In preparation for the largest performance I've ever put together (yet) I got this haircut:

On August 27th and 28th over a period of two 10-hour long sessions 423 individual questions were posed to the 26 experts waiting inside “The Advice Tent." Some questions posed to the experts included serious questions such as, “Am I on the right path?” or “How can we be more merciful to the environment?” to vague: “What’s next?” and the ridiculous: “Should I purchase an inflatable unicorn horn for the cats?” Scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to see pictures of the advice given for that last question.

Participants seeking advice had to observe the rules of The Advice Tent:

Because everything is anonymous to protect your privacy, you will be assigned a number.
Select one problem and write it in a clear manner on the cover of your issued passport.
Go around to whomever you want in the tent and show them your written problem, but verbal talking between advisor and seeker is incredibly forbidden.

Volunteers at the entrance would help participants select one question to receive advice on.  The question would then be written down on the cover of each participants issued "advice passport" so they could show their question to each advisor w… — Volunteers at the entrance would help participants select one question to receive advice on. The question would then be written down on the cover of each participants issued "advice passport" so they could show their question to each advisor without breaking the "no talking in the tent" rule.

The Advice Tent offered:

Dictionary Advice by Anja (me)

Advice seekers would choose a random word in the dictionary that I would then have to describe and defend as the literal answer to their inquiry.

Metaphorical Advice by Freesia McKee

While participants waited for their metaphorical advice they could mess with Freesia's Etch-a-Sketch.

Yoga Therapy Advice by Heidi Parkes

Certified Yoga Therapy Practitioner Heidi Parkes would tell you how to use ghee to fix your situation.  photo: Dominic Inouye — Certified Yoga Therapy Practitioner Heidi Parkes would tell you how to use ghee to fix your situation. photo: Dominic Inouye

Fashion/Alien/Voyeuristic Advice by Blasted Ellipses

Blasted Ellipses would give you fashion advice from the perspective of a space alien with a penchant for being voyeuristic.

Slap of Reality Advice by Reality Slapstein

All participants would receive a written slap of reality as well as a very real hand slap.

Contradictory Advice by Contra/Diction

Contra and Diction would converse behind their curtain, but never actually agree as to what you should do.  Photo: Stephanie Weidenhoeft — Contra and Diction would converse behind their curtain, but never actually agree as to what you should do. Photo: Stephanie Weidenhoeft

Sporty Advice by Jock Strap

In between sentences he would lift weights or do push-ups.  Photo: Martin Hallanger — In between sentences he would lift weights or do push-ups. Photo: Martin Hallanger

Colored Advice by Dasha Kelly, "D'Comma Sense"

She burned incense and prescribed you a color.  photo: Tiffany Miller — She burned incense and prescribed you a color. photo: Tiffany Miller

Sunny Side Up Healthy Ass Life Advice by Ms. Bloom

Healthy Ass Life Coach Tiffany Miller would write sunny side up advice on yellow paper.

Nihilistic Advice by Nadia

She consistently made her point that there is no point.  photo: Stephanie Wiedenhoeft — She consistently made her point that there is no point. photo: Stephanie Wiedenhoeft

Ethical Advice by the Honorable Fuega, Nature Witch:

Culinary Advice by Monique Gastrique

Monique Gastrique wrote many recipes for success both days.  Photo: Jessica Zalewski — Monique Gastrique wrote many recipes for success both days. Photo: Jessica Zalewski

Klutz to Klutz Advice by Marty Cabinet

Pictured on the far left is Reality Slapstein and on the far right, with coffee spilled all over her shirt, our klutz master, Marty Cabinet.

Subliminal Advice by Notanja

The subliminal advice would be written while blindfolded.  photo: Susan Wozny — The subliminal advice would be written while blindfolded. photo: Susan Wozny

Twice/Thrice Advice by Freesia McKee

This advice would be reiterated two to three times. photo: Alan Thompson-Wallace

Mending Advice by Heidi Parkes

Mending advice included an actual string stitched into the typewritten response.  Photo: Susan Wozny — Mending advice included an actual string stitched into the typewritten response. Photo: Susan Wozny

Taoist Advice by ViVi

Each person would choose something from the book of I Ching that informed the response.

English Teacher Advice by Red Pen

He brought a mug, a coffee maker and a red pen to make corrections. photo: Martin Hallanger

Hard Boiled Advice by Marty Cabinet

There is no way to explain what she was doing other than to show you a sample of what she typed in response to the question "How can we be more merciful to the environment?"

Life: Welcome To Reality Advice by CC

There is no recording of what CC told people, you just had to be there.

Unrealistic Advice by Madame Peacock

Musical Advice by Indigo Jade Kästel

Fiery Advice by Audrey Thompson-Wallace

Botanical Advice by Root the Plant Whisperer

Advice you could grow.  Photo: Bill Sieger — Advice you could grow. Photo: Bill Sieger

Here are some answers to "Should I buy an inflatable unicorn horn for the cats?"

The Subliminal response. (Need a clue? Follow the capital letters.)

Fiery advice written of course by the wife of this particular advice seeker.

My personal favorite interpretation, the Mending advice response.

An exhibition and live reading talk back of the advice sought and offered at The Advice Tent will be coming soon.

Feel free to email us any pictures of the advice tent you have taken to notanja@gmail.com.

Thank you to our volunteers and donors: Ariana Vaeth, JoAnn Chang, Amber Bush, Sachin Deshpande, Jessica Zalewski, Marika Holbus, Christina Ward, Barbara Aho, Howard Leu, Jeanne DeSimone, Bill Sieger, Adam McKee, WC Tank, Pat Walsh, Dominic Inouye, Freesia McKee, Paragon Printing, Milwaukee Fringe Festival