"It's a little like casting out hundreds of fishing lines into the audience. You start getting little bites, then more, then you hook a few, then more. Then you can start reeling them in and that's a loveliest feeling - the whole audience laughing with you"

In this quote, Jim Dale, a prominent actor, and comedian, uses a brilliant metaphor that catches the characteristics and art of engaging an audience. The imagery of "erupting numerous fishing lines" recommends the effort and breadth involved in connecting to each audience member during a performance. Just as an angler spreads out several lines across the water to increase the possibilities of a catch, a performer deploys various methods-- jokes, anecdotes, expressions-- to connect with different sections of an audience.

The "little bites" signify the preliminary indications of engagement, those subtle indicators that the audience is starting to react. In a comical context, this might be seen in the type of smiles, chuckles, or even brief pauses that signal attention. When Dale refers to "hooking a few", it means effectively capturing the full attention and interest of individuals, converting those tentative minutes of engagement into a stronger connection. As more audience members become "hooked", the energy in the room shifts, creating a momentum that improves the interaction in between entertainer and audience.

The act of "reeling them in" shows the conclusion of this process, where the performer successfully draws the audience better, achieving a shared experience of enjoyment and laughter. It recommends skill, patience, and timing, in addition to the happiness and satisfaction an entertainer feels when the audience is collectively engaged and entertained.

In essence, Dale highlights the fragile interplay in between entertainer and audience. The procedure is not rapid however rather a developing connection that establishes throughout the performance. The "loveliest feeling" he describes underscores the common pleasure and unity attained through laughter, changing specific responses into an unified and cumulative experience. This quote thus reveals the elaborate dance of communication in between a performer and their audience, portraying it as an art type that, when mastered, brings extensive satisfaction and joy.