<p>Communication involves more than just words—it also depends on how people enter into and sustain a social relationship. This dimension is often overlooked in theory. We are not referring simply to nonverbal cues, but to the ways in which individuals actively direct their attention to one another, creating the conditions for communication to occur. We argue that Alfred Schutz explored this dynamic through his concept of the “tuning-in relationship,” though his account remains truncated and requires further elaboration. We suggest that key elements of this tuning-in process include shared objects that facilitate interaction, embodied practices, and the improvisational nature of real-time engagement. Drawing on videographic research from a community music event, we show how this approach sheds light on the subtle, moment-to-moment processes that make communication possible.</p>