A Day in the Life of a React Role-player - by Tara Ward It was still early morning as I emerged from Westminster tube

station, because I wanted to allow time to have a hot porridge from a nearby caf, before making my way up Whitehall to the offices where I was role-playing for the day. Suddenly the vista of Big Ben loomed up in front of me, with the stunning backdrop of the Houses of Parliament behind. Ive lived in London for over thirty years but a beautiful landmark like this can still take my breath away. It also made me reflect on less salubrious locations where role-play work has taken me, such as a rather intimidating industrial estate set in a no-mans land on the outskirts of Birmingham. Then there are the wonderful opportunities to visit a place you might never see normally: last November I worked with a large retail franchise in Beirut and was able to appreciate how that majestic city is slowly being rebuilt after its turbulent times. So its safe to say that the life of a professional role-player is never dull! I genuinely feel privileged to do the work I do - and never quite know what each workday will bring. My role-play job with the client that morning started with the usual security checks at reception, although this time when we were greeted by one of the trainers, she had a broad grin on her face. After eighteen months of security checks, I am finally allowed to lead you to and from reception myself, she said, proudly, flashing her pass that was now a different colour. We congratulated her on her new status and dutifully followed her to the next security barrier - only to be stopped by an official who announced that her new pass allowed her to come and go freely, but not with any guests in tow! Her face crestfallen, she led us back to reception to wait for the fully-fledged staff member to collect us. So I guess it may take another eighteen months before I graduate to the next level, she said, smiling wryly.

The work involved a simulation set in a fictitious company, with the role-players playing a variety of characters, so this was one of those jobs that required a large amount of study beforehand. There was an hour before the first role-play started, so we three role-players sat down together and went through all the details, quizzing each other on our knowledge as we sipped the vending machine coffee. (I think thats another skill a role-player needs: the ability to digest all sorts of relatively indigestible liquids from a variety of machines!) Once confident that we all knew our briefs, there was time to catch up on each others lives. As there is a large pool of role-players available, you never quite know with whom youll be working. Sometimes you see the same person repeatedly for a month, to then not have your paths cross for a year or more. I think most roleplayers have that knack of being able to pick up quickly where they left off, to share moments easily with one another, and then look forward to the next opportunity. Of course, until you start the role-plays, you never know quite what the interactions will be like. My first that day was with a delegate who insisted on talking at me, whilst clicking their pen on and off repeatedly and fixing me with a stern glare. He was quite bemused initially when I asked what effect that might have had on the character I was playing. What was really gratifying was watching the realisation slowly dawn on him and to see the difference in the next interaction we had. His thanking me personally for the feedback I gave him, made my day. Of course not all delegates are that receptive! But I have also realised over the years that the way in which I elicit feedback from a delegate and how I add my own, can really enhance their learning and it is something we as role-players can improve on continually; work in progress as they say. So my commitment as I continue my career is to constantly seek ways to be as effective a learning tool as possible- and at the same time, to enjoy the adventure!

Next job? Working with a predominately Indian consulting firm up in Peterborough. Watch this space!