--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a privilege to play music fora…" description: "\"It's a privilege to play music fora living. Even more, it's a privilege to have an audience. Respect that.\" — Bob Lefsetz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/bob-lefsetz-34767_audience_it-s-a-privilege-to-play-music-fora-livi_2083788.png" --- # It's a privilege to play music fora living. Even more… ![“It's a privilege to play music fora living. Even more, it's a privilege to have an audience. Respect that.” quote by Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/bob-lefsetz-34767_audience_it-s-a-privilege-to-play-music-fora-livi_2083788.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/bob-lefsetz-34767_audience_it-s-a-privilege-to-play-music-fora-livi_2083788.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/bob-lefsetz-34767_audience_it-s-a-privilege-to-play-music-fora-livi_2083788.png) > “It's a privilege to play music fora living. Even more, it's a privilege to have an audience. Respect that.” [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music performance is a rare gift that should be honored, and listeners deserve respect for sharing their time. **In simple terms:** Playing music is a gift; audiences deserve respect. Key Takeaway Honor the gift, respect the audience. Themes respect gratitude artistry Mood appreciative reflective Type inspirational ethical When to use this quote - Live concerts - streaming sessions - private gigs - educational workshops Key Concepts Audience engagement artist responsibility cultural value Questions to Reflect On - How can performers show gratitude without compromising authenticity? - What responsibilities do audiences have to creators? A Different Perspective Not all audiences are receptive, and artists may feel pressured to entertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Powerful music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-music/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) ## Related quotes > [People who cost too much: manager, lawyer, publicist, label, music publisher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcnamee/people-who-cost-too-much-manager-lawyer-publicist-label-music/) [Roger McNamee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcnamee/) > [Remember the Bob Dylan rule: it's not just a record, it's a movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/remember-the-bob-dylan-rule-it-s-not-just-a-record-it-s-a-movement/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [You should quit trying only after two conditions have been met: 1.) You've given yourself a legitimate shot. 2.) Trying is no longer fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-rossio/you-should-quit-trying-only-after-two-conditions-have-been-met-1-you/) [Terry Rossio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-rossio/) > [Don't tell people you are broke. Guilting fans into buying your music never works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-tell-people-you-are-broke-guilting-fans-into-buying-your-music/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To help with knowing if you're good or not, you need a mentor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-day/to-help-with-knowing-if-you-re-good-or-not-you-need-a-mentor/) [Alex Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-day/) > [“Only the living have the privilege of saying they'll fight to the last breath, and words like conviction and resolve don't mean much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raven/only-the-living-have-the-privilege-of-saying-they-ll-fight-to-the/) [Raven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raven/) > [I think what I do for a living is a privilege, so at the very least, I'd like to think it can be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dede-gardner/i-think-what-i-do-for-a-living-is-a-privilege-so-at-the-very-least-i/) [Dede Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dede-gardner/) > [In general, I think audiences are a lot smarter than people think. So, it's not "know your audience", it's "respect your audience, and really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/in-general-i-think-audiences-are-a-lot-smarter-than-people-think-so/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [I just respect audiences to understand that that's what goes on in movies. I just try to make movies that respect the intelligence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-maddin/i-just-respect-audiences-to-understand-that-that-s-what-goes-on-in/) [Guy Maddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-maddin/) > [If people are talking about my weight cut all the time and are telling me how skinny I like, you have to respect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tucker/if-people-are-talking-about-my-weight-cut-all-the-time-and-are/) [Jonathan Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tucker/) > [For artists like me nothing matters more than the audience's respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/for-artists-like-me-nothing-matters-more-than-the-audience-s-respect/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Try to find the right balance of keeping things exciting and treating your audience with respect, and also treating yourself as an artist with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/try-to-find-the-right-balance-of-keeping-things-exciting-and-treating/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Nothing runs forever. How you handle it, the most important thing is how you respect your audience, how you respect your cast, and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-tassler/nothing-runs-forever-how-you-handle-it-the-most-important-thing-is/) [Nina Tassler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-tassler/) > [“I'm always trying to gain and keep the audience's respect. I always want them to know that the show doesn't think they're stupid for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/i-m-always-trying-to-gain-and-keep-the-audience-s-respect-i-always/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [With the Tonys it's a little tricky because a lot of the funnier jokes are more insider, so people watching at home may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/with-the-tonys-it-s-a-little-tricky-because-a-lot-of-the-funnier/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) ## More by Bob Lefsetz > [Inspiration comes from displacement. Get out of your comfort zone, the rewards are legion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/inspiration-comes-from-displacement-get-out-of-your-comfort-zone-the/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [Opportunities are abundant, but most people are afraid to do the work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/opportunities-are-abundant-but-most-people-are-afraid-to-do-the-work/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [People say they want shorter, but really want something that rivets them. They've got endless time for great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/people-say-they-want-shorter-but-really-want-something-that-rivets/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [When done right, music should breathe, be alive. It's not about getting it perfect, it's about capturing lightning in a bottle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/when-done-right-music-should-breathe-be-alive-it-s-not-about-getting/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [You think everybody's paying attention to what you're doing. No, they're paying attention to what's interesting to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/you-think-everybody-s-paying-attention-to-what-you-re-doing-no-they/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [If you're not a successful artist it's your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/if-you-re-not-a-successful-artist-it-s-your-fault/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [Artists are tuning forks. Their goal is to create resonance in the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/artists-are-tuning-forks-their-goal-is-to-create-resonance-in-the/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [There's very little greatness in this world, but in the crucible of quality there's a special corner reserved for Van Halen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/there-s-very-little-greatness-in-this-world-but-in-the-crucible-of/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [If you spend 10,000 hours on the bunny slope, you're never going to win the World Cup. You've got to challenge yourself, ski the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/if-you-spend-10-000-hours-on-the-bunny-slope-you-re-never-going-to/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [Forget about acquiring new people. If you service your audience they will get you new fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/forget-about-acquiring-new-people-if-you-service-your-audience-they/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [Keep making music.. Keep improving your music.. If there's no viral action on your music, you're just not good enough. Don't get mad at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/keep-making-music-keep-improving-your-music-if-there-s-no-viral/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [The music business will be revitalized by musicians, not the labels or Live Nation. When the musicians decide to put music first, instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/the-music-business-will-be-revitalized-by-musicians-not-the-labels-or/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [You can't fight hearts and minds with money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/you-can-t-fight-hearts-and-minds-with-money/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) [Explore all 14 Bob Lefsetz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a privilege to play music fora living. Even more, it's a privilege to have an audience. 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