--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know what the hell I'm doing up…" description: "\"I don't know what the hell I'm doing up there half the time. These performers that go on about their technique and craft - oh, puleeze! How boring! I d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/elaine-stritch-6601_boring_i-don-t-know-what-the-hell-i-m-doing-up_3120234.jpg" --- # I don't know what the hell I'm doing up there half the… ![“I don't know what the hell I'm doing up there half the time. These performers that go on about their technique and craft - oh, puleeze! How boring! I don't know what technique means. But I do know what experience is. I know in my gut when I've done a scene right.” quote by Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/elaine-stritch-6601_boring_i-don-t-know-what-the-hell-i-m-doing-up_3120234.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/elaine-stritch-6601_boring_i-don-t-know-what-the-hell-i-m-doing-up_3120234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/elaine-stritch-6601_boring_i-don-t-know-what-the-hell-i-m-doing-up_3120234.jpg) > “I don't know what the hell I'm doing up there half the time. These performers that go on about their technique and craft - oh, puleeze! How boring! I don't know what technique means. But I do know what experience is. I know in my gut when I've done a scene right.” [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses technical jargon, emphasizing intuition and lived experience as the true measure of performance quality. **In simple terms:** Experience outweighs technique. Key Takeaway Trust your gut in performance. Themes acting intuition experience craft authenticity Mood candid humorous Type professional artistic When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - auditions - improv workshops - directed scenes - personal practice Key Concepts performance theory embodiment creative instinct Questions to Reflect On - How can technique and experience complement each other? - What practices help develop intuitive performance? A Different Perspective May undervalue disciplined training. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Know Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-experience-310030/) [Know Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-technique-1020476/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Performers Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers-technique-3869411/) [Puleeze Boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puleeze-boring-3869410/) [Scene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scene/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [These performers that go on about their technique and craft - oh, puleeze! How boring! I don't know what 'technique' means. But I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/these-performers-that-go-on-about-their-technique-and-craft-oh/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I just need to know my technique and visualize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidilyn-diaz/i-just-need-to-know-my-technique-and-visualize-it/) [Hidilyn Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidilyn-diaz/) > [I don't know if I have a technique. I'm just trying to remember the words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/i-don-t-know-if-i-have-a-technique-i-m-just-trying-to-remember-the/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [Karate's a very boring sport, but when you know the technique you can go further and further.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-van-damme/karate-s-a-very-boring-sport-but-when-you-know-the-technique-you-can/) [Jean-Claude Van Damme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-van-damme/) > [“Throw all knowledge, because knowledge is needed only when you have to do something. When you don’t have to do anything, what knowledge is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/throw-all-knowledge-because-knowledge-is-needed-only-when-you-have-to/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [The artist can know all the technique in the world, but if he feels nothing, it will mean nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-chi/the-artist-can-know-all-the-technique-in-the-world-but-if-he-feels/) [Chen Chi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-chi/) > [“We gauge what we think is possible by what we know from experience, and our acceptance of scientific insights, in particular, is incremental, gained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernd-heinrich/we-gauge-what-we-think-is-possible-by-what-we-know-from-experience/) [Bernd Heinrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernd-heinrich/) > [Feelings change with time - or at least pain lessens with time; I know that from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/feelings-change-with-time-or-at-least-pain-lessens-with-time-i-know/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“Careful with what you know and what you experience. Sometimes, closed mouth with memories is better than opened mouth with stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolyn-james/careful-with-what-you-know-and-what-you-experience-sometimes-closed/) [Karolyn James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolyn-james/) > [To write well about the elegant world you have to know it and experience it to the depths of your being... what matters is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/to-write-well-about-the-elegant-world-you-have-to-know-it-and/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“One thing we do know: Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/one-thing-we-do-know-life-will-give-you-whatever-experience-is-most/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [I know from my experience as a mayor of my hometown, as a county executive and as a member of Congress that you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-suozzi/i-know-from-my-experience-as-a-mayor-of-my-hometown-as-a-county/) [Tom Suozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-suozzi/) > [I can hold space for people who think I'm a nut job. It's cool. But I know from my own experience what I experienced.