--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did the one concert, and I was not…" description: "\"I did the one concert, and I was not bitten by the conducting bug, and I thought I was done, but then the phone started to ring, and gradually, over ti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/bobby-mcferrin-12039_bugs_i-did-the-one-concert-and-i-was-not-bitt_1186892.png" --- # I did the one concert, and I was not bitten by the… ![“I did the one concert, and I was not bitten by the conducting bug, and I thought I was done, but then the phone started to ring, and gradually, over time, I started conducting more and more. Now a third of my performances are with orchestras.” quote by Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/bobby-mcferrin-12039_bugs_i-did-the-one-concert-and-i-was-not-bitt_1186892.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/bobby-mcferrin-12039_bugs_i-did-the-one-concert-and-i-was-not-bitt_1186892.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/bobby-mcferrin-12039_bugs_i-did-the-one-concert-and-i-was-not-bitt_1186892.png) > “I did the one concert, and I was not bitten by the conducting bug, and I thought I was done, but then the phone started to ring, and gradually, over time, I started conducting more and more. Now a third of my performances are with orchestras.” [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He unexpectedly grew into conducting, now leading many orchestral performances. **In simple terms:** He discovered a new passion for conducting. Key Takeaway Stay open to unexpected career paths. Themes career evolution musical growth serendipity Mood inspirational reflective Type musical career development When to use this quote - music education - career coaching - artistic collaboration Key Concepts adaptability creative exploration Questions to Reflect On - What steps helped him develop conducting skills? - How can others embrace unexpected opportunities? A Different Perspective Transitioning roles can be daunting and require new skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bugs/) [Concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) [Orchestra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orchestra/) [Orchestras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orchestras/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Well, I started conducting kind of by accident. I wanted to give myself a special birthday present for my fortieth birthday, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/well-i-started-conducting-kind-of-by-accident-i-wanted-to-give-myself/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [When I started, I'd never had a conducting lesson in my life; I could just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bonynge/when-i-started-i-d-never-had-a-conducting-lesson-in-my-life-i-could/) [Richard Bonynge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bonynge/) > [I just wish, maybe, that I'd started conducting earlier. I was about 40 when I started. Apart from that I don't really have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-marriner/i-just-wish-maybe-that-i-d-started-conducting-earlier-i-was-about-40/) [Neville Marriner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-marriner/) > [I started conducting lessons and I realized that this is actually something I like doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-started-conducting-lessons-and-i-realized-that-this-is-actually/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I love Gustavo Dudamel and I love what he does for classical music, and I love what he comes out of, El Sistema and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-love-gustavo-dudamel-and-i-love-what-he-does-for-classical-music/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [To this day I am indulgent toward orchestras that are trying to lift themselves in the world, while critics are busy assuring them that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/to-this-day-i-am-indulgent-toward-orchestras-that-are-trying-to-lift/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [The music lovers of London and the country deserve to have something where orchestras can flourish. You have no idea how wonderful an orchestra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rattle/the-music-lovers-of-london-and-the-country-deserve-to-have-something/) [Simon Rattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rattle/) > [The problem is, when you're working with orchestras, you only get the orchestra for about two hours before the performance to pull it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/the-problem-is-when-you-re-working-with-orchestras-you-only-get-the/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [As major orchestras around the world are gripped in various kinds of crises and upheaval, we need to be sure that we are bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-levine/as-major-orchestras-around-the-world-are-gripped-in-various-kinds-of/) [James Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-levine/) > [The Boston Symphony is one of the best orchestras in the world and has such a great tradition - which I want to cherish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andris-nelsons/the-boston-symphony-is-one-of-the-best-orchestras-in-the-world-and/) [Andris Nelsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andris-nelsons/) > [There are a few great orchestras in the world, thank goodness. Although some people do put them in ranking order, it's not like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rattle/there-are-a-few-great-orchestras-in-the-world-thank-goodness-although/) [Simon Rattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rattle/) > [I want to work with the big orchestras. I want to have a big family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-dudamel/i-want-to-work-with-the-big-orchestras-i-want-to-have-a-big-family/) [Gustavo Dudamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-dudamel/) > [Ourchestra: So you haven't got a drum, just beat your belly. So I haven't got a horn-I'll play my nose. So we haven't any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ourchestra-so-you-haven-t-got-a-drum-just-beat-your-belly-so-i-haven/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [It is very gratifying to see the music from 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy find a new life on the concert stage as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-shore/it-is-very-gratifying-to-see-the-music-from-the-lord-of-the-rings/) [Howard Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-shore/) > [Next year I'm going to be a guesting soloist with orchestras all over Europe, to start off with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-emerson/next-year-i-m-going-to-be-a-guesting-soloist-with-orchestras-all-over/) [Keith Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-emerson/) ## More by Bobby McFerrin > [The true musician is to bring light into people's hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/the-true-musician-is-to-bring-light-into-people-s-hearts/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [Well, I started conducting kind of by accident. I wanted to give myself a special birthday present for my fortieth birthday, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/well-i-started-conducting-kind-of-by-accident-i-wanted-to-give-myself/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [The voice gets to the soul of a person more than any other instrument. Because it's the voice. It sings talks, it cries, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/the-voice-gets-to-the-soul-of-a-person-more-than-any-other-instrument/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [Then I left that school and I went to Cerritos College, which was in southern California; they had one of the best big band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/then-i-left-that-school-and-i-went-to-cerritos-college-which-was-in/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [I have a lot of albums yet to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-have-a-lot-of-albums-yet-to-do/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [The audience is like my instrument. It's not just me up there, it's collaborative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/the-audience-is-like-my-instrument-it-s-not-just-me-up-there-it-s/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [Here's a little song I wrote. You might want to sing it note for note. Don't worry, be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/here-s-a-little-song-i-wrote-you-might-want-to-sing-it-note-for-note/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [When we listen to improvisational jazz, or solo classical violinists, the way they phrase and inflect melodies feels vocal, like they’re talking to us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/when-we-listen-to-improvisational-jazz-or-solo-classical-violinists/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [I do a lot of performing, but don't get a chance to go to the studio and write good music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-do-a-lot-of-performing-but-don-t-get-a-chance-to-go-to-the-studio/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [I use the audience as my color palette, my instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-my-instrument/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [I prepared five songs, I sang them, and he hired me. I started working about a month later at the piano bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-prepared-five-songs-i-sang-them-and-he-hired-me-i-started-working/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [It's not that I don't love the song. My songs are like my children: some you want around and some you want to send…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/it-s-not-that-i-don-t-love-the-song-my-songs-are-like-my-children/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [My biggest musical influences are probably my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/my-biggest-musical-influences-are-probably-my-parents/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [I’m not a scholar or a psychologist, so I don’t really think about why. But I do think about what it means to sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-m-not-a-scholar-or-a-psychologist-so-i-don-t-really-think-about-why/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [Remembering that life can be full of surprises is useful in any part of your life. You can try a new way of singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/remembering-that-life-can-be-full-of-surprises-is-useful-in-any-part/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) [Explore all 56 Bobby McFerrin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) ## More Bugs quotes > [If you were to draw Bugs, the easiest way is to learn how to draw a carrot and then hook a rabbit onto it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/if-you-were-to-draw-bugs-the-easiest-way-is-to-learn-how-to-draw-a/) [Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/) > [I caught the acting bug from my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wittrock/i-caught-the-acting-bug-from-my-dad/) [Finn Wittrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wittrock/) > [I didnt write Snow White for any class, but I got bitten by the screenwriting bug and wrote a couple of scripts in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-daugherty/i-didnt-write-snow-white-for-any-class-but-i-got-bitten-by-the/) [Evan Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-daugherty/) > [Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? 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