All 3 Uses

patron
in
Equus
(Auto-generated)

[They push by a patron seated at the end, and sit side by side, staring up at the invisible screen, located above the heads of the main audience†
Scene 2.29
PATRONS: Ssssh!†
Scene 2.29
They go out, right, through the group of PATRONS
Scene 2.29 *

patrons = customers

Definitions:

(1) (patron as in: a patron of the arts)
a regular customer; or someone who gives money or support to an organization, cause, or person
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
In ancient Roman history, patron referred to the more powerful person in a complex client-patron relationship. The term is still used in some cultures today to describe a property owner who is in charge of workers.

Also see patron saint.

Much more rarely, a patron is the proprietor of an inn.