The Performer-Audience Relationship During Live and Remote Musical Performances

Abstract

This study assesses audience engagement and entrainment with, and enjoyment of musical performances across different types of mediation. Using message processing as a framework to guide the study, it was predicted that audience members viewing a live performance will report higher levels of engagement and entrainment with, and enjoyment of a performance than audience members that view a remote audience-centered performance who in turn will report higher levels of the factors than remote audience members viewing a performance production. To test the hypotheses, participants viewed a musical performance of a barbershop quartet in one of the three experimental conditions and self-reported their engagement and entrainment with, and enjoyment of the performance. For the first hypothesis, the hypothesized linear effect was found; however, a significant quadratic effect suggested that the results may have been curvilinear in nature as well. The test of the second hypothesis concerning entrainment showed no significance. The discussion addressed methodological concerns that may have influenced the results, and identified limitations that should be investigated in future research.