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I'm not conditioned to be an entertainer. An entertainer…

“I'm not conditioned to be an entertainer. An entertainer pleases others while an artist only has to please himself. The problem with that is artists are misunderstood by all. I'm not interested in the clarinet but in music. we speak our emotions into music. An artist should write for himself and…” quote by Artie Shaw
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“I'm not conditioned to be an entertainer. An entertainer pleases others while an artist only has to please himself. The problem with that is artists are misunderstood by all. I'm not interested in the clarinet but in music. we speak our emotions into music. An artist should write for himself and not for an audience. If the audience likes it, great. If not, they can keep away. My situation is the same. Let them concentrate on my music and not on me. I like the music. I love it and live it, in fact. But for me, the business part of music just plain stinks.”

Artie Shaw

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

An artist creates for personal fulfillment, not audience approval, and should prioritize artistic integrity over commercial concerns.

In simple terms: Artists should make art for themselves, not for others.

Key Takeaway

Focus on your music, not the market.

Themes

art integrity creativity

Mood

reflective determined

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

  • studio recording
  • live performance
  • songwriting
  • personal branding

Key Concepts

self‑expression authenticity commercialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance personal vision with audience expectations?
  • What compromises are you willing to make?
A Different Perspective

Commercial pressures can limit artistic freedom.

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