Hopefully, by now, with Bridgerton putting Intimacy Coordination on the map, most folks know WHAT an Intimacy Professional is. But what does a job look like? The answer is, like most things “It depends!”
Lately, I’ve been getting calls for productions that are about to start, or have already started rehearsal. They have their cast, and they want me to come in and create a safe space to explore intimate movement. And this is great, and I love doing it! However, the job can be more than that, and is often more effective if I get to start earlier!
If a production hires me as soon as they know what show they are doing, and that they need an Intimacy Professional, I can help them create consent-based practices from even before day 1! Some of these things might look like:
Helping to craft or giving feedback on audition notices
Being present for auditions
Being present for callback- especially if touch may be part of the scene
Creating a breakdown of all intimate possibilities in the script (this doesn’t mean you have to use me for all of them, but I have found that most stories have waaaaaayyyyyyy more intimate moments than initially thought of)
Being a part of the scheduling process to handle the chosen moments with enough preparation and time
Attending launch events and talking to board and press about the production
Attending the first read-through
Conducting cast and/or company workshops on power and consent
Helping to create an atmosphere of transparency and trust
Having phone calls with actors to prep for work
All of these things could help the production be more cohesive and safe. They help build trust in the ensemble, with the Intimacy Professional as part of that. Much of this work I do not charge a separate fee for, because I consider it preparation for doing the best job I can do. So productions also get more for their investment when they bring me on from the top.
So, call me! And, for the quality of your production, the earlier, the better.