--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a…" description: "\"Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a stage and I'll perform; give me an auditorium and I'll fill it.\" — Eric Clapton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/eric-clapton-3136_auditoriums_give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a_1716127.jpg" --- # Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a stage and I'll… ![“Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a stage and I'll perform; give me an auditorium and I'll fill it.” quote by Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/eric-clapton-3136_auditoriums_give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a_1716127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/eric-clapton-3136_auditoriums_give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a_1716127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/eric-clapton-3136_auditoriums_give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a_1716127.jpg) > “Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a stage and I'll perform; give me an auditorium and I'll fill it.” [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having the right platform amplifies one's ability to express and impact an audience. **In simple terms:** Right venue boosts impact. Key Takeaway Seek environments that match your talent. Themes creativity performance audience Mood energetic confident Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - concerts - theater - online streaming - community events Key Concepts self‑expression artistry public speaking Questions to Reflect On - What setting best showcases your strengths? - How can you create impact without a grand stage? A Different Perspective Not everyone can access large venues; intimacy may be lost. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auditorium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditorium/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [It makes no sense to pack an auditorium with 5,000 people and then tell them to keep quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/it-makes-no-sense-to-pack-an-auditorium-with-5-000-people-and-then/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [I'm sort of one of those weird actors who whenever I do a play, I think, 'Oh, we should film this,' as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-m-sort-of-one-of-those-weird-actors-who-whenever-i-do-a-play-i/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [Hell is a half-filled auditorium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/hell-is-a-half-filled-auditorium/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [I ventured into cinema after theatre because I didn't want to confine myself to just one auditorium. I wanted the whole world to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/i-ventured-into-cinema-after-theatre-because-i-didn-t-want-to-confine/) [Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/) > [We put on shows at Golden Gate Park with the Dead and Jefferson Airplane, and the groups were part of the community they emerged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-coyote/we-put-on-shows-at-golden-gate-park-with-the-dead-and-jefferson/) [Peter Coyote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-coyote/) > [The theatre at my school was awesome. It was a 1,400-seat auditorium, so, being in that auditorium at 17, and having, like, 1,400 people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/the-theatre-at-my-school-was-awesome-it-was-a-1-400-seat-auditorium/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [I understand the worries of many - not only here in this auditorium -, and some have already written to me to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-rau/i-understand-the-worries-of-many-not-only-here-in-this-auditorium-and/) [Johannes Rau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-rau/) > [Acting must be scaled down for the screen. A drawing room is a lot smaller than a theatre auditorium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lowe/acting-must-be-scaled-down-for-the-screen-a-drawing-room-is-a-lot/) Arthur Lowe > [It's so daunting to walk into a classroom or a school auditorium. It's like the world's weirdest blind date. I know all the students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/it-s-so-daunting-to-walk-into-a-classroom-or-a-school-auditorium-it-s/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [What people want is not what some would call imaginative and often austere productions but very lavish productions which cast back into the auditorium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-miller/what-people-want-is-not-what-some-would-call-imaginative-and-often/) [Jonathan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-miller/) > [“The dialogue fills the auditorium like an unrefrigerated boxcar of month-old steaks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/the-dialogue-fills-the-auditorium-like-an-unrefrigerated-boxcar-of/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“If it’s about me, I can be assured that there will be a bunch of empty chairs in the auditorium of my life; save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-it-s-about-me-i-can-be-assured-that-there-will-be-a-bunch-of-empty/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [America gave me the opportunity to open successful restaurants, start a TV show, and write books. I can even fill an auditorium when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/america-gave-me-the-opportunity-to-open-successful-restaurants-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At the last Celebration I spoke before an auditorium full of people and I could just feel the affection and the positive feelings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hamill/at-the-last-celebration-i-spoke-before-an-auditorium-full-of-people/) [Mark Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hamill/) > [It's tricky, performing the show live. Because when you're in a big auditorium, in front of 700 people, the natural tendency is to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-s-tricky-performing-the-show-live-because-when-you-re-in-a-big/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) ## More by Eric Clapton > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I did play a lot of fingerstyle when I first started playing. I could never really find the right combination of flatpick or fingerpick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-did-play-a-lot-of-fingerstyle-when-i-first-started-playing-i-could/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-listened-to-king-oliver-and-i-listened-to-louis-armstrong-jelly/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Yeah, I wanted to know where they got it from, what it was all about, you know, and it seemed to strike something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/yeah-i-wanted-to-know-where-they-got-it-from-what-it-was-all-about/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Oh yeah, I mean, it wasn't a very good guitar, most good guitars have got thrust rods in the necks that you can adjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/oh-yeah-i-mean-it-wasn-t-a-very-good-guitar-most-good-guitars-have/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [The Yardbirds came in to the Crawdaddy Club a week after the Stones finished their Sunday night residency. They had done it for almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/the-yardbirds-came-in-to-the-crawdaddy-club-a-week-after-the-stones/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I mean, it didn't matter to me that there were people, it didn't matter that I was shy Just the sound was so captivating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-mean-it-didn-t-matter-to-me-that-there-were-people-it-didn-t-matter/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Let's