--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing about stand-ups is you can't…" description: "\"The thing about stand-ups is you can't really get good unless you're failing in front of a large number of people. That makes stand-up comedy unique: y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/david-steinberg-22189_about_the-thing-about-stand-ups-is-you-can-t-r_3074220.jpg" --- # The thing about stand-ups is you can't really get good… ![“The thing about stand-ups is you can't really get good unless you're failing in front of a large number of people. That makes stand-up comedy unique: you need a tremendous amount of reserve within you to take the rejection from the audience, and without it, you can't do anything.” quote by David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/david-steinberg-22189_about_the-thing-about-stand-ups-is-you-can-t-r_3074220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/david-steinberg-22189_about_the-thing-about-stand-ups-is-you-can-t-r_3074220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/david-steinberg-22189_about_the-thing-about-stand-ups-is-you-can-t-r_3074220.jpg) > “The thing about stand-ups is you can't really get good unless you're failing in front of a large number of people. That makes stand-up comedy unique: you need a tremendous amount of reserve within you to take the rejection from the audience, and without it, you can't do anything.” [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stand‑up comedy requires embracing failure publicly; resilience to audience rejection is essential for success. **In simple terms:** Comedy needs resilience to public failure. Key Takeaway Cultivate thick skin and learn from rejection. Themes comedy failure resilience Mood encouraging realistic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - stand‑up practice - public speaking - creative risk‑taking - career building Key Concepts performance art psychology career development Questions to Reflect On - How can you transform audience rejection into growth? - What practices build resilience for performers? A Different Perspective Too much rejection can damage confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Amount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amount/) [Anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-unique-4011689/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Front](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Large](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large/) [Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Rejection Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection-audience-5214961/) [Reserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserve/) [Reserve Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserve-rejection-5214962/) [Stand Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-comedy/) [Stand up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-up/) [Stand up comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-up-comedy/) [Stand Ups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-ups-697215/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Tremendous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tremendous/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) [Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless/) [Within](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/within/) [Without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Being a fan of comedy, it's so unique, in their own voice. I was really stoked to be able to participate. They're so great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-theroux/being-a-fan-of-comedy-it-s-so-unique-in-their-own-voice-i-was-really/) [Justin Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-theroux/) > [Comedy is unique in the sense that laughter is a palpable noise that everyone makes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/comedy-is-unique-in-the-sense-that-laughter-is-a-palpable-noise-that/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [There's an audience that is paid to laugh at my jokes. I'm playing a character while I'm doing stand-up. Real stand-ups, man, they're playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-brosnahan/there-s-an-audience-that-is-paid-to-laugh-at-my-jokes-i-m-playing-a/) [Rachel Brosnahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-brosnahan/) > [I just like to build. Don't get me wrong: I think stand-up is great, and when someone like Richard Pryor or Steve Martin does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-just-like-to-build-don-t-get-me-wrong-i-think-stand-up-is-great-and/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [I've been doing stand-up for a few years, and I have a handful of fans just from stuff I've done, like 'Last Comic Standing.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-glaser/i-ve-been-doing-stand-up-for-a-few-years-and-i-have-a-handful-of-fans/) [Nikki Glaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-glaser/) > [I'm grateful that I had that uphill battle for 10 years of going onstage and having nobody know who I was, because you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patton-oswalt/i-m-grateful-that-i-had-that-uphill-battle-for-10-years-of-going/) [Patton Oswalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patton-oswalt/) > [I don't know why, but people tend to look at stand-ups and think they can act, which actually isn't the case. But never mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/i-don-t-know-why-but-people-tend-to-look-at-stand-ups-and-think-they/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [What crushed my soul was hanging out with bitter, desperate comics backstage. They're a different breed than the bitter yet eager psyches in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adsit/what-crushed-my-soul-was-hanging-out-with-bitter-desperate-comics/) [Scott Adsit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adsit/) > [You are not any different. You can do anything you want. So many times, I've been asked what I think of women stand-ups. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-singh/you-are-not-any-different-you-can-do-anything-you-want-so-many-times/) [Lilly Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-singh/) > [Even though I do a more traditional type of being funny on television, I still know a lot of comedians and stand-ups and improv…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/even-though-i-do-a-more-traditional-type-of-being-funny-on-television/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [I have a lot of friends who were stand-ups, and they just stopped after a while, because they didn't like that battle, or they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patton-oswalt/i-have-a-lot-of-friends-who-were-stand-ups-and-they-just-stopped/) [Patton Oswalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patton-oswalt/) > [I like the fact that Chris Rock is one of the best stand ups ever and still is a really good actor. And a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-dugan/i-like-the-fact-that-chris-rock-is-one-of-the-best-stand-ups-ever-and/) [Dennis Dugan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-dugan/) > [I don't know, I find that honestly, the stand-up thing in some ways is a little bit of a cliche to carry around, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-don-t-know-i-find-that-honestly-the-stand-up-thing-in-some-ways-is/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I cannot believe that in all the years that there have been female stand-ups, there has never been a show just for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-flannery/i-cannot-believe-that-in-all-the-years-that-there-have-been-female/) [Kate Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-flannery/) > [As far as stand-ups go, I always loved Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, and Sinbad. Basically, I love black comedians because they're the funniest. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/as-far-as-stand-ups-go-i-always-loved-richard-pryor-chris-rock-and/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) ## More by David Steinberg > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [Silences are the most underrated part of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/silences-are-the-most-underrated-part-of-comedy/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [In comedy, looking back is more important than looking around at your contemporaries because they are too much influenced by the same time period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/in-comedy-looking-back-is-more-important-than-looking-around-at-your/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't really dissect comedy. Nothing kills off humor more than overanalyzing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-don-t-really-dissect-comedy-nothing-kills-off-humor-more-than/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [Here's the rule that I set for myself, and I believe it - even on a show like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm': the more personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/here-s-the-rule-that-i-set-for-myself-and-i-believe-it-even-on-a-show/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I rewrote it and I took all your notes. Read it again, that kind of persistence paid off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-rewrote-it-and-i-took-all-your-notes-read-it-again-that-kind-of/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't believe any particular ethnic group is smarter than any other group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-don-t-believe-any-particular-ethnic-group-is-smarter-than-any-other/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [The one thing an audience always has in common with a comedian is troubles. The Yiddish word for that is tsuris. You're always putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/the-one-thing-an-audience-always-has-in-common-with-a-comedian-is/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [You don't need to be stable to be a stand-up comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/you-don-t-need-to-be-stable-to-be-a-stand-up-comedian/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [The odd thing about comedy is that the more personal you are, the larger the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/the-odd-thing-about-comedy-is-that-the-more-personal-you-are-the/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [My influences were Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny-bruce/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [My father was a rabbi and had a little synagogue in Canada, so I'm from Canada. I left there at 16.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/my-father-was-a-rabbi-and-had-a-little-synagogue-in-canada-so-i-m/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [And it was a huge emotional thing to leave the law and become unemployed - to be a student again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/and-it-was-a-huge-emotional-thing-to-leave-the-law-and-become/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [The interesting thing about improvisation is you're making something up in front of the audience. Now music helps you out a little bit because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/the-interesting-thing-about-improvisation-is-you-re-making-something/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I used to have a theory actually that, if you've had a good childhood, a good marriage and a little bit of money in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-used-to-have-a-theory-actually-that-if-you-ve-had-a-good-childhood/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) [Explore all 28 David Steinberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. 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