--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some of the best auditions I've ever had…" description: "\"Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, \"They want you 20 minutes ago, in an office in Century City, to see y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/billy-campbell-16046_auditions_some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had_1409439.jpg" --- # Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my… ![“Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, "They want you 20 minutes ago, in an office in Century City, to see you for something." It's actually sometimes a really good thing. I don't have time to second-guess myself, I don't have time to overthink things…” quote by Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/billy-campbell-16046_auditions_some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had_1409439.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/billy-campbell-16046_auditions_some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had_1409439.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/billy-campbell-16046_auditions_some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had_1409439.jpg) > “Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, "They want you 20 minutes ago, in an office in Century City, to see you for something." It's actually sometimes a really good thing. I don't have time to second-guess myself, I don't have time to overthink things, and I don't have time to get bogged down in stuff. I'm not sitting there thinking for a week and a half, before I'm supposed to go in front of a network president to do something. That just gives you time to be nervous.” [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rapid, last‑minute opportunities force focus and instinct, reducing overthinking and anxiety. **In simple terms:** Last‑minute gigs sharpen instinct and cut overthinking. Key Takeaway Embrace urgent chances, act without hesitation. Themes career performance instinct pressure decision‑making Mood energized focused tense Type motivational practical When to use this quote - auditions - job offers - creative projects - high‑stakes meetings Key Concepts flow state risk tolerance confidence Questions to Reflect On - How does urgency affect your creative output? - What risks do you accept when time is limited? A Different Perspective May lead to insufficient preparation or missed details. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, 'They want you 20 minutes ago, in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had-have-been-when-my-agent-2/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [ You do your best \[ on auditions\] and sometimes you win 'em over and sometimes you don't. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/you-do-your-best-on-auditions-and-sometimes-you-win-em-over-and/) [Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [The only time you do not get nervous is when you are making your first film. At that time, just the joy of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/the-only-time-you-do-not-get-nervous-is-when-you-are-making-your/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [It's the only time that I'm ever nervous on stage, is when we're doing live TV. Especially an awards show, because I know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-aldean/it-s-the-only-time-that-i-m-ever-nervous-on-stage-is-when-we-re-doing/) [Jason Aldean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-aldean/) > [I never talk about auditions. Even if I've got the role, I won't tell people until we're literally filming it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-robertson/i-never-talk-about-auditions-even-if-i-ve-got-the-role-i-won-t-tell/) [Britt Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-robertson/) > [When you're an actor starting out, you have no control. All you can do is prepare the best you can for auditions and turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-corrin/when-you-re-an-actor-starting-out-you-have-no-control-all-you-can-do/) [Emma Corrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-corrin/) > [There have been auditions where they've said nicely, 'Would you be willing to go to the gym for this role?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-atack/there-have-been-auditions-where-they-ve-said-nicely-would-you-be/) [Emily Atack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-atack/) > [I'd say the only time I ever get nervous is around great ballet dancers or people I really admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/i-d-say-the-only-time-i-ever-get-nervous-is-around-great-ballet/) [Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/) > [I love getting ready to do a scene, and thinking about it, and talking about it. But the rest of the time, I'm so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/i-love-getting-ready-to-do-a-scene-and-thinking-about-it-and-talking/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [If things happen all the time you are never nervous. It is when they are not happening that you are nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/if-things-happen-all-the-time-you-are-never-nervous-it-is-when-they/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I get nervous all the time. The only time I'm not nervous is onstage, which is weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-davidson/i-get-nervous-all-the-time-the-only-time-i-m-not-nervous-is-onstage/) [Pete Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-davidson/) > [I think any time I'm nervous I just pretend that I'm not, and that's how I deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/i-think-any-time-i-m-nervous-i-just-pretend-that-i-m-not-and-that-s/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [Coming from my past experiences, I've been the player who used to worry all the time, and I'd get so nervous and frantic when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-horan/coming-from-my-past-experiences-i-ve-been-the-player-who-used-to/) [Lindsey Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-horan/) > [When I took over 'New Mutants,' writing and drawing, and I figure this is a big deal, I'm 23, 22 at that time, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liefeld/when-i-took-over-new-mutants-writing-and-drawing-and-i-figure-this-is/) [Rob Liefeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liefeld/) ## More by Billy Campbell > [Oh, I'm nerdy about science fiction and fantasy and graphic novels and reading, and I'm nerdy about board games. My favorite board game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/oh-i-m-nerdy-about-science-fiction-and-fantasy-and-graphic-novels-and/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [The South Downs of England reminded me a bit of my Old Virginia homeland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/the-south-downs-of-england-reminded-me-a-bit-of-my-old-virginia/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Aside from what it teaches you, there is simply the indescribable degree of peace that can be achieved on a sailing vessel at sea.