quantcept

quantcept is a participatory performance where a call center operator acts as a medium between the public and entities such as spirits and corporations through the esoteric art of market research. The performance can last between 15 and 25 minutes - each person in the audience has a numbered ticket distributed at the entrance. A computer is placed on the audience side, and a computer is on stage, on which the operator plays. The call center picks numbers randomly : when a person’s number comes up, they can take the call on the computer available on the audience’s side. Once they choose to answer the call, they can answer statistic questions. The script of the statistical surveys gradually reveals different characters, controlled by the player in the manner of RPG dialogue choices. It is a multiplayer game that is played by two people: by the operator and one person from the audience at a time. Each call between the operator and the public lasts from two to eight minutes. The audience interacts with their computer using mouse input. They are not required to use a controller, microphone, or camera to answer the calls. Among the themes covered: cannibalism, sending animals into space, having your driving license, not having your driving license, how old you are, do you smoke cigarettes, do you have 5 minutes to devote to a statistical survey, etc, etc…