It took, for me, a long time to develop this idea of what to do on the radio. But from the beginning of my time in radio, I had pretty non-traditional tasks.
Ira GlassRead
At some point, all comics have to go out and be retail salesmen doing door-to-door. And this idea of somebody who totally knows their craft having to get up for free in front of a crowd to work out some stuff they're thinking in their head, still, after as much success as you can get, is really interesting.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Comics, like all artists, must continually hone their craft and share their work, even after finding success.
This quote reflects the journey of comics and artists who, despite achieving a level of success, must still put themselves out there to experiment and connect with audiences. It highlights the ongoing process of growth and the necessity of practice in the pursuit of artistic mastery, emphasizing that even the most skilled individuals have to face vulnerability and challenges.
Themes
ComicsCraftPerformanceVulnerabilitySuccessArtistry
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about perseverance in the arts, this quote can illustrate the continuous effort artists must put in.
More from Ira Glass
All quotes →I think good radio often uses the techniques of fiction: characters, scenes, a big urgent emotional question. And as in the best fiction, tone counts for a lot.
Ira GlassRead
It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions.
Ira GlassRead
It's hard to make something that's interesting. It's really, really hard. It's like a law of nature, a law of aerodynamics, that anything that's written or anything that's created wants to be mediocre. The natural state of all writing is mediocrity... So what it takes to make anything more than mediocre is such an act of will.
Ira GlassRead
I wish that someone had said to me that it's normal to feel lost for a little while.
Ira GlassRead
When I was a bad writer, I would consciously imitate other NPR writers who I thought were wonderful. I suppose that everyone's artistic practice is different. But I collaborate and sometimes don't agree at all with my collaborators' opinions. It forces you to understand why you don't agree with something: what's the fight you're picking.
Ira GlassRead
Similar quotes
A film is a terrible thing to waste.
Roger EbertRead
I think music is the greatest art form that exists, and I think people listen to music for different reasons, and it serves different purposes. Some of it is background music, and some of it is things that might affect a person's day, if not their life, or change an attitude. The best songs are the ones that make you feel something.
Eddie VedderRead
Hip-hop is a perfect mix between poetry and boxing.
Jay-ZRead
I just kind of conjured them up out of my subconscious and put them in order of ascending peculiarity.
Edward GoreyRead
Art, like Nature, has her monsters, things of bestial shape and with hideous voices.
Oscar WildeRead
Art is not to be found by touring to Egypt, China, or Peru; if you cannot find it at your own door, you will never find it.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead