--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I love the Comedy Cellar. The audience…" description: "\"I love the Comedy Cellar. The audience has no expectations because they don't know me. It's great. It's only winning - if I bomb, they just say, 'Oh, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/gad-elmaleh-17752_audience_i-love-the-comedy-cellar-the-audience-ha_819259.jpg" --- # I love the Comedy Cellar. The audience has no expectations… ![“I love the Comedy Cellar. The audience has no expectations because they don't know me. It's great. It's only winning - if I bomb, they just say, 'Oh, the French guy sucks.' But if I do well, then they remember me.” quote by Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/gad-elmaleh-17752_audience_i-love-the-comedy-cellar-the-audience-ha_819259.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/gad-elmaleh-17752_audience_i-love-the-comedy-cellar-the-audience-ha_819259.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/gad-elmaleh-17752_audience_i-love-the-comedy-cellar-the-audience-ha_819259.jpg) > “I love the Comedy Cellar. The audience has no expectations because they don't know me. It's great. It's only winning - if I bomb, they just say, 'Oh, the French guy sucks.' But if I do well, then they remember me.” [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performing without audience expectations frees a comedian to experiment; success or failure is judged on the spot. **In simple terms:** No expectations let a performer experiment freely. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in performance. Themes comedy audience perception risk Mood humorous self-aware Type observational personal When to use this quote - stand-up shows - open mic nights - creative workshops - cultural exchange Key Concepts improvisation reputation management cultural identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle criticism in real time? - What role does cultural identity play in humor? A Different Perspective Reliance on audience acceptance can limit artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [My perfect night would be going out to an awesome restaurant, then heading over to the Comedy Cellar to hang out with other comics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/my-perfect-night-would-be-going-out-to-an-awesome-restaurant-then/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [If someone's a nurse and they're going to the Comedy Cellar on a Thursday night and they paid $30 and a two-drink minimum to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-sherman/if-someone-s-a-nurse-and-they-re-going-to-the-comedy-cellar-on-a/) [Sarah Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-sherman/) > [The Comedy Cellar, the Stand... that's where I met Jimmy Fallon. Caroline's was a huge comedy club for me. I did every club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-bargatze/the-comedy-cellar-the-stand-that-s-where-i-met-jimmy-fallon-caroline/) [Nate Bargatze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-bargatze/) > [I really believed it was important to explain to our young audience that expectations based on people who are trying to sell them things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/i-really-believed-it-was-important-to-explain-to-our-young-audience/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [The people who don't like it tend to dislike it intensely. That's unfortunate, but not surprising when one deliberately goes against audience expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-ford/the-people-who-don-t-like-it-tend-to-dislike-it-intensely-that-s/) [John M. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-ford/) > [The reality of the writer's world is that you set yourself up for future disappointment with every success that you deliver because you end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/the-reality-of-the-writer-s-world-is-that-you-set-yourself-up-for/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [I think the bar is higher these days in terms of audience expectations of authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-ryan/i-think-the-bar-is-higher-these-days-in-terms-of-audience/) [Shawn Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-ryan/) > [I think that for me, as far as audience expectations and how you manage your anxiety, it helps to keep things in perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-gilligan/i-think-that-for-me-as-far-as-audience-expectations-and-how-you/) [Vince Gilligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-gilligan/) > [If you're playing a good guy, you show some darkness. If you're playing a dark guy, you show something different, like humor, that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/if-you-re-playing-a-good-guy-you-show-some-darkness-if-you-re-playing/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [The audience's expectations are ever-present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-audience-s-expectations-are-ever-present/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I love to do shows in unlikely places, because the audience's expectations are less fixed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-love-to-do-shows-in-unlikely-places-because-the-audience-s/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [“The group sat in silence, absorbing the information. The whole room felt cramped. It was as though there were something else in the cellar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/the-group-sat-in-silence-absorbing-the-information-the-whole-room/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [Our cellar home had a kitchen and a combination bedroom and half bath, which meant we had a sink next to the bed. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/our-cellar-home-had-a-kitchen-and-a-combination-bedroom-and-half-bath/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [Hobbies take place in the cellar and smell of airplane glue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/hobbies-take-place-in-the-cellar-and-smell-of-airplane-glue/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [When I was a child, we always had wine on the table, no matter how simple the meal. The wine had no special identity;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-p-pin/when-i-was-a-child-we-always-had-wine-on-the-table-no-matter-how/) [Jacques Pepin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-p-pin/) ## More by Gad Elmaleh > [When Americans, who have no idea who I am, laugh at my jokes, it's exactly the same if someone loves you even if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-americans-who-have-no-idea-who-i-am-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [I talk about my dad and the American dream, and I just want to say to Americans how fascinated we are by America. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/i-talk-about-my-dad-and-the-american-dream-and-i-just-want-to-say-to/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [My name, my origins, my background and my experiences are what leveraged my success. The angle of the immigrant, through which I examined the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/my-name-my-origins-my-background-and-my-experiences-are-what/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [It's a good time to be here in America. You feel that people just want to be together and release the pressure and laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/it-s-a-good-time-to-be-here-in-america-you-feel-that-people-just-want/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [My dream is not Hollywood, but to perform my act in English to 30 people in a Soho comedy club, to show New Yorkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/my-dream-is-not-hollywood-but-to-perform-my-act-in-english-to-30/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [Morocco is completely alive for me because I spent about a third of my life there. The first few times I went back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/morocco-is-completely-alive-for-me-because-i-spent-about-a-third-of/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [Eventually I was saying to myself, maybe it would be better, instead of trying to become an American comedian in France, to mix those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/eventually-i-was-saying-to-myself-maybe-it-would-be-better-instead-of/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [Comedy in America is very serious. Either they laugh, or they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/comedy-in-america-is-very-serious-either-they-laugh-or-they-don-t/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [I want to talk to the audience. This is what I've been doing in my work in French forever - talking about small things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/i-want-to-talk-to-the-audience-this-is-what-i-ve-been-doing-in-my/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [In America, going on a date is really more like 'interview night.' You have to give your resume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/in-america-going-on-a-date-is-really-more-like-interview-night-you/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [America is where standup comedy was born. It's the standard. So you want to go and do your job where this is the mecca…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/america-is-where-standup-comedy-was-born-it-s-the-standard-so-you/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [After New York, Chicago is my favorite city. It's just this great mix of Europe and America. The friends I have there are smart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/after-new-york-chicago-is-my-favorite-city-it-s-just-this-great-mix/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [When they don't know you, when you don't have credits and they're thinking, 'I don't know this French guy,' your first five minutes are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-they-don-t-know-you-when-you-don-t-have-credits-and-they-re/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [Americans don't like puns and plays on words, which is totally opposite in the comedy world to France or even Italy and Germany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/americans-don-t-like-puns-and-plays-on-words-which-is-totally/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [I like to do comedy. It's my real passion. I want to make people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/i-like-to-do-comedy-it-s-my-real-passion-i-want-to-make-people-laugh/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) [Explore all 36 Gad Elmaleh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) ## 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 love the Comedy Cellar. The audience has no expectations because they don't know me. It's great. It's only winning - if I bomb, they just say, 'Oh, the French guy sucks.' 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