--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm one of relatively few stage-trained…" description: "\"I'm one of relatively few stage-trained actors who doesn't much like acting on stage. It feels kind of like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island, which I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/fred-melamed-25861_acting_i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained_2798716.jpg" --- # I'm one of relatively few stage-trained actors who doesn't… ![“I'm one of relatively few stage-trained actors who doesn't much like acting on stage. It feels kind of like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island, which I did when I was eight. When it was all over, I was glad I had done it, but most of the time when it was actually happening, I was just kind of…” quote by Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/fred-melamed-25861_acting_i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained_2798716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/fred-melamed-25861_acting_i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained_2798716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/fred-melamed-25861_acting_i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained_2798716.jpg) > “I'm one of relatively few stage-trained actors who doesn't much like acting on stage. It feels kind of like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island, which I did when I was eight. When it was all over, I was glad I had done it, but most of the time when it was actually happening, I was just kind of hanging on for dear life.” [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A stage‑trained actor feels acting on stage is terrifying yet exhilarating, like a roller‑coaster, and survives by clinging to survival. **In simple terms:** Stage acting is scary but thrilling, like a ride. Key Takeaway Embrace fear, stay present. Themes performance anxiety adrenaline craft survival authenticity Mood nervous excited Type motivational personal. When to use this quote - theatre productions - live auditions - improv workshops Key Concepts psychology risk‑taking embodiment Questions to Reflect On - What techniques help manage stage fright? - How does fear fuel artistic performance? A Different Perspective The comparison may oversimplify the nuanced skill of acting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-stage-406002/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Coney island](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coney-island/) [Cyclones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cyclones/) [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Dear life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear-life/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glad/) [Hanging on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hanging-on/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Like Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-acting/) [Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riding/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-feels-2776080/) [Stage Trained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-trained-3434017/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [There's no second chance on stage, and I was trained to make the most of my first chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-smith/there-s-no-second-chance-on-stage-and-i-was-trained-to-make-the-most/) [Kate Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-smith/) > [A few weeks ago I went to a screening of 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' at Utopia. I'm not a very introspective person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-sciamma/a-few-weeks-ago-i-went-to-a-screening-of-portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire/) [Celine Sciamma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-sciamma/) > [Failure's hard. There's no way around. Bombing on stage never feels great. You feel judged, you feel alone. But then when your performance works,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/failure-s-hard-there-s-no-way-around-bombing-on-stage-never-feels/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [There's plenty of days when I'm like 'Oh God, why? But that's just life. It's every job, not just mine. Every moment is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-plenty-of-days-when-i-m-like-oh-god-why-but-that-s-just-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me, every time I step on the stage it feels like a battle is about to start. It's not like we're going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzuka-nakamoto/for-me-every-time-i-step-on-the-stage-it-feels-like-a-battle-is-about/) [Suzuka Nakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzuka-nakamoto/) > [If you are ever on stage, and it feels as though the audience is not laughing at the right points or are not quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-pirrie/if-you-are-ever-on-stage-and-it-feels-as-though-the-audience-is-not/) [Chloe Pirrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-pirrie/) > [I've always done stuff on stage, so it feels very natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-giedroyc/i-ve-always-done-stuff-on-stage-so-it-feels-very-natural/) [Mel Giedroyc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-giedroyc/) > [I like interacting with human beings, so being on stage feels like a larger version of that - kind of like throwing a party.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nathanson/i-like-interacting-with-human-beings-so-being-on-stage-feels-like-a-2/) [Matt Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nathanson/) > [I like interacting with human beings, so being on stage feels like a larger version of that - kind of like throwing a party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nathanson/i-like-interacting-with-human-beings-so-being-on-stage-feels-like-a/) [Matt Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nathanson/) > [I was a very good girl for a long time, that's what really drew me to acting. The stage was the perfect place to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-allen/i-was-a-very-good-girl-for-a-long-time-that-s-what-really-drew-me-to/) [Joan Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-allen/) > [I ain't acting when I'm on stage. That's why all the little love bugs who'll come and see me at Lovebox love me. