Audience vs Public

In class, we discussed Rebecca Blood and her ´audience vs public.´ The first being that the audience is less active. For example, those watching a play are called an audience, sure they clap or laugh whenever something is funny or good but that’s it. They just sit there enjoying what’s put infront of them. After the play is over, they go home and go on with their regular life. A public on the other hand, they are more active, a public is more like a group of fans. A group of people that do more than just watch whatever project you’ve come to show them. They show support and even defend you when you need it. Its those people who are on the lookout for your next project, those who talk to you and give you feetback. Normally, people would rather have an audience than a public. Can you tell which are fans and which is just an audience?