--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I've done a lot in this business…" description: "\"I think I've done a lot in this business, whether through screwball methods or not I don't know, that has helped other bands. I made a kind of road for..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/benny-goodman-25411_ability_i-think-i-ve-done-a-lot-in-this-business_1932092.png" --- # I think I've done a lot in this business, whether through… ![“I think I've done a lot in this business, whether through screwball methods or not I don't know, that has helped other bands. I made a kind of road for them, you might say. If I raised my price, they found out about it and raised theirs. But somebody had to start it, to make the first move. You…” quote by Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/benny-goodman-25411_ability_i-think-i-ve-done-a-lot-in-this-business_1932092.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/benny-goodman-25411_ability_i-think-i-ve-done-a-lot-in-this-business_1932092.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/benny-goodman-25411_ability_i-think-i-ve-done-a-lot-in-this-business_1932092.png) > “I think I've done a lot in this business, whether through screwball methods or not I don't know, that has helped other bands. I made a kind of road for them, you might say. If I raised my price, they found out about it and raised theirs. But somebody had to start it, to make the first move. You have to have the courage and confidence in your own ability. You have to know what the hell and who the hell you are in this business. Music may change, but I don't think that ever will.” [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A seasoned musician reflects on pioneering pricing and leadership, emphasizing confidence and self‑knowledge in a changing industry. **In simple terms:** Experienced artists set standards, need confidence and self‑awareness. Key Takeaway Lead by example, know yourself, set standards. Themes leadership confidence industry dynamics self‑knowledge innovation Mood reflective determined optimistic Type advice reflective industry insight When to use this quote - setting price benchmarks - negotiating contracts - building professional networks Key Concepts pricing strategy market influence artist mentorship industry evolution Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance innovation with tradition? - What risks arise when setting new standards? A Different Perspective Success depends on market acceptance and collective response. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Even as a kid, if I would come across something cool in the record store, that would be how I found out about bands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ian/even-as-a-kid-if-i-would-come-across-something-cool-in-the-record/) [Scott Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ian/) > [Tribute bands have kind of taken over the market, and I don't want to come across as being that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-laine/tribute-bands-have-kind-of-taken-over-the-market-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Denny Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-laine/) > [There are so many bands that I'm kind of aware of through media about them, and it ends up filtering my experience of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/there-are-so-many-bands-that-i-m-kind-of-aware-of-through-media-about/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [When we started, our style of music wasn't on MTV. It wasn't cool, and it wasn't popular. The only bands who were even kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-gilbert/when-we-started-our-style-of-music-wasn-t-on-mtv-it-wasn-t-cool-and/) [Chad Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-gilbert/) > [ We did something that bands are kind of afraid of, or at least used to be, \[which\] is the YouTube scene. They don't want… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-costanza/we-did-something-that-bands-are-kind-of-afraid-of-or-at-least-used-to/) [Chrissy Costanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-costanza/) > [Venues are all the same, all feel the same, these generic blank spaces. I like artists like Lightning Bolt-bands that go in and kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/venues-are-all-the-same-all-feel-the-same-these-generic-blank-spaces/) [Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/) > [Good bands you can kind of lose, then come back and realize they're still good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/good-bands-you-can-kind-of-lose-then-come-back-and-realize-they-re/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/don-t-ask-me-why-i-obsessively-look-to-rock-n-roll-bands-for-some/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Old-school rock bands, and blues bands, too, are kind of a dying breed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/old-school-rock-bands-and-blues-bands-too-are-kind-of-a-dying-breed/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [I'm in a crazy business. The music industry is really tough, and I fight for my life. I just want to make everybody happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chubby-checker/i-m-in-a-crazy-business-the-music-industry-is-really-tough-and-i/) [Chubby Checker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chubby-checker/) > [I've been through a heartbreak and seen the business side of the music industry. Now I see things clearer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-skye/i-ve-been-through-a-heartbreak-and-seen-the-business-side-of-the/) [Justine Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-skye/) > [The music business has made a 360. It's a whole 'nother game. It's not nearly what it was. And I fear for it, because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/the-music-business-has-made-a-360-it-s-a-whole-nother-game-it-s-not/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [Where I come from, music is not a business. Sharing music is a business, but music is not a business. It comes from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-wright/where-i-come-from-music-is-not-a-business-sharing-music-is-a-business/) [Lizz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-wright/) > [I still have a lot to learn - about the business, about music, and about myself. Its exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/i-still-have-a-lot-to-learn-about-the-business-about-music-and-about/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [There just is exponentially more money in the movie business than in the music business. As a result there are more people involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/there-just-is-exponentially-more-money-in-the-movie-business-than-in/) [Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/) ## More by Benny Goodman > [Some of the guys I played with .. didn't go around learning more about their instruments from an intellectual point of view. All they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/some-of-the-guys-i-played-with-didn-t-go-around-learning-more-about/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [“A musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/a-musician-is-a-juggler-who-uses-harmonies-instead-of-oranges/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [As soon as it was understood that we could handle things in our own way, it was the thrill of my life to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/as-soon-as-it-was-understood-that-we-could-handle-things-in-our-own/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [That night at Carnegie Hall was a great experience. When the thing was first put up to me I was a little dubious, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/that-night-at-carnegie-hall-was-a-great-experience-when-the-thing-was/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [After you’ve done all the work and prepared as much as you can, what the hell, you might as well go out and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/after-you-ve-done-all-the-work-and-prepared-as-much-as-you-can-what/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [I think my first impression (of Bix Beiderbecke) was the lasting one. I remember very clearly thinking, 'Where, what planet, did this guy come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/i-think-my-first-impression-of-bix-beiderbecke-was-the-lasting-one-i/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [To this day, I don't like people walking on stage not looking good. You have to look good. If you feel special about yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/to-this-day-i-don-t-like-people-walking-on-stage-not-looking-good-you/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [I don't have any great love for Chicago. What the hell, a childhood around Douglas Park isn't very memorable. I remember the street fights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/i-don-t-have-any-great-love-for-chicago-what-the-hell-a-childhood/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [If a guy's got it, let him give it. I'm selling music, not prejudice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/if-a-guy-s-got-it-let-him-give-it-i-m-selling-music-not-prejudice/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [If you want to do something, you do it anyway, and handle the obstacles as they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/if-you-want-to-do-something-you-do-it-anyway-and-handle-the-obstacles/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [When I first arrived (in New York), it seemed to me the most terrifying city in the world... all those big buildings. I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/when-i-first-arrived-in-new-york-it-seemed-to-me-the-most-terrifying/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [One way or the other, if you want to find reasons why you shouldn’t keep on, you’ll find ‘em. The obstacles are all there;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/one-way-or-the-other-if-you-want-to-find-reasons-why-you-shouldn-t/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [Sometimes when you start losing detail, whether it's in music or in life, something as small as failing to be polite, you start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/sometimes-when-you-start-losing-detail-whether-it-s-in-music-or-in/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [People have often said to me, 'You're so relaxed when you play.' Relaxed my elbow. It's practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/people-have-often-said-to-me-you-re-so-relaxed-when-you-play-relaxed/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [Some of the overflow audience actually sat on the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/some-of-the-overflow-audience-actually-sat-on-the-stage/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) [Explore all 23 Benny Goodman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think I've done a lot in this business, whether through screwball methods or not I don't know, that has helped other bands. 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