--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pure entertainment is not an egotistical…" description: "\"Pure entertainment is not an egotistical lady singing boring songs onstage for two hours and people in tuxes clapping whether they like it or not. It's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/andy-kaufman-19052_attention_pure-entertainment-is-not-an-egotistical_371283.jpg" --- # Pure entertainment is not an egotistical lady singing… ![“Pure entertainment is not an egotistical lady singing boring songs onstage for two hours and people in tuxes clapping whether they like it or not. It's the real performers on the street who can hold people's attention and keep them from walking away.” quote by Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/andy-kaufman-19052_attention_pure-entertainment-is-not-an-egotistical_371283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/andy-kaufman-19052_attention_pure-entertainment-is-not-an-egotistical_371283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/andy-kaufman-19052_attention_pure-entertainment-is-not-an-egotistical_371283.jpg) > “Pure entertainment is not an egotistical lady singing boring songs onstage for two hours and people in tuxes clapping whether they like it or not. It's the real performers on the street who can hold people's attention and keep them from walking away.” [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True entertainment captivates audiences naturally, unlike forced performances that rely on status or length. **In simple terms:** Real performance holds attention without pretence. Key Takeaway Focus on genuine connection. Themes authenticity attention performance audience engagement Mood provocative reflective Type observational critical When to use this quote - street shows - improv - live theater - public speaking Key Concepts showmanship spontaneity cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep authenticity alive? - What makes an audience stay? A Different Perspective Reliance on novelty can fade quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring/) [Clapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clapping/) [Egotistical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotistical/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Entertainment Egotistical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment-egotistical-3386602/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Old people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Performers Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers-street-3386601/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Pure Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure-entertainment-1908815/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-performers-3386603/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Walking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking/) [Walking away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-away/) ## Related quotes > [It's disappointing to see films become pure entertainment, so that it's not an art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/it-s-disappointing-to-see-films-become-pure-entertainment-so-that-it/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [I don't want to ever intentionally hurt someone, because it is pure entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-lesnar/i-don-t-want-to-ever-intentionally-hurt-someone-because-it-is-pure/) [Brock Lesnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-lesnar/) > [“Revenge can be bitter sweet, but if you sit back and watch, karma can be pure entertainment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-nekkanti/revenge-can-be-bitter-sweet-but-if-you-sit-back-and-watch-karma-can/) [Narendra Nekkanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-nekkanti/) > [It's really fun to be in a film that's pure entertainment, that people want to go and see. I think, in the current climate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-miller/it-s-really-fun-to-be-in-a-film-that-s-pure-entertainment-that-people/) [Sienna Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-miller/) > [As an artist, I will always give art more importance and preference than pure entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arfi-lamba/as-an-artist-i-will-always-give-art-more-importance-and-preference/) [Arfi Lamba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arfi-lamba/) > [When we are on the road, we do a real horror show - and it's pure entertainment. That's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-diamond/when-we-are-on-the-road-we-do-a-real-horror-show-and-it-s-pure/) [King Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-diamond/) > [There's always the cliche of the choir shouting and clapping. OK, you have to do that, but there's also introspective parts, parts where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/there-s-always-the-cliche-of-the-choir-shouting-and-clapping-ok-you/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Hope to the last!" said Newman, clapping him on the back. "Always hope; that's dear boy. Never leave off hoping; it don't answer. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/hope-to-the-last-said-newman-clapping-him-on-the-back-always-hope/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Love is not shown by giving your toddler a car. It's better demonstrated by clapping as she bangs on pots or singing to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-yoffe/love-is-not-shown-by-giving-your-toddler-a-car-it-s-better/) [Emily Yoffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-yoffe/) > [“Crusty and Cross here,' he says and I grin. He’s still playful Fifty. My inner goddess is clapping her hands with glee like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/crusty-and-cross-here-he-says-and-i-grin-he-s-still-playful-fifty-my/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [Being a parent means enthusiastically clapping for any ordinary activity of your child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-a-parent-means-enthusiastically-clapping-for-any-ordinary/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe in myself like a five-year-old believes in himself. They say look at me, look at me! Then they do a flip in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-believe-in-myself-like-a-five-year-old-believes-in-himself-they-say/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“I did not approve of your action—I was merely congratulating myself. What you mistook for clapping was merely me giving myself multiple high fives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-did-not-approve-of-your-action-i-was-merely-congratulating-myself/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/) [Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/) > [Clapping the longest during an assembly because you're a fearless bastard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/clapping-the-longest-during-an-assembly-because-you-re-a-fearless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Andy Kaufman > [While all the other kids were out playing ball and stuff, I used to stay in my room and imagine that there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/while-all-the-other-kids-were-out-playing-ball-and-stuff-i-used-to/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Clifton and I don't even look alike. He smokes and drinks, and I do neither. He's a big fat guy, and if it weren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/clifton-and-i-don-t-even-look-alike-he-smokes-and-drinks-and-i-do/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [If I was going to be a little boy about it, I'd go into hiding for one or two years. But if I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/if-i-was-going-to-be-a-little-boy-about-it-i-d-go-into-hiding-for-one/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [The more they hate you, the better you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/the-more-they-hate-you-the-better-you-re-doing/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Theres no drama like wrestling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/theres-no-drama-like-wrestling/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Whenever I play a role, whether it's good or bad, an evil person or nice person, I believe in being a purist and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/whenever-i-play-a-role-whether-it-s-good-or-bad-an-evil-person-or/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Every time my manager approached big network executives or even cable, they told him I was too dangerous. They couldn't trust me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/every-time-my-manager-approached-big-network-executives-or-even-cable/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [My mother sent me to psychiatrists since the age of four because she didnt think little boys should be sad. When my brother was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/my-mother-sent-me-to-psychiatrists-since-the-age-of-four-because-she/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [I just want the audience to have a wonderful, happy feeling inside them and leave with big smiles on their faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/i-just-want-the-audience-to-have-a-wonderful-happy-feeling-inside/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Any wrestler who will piledrive Lawler and injure him like he did me gets five thousand dollars from me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/any-wrestler-who-will-piledrive-lawler-and-injure-him-like-he-did-me/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [As they say in my country, the only thing that separates us from the animals is mindless superstition and pointless ritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/as-they-say-in-my-country-the-only-thing-that-separates-us-from-the/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [I see the world as an illusion, and we shouldn't take ourselves so seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/i-see-the-world-as-an-illusion-and-we-shouldn-t-take-ourselves-so/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [I'm from Hollywood. That's where we make movies and TV shows... I'm not from down here in men-fus ten-uh-see, okay?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/i-m-from-hollywood-that-s-where-we-make-movies-and-tv-shows-i-m-not/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [We're hoping that this will also be the key to starting community events in a place where the whole community can come together. We've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/we-re-hoping-that-this-will-also-be-the-key-to-starting-community/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [That was part of the whole original concept. We were thinking, it's off-season, let's do a really fun, local-oriented event, raise money for good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/that-was-part-of-the-whole-original-concept-we-were-thinking-it-s-off/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) [Explore all 33 Andy Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pure entertainment is not an egotistical lady singing boring songs onstage for two hours and people in tuxes clapping whether they like it or not. 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