--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never planned on being a live…" description: "\"I never planned on being a live performer. My whole forte was about being in the studio, producing, playing the piano on recording sessions. I was all ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/allen-toussaint-38435_forte_i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performe_87168.jpg" --- # I never planned on being a live performer. My whole forte… ![“I never planned on being a live performer. My whole forte was about being in the studio, producing, playing the piano on recording sessions. I was all about the studio.” quote by Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/allen-toussaint-38435_forte_i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performe_87168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/allen-toussaint-38435_forte_i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performe_87168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/allen-toussaint-38435_forte_i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performe_87168.jpg) > “I never planned on being a live performer. My whole forte was about being in the studio, producing, playing the piano on recording sessions. I was all about the studio.” [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes his identity as a studio-focused creator rather than a stage performer, highlighting the value of behind‑the‑scenes work. **In simple terms:** Studio work over live performance Key Takeaway Creative fulfillment can be private Themes identity creative process artistic preference studio vs stage authenticity Mood reflective proud Type personal statement artist insight When to use this quote - recording a track - producing an album - collaborating in a studio - teaching music production Key Concepts music production piano performance recording environment Practical Applications - audio engineering - music composition Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to find success outside the spotlight? - How can studios nurture artistic growth? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forte/) [Performer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performer/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a live performer, through and through. That's when I really get to shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-darwish/i-m-a-live-performer-through-and-through-that-s-when-i-really-get-to/) [Tiffany Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-darwish/) > [I'm a live performer and I love playing live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-finn/i-m-a-live-performer-and-i-love-playing-live/) [Tim Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-finn/) > [Playing live is such a total visceral experience, and really, as a musician, you're trained from the beginning to be a live performer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geddy-lee/playing-live-is-such-a-total-visceral-experience-and-really-as-a/) [Geddy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geddy-lee/) > [No, I'm a theatrical, live performer or a movie performer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/no-i-m-a-theatrical-live-performer-or-a-movie-performer/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) > [I know that I am an excellent live performer. I know that I have spent my life paying attention to my art form, developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gallagher/i-know-that-i-am-an-excellent-live-performer-i-know-that-i-have-spent/) [Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gallagher/) > [There's this weird game called 'Blueberry Garden.' For that game an artist recorded some piano music, but evidently he only had a really terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c418/there-s-this-weird-game-called-blueberry-garden-for-that-game-an/) C418 > [I'm quite proud of my piano playing. Robin's never played a note on the piano at our recording sessions. I just wish I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-gibb/i-m-quite-proud-of-my-piano-playing-robin-s-never-played-a-note-on/) [Maurice Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-gibb/) > [I've been a live performer longer than I've been a television performer. For me, live is where it's at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/i-ve-been-a-live-performer-longer-than-i-ve-been-a-television/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [It took time to really build myself a reputation as a good live performer, a musician and an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/it-took-time-to-really-build-myself-a-reputation-as-a-good-live/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [I want to be safe in the knowledge that I can tour and play festivals for a long time. The main thing is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/i-want-to-be-safe-in-the-knowledge-that-i-can-tour-and-play-festivals/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [I can get onstage and cut that off and be superinstinctive. To be a good live performer, you have to be instinctive. It's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-can-get-onstage-and-cut-that-off-and-be-superinstinctive-to-be-a/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [This was the rule that I had when we made 'Frampton Comes Alive!': being known as a live performer, I'm not going to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/this-was-the-rule-that-i-had-when-we-made-frampton-comes-alive-being/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [You have to be willing to be a live performer, if you want to make money as an independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rosenfield/you-have-to-be-willing-to-be-a-live-performer-if-you-want-to-make/) Ben Rosenfield > [There's something mystical and wonderful about being in the room with the actual live performer s on stage that works. In film, it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-brickman/there-s-something-mystical-and-wonderful-about-being-in-the-room-with/) [Marshall Brickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-brickman/) > [Cover versions, that's my forte, that's all I ever used to do. When you play your own songs, it's quite scary, 'cause I'm quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/cover-versions-that-s-my-forte-that-s-all-i-ever-used-to-do-when-you/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) ## More by Allen Toussaint > [My music is homegrown from the garden of New Orleans. Music is everything to me short of breathing. Music also has a role to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/my-music-is-homegrown-from-the-garden-of-new-orleans-music-is/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) > [Whenever I wrote songs - particularly back then - it would always be for a particular artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/whenever-i-wrote-songs-particularly-back-then-it-would-always-be-for/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) > [To play with a band all of the time, just about nightly, was good for me because I wrote lots of arrangements and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/to-play-with-a-band-all-of-the-time-just-about-nightly-was-good-for/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) > [The mother-in-laws themselves weren't natural jokes but most comedians used to use that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/the-mother-in-laws-themselves-weren-t-natural-jokes-but-most/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) > [As