Possible Clues:

• Group of hired applauders
• Hired hands?
• Support group? Most of family quite failing to get it
• A question brought in by this organised support
• Hired audience of 100 need to be heard
• Group of sycophantic supporters
• Group of followers hired to applaud at a performance
• Group hired to applaud a performance
• Paid admirers in the audience: many heard wanting
• Group of people hired to applaud