--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd like to think my performance is…" description: "\"I'd like to think my performance is today. I never try to - it's so, as you know, watching me, I have a beginning, middle and ending. But every night t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/don-rickles-1705_audience_i-d-like-to-think-my-performance-is-toda_380949.png" --- # I'd like to think my performance is today. I never try to… ![“I'd like to think my performance is today. I never try to - it's so, as you know, watching me, I have a beginning, middle and ending. But every night the show changes and I relate to an audience and I relate to the young people.” quote by Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/don-rickles-1705_audience_i-d-like-to-think-my-performance-is-toda_380949.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/don-rickles-1705_audience_i-d-like-to-think-my-performance-is-toda_380949.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/don-rickles-1705_audience_i-d-like-to-think-my-performance-is-toda_380949.png) > “I'd like to think my performance is today. I never try to - it's so, as you know, watching me, I have a beginning, middle and ending. But every night the show changes and I relate to an audience and I relate to the young people.” [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sees his act as a narrative with a clear structure, yet each performance adapts to the audience and his own evolving perspective. **In simple terms:** His comedy has a beginning, middle, ending, but changes nightly. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility and connect with each audience. Themes performance adaptation connection Mood playful reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - stand-up shows - live events - teaching - public speaking Key Concepts storytelling improvisation audience dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance structure with spontaneity? - What changes do you notice in different audiences? A Different Perspective May lose consistency, making brand identity harder to maintain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Relate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-relate-566958/) [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ending/) [Every night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-night/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Performance Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance-today-1219301/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Relate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relate/) [Relate Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relate-audience-499935/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Think Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-performance-766030/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [I've always wanted to be a real universal artist, one that every type of audience could relate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-white/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-real-universal-artist-one-that-every-type/) [Bryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-white/) > [The way you see yourself today will affect your performance today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-way-you-see-yourself-today-will-affect-your-performance-today/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Your thinking today determines your performance today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/your-thinking-today-determines-your-performance-today/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [ \[Washington, DC\] feels like you're watching performance art. A lot of the time. I don't believe them, I don't believe what they say, I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/washington-dc-feels-like-you-re-watching-performance-art-a-lot-of-the/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [With Shakespeare, the hard work is to find out why he said it and how it can relate to the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/with-shakespeare-the-hard-work-is-to-find-out-why-he-said-it-and-how/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [I think performance art comes from a simple place of wanting to express things beyond just sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/i-think-performance-art-comes-from-a-simple-place-of-wanting-to/) [Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/) > [People think 'Performance' blew my mind... my mind was blown long before that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fox/people-think-performance-blew-my-mind-my-mind-was-blown-long-before/) [James Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fox/) > [My goal's always to connect and relate to my audience. I want them to leave my show feeling like they got to know me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelah-johnson/my-goal-s-always-to-connect-and-relate-to-my-audience-i-want-them-to/) [Anjelah Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelah-johnson/) > [I think I have great responsibility, and when I do my music, when I try to relate to my audience, I just try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/i-think-i-have-great-responsibility-and-when-i-do-my-music-when-i-try/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [When my first show was on MTV, and it was this outrageous persona, I think people certainly didn't know what to think. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/when-my-first-show-was-on-mtv-and-it-was-this-outrageous-persona-i/) [Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/) > [I think one of the reasons I haven't been doing music is because I think that some of my performance, like, needs are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-think-one-of-the-reasons-i-haven-t-been-doing-music-is-because-i/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I hope that just what I sing about and how I relate to my audience is as much of a political statement as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-hope-that-just-what-i-sing-about-and-how-i-relate-to-my-audience-is/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [“Adding repulsive language and sex scenes do not make you a great author just because you are trying to relate to your audience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-kamminga/adding-repulsive-language-and-sex-scenes-do-not-make-you-a-great/) [Emily Kamminga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-kamminga/) > [As much as we think of performance management as numeric and thus perfectly quantifiable, it is as much a product of context and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sinofsky/as-much-as-we-think-of-performance-management-as-numeric-and-thus/) [Steven Sinofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-sinofsky/) > [It's very important to me to find ways to relate the audience to the characters. This is the first thing to go in most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/it-s-very-important-to-me-to-find-ways-to-relate-the-audience-to-the/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) ## More by Don Rickles > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [They always use the word 'insult' with me, but I don't hurt anybody. I wouldn't be sitting here if I did. I make fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/they-always-use-the-word-insult-with-me-but-i-don-t-hurt-anybody-i/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I don't do impressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-do-impressions/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I have a problem, if the light goes on on TV and it blinks midnight, I don't know how to fix it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-have-a-problem-if-the-light-goes-on-on-tv-and-it-blinks-midnight-i/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [To my knowledge, I was the first guy really to do what I do. And then later on different comedians started trying doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/to-my-knowledge-i-was-the-first-guy-really-to-do-what-i-do-and-then/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [If something strikes me as funny, I'll put it in my performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/if-something-strikes-me-as-funny-i-ll-put-it-in-my-performance/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Famous people are deceptive. Deep down, they're just regular people. Like Larry King. We've been friends for forty years. He's one of the few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/famous-people-are-deceptive-deep-down-they-re-just-regular-people/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [It takes many years to be a great comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/it-takes-many-years-to-be-a-great-comedian/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I don't like to compare myself with anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-like-to-compare-myself-with-anybody/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Now when I'm not working, I don't really hang out with the young comics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/now-when-i-m-not-working-i-don-t-really-hang-out-with-the-young-comics/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [To this day, when I say that I went to the American Academy, people are very impressed. The reputation of the school has always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/to-this-day-when-i-say-that-i-went-to-the-american-academy-people-are/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [In our day we went from - we went into saloons. We couldn't cross over like you can today, get a television series and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/in-our-day-we-went-from-we-went-into-saloons-we-couldn-t-cross-over/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [ I don't get into politics. I know \[Donald\] Trump, but I don't follow that. That's just an aside for him when he has nothing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-get-into-politics-i-know-donald-trump-but-i-don-t-follow-that/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I was always the guy who made jokes and ribbed people at parties. After I went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-was-always-the-guy-who-made-jokes-and-ribbed-people-at-parties/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [When I walk down the street in New York, I swear to God, the building constructor, the guy pounding cement and what not, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/when-i-walk-down-the-street-in-new-york-i-swear-to-god-the-building/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) [Explore all 214 Don Rickles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) ## 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'd like to think my performance is today. I never try to - it's so, as you know, watching me, I have a beginning, middle and ending. 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