Scene work
The Ding
A coach rings a bell on any weak, hedged or evasive line, and the player must instantly replace it.
Also known as: Should Have Said, Bell Scene
How to run it
- Two players begin a scene. A coach holds a bell or simply says "ding".
- Ring on any line that is a question, a hedge, a denial or a joke that avoids the scene.
- The player must immediately supply a different line and continue as though the first was never said.
- Keep ringing until the line carries weight.
- Use sparingly — three or four dings per scene, not thirty.
What it teaches
That there is always another option, and that a first instinct is not sacred.
Coaching notes
This is a blunt instrument and it can dent confidence. Explain the purpose beforehand and be generous with the scenes you leave alone. Never ding a genuine emotional moment because it was quiet.
Where it usually goes wrong
Over-use. A scene dinged into submission teaches only that the coach is hard to please.