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-kim/i-ain-t-acting-when-i-m-on-stage-that-s-why-all-the-little-love-bugs/) [Lil' Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-kim/) > [Writing is like acting on stage because when you write you have to make sure that your readers or audiences will really be entertained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mae-sajo-gallego/writing-is-like-acting-on-stage-because-when-you-write-you-have-to/) [Christine Mae Sajo Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mae-sajo-gallego/) > [Yeah, I think that a play is a huge commitment, and I think that what it requires of you is a lot, so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yul-vazquez/yeah-i-think-that-a-play-is-a-huge-commitment-and-i-think-that-what/) [Yul Vazquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yul-vazquez/) > [Acting in a stage play is like working the evening shift in an office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-smith/acting-in-a-stage-play-is-like-working-the-evening-shift-in-an-office/) [Arthur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-smith/) > [I never thought of quitting acting or the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-never-thought-of-quitting-acting-or-the-stage/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) ## More by Fred Melamed > [Well, because I have twin seven-year-old boys, I enjoy the gift giving stuff a great deal. We do both Hanukkah and Christmas, so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/well-because-i-have-twin-seven-year-old-boys-i-enjoy-the-gift-giving/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [In my career, I've had kind of a strange trajectory as an actor. I started out doing movies and theater and stuff, but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/in-my-career-i-ve-had-kind-of-a-strange-trajectory-as-an-actor-i/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [I'd always admired Diane Keaton, but I'd never met her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-d-always-admired-diane-keaton-but-i-d-never-met-her/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [We must agree to live in this world, with all that is unfair about it, without knowing why, if we wish to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/we-must-agree-to-live-in-this-world-with-all-that-is-unfair-about-it/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [The word "hedonistic" to me means pleasure above all else. My pleasure above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/the-word-hedonistic-to-me-means-pleasure-above-all-else-my-pleasure/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [I haven't appeared on stage in quite a long time and I don't have any immediate plans to do so, but I'm always interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-haven-t-appeared-on-stage-in-quite-a-long-time-and-i-don-t-have-any/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [In general, I'm always interested in characters who have kind of extreme aspects to them, who are in some ways larger than typical people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/in-general-i-m-always-interested-in-characters-who-have-kind-of/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [It probably goes without saying that I enjoy the potato pancakes, delicious hams and so forth that maddeningly turn up at this time of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/it-probably-goes-without-saying-that-i-enjoy-the-potato-pancakes/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [It's funny, but three of my early films were with Liam Neeson, before Liam Neeson was a big star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/it-s-funny-but-three-of-my-early-films-were-with-liam-neeson-before/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [I've always thought that, in a sense, the more specific and sometimes even the smaller the world of a movie is, the more universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-ve-always-thought-that-in-a-sense-the-more-specific-and-sometimes/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [Though I acted in hundreds of productions, appeared at the Guthrie Theatre and on Broadway in Amadeus, I discovered in my thirties that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/though-i-acted-in-hundreds-of-productions-appeared-at-the-guthrie/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [I am tolerably ignorant about Judaism, and much of what I do know about it seems hard to swallow, because it is so grounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-am-tolerably-ignorant-about-judaism-and-much-of-what-i-do-know/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [There are some directors who don't like the set much. They like post-production, where you have all the ingredients in the can - you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/there-are-some-directors-who-don-t-like-the-set-much-they-like-post/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [I always did plays in school because I thought it was fun, but it just never occurred to me as a thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-always-did-plays-in-school-because-i-thought-it-was-fun-but-it-just/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [I have a secret aspiration to be considered for a part where it doesn't matter what you look like to play it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-have-a-secret-aspiration-to-be-considered-for-a-part-where-it-doesn/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) [Explore all 22 Fred Melamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm one of relatively few stage-trained actors who doesn't much like acting on stage. It feels kind of like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island, which I did when I was eight. When it was all over, I was glad I had done it, but most of the time when it was actually happening, I was just kind of hanging on for dear life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fred Melamed" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained-actors-who-doesn-t-much-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained-actors-who-doesn-t-much-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/fred-melamed-25861_acting_i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained_2798716.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/fred-melamed-25861_acting_i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained_2798716.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/fred-melamed-25861_acting_i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained_2798716.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm one of relatively few stage-trained actors who doesn't much like acting on stage. It feels kind of like…” — Fred Melamed", "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": "Fred Melamed", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm one of relatively few stage-trained...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained-actors-who-doesn-t-much-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-m-one-of-relatively-few-stage-trained-actors-who-doesn-t-much-like/#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 } } ] } ```