--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to keep the idea that there's an…" description: "\"I try to keep the idea that there's an audience in as little space in my mind as possible, but you can't erase it entirely, the idea that when you're s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/conor-oberst-1535_audience_i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-a_2716270.png" --- # I try to keep the idea that there's an audience in as… ![“I try to keep the idea that there's an audience in as little space in my mind as possible, but you can't erase it entirely, the idea that when you're sitting down to write a song, people are going to hear it.” quote by Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/conor-oberst-1535_audience_i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-a_2716270.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/conor-oberst-1535_audience_i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-a_2716270.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/conor-oberst-1535_audience_i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-a_2716270.png) > “I try to keep the idea that there's an audience in as little space in my mind as possible, but you can't erase it entirely, the idea that when you're sitting down to write a song, people are going to hear it.” [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists should limit audience awareness to preserve creative focus, though some awareness remains inevitable. **In simple terms:** Limit audience thoughts while creating. Key Takeaway Stay focused, accept some audience. Themes creativity focus audience artist mindset Mood introspective thoughtful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting sessions - studio work - live performances Key Concepts creative process self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How much audience awareness helps or hinders you? - Can you channel audience thoughts productively? A Different Perspective Complete isolation from audience is unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-little-1244913/) [Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) [Entirely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entirely/) [Erase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erase/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Idea Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-audience-2846550/) [Idea Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-sitting-445538/) [Keep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Little Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-space/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Sitting Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting-write-741184/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [When I walk out on stage, I don't know who's in the audience. To me, in my little fat skull, the laugh is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-coulier/when-i-walk-out-on-stage-i-don-t-know-who-s-in-the-audience-to-me-in/) [Dave Coulier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-coulier/) > [I think the experience of getting an audience a little bit tense and shocking them with a jump scare, and then moving on it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-robert-cargill/i-think-the-experience-of-getting-an-audience-a-little-bit-tense-and/) [C. Robert Cargill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-robert-cargill/) > [Young writers find their first audience in little magazines, and experimental writers find their only audience there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/young-writers-find-their-first-audience-in-little-magazines-and/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [“The former slave told his audience that “there is little necessity on this occasion to speak at length and critically of this great and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/the-former-slave-told-his-audience-that-there-is-little-necessity-on/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Never try to convey your idea to the audience - it is a thankless and senseless task. Show them life, and they’ll find within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/never-try-to-convey-your-idea-to-the-audience-it-is-a-thankless-and/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) > [I have no idea what the audience makes of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-have-no-idea-what-the-audience-makes-of-me/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I always approach storytelling with the idea that the audience will get it. They understand almost better than we do, because they get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/i-always-approach-storytelling-with-the-idea-that-the-audience-will/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [I like the idea that my audience doesn't see what I do as controversial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sim/i-like-the-idea-that-my-audience-doesn-t-see-what-i-do-as/) [Dave Sim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sim/) > [I'm comfortable having a specific audience to write to. I like the idea that my audience doesn't see what I do as controversial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sim/i-m-comfortable-having-a-specific-audience-to-write-to-i-like-the/) [Dave Sim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sim/) > [I like to start with an idea, but then again, I might be sitting at the keyboard, and just playing a bunch of chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-warren/i-like-to-start-with-an-idea-but-then-again-i-might-be-sitting-at-the/) [Diane Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-warren/) > [I just want to bring people in a little bit to the idea of sitting down on a Sunday three consecutive weeks and having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-just-want-to-bring-people-in-a-little-bit-to-the-idea-of-sitting/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [“I think, because…well, I like the idea of coming up with a story that never existed before, but I don’t really want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-keil/i-think-because-well-i-like-the-idea-of-coming-up-with-a-story-that/) [Melissa Keil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-keil/) > [The idea of sitting at home, not making music, just makes me want to throw up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/the-idea-of-sitting-at-home-not-making-music-just-makes-me-want-to/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [ Prior to \[streaming\], the idea of sitting down and watching a show every week seemed like a great idea. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-riley/prior-to-streaming-the-idea-of-sitting-down-and-watching-a-show-every/) [Tom Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-riley/) > [I've never had a really creative idea sitting at my desk. All the big ideas that made a difference happened when I was playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-ve-never-had-a-really-creative-idea-sitting-at-my-desk-all-the-big/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) ## More by Conor Oberst > [Every time I finish a song... most of the time it's in my own head, like this sounds too much like a Townes Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/every-time-i-finish-a-song-most-of-the-time-it-s-in-my-own-head-like/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [There's nothing that the road cannot heal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/there-s-nothing-that-the-road-cannot-heal/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I've given up trying to understand what people think about me. It seems like a lot of people don't like the music we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-ve-given-up-trying-to-understand-what-people-think-about-me-it/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [You can't manufacture inspiration, so a lot of it is still a waiting game for me. There's still a lot of mystery to songwriting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/you-can-t-manufacture-inspiration-so-a-lot-of-it-is-still-a-waiting/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Cause I swear that I'm dying, slowly but its happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/cause-i-swear-that-i-m-dying-slowly-but-its-happening/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [In a way, to have whatever people talk about as "crossover success," I think it means you start making bad music. I mean, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/in-a-way-to-have-whatever-people-talk-about-as-crossover-success-i/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Men with purple hearts carry silver guns and they will kill a man for what his father has done. But what my father did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/men-with-purple-hearts-carry-silver-guns-and-they-will-kill-a-man-for/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [There's a major underlying idea as you grow up that you need to just save your money and get that affordable housing at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/there-s-a-major-underlying-idea-as-you-grow-up-that-you-need-to-just/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [To finish a song is the best feeling in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/to-finish-a-song-is-the-best-feeling-in-the-world/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I've been part of running a label since I was a kid, so I understand how it works. But the more and more I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-ve-been-part-of-running-a-label-since-i-was-a-kid-so-i-understand/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I'm ripe for the picking for the Scientologists - one of those creeps. Someone's got to find me. Some little weird cult can just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-m-ripe-for-the-picking-for-the-scientologists-one-of-those-creeps/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [When I run into a person or a kid that comes up and gives me the spiel about, 'Hey, I got your record at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/when-i-run-into-a-person-or-a-kid-that-comes-up-and-gives-me-the/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My dad, who plays guitar and piano and was in cover bands, along with my older brother, Matt, taught me guitar and stuff. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/my-dad-who-plays-guitar-and-piano-and-was-in-cover-bands-along-with/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I think there's a weird self-affirmation thing that happens in popular music in general. It seems like every song I hear on the radio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-think-there-s-a-weird-self-affirmation-thing-that-happens-in/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) [Explore all 230 Conor Oberst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) ## 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 try to keep the idea that there's an audience in as little space in my mind as possible, but you can't erase it entirely, the idea that when you're sitting down to write a song, people are going to hear it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Conor Oberst" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-audience-in-as-little-space-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Audience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-audience-in-as-little-space-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/conor-oberst-1535_audience_i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-a_2716270.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/conor-oberst-1535_audience_i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-a_2716270.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/conor-oberst-1535_audience_i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-a_2716270.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I try to keep the idea that there's an audience in as little space in my mind as possible, but you can't…” — Conor Oberst", "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": "Conor Oberst", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I try to keep the idea...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-audience-in-as-little-space-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-try-to-keep-the-idea-that-there-s-an-audience-in-as-little-space-in/#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 } } ] } ```