MyWorld - In The Moment: Capturing Real-Time Audience Responses

How do audiences really experience live performance?

In this event we will share the results of a collaboration between St George’s and MyWorld that explored audience responses to live music in January 2025. Using innovative technologies, we measured the moment-by-moment physiological and behavioural reactions of concertgoers, building on earlier work with Bristol Old Vic in 2023.

These techniques provide a unique window into what audiences are feeling and allow us to compare live experiences with alternatives such as VR and livestream. This helps us understand how closely these formats capture the atmosphere of being there in person, and how both content and technology can be fine-tuned to maximise audience experience.

The session will open with a presentation of the results, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A.

The presentation and panel will last for one hour, and then the bar will be open for networking and to meet the panellists.

Panellists

Danaë Stanton Fraser
Professor of Human Computer Interaction | Co-lead of Audience Understanding | University of Bath

Iain Gilchrist
Professor of Neuropsychology | University of Bristol

Mike Richardson
Cognitive Psychologist and Human-Computer Interaction Specialist | University of Bath

Esme Jones
Head of Marketing and Communications | St George’s Bristol