"The bulk of my set is instrumental and you have to give yourself and the audience some relief because a performance is not about great guitar playing it's really about entertainment"

Leo Kottke, a prominent guitarist understood for his masterful fingerpicking and innovative methods, uses an insightful point of view on performance with this quote. The essence of his statement highlights the balance between technical ability and the wider function of entertainment.

Kottke starts by acknowledging that a significant part of his set contributes. This is telling in itself, as critical music relies heavily on the conveyance of feeling through melody, consistency, and rhythm without the direct narrative aid of lyrics. In this context, Kottke suggests that providing a crucial efficiency requires both ability and technique; it requires that the performer keep the audience's interest and engagement purely through the aural landscape created by the instruments.

When Kottke discusses offering "yourself and the audience some relief", he alludes to the needed breaks or modifications in state of mind and strength within a set. These fluctuations prevent listeners from ending up being tired out and help sustain their attention. It says a lot about the dynamic nature of a well-crafted efficiency, where the ebb and flow of energy is important to holding an audience's attention.

Additionally, Kottke challenges a common understanding in his declaration that an efficiency is not exclusively about "fantastic guitar playing", but rather about "entertainment". This points to a holistic view of performance art, where technical expertise needs to serve the greater aim of interesting and amusing the audience. It underscores an understanding that skill alone, no matter how fine-tuned, might not be sufficient if the entertainer fails to connect with the audience on a psychological or experiential level.

In essence, Kottke stresses that while musicianship is important, the supreme goal of a performance is to offer an experience. It has to do with bridging the gap in between artist and audience, taking them on a journey that is as mentally resonant as it is technically excellent.