--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you get into a Broadway show and it…" description: "\"If you get into a Broadway show and it doesn't work, you're a failure. And if it does work, you may be stuck for who knows how long. It just doesn't so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/betty-white-2426_broadway_if-you-get-into-a-broadway-show-and-it-d_1104878.jpg" --- # If you get into a Broadway show and it doesn't work… ![“If you get into a Broadway show and it doesn't work, you're a failure. And if it does work, you may be stuck for who knows how long. It just doesn't sound great to me!” quote by Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/betty-white-2426_broadway_if-you-get-into-a-broadway-show-and-it-d_1104878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/betty-white-2426_broadway_if-you-get-into-a-broadway-show-and-it-d_1104878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/betty-white-2426_broadway_if-you-get-into-a-broadway-show-and-it-d_1104878.jpg) > “If you get into a Broadway show and it doesn't work, you're a failure. And if it does work, you may be stuck for who knows how long. It just doesn't sound great to me!” [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure and success in entertainment both carry risks; neither guarantees lasting fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Both success and failure have downsides. Key Takeaway Weigh risks before pursuing fame. Themes career risk entertainment Mood reflective cautious Type career motivational When to use this quote - auditions - show business - career planning Key Concepts success anxiety failure anxiety Questions to Reflect On - What defines success for you? - How do you handle uncertainty? A Different Perspective The industry can be unpredictable and stressful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Broadway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/) [Broadway Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway-doesn-2071604/) [Broadway show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway-show/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-does-344862/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Stuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuck/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-failure-2395370/) ## Related quotes > [“They drummed you out of Hollywood, so you come crawling back to Broadway. But Broadway doesn't go for booze and dope. Now get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-susann/they-drummed-you-out-of-hollywood-so-you-come-crawling-back-to/) [Jacqueline Susann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-susann/) > [I'm fortunate that I've been able to work on Broadway, but it doesn't give me an outside life. So I decided to go into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-m-fortunate-that-i-ve-been-able-to-work-on-broadway-but-it-doesn-t/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [I want to do good work. The first failure affected me. That is why I did 'Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/i-want-to-do-good-work-the-first-failure-affected-me-that-is-why-i/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [Of the 200 light bulbs that didn't work, every failure told me something that I was able to incorporate into the next attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/of-the-200-light-bulbs-that-didn-t-work-every-failure-told-me/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Broadway doesn't pay that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sharp/broadway-doesn-t-pay-that-much/) [Alex Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sharp/) > [“when good man do good work failure is but a label for failures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-mad-man/when-good-man-do-good-work-failure-is-but-a-label-for-failures/) [a mad man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-mad-man/) > [People love to make excuses, forget all the excuses, if it doesn't work out, failure is the best thing that can happen to somebody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-roth/people-love-to-make-excuses-forget-all-the-excuses-if-it-doesn-t-work/) [Asher Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-roth/) > [Broadway doesn't mean anything in Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-famuyiwa/broadway-doesn-t-mean-anything-in-los-angeles/) [Rick Famuyiwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-famuyiwa/) > [All the way on the West Coast, never having seen a Broadway show, it was like, 'They don't want me. There's nothing there for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daveed-diggs/all-the-way-on-the-west-coast-never-having-seen-a-broadway-show-it/) [Daveed Diggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daveed-diggs/) > [I was in my last year in high school when I began to think of becoming a dancer. I had never seen a Broadway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-kelly/i-was-in-my-last-year-in-high-school-when-i-began-to-think-of/) [Paula Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-kelly/) > [I was occasionally getting calls for some things. But I would say, 22 to 29 was a lot of scuffling. Hoping to get called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-was-occasionally-getting-calls-for-some-things-but-i-would-say-22/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Some of my best friends have written Broadway shows. Allee Willis and Brenda Russell wrote The Color Purple which has been recently revived on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-koz/some-of-my-best-friends-have-written-broadway-shows-allee-willis-and/) [Dave Koz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-koz/) > [I am always in much better shape when I am doing a Broadway show because you have the eight shows a week to kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-krakowski/i-am-always-in-much-better-shape-when-i-am-doing-a-broadway-show/) [Jane Krakowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-krakowski/) > [I've grown up watching and admiring Norm. Sherie actually starred in the first off-Broadway show I ever saw in New York, which was The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-ve-grown-up-watching-and-admiring-norm-sherie-actually-starred-in/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [All of a sudden, I was a young kid in my early 20s, and I had a couple of Broadway shows to my credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/all-of-a-sudden-i-was-a-young-kid-in-my-early-20s-and-i-had-a-couple/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) ## More by Betty White > [Get at least 8 hours of beauty sleep. 9 if you're ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/get-at-least-8-hours-of-beauty-sleep-9-if-you-re-ugly/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [When you start explaining why something's funny or finding a formula for it I think it loses some of its funniness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/when-you-start-explaining-why-something-s-funny-or-finding-a-formula/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I think a handwritten letter - a lot of guys don't realize what that means. It's those little romantic touches that tell a lady,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-think-a-handwritten-letter-a-lot-of-guys-don-t-realize-what-that/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [Ive always liked older men. Theyre just more attractive to me. Of course, at my age there arent that many left! Ive enjoyed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/ive-always-liked-older-men-theyre-just-more-attractive-to-me-of/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I think everybody needs a passion. Whether it's one passion or a hundred, that's what keep life interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-think-everybody-needs-a-passion-whether-it-s-one-passion-or-a/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I'm a teenager trapped in an old body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-a-teenager-trapped-in-an-old-body/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [The thing I like to do best is my work for animals. Ive worked with LA Zoo and a number of other animal causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/the-thing-i-like-to-do-best-is-my-work-for-animals-ive-worked-with-la/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I'm in the acting business. That's the ego business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-in-the-acting-business-that-s-the-ego-business/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [Get at least eight hours of beauty sleep. Nine if you're ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/get-at-least-eight-hours-of-beauty-sleep-nine-if-you-re-ugly/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [A lady likes to be complimented on her looks, her eyes, her figure. But the personality comments are much appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/a-lady-likes-to-be-complimented-on-her-looks-her-eyes-her-figure-but/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I think a lot of people like hidden-camera shows where they think they're spying on somebody who doesn't know they're looking at them. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-think-a-lot-of-people-like-hidden-camera-shows-where-they-think/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I happen to be blessed with loving what I do for a living. I love acting and I'm so fortunate to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-happen-to-be-blessed-with-loving-what-i-do-for-a-living-i-love/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I'm in the middle of my sixth book, which is about animals at the Los Angeles Zoo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-in-the-middle-of-my-sixth-book-which-is-about-animals-at-the-los/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [Retirement is not a dirty word, I am just enjoying what I am doing. If they want me to retire, then stop asking me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/retirement-is-not-a-dirty-word-i-am-just-enjoying-what-i-am-doing-if/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [You're never too old for anything!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/you-re-never-too-old-for-anything/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) [Explore all 165 Betty White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you get into a Broadway show and it doesn't work, you're a failure. And if it does work, you may be stuck for who knows how long. 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