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-butterfly-hill/i-can-hold-space-for-people-who-think-i-m-a-nut-job-it-s-cool-but-i/) [Julia Butterfly Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-butterfly-hill/) > [“But I know from experience, you’ll only grow really big if you’re willing to make mistakes and then learn from them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romi-neustadt/but-i-know-from-experience-you-ll-only-grow-really-big-if-you-re/) [Romi Neustadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romi-neustadt/) > [“Those who don’t know will have to find out by experience that “a quiet conscience gives you strength!” Yours,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/those-who-don-t-know-will-have-to-find-out-by-experience-that-a-quiet/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) ## More by Elaine Stritch > [I have no intention of retiring. Even my blood sugar is better when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-have-no-intention-of-retiring-even-my-blood-sugar-is-better-when-i/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I don't think there's any thrill in the world like doing work you're good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-thrill-in-the-world-like-doing-work-you-re/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I find it easier to abstain than do a little bit of anything. I'm not a 'little bit' kind of dame. I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-find-it-easier-to-abstain-than-do-a-little-bit-of-anything-i-m-not/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I like being talked about. I think some people really don't... because they're secure enough and they don't need that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-like-being-talked-about-i-think-some-people-really-don-t-because/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [Let me tell you about those convents. All that crap about extending the pinkie finger while sipping tea is a myth. Convent schools are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/let-me-tell-you-about-those-convents-all-that-crap-about-extending/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I'm a hotel baby, absolutely: it's hard to think of a hotel I haven't stayed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-m-a-hotel-baby-absolutely-it-s-hard-to-think-of-a-hotel-i-haven-t/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [If somebody doesn't have any talent, get off the stage! You're wasting my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/if-somebody-doesn-t-have-any-talent-get-off-the-stage-you-re-wasting/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I felt that I committed myself too much. I promised too much. But that way it's exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-felt-that-i-committed-myself-too-much-i-promised-too-much-but-that/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I love holidays in New York. I love 'em. I want to celebrate something all the time and New York has holidays for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-love-holidays-in-new-york-i-love-em-i-want-to-celebrate-something/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [There will always be ladies who lunch. Always. And apparently they live a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/there-will-always-be-ladies-who-lunch-always-and-apparently-they-live/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I do believe in the infallibility of the Pope, because I think we have to believe in something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-do-believe-in-the-infallibility-of-the-pope-because-i-think-we-have/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [The closer a part is to you, the harder it is to play. Anything else is just imitation. If I'm playing a Russian countess,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/the-closer-a-part-is-to-you-the-harder-it-is-to-play-anything-else-is/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [The people in New York - their humor is on a level that goes, uh, very deep, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/the-people-in-new-york-their-humor-is-on-a-level-that-goes-uh-very/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [When I want to do something badly enough, I do it, but there is a practical side of me that thinks I should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/when-i-want-to-do-something-badly-enough-i-do-it-but-there-is-a/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) [Explore all 98 Elaine Stritch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) ## More Boring quotes > [Normal is so Boring!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/normal-is-so-boring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want easy success. It's boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep/i-don-t-want-easy-success-it-s-boring/) [Sudeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep/) > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Life is what you make it¦If one refuses to use ones imagination..it will be boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-what-you-make-it-if-one-refuses-to-use-ones-imagination-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I'm bored of being bored because being bored is very boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/i-m-bored-of-being-bored-because-being-bored-is-very-boring/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) > [The films I find boring are the ones that have no space for the audience's misconceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-decker/the-films-i-find-boring-are-the-ones-that-have-no-space-for-the/) [Josephine Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-decker/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I've always felt that dark lyrics with dark music is pretty useless. Maybe that's a strong statement - not useless, but for me, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/i-ve-always-felt-that-dark-lyrics-with-dark-music-is-pretty-useless/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [Something is wrong if workers do not look around each day, find things that are tedious or boring, and then rewrite the procedures. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/something-is-wrong-if-workers-do-not-look-around-each-day-find-things/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [Plumbing is usually boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/plumbing-is-usually-boring/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/if-something-is-boring-after-two-minutes-try-it-for-four-if-still/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Acting is an escape from the boring person that I am in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/acting-is-an-escape-from-the-boring-person-that-i-am-in-real-life/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) [Browse all 3,123 Boring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know what the hell I'm doing up there half the time. These performers that go on about their technique and craft - oh, puleeze! How boring! I don't know what technique means. But I do know what experience is. 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