Audience support through attention

Part of what makes the storyteller “safe” is that he or she isn’t supposed to have to work too hard to have the audience’s attention. The MC gets the attention of everyone in the room when he starts the show. The audience understands that they are supposed to pay attention. They try to do this, and try not to obviously not pay attention. This attention is part of supporting the storyteller. They laugh at the right spots. They applaud. They don’t heckle. But they also pay attention. And the attention, in real time, gives the storyteller support to continue telling vulnerable stories. David talked about actively looking for support while telling stories:

and I was talking to Randy about this

a while ago.

And he said that

like I didn’t even realize it but

when we were in the old room

and they were always by the door

he said that I’d always

look that way during stories as like support.

Like I was doing okay?

And I didn’t even realize that I was doing it.

But he said I was always looked

at him and Lance

to make sure that I was doing okay.

He also said that really having the attention of the audience makes the storyteller feel better:

if they’re hunched over

if they’re really looking at you

you feel better.

Because they’re really listening to you.

David also asserted that while in the audience, you feel supported when you see the rest of the audience supporting the storyteller:

And they know that they’re supported

because they see everybody around them

listening

and watching

and rooting for whoever’s on the stage –

I think this connects with the fact that many of the audience members are storytellers, or know they could be storytellers. It feels good to know you will be supported when you are on stage. It can also be nice to know that if you were to take that chance you would be supported.