At the age of 12, I stumbled upon the reality show Survivor while flipping through channels with my mother. We paused to witness the dramatic exchanges of a group struggling to establish a shelter, with Richard Hatch, a corporate trainer and eventual winner, trying to take charge despite the discontent of the outspoken Sue Hawk. My mom explained that the show involved contestants living on an island, competing for a prize of $1 million. By the end of the episode, I was hooked.
Now 36 years old, my enthusiasm for the show has only intensified. I’ve spent countless hours participating in online discussions, tuning into podcasts that analyze episodes, and even joining Survivor-themed fantasy leagues. I’ve often considered auditioning for the show I admire so much, but the reality of surviving on minimal food and little sleep for 26 days has made me hesitant.
However, on January 31, 2023, an opportunity arose. While at a coffee shop, my husband spotted a casting flyer for Surviving Bloomington, a four-day live game inspired by Survivor. Applications were closing that day, so I quickly created an audition video.
A few months later, I found myself in a backyard in Bloomington, Indiana, meeting my fellow contestants while the production crew filmed our interactions on their smartphones.
The experience was both exhilarating and challenging. Although I was aware of live reality games (LRGs), I hadn’t expected to find one so close to home. Within a year, I ended up participating in three different games.
I discovered that LRGs are hosted across the country, featuring various formats and themes based on popular shows like The Mole, Big Brother, and The Challenge, as well as entirely original formats. Ranging from one to ten days, some games are live-streamed, while others are edited into episodes for YouTube. Many Survivor LRGs even invite real Survivor players to engage with the participants.
Each game mirrors the essence of its TV counterpart, featuring challenges, strategic twists, and different themes. The Survivor Weekender LRG that I joined had a theme called “Olive Garden of Eden,” with tribes named Soup, Salad, and Sticks — and I was assigned to the Sticks tribe. Surviving Bloomington centered on the theme of Order vs. Chaos, where I belonged to the Order tribe.
My time in Surviving Bloomington was short-lived; I lost the first immunity challenge alongside another player, resulting in my early elimination. Experiencing the swift changes in alliances was typical of the game, and the production’s edits didn’t capture the entire story behind my last-minute betrayal.
I also faced a Redemption Island challenge, which involved holding a water bottle over my head for as long as possible. I managed to hold on for nearly 25 minutes before exhaustion set in, a far cry from the survival challenges seen on TV.
Despite my brief stay in the game, I formed genuine connections with fellow players, sharing stories and spending nights discussing ghost tales while camped out together.
After Surviving Bloomington and another game called Survivor Weekender, I participated in The Mole Ohio. Similar to its television namesake, contestants collaborated to accumulate a prize pot while maneuvering through the challenges presented by a designated saboteur.
In contrast to Survivor’s focus on teamwork, The Mole required a more individualistic approach. This allowed me to explore different facets of my personality, stepping away from my usual helpful demeanor to embrace a more cunning role.
While LRGs are generally low-stakes competitions centered on bragging rights, they foster camaraderie and don’t carry over into real life, allowing players to keep in touch long after the games conclude.
Though I still question my ability to endure 26 days on an island, these experiences have significantly boosted my confidence. Connecting with like-minded individuals has helped me overcome my social awkwardness, and tonight, as Survivor 47 premieres, I’m eagerly watching to see if Teeny takes the crown.