When the uncreative tell the creative what to do, it stops being art.
Tony BennettRead
I still get a little nervous before performing. You don't want to forget a lyric; you don't want to make a mistake. I still get butterflies. You can try to judge an audience, but you can only really judge things by the applause.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Even experienced performers feel nervous before a show, highlighting the pressure to succeed and connect with the audience.
This quote from Tony Bennett reflects the universal experience of stage fright, even among seasoned performers. It emphasizes the importance of audience feedback and the emotional investment artists have in their craft, suggesting that anxiety is a natural part of the performance process and that true evaluation comes from the audience's reaction rather than self-judgment.
Themes
PerformanceNervousnessAudienceArtApplause
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared with aspiring musicians who are preparing for their first performance to reassure them that nerves are a common experience.
More from Tony Bennett
All quotes →Someday, when I'm awfully low, and the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you, and the way you look tonight.
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I lived for 15 years in Los Angeles, and I still can't believe that the handsomest man in the world, Cary Grant, and the greatest performer in the world, Fred Astaire, and Johnny Carson, one after another - they were all in my home at different times. I celebrated my 50th birthday with them. Unforgettable.
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My goal as a creative person is to express truth and beauty in whatever I do
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If you follow your passion, you'll never work a day in your life.
Tony BennettRead
To me, life is a gift, and it's a blessing to just be alive. And each person should learn what a gift it is to be alive no matter how tough things get.
Tony BennettRead
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