What makes an audience?
Think about it. Every part of life involves competition. We compete with ourselves through a dozen or more years of school to prepare for a career. We compete for jobs. Once at work, we compete to improve our position and income. Men compete for the prettiest girl (I won). Women compete for the best life mate. We compete for recognition and status and satisfaction in life. Competition is in our nature.
Whatever activity people are involved in, they turn it into a form of competition. And with competition comes an audience. I've ridden bicycles, climbed mountains, hiked the Grouse Grind, flown airplanes and jumped out of them. All of these activities, while purely recreational for most, have huge competitive communities. Do you run? There are magazines dedicated to running. Do you Ski? Snowboard? Skate? Competition surrounds these activities. Swimmers compete. Even dog owners compete! And, while I too have golfed and enjoyed the thrill of that game, I've often been amazed that millions watch golf on television or will even walk from hole to hole in the pouring rain to watch others try to hit a dimpled ball into 18 small holes in the least number of tries.
The secrets to building an audience
What makes an audience tick? Those who watch competitions, like the squash game going on in my gym, generally know something about the activity. There would be little thrill in watching something if you didn't know at least some of the rules. But they don't necessarily play. So what is the secret to building an audience?
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