--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I found doing that kind of comedy without…" description: "\"I found doing that kind of comedy without an audience is just... for me, it's almost impossible. You need the audience to do their half of the work.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c59/dick-van-dyke-2430_audience_i-found-doing-that-kind-of-comedy-withou_211698.jpg" --- # I found doing that kind of comedy without an audience is… ![“I found doing that kind of comedy without an audience is just... for me, it's almost impossible. You need the audience to do their half of the work.” quote by Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c59/dick-van-dyke-2430_audience_i-found-doing-that-kind-of-comedy-withou_211698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c59/dick-van-dyke-2430_audience_i-found-doing-that-kind-of-comedy-withou_211698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c59/dick-van-dyke-2430_audience_i-found-doing-that-kind-of-comedy-withou_211698.jpg) > “I found doing that kind of comedy without an audience is just... for me, it's almost impossible. You need the audience to do their half of the work.” [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy relies on audience participation; without them, performance feels impossible. **In simple terms:** Audience is essential for comedy. Key Takeaway Engage the audience to complete the act. Themes performance audience interaction comedy collaboration Mood energetic reflective Type observational advice When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - theater - online streaming - workshops Key Concepts theatrical dynamics social psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you engage audiences remotely? - What role does audience feedback play? A Different Perspective Solo performance can still be effective with imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [We have been playing to a 70-30 black to white audience. And we are just doing what should come next, trying to attract a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-simpson/we-have-been-playing-to-a-70-30-black-to-white-audience-and-we-are/) [Valerie Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-simpson/) > [I did a 'Golden Girls' once, which shot in front of an audience, and that went well. I had a good time. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-did-a-golden-girls-once-which-shot-in-front-of-an-audience-and-that/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [It's easier to do comedy with an audience, because their reactions tell you whether or not what your saying qualifies as comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/it-s-easier-to-do-comedy-with-an-audience-because-their-reactions/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [Being a dancer and a singer gave me some advantage with regards to having a stage presence. I always take my timing from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/being-a-dancer-and-a-singer-gave-me-some-advantage-with-regards-to/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I think it sort of dawns on you that if you're not gigging constantly you're not actually relevant. You may be relevant to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/i-think-it-sort-of-dawns-on-you-that-if-you-re-not-gigging-constantly/) [Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/) > [“an audience is half women and half men, women worry about the reaction of the men around them. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/an-audience-is-half-women-and-half-men-women-worry-about-the-reaction/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [When you're on stage, the audience becomes your other half. It's the ultimate high you can reach as a musician - an incredible feeling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-branigan/when-you-re-on-stage-the-audience-becomes-your-other-half-it-s-the/) [Laura Branigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-branigan/) > [When you do comedy in front of an audience, they are the ones who tell you whether it's funny or not and which bits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/when-you-do-comedy-in-front-of-an-audience-they-are-the-ones-who-tell/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [When you do comedy, the audience is not your boss. They are your collaborators and when you collaborate with someone you don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-vaughn/when-you-do-comedy-the-audience-is-not-your-boss-they-are-your/) [Baron Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-vaughn/) > [If the audience knows what's behind the door and the actor does not, that's comedy. If both the audience and the actor do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-helitzer/if-the-audience-knows-what-s-behind-the-door-and-the-actor-does-not/) [Melvin Helitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-helitzer/) > [I've never done anything half-heartedly; it's a disservice to me and the audience if I do it half-heartedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-ve-never-done-anything-half-heartedly-it-s-a-disservice-to-me-and/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [Sometimes you don't know what you've got until you put it in front of an audience - and the enthusiasm for the show from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bourne/sometimes-you-don-t-know-what-you-ve-got-until-you-put-it-in-front-of/) [Matthew Bourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bourne/) > [Some actors get fired up by the sound of the audience. I just want to retreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/some-actors-get-fired-up-by-the-sound-of-the-audience-i-just-want-to/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [It's very intense to be in front of a live audience. It's just an amazing experience. It's dangerous. Everything out there is heightened. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-intense-to-be-in-front-of-a-live-audience-it-s-just-an/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [When I see a lot of young faces in the audience, it's just sort of sinking in how important that is. Because you're old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/when-i-see-a-lot-of-young-faces-in-the-audience-it-s-just-sort-of/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) ## More by Dick Van Dyke > [Today, with the subject matter that's around politically, and internationally and everything, I think Carl Reiner would have a ball. I think the format…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/today-with-the-subject-matter-that-s-around-politically-and/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [We used to get 27, 28 minutes to do a story in, and now they're lucky if they get 18 or 20 minutes. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/we-used-to-get-27-28-minutes-to-do-a-story-in-and-now-they-re-lucky/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I did a 'Golden Girls' once, which shot in front of an audience, and that went well. I had a good time. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-did-a-golden-girls-once-which-shot-in-front-of-an-audience-and-that/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [A lot of the guilt didn't help my drinking at that point. I never expected a divorce to happen in my life particularly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/a-lot-of-the-guilt-didn-t-help-my-drinking-at-that-point-i-never/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [No, no, it was the relationships. That was that group. People believed that Rob and Laura were really married in real life. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/no-no-it-was-the-relationships-that-was-that-group-people-believed/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [They did ask me to do 'Dancing With The Stars;' I said I can do one show, but on that show you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/they-did-ask-me-to-do-dancing-with-the-stars-i-said-i-can-do-one-show/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I've never been what you'd call a great singer, but I loved to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-ve-never-been-what-you-d-call-a-great-singer-but-i-loved-to-sing/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I learned everything that I know about comedy and about show business and a lot about life from Carl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-learned-everything-that-i-know-about-comedy-and-about-show-business/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I've had a lot of writers, in particular, who said they got into writing because of the 'Van Dyke Show.' They said it looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-writers-in-particular-who-said-they-got-into/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I cannot tell you what it means when children recognize. This is about the third generation for me. And when kids that small recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-cannot-tell-you-what-it-means-when-children-recognize-this-is-about/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [So as my kids will tell you, they had a pretty normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/so-as-my-kids-will-tell-you-they-had-a-pretty-normal-life/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I think, the 'Van Dyke Show' and 'Mary Poppins' are two of the best periods of my life. I had so much fun, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-think-the-van-dyke-show-and-mary-poppins-are-two-of-the-best/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I think it's being thrown at the wolves, we call it in our business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-think-it-s-being-thrown-at-the-wolves-we-call-it-in-our-business/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [My favorite unknown movie is 'The Comic.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/my-favorite-unknown-movie-is-the-comic/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I'm not a loner. I have to have a life partner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-m-not-a-loner-i-have-to-have-a-life-partner/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) [Explore all 166 Dick Van Dyke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) ## 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 found doing that kind of comedy without an audience is just... for me, it's almost impossible. 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