--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People always think I was just playing in…" description: "\"People always think I was just playing in a piano bar, but I only did that for about six months. The rest of the time I was playing in bands.\" — Billy ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/billy-joel-1000_band_people-always-think-i-was-just-playing-i_1025721.png" --- # People always think I was just playing in a piano bar, but… ![“People always think I was just playing in a piano bar, but I only did that for about six months. The rest of the time I was playing in bands.” quote by Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/billy-joel-1000_band_people-always-think-i-was-just-playing-i_1025721.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/billy-joel-1000_band_people-always-think-i-was-just-playing-i_1025721.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/billy-joel-1000_band_people-always-think-i-was-just-playing-i_1025721.png) > “People always think I was just playing in a piano bar, but I only did that for about six months. The rest of the time I was playing in bands.” [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He clarifies that his early career involved brief piano‑bar gigs before focusing on band performances, highlighting his artistic evolution. **In simple terms:** He played piano bar briefly, then joined bands. Key Takeaway Recognize early experiences as stepping stones. Themes career music evolution identity Mood reflective proud Type autobiographical musical When to use this quote - gig work - band auditions - songwriting sessions Key Concepts artistic development industry navigation personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How did early gigs shape your musical style? - What lessons from small venues apply to larger stages? A Different Perspective Early gigs may be undervalued in legacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I would be happy at a piano bar, singing. I just want to home in on being the best singer I can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-boone/i-would-be-happy-at-a-piano-bar-singing-i-just-want-to-home-in-on/) [Debby Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-boone/) > [The piano bar is the gateway to the halls of masturbation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/the-piano-bar-is-the-gateway-to-the-halls-of-masturbation/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [When a little more than a teenager, I was a piano-bar pianist in the land where I was born and raised, Tuscany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/when-a-little-more-than-a-teenager-i-was-a-piano-bar-pianist-in-the/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [We did four months on 'Line of Duty' from beginning to end, and that would be a long theater run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennie-james/we-did-four-months-on-line-of-duty-from-beginning-to-end-and-that/) [Lennie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennie-james/) > [I did nine months in 'Mrs. Klein' in New York, then four months on the road. Then I did a movie directed by Philip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-robins/i-did-nine-months-in-mrs-klein-in-new-york-then-four-months-on-the/) [Laila Robins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-robins/) > [But I did have two months off between Loser and the start of Prozac Nation. So, it was supposed to be Jason time, right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-biggs/but-i-did-have-two-months-off-between-loser-and-the-start-of-prozac/) [Jason Biggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-biggs/) > [Saying you like "Piano Man" doesn't mean you like Billy Joel; it means you're willing to go to a piano bar if there's nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/saying-you-like-piano-man-doesn-t-mean-you-like-billy-joel-it-means/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [I first started playing in piano bars for three reasons - to make money, to be in the company of my friends - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/i-first-started-playing-in-piano-bars-for-three-reasons-to-make-money/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [We found ourselves becoming more serious about playing music than our friends were - or just more committed and had more meaningful connections. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikal-cronin/we-found-ourselves-becoming-more-serious-about-playing-music-than-our/) [Mikal Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikal-cronin/) > [I've never played instruments. I've always been a singer or a writer, for that matter. But I started playing in bands when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-ve-never-played-instruments-i-ve-always-been-a-singer-or-a-writer/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [Now I'm fortunate to have a good band in CA, and play many solo gigs as well. My point is that I stopped playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-godfrey/now-i-m-fortunate-to-have-a-good-band-in-ca-and-play-many-solo-gigs/) [Arthur Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-godfrey/) > [People are being more ­experimental. I hear chords being played that really haven't been on the radio. I love that. I go to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-kurstin/people-are-being-more-experimental-i-hear-chords-being-played-that/) [Greg Kurstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-kurstin/) > [But when I started playing in bands, everyone would just have a couple beers at rehearsal, at the shows, or whatever, and alcohol is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-strauss/but-when-i-started-playing-in-bands-everyone-would-just-have-a-couple/) [Nita Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-strauss/) > [I've been playing music all my life, from being a choir soloist at Symphony Hall as a youngster to playing in bands through high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-godfrey/i-ve-been-playing-music-all-my-life-from-being-a-choir-soloist-at/) [Arthur Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-godfrey/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/) [Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/) ## More by Billy Joel > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Only the good die young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/only-the-good-die-young/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [In a way, we are magicians. We are alchemists, sorcerers and wizards. We are a very strange bunch. But there is great fun in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/in-a-way-we-are-magicians-we-are-alchemists-sorcerers-and-wizards-we/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I don't want some pretty face to tell me pretty lies, all I want is someone to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-don-t-want-some-pretty-face-to-tell-me-pretty-lies-all-i-want-is/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I've always said about 50% of what happens at a concert has to do with the audience. If you play for a dead audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-ve-always-said-about-50-of-what-happens-at-a-concert-has-to-do-with/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [She's the quiet type who's into heavy metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/she-s-the-quiet-type-who-s-into-heavy-metal/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Rock and roll just used to be for kicks, now a days it's politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/rock-and-roll-just-used-to-be-for-kicks-now-a-days-it-s-politics/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Don't make music for some vast, unseen audience or market or ratings share or even for something as tangible as money. Though it's crucial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/don-t-make-music-for-some-vast-unseen-audience-or-market-or-ratings/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Usually when I'm writing, I try to write fairly quickly. If a song sits around too long, it starts to take on a stink.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/usually-when-i-m-writing-i-try-to-write-fairly-quickly-if-a-song-sits/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [My daughter sent me on a mission to get as many autographs as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/my-daughter-sent-me-on-a-mission-to-get-as-many-autographs-as-possible/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [ I was listening to stuff and I realized that I've had a lot of different lives. You know the theory \[that says\] every seven… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-was-listening-to-stuff-and-i-realized-that-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If you said good-bye to me tonight, There would still be music left to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-you-said-good-bye-to-me-tonight-there-would-still-be-music-left-to/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If I need a cause for celebration, Or a comfort I can use to ease my mind, I rely on my imagination, And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-i-need-a-cause-for-celebration-or-a-comfort-i-can-use-to-ease-my/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I'm carrying the weight of all the useless junk and modern man accumulates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-carrying-the-weight-of-all-the-useless-junk-and-modern-man/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [What will it take for you to believe in me, the way that I believe in you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/what-will-it-take-for-you-to-believe-in-me-the-way-that-i-believe-in/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) [Explore all 311 Billy Joel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. 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