an early child, I tried to play every kind of music that I heard. I thought everyone was doing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/as-an-early-child-i-tried-to-play-every-kind-of-music-that-i-heard-i/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) > [And do respect the women of the world; remember you all had mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/and-do-respect-the-women-of-the-world-remember-you-all-had-mothers/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) > [To get to New Orleans you don't pass through anywhere else. That geographical location, being aloof, lets it hold onto the ritual of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/to-get-to-new-orleans-you-don-t-pass-through-anywhere-else-that/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) > [To travel and to get around different places, especially in station wagons, you could really see America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/to-travel-and-to-get-around-different-places-especially-in-station/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) > [As a young child, I thought that all pianists played everything. I mean, I thought anything on piano - any piano music, all pianists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/as-a-young-child-i-thought-that-all-pianists-played-everything-i-mean/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) > [When you're playing live, those people who you're trying to please and reach, they're right there giving you feedback. And you don't get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/when-you-re-playing-live-those-people-who-you-re-trying-to-please-and/) [Allen Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) [Explore all 11 Allen Toussaint quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/) ## More Forte quotes > [Cover versions, that's my forte, that's all I ever used to do. When you play your own songs, it's quite scary, 'cause I'm quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/cover-versions-that-s-my-forte-that-s-all-i-ever-used-to-do-when-you/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [That was probably the stamp that went into my mind, because I worked in television for many years, doing that kind of music, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skitch-henderson/that-was-probably-the-stamp-that-went-into-my-mind-because-i-worked/) [Skitch Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skitch-henderson/) > [I'm definitely not a science nerd. That was not my forte at school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-blunt/i-m-definitely-not-a-science-nerd-that-was-not-my-forte-at-school/) [Emily Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-blunt/) > [Acting is not my forte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-bhosle/acting-is-not-my-forte/) [Asha Bhosle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-bhosle/) > [My great forte in killing buffaloes was to get them circling by riding my horse at the head of the herd and shooting their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffalo-bill/my-great-forte-in-killing-buffaloes-was-to-get-them-circling-by/) [Buffalo Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffalo-bill/) > [How many demons and people are enslaved here? (Jericho) Define slavery. (Asmodeus) Kept against their will. (Jericho) Good definition. Counting me? (Asmodeus) Why not?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/how-many-demons-and-people-are-enslaved-here-jericho-define-slavery/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Singing is definitely not my forte. I'll put that out there on the record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shenae-grimes/singing-is-definitely-not-my-forte-i-ll-put-that-out-there-on-the/) [Shenae Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shenae-grimes/) > [Fashion was never my forte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wojcicki/fashion-was-never-my-forte/) [Anne Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wojcicki/) > [My forte is playing along and singing along to music I love. I mean, who knows, maybe I could develop that knack or develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/my-forte-is-playing-along-and-singing-along-to-music-i-love-i-mean/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [Cinema’s characteristic forte is its ability to capture and communicate the intimacies of the human mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satyajit-ray/cinema-s-characteristic-forte-is-its-ability-to-capture-and/) [Satyajit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satyajit-ray/) > [“Some days are better than others. The same can be said about people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-days-are-better-than-others-the-same-can-be-said-about-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Forte is French… for blanket fort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/forte-is-french-for-blanket-fort/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [She was always waiting, it seemed to be her forte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-was-always-waiting-it-seemed-to-be-her-forte/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've never heard a man in a suit tell me what to wear; that's not their forte. You hire your stylist; whatever someone's image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/i-ve-never-heard-a-man-in-a-suit-tell-me-what-to-wear-that-s-not/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [I'm most interested in finding the strangeness and irony in reality. That's my forte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-mark/i-m-most-interested-in-finding-the-strangeness-and-irony-in-reality/) [Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-mark/) [Browse all 82 Forte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forte/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never planned on being a live performer. My whole forte was about being in the studio, producing, playing the piano on recording sessions. I was all about the studio.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Allen Toussaint" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performer-my-whole-forte-was-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forte" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performer-my-whole-forte-was-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/allen-toussaint-38435_forte_i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performe_87168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/allen-toussaint-38435_forte_i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performe_87168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/allen-toussaint-38435_forte_i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performe_87168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never planned on being a live performer. My whole forte was about being in the studio, producing, playing…” — Allen Toussaint", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Allen Toussaint", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-toussaint/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never planned on being a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performer-my-whole-forte-was-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-toussaint/i-never-planned-on-being-a-live-performer-my-whole-forte-was-about/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```