made for those submitting from out of state.
Performances are compensated with weekend entry passes to the event for yourself and a guest.
Budget: Our budget (e.g., to support props or costuming) is limited, but reasonable budget requests will always be considered. We will help performers experiencing financial hardship as best as we can. Be clear if budget assistance is necessary for participation.
Proposal Guidelines
Up to three (3) interactive performance proposals may be submitted. Images must be included with all submissions. Interactive submissions are to be made by EMAIL ONLY. The submission deadline is January 15, 2019 at 11:00pm (PST). Please email your proposal to interactive@seattleerotic.org
Please include the following information in your proposal:
- What you would like to perform for SEAF and how your piece will add to the interactive experience for festival goers.
- Please include any character development, story-line, costuming, and any other details you can provide regarding your performance.
- Technical needs your piece requires in terms of lighting, space, props, etc.
- Your performance background.
- Something that moved you either as a performer or viewer or how you plan to move your viewers at SEAF 2019.
- Please include any visuals of yourself and/or work to get us familiarized with you.