make the best of the situation Before I finally go insane. Please don't say we'll never find a way And tell me all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/let-s-make-the-best-of-the-situation-before-i-finally-go-insane/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [All I am certain of right now is that I don't want to go anywhere, and that's not bad for someone who always used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/all-i-am-certain-of-right-now-is-that-i-don-t-want-to-go-anywhere-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [The first one was quite cheap, but that was expensive for us. For my folks to buy on the Never Never. It was quite,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/the-first-one-was-quite-cheap-but-that-was-expensive-for-us-for-my/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [It's taken me to be an older guy, an old man, to have an old man's voice. Because I only liked old men's voices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/it-s-taken-me-to-be-an-older-guy-an-old-man-to-have-an-old-man-s/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I've always wanted the sound of Muddy Waters' early records - only louder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-ve-always-wanted-the-sound-of-muddy-waters-early-records-only-louder/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [You can't mastermind everything. You'll go crazy. Just show up and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/you-can-t-mastermind-everything-you-ll-go-crazy-just-show-up-and-play/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Risk is trying to control something you are powerless over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/risk-is-trying-to-control-something-you-are-powerless-over/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I thought, 'My God, this is like Buddy Guy on acid.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-thought-my-god-this-is-like-buddy-guy-on-acid/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) [Explore all 137 Eric Clapton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) ## More Auditorium quotes > [It's tricky, performing the show live. Because when you're in a big auditorium, in front of 700 people, the natural tendency is to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-s-tricky-performing-the-show-live-because-when-you-re-in-a-big/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [At the last Celebration I spoke before an auditorium full of people and I could just feel the affection and the positive feelings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hamill/at-the-last-celebration-i-spoke-before-an-auditorium-full-of-people/) [Mark Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hamill/) > [America gave me the opportunity to open successful restaurants, start a TV show, and write books. I can even fill an auditorium when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/america-gave-me-the-opportunity-to-open-successful-restaurants-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If it’s about me, I can be assured that there will be a bunch of empty chairs in the auditorium of my life; save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-it-s-about-me-i-can-be-assured-that-there-will-be-a-bunch-of-empty/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The dialogue fills the auditorium like an unrefrigerated boxcar of month-old steaks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/the-dialogue-fills-the-auditorium-like-an-unrefrigerated-boxcar-of/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [What people want is not what some would call imaginative and often austere productions but very lavish productions which cast back into the auditorium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-miller/what-people-want-is-not-what-some-would-call-imaginative-and-often/) [Jonathan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-miller/) > [It's so daunting to walk into a classroom or a school auditorium. It's like the world's weirdest blind date. I know all the students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/it-s-so-daunting-to-walk-into-a-classroom-or-a-school-auditorium-it-s/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [Acting must be scaled down for the screen. A drawing room is a lot smaller than a theatre auditorium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lowe/acting-must-be-scaled-down-for-the-screen-a-drawing-room-is-a-lot/) Arthur Lowe > [I understand the worries of many - not only here in this auditorium -, and some have already written to me to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-rau/i-understand-the-worries-of-many-not-only-here-in-this-auditorium-and/) [Johannes Rau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-rau/) > [The theatre at my school was awesome. It was a 1,400-seat auditorium, so, being in that auditorium at 17, and having, like, 1,400 people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/the-theatre-at-my-school-was-awesome-it-was-a-1-400-seat-auditorium/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [We put on shows at Golden Gate Park with the Dead and Jefferson Airplane, and the groups were part of the community they emerged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-coyote/we-put-on-shows-at-golden-gate-park-with-the-dead-and-jefferson/) [Peter Coyote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-coyote/) > [I ventured into cinema after theatre because I didn't want to confine myself to just one auditorium. I wanted the whole world to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/i-ventured-into-cinema-after-theatre-because-i-didn-t-want-to-confine/) [Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/) > [I'm sort of one of those weird actors who whenever I do a play, I think, 'Oh, we should film this,' as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-m-sort-of-one-of-those-weird-actors-who-whenever-i-do-a-play-i/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [Hell is a half-filled auditorium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/hell-is-a-half-filled-auditorium/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [It makes no sense to pack an auditorium with 5,000 people and then tell them to keep quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/it-makes-no-sense-to-pack-an-auditorium-with-5-000-people-and-then/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) [Browse all 17 Auditorium quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditorium/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a stage and I'll perform; give me an auditorium and I'll fill it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Clapton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a-stage-and-i-ll-perform-give/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Auditorium" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a-stage-and-i-ll-perform-give/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/eric-clapton-3136_auditoriums_give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a_1716127.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/eric-clapton-3136_auditoriums_give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a_1716127.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/eric-clapton-3136_auditoriums_give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a_1716127.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a stage and I'll perform; give me an auditorium and I'll fill it.” — Eric Clapton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eric Clapton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Give me a guitar and I'll...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a-stage-and-i-ll-perform-give/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/give-me-a-guitar-and-i-ll-play-give-me-a-stage-and-i-ll-perform-give/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```