APPENDIX
C

Do-It-Yourself Role-Play Props

Looking for some inside tricks to make your role-plays look and sound realistic? Here are a few behind-the-scenes secrets from professional ASMRtists for eight different role-plays! This is hardly an exhaustive list, but it will help get you started. (Remember, not every prop that worked for them will work for you. Each microphone is different, so be sure to test props with your microphone and find the prop that fits your needs.)

Makeup Tutorial Role-Play

This popular role-play is fairly minimal in terms of needed equipment, and chances are you have most of these at your disposal already.

• Makeup bag or case (These not only hold your other props but also can be props themselves if you tap on them, unzip them, or open them carefully.)
• Assorted cosmetics, including foundation, blush, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, and so on
• Makeup brushes
• Face paint (This is a fun variation on the role-play and can be especially entertaining around Halloween.)

Manicure Role-Play

This is a close relative of the makeup tutorial and salon role-play but contains its own set of tools to make it a relaxing experience. You may already have a lot of these items at your disposal, making it an easy role-play to film. Don’t leave anything out!

• Bowl of water
• Fingernail clipper
• Emery board
• Orange stick
• Cuticle trimmer
• Buffer
• Assorted nail polishes

Salon Role-Play

These props are a bit more elaborate and do require some test recordings with your microphone prior to broadcast to ensure you have the sound you hope to re-create. Remember to keep all electronic equipment in a stable location away from the running water.

• Brush, comb, scissors, and other hair-styling equipment
• Plastic sheet to wrap around the “client’s” neck
• Running water or spray bottle to wet the “client’s” hair
• Towel that can be used to re-create a scalp massage, for a visual aid, or to re-create the hair-washing experience
• Tea bags to re-create a scalp massage (You can hold these next to the microphone to pick up the sound.)
• Sponge and shampoo to recreate a hair-washing experience
• Fake hair or wig to brush and cut (Some ASMRtists use a Barbie head to perform their salon role-plays.)
• Foil sheets and paint brush, if your role-play includes highlights
• Makeup brushes and cosmetics, if your role-play includes a makeup tutorial

Medical Role-Play

Depending on what kind of role-play you are conducting, these props can be pretty elaborate. They can also be very expensive, so where applicable, we have included budget-friendly alternatives.

• Lab coat (You can get these at a costume store or possibly a thrift shop.)
• Latex gloves (These are an amazingly popular auditory trigger.)
• Stethoscope
• Tongue depressors
• Eye chart
• Diagram of whatever body part you are examining
• Bandages
• An otoscope (A small flashlight is usually accepted by the ASMR audience.)
• Wooden mallet (the kind that comes with a child’s drum set) to perform reflex tests
• Blood pressure cuff
• Medicinal syringe
• Orange sticks (These are especially effective in ear-cleaning role-plays.)
• Tweezers and a small piece of foam (These are used to simulate ear wax removal.)

Dental Role-Play

This is another role-play that can become very elaborate. While there are some kits you can purchase to make this easier, these are some of the tools you need if you want to start from scratch.

• Fake teeth (These can be improvised by a number of items, including the “gritty side” of ceramic tile or a large lollipop. If there are grooves in it, that’s even better!)
• Toothbrush
• Latex gloves
• Dental implements (These can be created with ordinary items, such as a small crochet hook, orange stick, and hard plastic spoon.)
• Dremel drill or electronic toothbrush (This is in the event you are including a filling as part of your role-play.)
• Waterpik water flosser
• Canned air (This is for blowing air on the “client’s” teeth.)

Fortune Teller Role-Play

This role-play is always a lot of fun because it is full of interesting, ethereal visuals as well as sounds. It is not the most elaborate role-play, but it is one that needs to be done well in order to be believable.

• Head scarf
• Candles
• Low lighting
• Deck of Tarot cards or regular playing cards to “read” for your client (You will also need some basic explanations of what the cards mean.)
• Gazing ball (This can be improvised by a number of household items, such as a gold fish bowl, a glass bowl, garden orbs, or a glass paperweight.)
• Tea cup and tea leaves to be read
• Star chart (You can add an “astrologer” component to this role-play and include this for zodiac readings.)

Detective Role-Play

Police, detective, and CSI role-plays can be a lot of fun and give you an excuse to dress up and be a little silly with costumes, sounds, and scripts. Some of the props you might need include the following.

• Plastic bags with zip closures
• Large tweezers
• Magnifying glass
• Paper bag (This is for larger pieces of “evidence.”)
• Spray bottle (You use this to simulate Luminol, which in police terms picks up traces of blood.)
• Paintbrush or electromagnetic duster
• White powder (This is to dust for fingerprints.)

Interior Designer Role-Play

This role-play is fun because it’s usually not too difficult to find the props you need to make this work, and the sounds you make tapping and scratching the different surfaces will seem incredible to your audience. The key to this role-play is texture and variety.

• Carpet samples
• Paint chips
• Countertop samples
• Ceramic, glass, or natural stone tiles (If possible, get a wide variety of varying textures to create a sonic symphony for your viewer.)
• Fabric swatches (Again, variety is key.)
• Drapery accessories, such as tassels, beads, finials, and hooks
• Lampshades, especially pleated ones