---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I played some shows, but I'm disappointed…"
description: "\"I played some shows, but I'm disappointed it didn't do better. I wish all my shows sold out, I wish I had sold more copies, I wish that a song was pick..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/eleanor-friedberger-46358_copies_i-played-some-shows-but-i-m-disappointed_1900910.jpg"
---

#  I played some shows, but I'm disappointed it didn't do…

![“I played some shows, but I'm disappointed it didn't do better. I wish all my shows sold out, I wish I had sold more copies, I wish that a song was picked up to be in a TV show - whatever these little benchmarks are. You always want something more.” quote by Eleanor Friedberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/eleanor-friedberger-46358_copies_i-played-some-shows-but-i-m-disappointed_1900910.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/eleanor-friedberger-46358_copies_i-played-some-shows-but-i-m-disappointed_1900910.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/eleanor-friedberger-46358_copies_i-played-some-shows-but-i-m-disappointed_1900910.jpg)

> “I played some shows, but I'm disappointed it didn't do better. I wish all my shows sold out, I wish I had sold more copies, I wish that a song was picked up to be in a TV show - whatever these little benchmarks are. You always want something more.”

[Eleanor Friedberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-friedberger/)

## 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 expresses frustration over unmet expectations and a constant desire for greater success, highlighting the pressure of external benchmarks.

**In simple terms:** Feeling unsatisfied with current achievements and craving more recognition.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and celebrate actual progress.

Themes

ambition expectation validation music industry self-worth

Mood

reflective determined hopeful

Type

motivational self‑reflective

When to use this quote

- album release
- tour planning
- media placement
- fan engagement

Key Concepts

performance metrics career fulfillment creative validation industry recognition

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines success for you beyond public metrics?
- How can you find contentment in your achievements?

A Different Perspective

Success is subjective; external standards can distort personal satisfaction.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Sold out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sold-out/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tv shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-shows/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/)

## Related quotes

> [I like the anthology concept. I wish more shows would do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-stuever/i-like-the-anthology-concept-i-wish-more-shows-would-do-it/)

[Hank Stuever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-stuever/)

> [People think that since we're on a major label, all of a sudden everyone's telling us what to do and it's really not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-angelakos/people-think-that-since-we-re-on-a-major-label-all-of-a-sudden/)

[Michael Angelakos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-angelakos/)

> [Shows have been sold out. It's overwhelming, you know. I had no idea what to expect with this new sound and everything and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanilla-ice/shows-have-been-sold-out-it-s-overwhelming-you-know-i-had-no-idea/)

[Vanilla Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanilla-ice/)

> [I started pitching shows and sold a show, 'Losin It,' about my Jenny Craig days. It never was made. I think it didn't work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-started-pitching-shows-and-sold-a-show-losin-it-about-my-jenny/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

> [Actually, we've done 75 of these shows and every one of them has sold out. But then we buy all the tickets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-conway/actually-we-ve-done-75-of-these-shows-and-every-one-of-them-has-sold/)

[Tim Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-conway/)

> [The first ones I played were in New York at Joe's Pub; I played four shows, but I did something like 30 interviews and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/the-first-ones-i-played-were-in-new-york-at-joe-s-pub-i-played-four/)

[Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/)

> [From the beginning we never fit in anywhere. We played shows with death metal, reggae, hip-hop artists and even feminist poets. We found a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gym-class-heroes/from-the-beginning-we-never-fit-in-anywhere-we-played-shows-with/)

[Gym Class Heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gym-class-heroes/)

> [I played with the Lust-Cats once in Denver. I've seen Happy Jawbone a bunch of times, but I can't remember if I played those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-tuff/i-played-with-the-lust-cats-once-in-denver-i-ve-seen-happy-jawbone-a/)

[King Tuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-tuff/)

> [I had this instrument that I built in high school. It was a huge, six-foot-long stringed instrument, and I started playing with that amplified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weyes-blood/i-had-this-instrument-that-i-built-in-high-school-it-was-a-huge-six/)

[Weyes Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weyes-blood/)

> [But for me, I thought you made a record, you got on a bus, went out and played your shows and made a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-aldean/but-for-me-i-thought-you-made-a-record-you-got-on-a-bus-went-out-and/)

