Who is the audience?

This answer about depended on the respondant's motivations for singing. Most people said they sang for themselves, with a few exceptions.

(Excerpt from interview with Tie Conn)

Melaena: So, when the…. What’s the role of the audience in your performance, or the applause?

Tie: Everything.

Melaena: Everything. Who’s your audience, is it your friends?

Tie: Uh, not just, but you know what? When my friends are here, a lot of them already know what I do, how I sing now. But when people show up that haven’t been here before, and they clap loud, I’m really happy when that happens. Cause those are the ones I’m actually singing to when I do the same old shit over and over again.

Melaena: What is there was no audience members? Would you still want to sing?

Tie: No.

(Excerpt from interview with Paul Dottler)

Melaena: Okay. So what about the audience? What role does the audience play?

Paul: Um… for me, the audience is pretty insignificant. Whether I’m singing here or in the shower, I’m going to sing. This gives me an opportunity to learn how to fit my voice into the music. Which I don’t get by singing by myself at home. That’s kind of what I’ve been missing.

(Excerpt from interview with Michelle Maga)

Michelle: Um, it’s sometimes a little awkward if nobody’s around in the bar, because you know, it’s like… Okay, you know… It’s not that I’m so full of myself that I’m standing here even though nobody’s listening, but…

Melaena: (laughs) So who’s your audience, then? When you’re singing?

Michelle: Well, I like to know that everybody else is appreciating what I’m singing, and it’s always better when they do… but really, my real audience is myself.