A
studio audience is an
audience present for the filming of all or part of a
television program. The primary purpose of the studio audience is to provide applause and/or laughter to the program's soundtrack (as opposed to
canned laughter). Additionally, live studio audiences produce an energy from which the actors can feed off of, as well as push them to perform to the best of their abilities. Unlike relying on the ideal chuckles that a
laugh track consistently provides, actors have to work for the laughs. A studio audience can also provide volunteers, a visual back-drop and discussion participants. On some
game shows, contestants are taken from the studio audience, such as with
The Price Is Right.