--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fortunately, I never had to do the waiter…" description: "\"Fortunately, I never had to do the waiter thing. When I got out of college, I immediately started to teach acting. One of the first jobs I had was in a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/bill-nunn-65113_acting_fortunately-i-never-had-to-do-the-waiter_1150461.jpg" --- # Fortunately, I never had to do the waiter thing. When I… ![“Fortunately, I never had to do the waiter thing. When I got out of college, I immediately started to teach acting. One of the first jobs I had was in a federally-funded program where I taught drama to young people.” quote by Bill Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/bill-nunn-65113_acting_fortunately-i-never-had-to-do-the-waiter_1150461.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/bill-nunn-65113_acting_fortunately-i-never-had-to-do-the-waiter_1150461.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/bill-nunn-65113_acting_fortunately-i-never-had-to-do-the-waiter_1150461.jpg) > “Fortunately, I never had to do the waiter thing. When I got out of college, I immediately started to teach acting. One of the first jobs I had was in a federally-funded program where I taught drama to young people.” Bill Nunn ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker avoided a low‑status job, choosing to pursue a passion for teaching acting immediately after college, highlighting the value of following one's interests over conventional work. **In simple terms:** Chose passion over a typical entry job. Key Takeaway Follow your passion early. Themes career choice education arts personal growth Mood reflective inspired Type advice career. When to use this quote - college graduation - career planning - community programs Key Concepts vocational calling teaching creative arts Questions to Reflect On - What passion could you pursue now? - How do you balance passion with practical needs? A Different Perspective May overlook financial stability; not all can afford such choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Waiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiter/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [Between acting jobs, I'd go visit my hometown and college town to see family and friends. But I would also teach acting, dance, singing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-rodriguez-iii/between-acting-jobs-i-d-go-visit-my-hometown-and-college-town-to-see/) [Vincent Rodriguez III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-rodriguez-iii/) > [When service is overly attentive, I become uncomfortable - I don't like it, for example, when a waiter tops up my glass as soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nobu-matsuhisa/when-service-is-overly-attentive-i-become-uncomfortable-i-don-t-like/) [Nobu Matsuhisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nobu-matsuhisa/) > [My advice has always been to study the craft of acting if you want to be an actor. There are many great schools that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-facinelli/my-advice-has-always-been-to-study-the-craft-of-acting-if-you-want-to/) [Peter Facinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-facinelli/) > [I used to teach acting in a maximum security men's prison. I worked with guys with the most dysfunctional behavior problems. I probably learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-farr/i-used-to-teach-acting-in-a-maximum-security-men-s-prison-i-worked/) [Diane Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-farr/) > [I never felt Lee Strasberg could act, and I fail to see how someone who can't act can teach acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-henreid/i-never-felt-lee-strasberg-could-act-and-i-fail-to-see-how-someone/) Paul Henreid > [I will become a more mature actor and it's one of my dreams to teach acting as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joo-won/i-will-become-a-more-mature-actor-and-it-s-one-of-my-dreams-to-teach/) [Joo Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joo-won/) > [Everyone has to do the same work as actors - I teach acting. But there are those people who come on, and there's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/everyone-has-to-do-the-same-work-as-actors-i-teach-acting-but-there/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I run the Actor's Studio on the West Coast, and one of the things I say all the time to the people I teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-run-the-actor-s-studio-on-the-west-coast-and-one-of-the-things-i/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [Sometimes when I'm not working, I go and teach at an acting school, and quite selfishly, that makes me feel more inspired to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-geere/sometimes-when-i-m-not-working-i-go-and-teach-at-an-acting-school-and/) [Chris Geere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-geere/) > [The important thing is to learn through experience. The more you do the more you learn. I don't think anyone can teach acting from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-harrison/the-important-thing-is-to-learn-through-experience-the-more-you-do/) [Rex Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-harrison/) > [I went to an acting school in Delhi after doing 15 films as a hero! I went there because I wanted to know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-morea/i-went-to-an-acting-school-in-delhi-after-doing-15-films-as-a-hero-i/) [Dino Morea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-morea/) > [Music kept me sane between acting jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carmack/music-kept-me-sane-between-acting-jobs/) [Chris Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carmack/) > [When I was a kid, I didn't know Canadians could be actors. I thought just Americans could get acting jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-moss/when-i-was-a-kid-i-didn-t-know-canadians-could-be-actors-i-thought/) [Carrie-Anne Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-moss/) > [I was lucky in that I didn't have to do too many outside-of-acting side jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/briga-heelan/i-was-lucky-in-that-i-didn-t-have-to-do-too-many-outside-of-acting/) [Briga Heelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/briga-heelan/) > [Hollywood is fickle; your career can end pretty fast. If the acting jobs dry up, you have to have something to fall back on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lawrence/hollywood-is-fickle-your-career-can-end-pretty-fast-if-the-acting/) Matthew Lawrence ## More by Bill Nunn > ['School Daze' was one of the highlights of my life because it was the first chance I had to act on screen. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nunn/school-daze-was-one-of-the-highlights-of-my-life-because-it-was-the/) Bill Nunn > [If you want to be an actor, you should just get out there and do it. I don't go for the approach of first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nunn/if-you-want-to-be-an-actor-you-should-just-get-out-there-and-do-it-i/) Bill Nunn > [Every time I work, it's an educational process because I learn by watching other actors. My career is always going to be an ongoing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nunn/every-time-i-work-it-s-an-educational-process-because-i-learn-by/) Bill Nunn Explore all 4 Bill Nunn quotes ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fortunately, I never had to do the waiter thing. When I got out of college, I immediately started to teach acting. 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