[Jason Aldean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-aldean/)

> [I've played shows with injuries before but unfortunately cannot overcome having no voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-church/i-ve-played-shows-with-injuries-before-but-unfortunately-cannot/)

[Eric Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-church/)

> [I played shows in front of like 25, 50 people, and it's a lot harder to do your thing in front of a crowd that's small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-played-shows-in-front-of-like-25-50-people-and-it-s-a-lot-harder-to/)

[G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/)

> [Anything back in New Orleans is definitely nostalgic. I really played my first shows of my life and learned to perform here. I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/anything-back-in-new-orleans-is-definitely-nostalgic-i-really-played/)

[G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/)

> [Someone who only wants to play sold-out shows will find a tempo that works at the shows and then focus on making that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-staples/someone-who-only-wants-to-play-sold-out-shows-will-find-a-tempo-that/)

[Vince Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-staples/)

> [Paper or razor blade, never give up And just remember just to hold out more A couple years ago I couldn't just control that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/paper-or-razor-blade-never-give-up-and-just-remember-just-to-hold-out/)

[Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/)

## More by Eleanor Friedberger

> [When you're working with somebody else in that kind of way, you always have to have these guidelines to what you're doing - especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-friedberger/when-you-re-working-with-somebody-else-in-that-kind-of-way-you-always/)

[Eleanor Friedberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-friedberger/)

> [Not that I feel like I have a lack of confidence, it's just good to stand up in front of people who don't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-friedberger/not-that-i-feel-like-i-have-a-lack-of-confidence-it-s-just-good-to/)

[Eleanor Friedberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-friedberger/)

> [It was more about getting together with other musicians and playing live. I needed to suss out a full set \[for the Last Summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-friedberger/it-was-more-about-getting-together-with-other-musicians-and-playing/)

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> [I'm such a copycat."I want to try and do this like the Donovan song 'Changes'," or "I want to do this bit from Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-friedberger/i-m-such-a-copycat-i-want-to-try-and-do-this-like-the-donovan-song/)

[Eleanor Friedberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-friedberger/)

> [My big regret is that my brother and I didn't start doing what we did like, 10 years before. I feel like then we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-friedberger/my-big-regret-is-that-my-brother-and-i-didn-t-start-doing-what-we-did/)

[Eleanor Friedberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-friedberger/)

> [I'm in a funny position: I've been in one band in my life and that was with my brother. As incredible as that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-friedberger/i-m-in-a-funny-position-i-ve-been-in-one-band-in-my-life-and-that-was/)

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> [I feel like I'm struggling now, and nearly every musician I know feels that way - even the most successful ones. I realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-friedberger/i-feel-like-i-m-struggling-now-and-nearly-every-musician-i-know-feels/)

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[Explore all 8 Eleanor Friedberger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-friedberger/)

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> [every being is unique.god neva creates carbon copies,he alys creates originals.he is truly a creator.he neva repeats.but man goes on living in imitation.we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-being-is-unique-god-neva-creates-carbon-copies-he-alys-creates/)

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> [My songs are like cheap Neil Young copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-bachman/my-songs-are-like-cheap-neil-young-copies/)

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> [In that part of the book of my memory before the which is little that can be read, there is a rubric, saying, Incipit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/in-that-part-of-the-book-of-my-memory-before-the-which-is-little-that/)

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> [The idea is not to copy nature, but to give a feeling of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-oudolf/the-idea-is-not-to-copy-nature-but-to-give-a-feeling-of-nature/)

Piet Oudolf

> [“When copies are free, you need to sell things that cannot be copied. Well, what can’t be copied? Trust, for instance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/when-copies-are-free-you-need-to-sell-things-that-cannot-be-copied/)

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> [There have to be at least two copies of a photograph, otherwise it’s not a photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ruff/there-have-to-be-at-least-two-copies-of-a-photograph-otherwise-it-s/)

[Thomas Ruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ruff/)

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[Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/)

> [Guys like Todd Bridges never overcame being a child star. You can't have any big failures. I've always felt regular. I played organized ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/guys-like-todd-bridges-never-overcame-being-a-child-star-you-can-t/)

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[Bridget Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-riley/)

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> [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/)

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Browse all 971 Copies quotes

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