--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I use the audience as my color palette…" description: "\"I use the audience as my color palette, my instrument.\" — Bobby McFerrin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/bobby-mcferrin-12039_audience_i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-m_413546.png" --- # I use the audience as my color palette, my instrument. ![“I use the audience as my color palette, my instrument.” quote by Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/bobby-mcferrin-12039_audience_i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-m_413546.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/bobby-mcferrin-12039_audience_i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-m_413546.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/bobby-mcferrin-12039_audience_i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-m_413546.png) > “I use the audience as my color palette, my instrument.” [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 treats the audience as a source of inspiration, shaping his music like a painter uses colors. **In simple terms:** Audience guides his music. Key Takeaway Listen to audience cues. Themes creativity performance interaction Mood engaged dynamic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - concerts - workshops - live streaming - teaching - collaborative projects Key Concepts improvisation feedback artistic process Questions to Reflect On - How do you adapt when the audience is silent? - What signals do you look for? A Different Perspective Audience may be unresponsive or distracting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Palette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palette/) ## Related quotes > [I like to use the audience as my color palette, my instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-like-to-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-my-instrument/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [Color is like music. The palette is an instrument that can be orchestrated to build form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-french-sloan/color-is-like-music-the-palette-is-an-instrument-that-can-be/) [John French Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-french-sloan/) > [I get my inspiration from books, pictures, art. I might find a vintage scarf and say, "I think this should be our color palette."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-simpson/i-get-my-inspiration-from-books-pictures-art-i-might-find-a-vintage/) [Jessica Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-simpson/) > [The color palette grew as the story progressed. The 1920's sharecroppers were muted and neutrals, the 30's and 40's introduced burgundy to the neutral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-e-carter/the-color-palette-grew-as-the-story-progressed-the-1920-s/) [Ruth E. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-e-carter/) > [Color was the palette of commercial photography and snapshot photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/color-was-the-palette-of-commercial-photography-and-snapshot/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [I never plan anything in an analytical way before I shoot, but when I look back there seems to be kind of a primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-prager/i-never-plan-anything-in-an-analytical-way-before-i-shoot-but-when-i/) [Alex Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-prager/) > [I've always thought for myself, that's something I want to focus on - color palette and the use of color. Rather than using it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gucci-westman/i-ve-always-thought-for-myself-that-s-something-i-want-to-focus-on/) [Gucci Westman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gucci-westman/) > [I've built my wardrobe color palette around red, so I'm happy with it, but I do get pangs when I see beautiful brunettes. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/i-ve-built-my-wardrobe-color-palette-around-red-so-i-m-happy-with-it/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [“The color palette is confined to that of a Gustave Dore' engraving, greys and blacks, and subtle shadings of these rendered in harrowing crosshatches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/the-color-palette-is-confined-to-that-of-a-gustave-dore-engraving/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [As long as you work in a color palette and you style what you already have within that color palette, it's going to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-henderson/as-long-as-you-work-in-a-color-palette-and-you-style-what-you-already/) [Emily Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-henderson/) > [Usually I'm very, very involved with choosing my character's wardrobe and knowing exactly how I want the character to look and this is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-robertson/usually-i-m-very-very-involved-with-choosing-my-character-s-wardrobe/) [Kathleen Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-robertson/) > [“Your words on the screen are my color palette I dip my brush into your words and paint you On the sky, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-ratliff/your-words-on-the-screen-are-my-color-palette-i-dip-my-brush-into/) [Richard L. Ratliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-ratliff/) > [Do I ever get questions that are rude or impertinent? Yes, but I love to use them. The audience immediately perceives the emotional awkwardness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/do-i-ever-get-questions-that-are-rude-or-impertinent-yes-but-i-love/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [If you combine the sufferings great color palette you will find happiness as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/if-you-combine-the-sufferings-great-color-palette-you-will-find/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Painting is drawing, with the additional means of color. Painting without drawing is just 'coloriness,' color excitement. To think of color for color's sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-french-sloan/painting-is-drawing-with-the-additional-means-of-color-painting/) [John French Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-french-sloan/) ## 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 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/) > [If I sing "you broke my heart, you left me flat," everyone knows exactly what that means - they know the story. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/if-i-sing-you-broke-my-heart-you-left-me-flat-everyone-knows-exactly/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) [Explore all 56 Bobby McFerrin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) ## 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": "I use the audience as my color palette, my instrument.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bobby McFerrin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-my-instrument/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Audience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-my-instrument/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/bobby-mcferrin-12039_audience_i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-m_413546.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/bobby-mcferrin-12039_audience_i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-m_413546.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/bobby-mcferrin-12039_audience_i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-m_413546.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I use the audience as my color palette, my instrument.” — Bobby McFerrin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bobby McFerrin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I use the audience as my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-my-instrument/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/i-use-the-audience-as-my-color-palette-my-instrument/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```