--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Comedy can be harder because if you…" description: "\"Comedy can be harder because if you aren't making the audience laugh, they're going to turn on you quicker. They'll go along with mediocre drama more t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/haley-joel-osment-13043_audience_comedy-can-be-harder-because-if-you-aren_2185319.png" --- # Comedy can be harder because if you aren't making the… ![“Comedy can be harder because if you aren't making the audience laugh, they're going to turn on you quicker. They'll go along with mediocre drama more than they'll go along with mediocre comedy.” quote by Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/haley-joel-osment-13043_audience_comedy-can-be-harder-because-if-you-aren_2185319.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/haley-joel-osment-13043_audience_comedy-can-be-harder-because-if-you-aren_2185319.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/haley-joel-osment-13043_audience_comedy-can-be-harder-because-if-you-aren_2185319.png) > “Comedy can be harder because if you aren't making the audience laugh, they're going to turn on you quicker. They'll go along with mediocre drama more than they'll go along with mediocre comedy.” [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy demands risk; failure is felt more sharply than in drama. **In simple terms:** Comedy is riskier than drama. Key Takeaway Accept comedic risk. Themes risk audience performance Mood anxious determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - scriptwriting - improv classes - media reviews Key Concepts comedy theory psychology rejection Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle comedic failure? - What makes comedy harder than drama? A Different Perspective Audience expectations can be unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [One of the great things with comedy is that there's no such thing as a mediocre comedy; it's either uproarious or crap. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/one-of-the-great-things-with-comedy-is-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [Drama is easier to do because you just have to have the emotion and not get caught acting, but comedy is much harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dempsey/drama-is-easier-to-do-because-you-just-have-to-have-the-emotion-and/) [Patrick Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dempsey/) > [I think it's important that we all try to give something to this medium, instead of just thinking about what is the most efficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-von-trier/i-think-it-s-important-that-we-all-try-to-give-something-to-this/) [Lars von Trier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-von-trier/) > [The most powerful decision-making part of the audience is women. Boys have a lot of impact on the industry, but it's often women who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/the-most-powerful-decision-making-part-of-the-audience-is-women-boys/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [The one thing about comedy, making it become a part of you, the audience loves it, because you become part of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/the-one-thing-about-comedy-making-it-become-a-part-of-you-the/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [“Everything begins by making your audience pay attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darin-bradley/everything-begins-by-making-your-audience-pay-attention/) [Darin Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darin-bradley/) > [The interesting thing about improvisation is you're making something up in front of the audience. Now music helps you out a little bit because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/the-interesting-thing-about-improvisation-is-you-re-making-something/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I love making the audience scream. It just feels very cathartic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-rodrigo/i-love-making-the-audience-scream-it-just-feels-very-cathartic/) [Olivia Rodrigo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-rodrigo/) > [I did a lot of touring in my youth, and I learnt very quickly that giving is what it's all about. It's about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-did-a-lot-of-touring-in-my-youth-and-i-learnt-very-quickly-that/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [What's hard is being in the limelight constantly. It means that you always have to do everything right. But having young girls look up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-osment/what-s-hard-is-being-in-the-limelight-constantly-it-means-that-you/) [Emily Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-osment/) > [You have to understand that you are not making the film for yourself; you're making it for the audience. If I am asking my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-bachchan/you-have-to-understand-that-you-are-not-making-the-film-for-yourself/) [Abhishek Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-bachchan/) > [In America, instead of making the audience come to the film, the idea seems to be for you to go to the audience. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/in-america-instead-of-making-the-audience-come-to-the-film-the-idea/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [Comedy is harder, because if there's no laughs, it's pretty bad. But drama, if there's no reaction, you can say, 'Well, it's not their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-willard/comedy-is-harder-because-if-there-s-no-laughs-it-s-pretty-bad-but/) [Fred Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-willard/) > [I think comedy's harder to pull off on the screen than on the stage, anyway. Tragedy is easier on the screen... oddly enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-think-comedy-s-harder-to-pull-off-on-the-screen-than-on-the-stage/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Comedy is much harder, it's a lot more exacting. You can't just be real and you can't just use the same kind of techniques…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/comedy-is-much-harder-it-s-a-lot-more-exacting-you-can-t-just-be-real/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) ## More by Haley Joel Osment > [When you get lucky, as I did getting to work on a series of amazing films, one of the drawbacks career-wise is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/when-you-get-lucky-as-i-did-getting-to-work-on-a-series-of-amazing/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [What I like least about acting is that when you're only in one place, you're missing the other part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/what-i-like-least-about-acting-is-that-when-you-re-only-in-one-place/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [One of the cool things about getting to audition for things on short notice is that it teaches you to memorize efficiently. So I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/one-of-the-cool-things-about-getting-to-audition-for-things-on-short/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [I went to the Experimental Theater Wing at NYU and wrote and directed a small amount of stuff there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-went-to-the-experimental-theater-wing-at-nyu-and-wrote-and-directed/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [I never wanted to do Harry Potter. I thought it should have stayed as a book. There are some books that should be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-never-wanted-to-do-harry-potter-i-thought-it-should-have-stayed-as/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [The best advice my dad ever gave me is that acting is believing. Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on a face and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/the-best-advice-my-dad-ever-gave-me-is-that-acting-is-believing/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [When you're a kid, and you grow up, it takes some time for people to associate you with more things other than that initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/when-you-re-a-kid-and-you-grow-up-it-takes-some-time-for-people-to/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [My parents were both born in Birmingham, Alabama, and come from large Catholic families with lots of Michaels, Marks, and Patricks, so they wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/my-parents-were-both-born-in-birmingham-alabama-and-come-from-large/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [I like normal stuff people fear - like spiders and heights. I'm frightened by the unknown, by things that are hard to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-like-normal-stuff-people-fear-like-spiders-and-heights-i-m/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [Just keep learning from the role and not just go for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/just-keep-learning-from-the-role-and-not-just-go-for-the-money/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [When I was five, I went on my first audition. It was for a Pizza Hut commercial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/when-i-was-five-i-went-on-my-first-audition-it-was-for-a-pizza-hut/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [Kobe Bryant is my favorite basketball player. He takes risks. He goes for the shot. He isn't cautious with whatever he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/kobe-bryant-is-my-favorite-basketball-player-he-takes-risks-he-goes/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [People love to get scared. People want to see the worst thing that can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/people-love-to-get-scared-people-want-to-see-the-worst-thing-that-can/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [One challenge in this industry is that you adopt a certain look for a movie, and then people don't get to see the movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/one-challenge-in-this-industry-is-that-you-adopt-a-certain-look-for-a/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on a face and dancing around in a mask. It's believing that you are that character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/acting-is-not-acting-it-isn-t-putting-on-a-face-and-dancing-around-in/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) [Explore all 52 Haley Joel Osment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) ## 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": "Comedy can be harder because if you aren't making the audience laugh, they're going to turn on you quicker. 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