THE UNSEEN AUDIENCE

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 43, 11 May 1928, Page 4

THE UNSEEN AUDIENCE

A VOICE IN THE DARKNESS

(Contributed.) I* all the most fascinating speculations in regard to Radio work is fie question which every artist puts to himsell, "I wonder how it has gone over?"? A really natural question, as it is certain no one who makes public apearatices can be quite truthful if they to be indifferent to the attitude of their audience, It is easy enongh to gauge the feelings of an audience from the platform, when the atmosphere can be sensed, but when you can neither see nor hear those thousands who may be listening to an item, it is really a matter of intense interest to know how any number that you may have given has "gone over." Kor this reason it is always nice to know from *phone calls, letters, ete., how any particular item strikes the individual fancy. One great difference in the question of putting the work over is that you have no

Snob" to which to work, and in certain classes of work this 15 of course a disadvantage. It therefore becomes more or less necessary to choose work in whieh the appeal can be made more to the widividual rather than to the "anob.? fhis apples to the general course of presenting radio work, but a new experience was added the other night when the light failed for some coisiderable time, During thig period 1 have the pleasure of giving an item cut of the regular course of the official programnie just to keep the air open until such time as the break wag rectified. The sensation was one of almost helplessness, it was most dificult to concentrate on the unseen audience. I suppose that this would be a matter of adjustment, but it "gave me to think." Why should it be easier to work in the light than in total darqness? I knew the piece equally well with my eyes closed as with them open, but still the fact was there; it was harder to put over. There was perhaps the sensation of almost cerieness to conten] with, and that might possibly have been the cause, but whatever it may have been, my feclings were one of thankfulness when light wag once more restored and I could ‘again visualise my unseen anidience.