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/aside-from-what-it-teaches-you-there-is-simply-the-indescribable/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I'm not a big fan of CGI. I'm not a fan at all, unless they use it in a way that doesn't call attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-cgi-i-m-not-a-fan-at-all-unless-they-use-it-in-a/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [To me, the AMC brand is great storytelling - they call it slow-burn storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/to-me-the-amc-brand-is-great-storytelling-they-call-it-slow-burn/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Most sailing ships take what they call trainees, who pay to be part of the crew. The Picton Castle takes people who are absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/most-sailing-ships-take-what-they-call-trainees-who-pay-to-be-part-of/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [On land, you can walk away from people, from unpleasant situations. But when you're on a ship for 14 months with 49 other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/on-land-you-can-walk-away-from-people-from-unpleasant-situations-but/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [To me, if I'm reading a fantastic story or I go on a nice first date and I have a wonderful time, I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/to-me-if-i-m-reading-a-fantastic-story-or-i-go-on-a-nice-first-date/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I've done some things that have been quite interesting, but as grateful as I am for having been on 'Dynasty,' it was just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-ve-done-some-things-that-have-been-quite-interesting-but-as/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I grew up 60 minutes way from Richmond, in Charlottesville, Virginia and, as a child, I was obsessed with the Civil War. I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-grew-up-60-minutes-way-from-richmond-in-charlottesville-virginia/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I would love to see a sequel to 'The Rocketeer.' I'd love to see that! I don't know that I would be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-would-love-to-see-a-sequel-to-the-rocketeer-i-d-love-to-see-that-i/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [So many movies are so formulaic because you've got to get it done in an hour and a half. On a TV series, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/so-many-movies-are-so-formulaic-because-you-ve-got-to-get-it-done-in/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [When I first came to Hollywood, I used to dream of doing films and escaping television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/when-i-first-came-to-hollywood-i-used-to-dream-of-doing-films-and/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, 'They want you 20 minutes ago, in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had-have-been-when-my-agent-2/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [The feeling of being at sea has put me in touch with who I am to a greater degree than if I had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/the-feeling-of-being-at-sea-has-put-me-in-touch-with-who-i-am-to-a/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) [Explore all 41 Billy Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) ## More Auditions quotes > [My favorite performance would definitely be "Toxic," which was my blind audition song. It was the start of it all and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/my-favorite-performance-would-definitely-be-toxic-which-was-my-blind/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [Ed Koch once said that New York City is where immigrants come to audition for America. That's what happened to my parents; that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/ed-koch-once-said-that-new-york-city-is-where-immigrants-come-to/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [I have had to give auditions for every film I had done until 'Dedh Ishqiya.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-have-had-to-give-auditions-for-every-film-i-had-done-until-dedh/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [When preparing for auditions, I have no rituals. I just try to be as prepared as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-basco/when-preparing-for-auditions-i-have-no-rituals-i-just-try-to-be-as/) [Dante Basco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-basco/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I got into acting in high school mainly because I wasn't doing anything else and started to hit a few bumps in the road.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/i-got-into-acting-in-high-school-mainly-because-i-wasn-t-doing/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) > [Always my fallback is - I'm gonna move to a poor town and open a scone shop... Sometimes after some bad auditions I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/always-my-fallback-is-i-m-gonna-move-to-a-poor-town-and-open-a-scone/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [I would go to different production houses everyday for auditions and they would reject me saying you cant talk, smile, dance, or act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-tamboli/i-would-go-to-different-production-houses-everyday-for-auditions-and/) [Nikki Tamboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-tamboli/) > [Like every audition I go on, I do my best, but after that, I let it go because, you know, the rejection rate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/like-every-audition-i-go-on-i-do-my-best-but-after-that-i-let-it-go/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [“Some people look like they sound better than they actually sound, because they look confident and have good posture," once musician, a veteran of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/some-people-look-like-they-sound-better-than-they-actually-sound/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Life beats down and crushes our souls and theatre reminds us that we have one. At least the type of theatre that I'm interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanford-meisner/life-beats-down-and-crushes-our-souls-and-theatre-reminds-us-that-we/) [Sanford Meisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanford-meisner/) > [It's funny, I get really nervous when I audition for voiceovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/it-s-funny-i-get-really-nervous-when-i-audition-for-voiceovers/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [I've gone into auditions and I think they have an assumption about me when they see my photo and then I open my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-negga/i-ve-gone-into-auditions-and-i-think-they-have-an-assumption-about-me/) [Ruth Negga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-negga/) > [When I was six years old my friend was auditioning for 'Annie,' and I decided I wanted to audition with her. My mom was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-emerson/when-i-was-six-years-old-my-friend-was-auditioning-for-annie-and-i/) [Jacqueline Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-emerson/) > [I managed to get onto 'The Hobbit,' which is a story in itself. I missed the main round of auditions but managed to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-stevens/i-managed-to-get-onto-the-hobbit-which-is-a-story-in-itself-i-missed/) [Conan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-stevens/) [Browse all 789 Auditions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, \"They want you 20 minutes ago, in an office in Century City, to see you for something.\" It's actually sometimes a really good thing. I don't have time to second-guess myself, I don't have time to overthink things, and I don't have time to get bogged down in stuff. I'm not sitting there thinking for a week and a half, before I'm supposed to go in front of a network president to do something. 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