Does empty chat hurt more than low viewer count?

Curious what other small streamers notice.

I’ve had days with like 15–30 in the room but almost no chat — still feels dead. Then other days with fewer people where chat actually moves and the whole vibe is better.

For you guys:

1. What’s worse for growth — low viewers, or silent chat?
2. After a raid/host, how do you stop the room going quiet in under a minute?

Looking for real experience from small streams, not “just make better content” advice.