--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's no room for failure performing…" description: "\"There's no room for failure performing [stand-up] for a black audience. If you don't get them right away it's tough winning them back even if you're do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/hannibal-buress-8402_audience_there-s-no-room-for-failure-performing-s_2799371.jpg" --- # There's no room for failure performing \[stand-up\] for a… ![“There's no room for failure performing [stand-up] for a black audience. If you don't get them right away it's tough winning them back even if you're doing top-notch material. If you didn't win them right when you walked out there, it's tough.” quote by Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/hannibal-buress-8402_audience_there-s-no-room-for-failure-performing-s_2799371.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/hannibal-buress-8402_audience_there-s-no-room-for-failure-performing-s_2799371.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/hannibal-buress-8402_audience_there-s-no-room-for-failure-performing-s_2799371.jpg) > “There's no room for failure performing \[stand-up\] for a black audience. If you don't get them right away it's tough winning them back even if you're doing top-notch material. If you didn't win them right when you walked out there, it's tough.” [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performing for a black audience leaves no margin for error; failing to win them immediately makes regaining their approval difficult. **In simple terms:** No room for error with a black audience. Key Takeaway Deliver strong material from the start. Themes comedy audience dynamics race Mood tense determined Type professional caution When to use this quote - entertainment - social commentary - career development Key Concepts stand‑up performance cultural expectations Questions to Reflect On - How can comedians adapt to diverse audiences? - What strategies help recover after a weak start? A Different Perspective Audience expectations vary by context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Top notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/top-notch/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Curator Shantrelle P. Lewis left for Amsterdam an Andy Warhol fellow, and came back with a film in her pocket. Please support this confrontation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dream-hampton/curator-shantrelle-p-lewis-left-for-amsterdam-an-andy-warhol-fellow/) [dream hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dream-hampton/) > [I'm not quite as limber, but for my peers and my age group, I'm still top notch!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-de-rossi/i-m-not-quite-as-limber-but-for-my-peers-and-my-age-group-i-m-still/) [Portia de Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-de-rossi/) > [The secret of being a top-notch con man is being able to know what the mark wants, and how to make him think he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-secret-of-being-a-top-notch-con-man-is-being-able-to-know-what/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [You cannot take a few people from one unit, throw them in with some from another, give them someone else's equipment, and hope to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alvin-beckwith/you-cannot-take-a-few-people-from-one-unit-throw-them-in-with-some/) Charles Alvin Beckwith > [Mick Jagger also a music connoisseur and knows everything about that era. So, you knew the music side was going to be top-notch. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/mick-jagger-also-a-music-connoisseur-and-knows-everything-about-that/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [Spain has some of the richest culinary traditions and truly appreciates food that is simply prepared with top-notch ingredients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emeril-lagasse/spain-has-some-of-the-richest-culinary-traditions-and-truly/) [Emeril Lagasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emeril-lagasse/) > [I really got into Osho's books. I have always loved his books. They were top notch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-really-got-into-osho-s-books-i-have-always-loved-his-books-they/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Yet one more item is needed to complete success, and that is the rendering of service to others in the community. Without this the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yet-one-more-item-is-needed-to-complete-success-and-that-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He's laughing me into a stupor, she thought. I could heckle, I suppose, I could throw a bread roll at him, but he's eaten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/he-s-laughing-me-into-a-stupor-she-thought-i-could-heckle-i-suppose-i/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Colin Morgan gives a stunning performance in Parked; he plays Merlin in the BBC TV show and he says the two characters are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-meaney/colin-morgan-gives-a-stunning-performance-in-parked-he-plays-merlin/) [Colm Meaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-meaney/) > [I loved seeing my name in print, I loved seeing my words in print. I felt really privileged to be in the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-shames/i-loved-seeing-my-name-in-print-i-loved-seeing-my-words-in-print-i/) [Laurence Shames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-shames/) > [Antiques to Die For sets the gold standard for the classic contemporary cozy. Agatha-finalist Jane K. Cleland's writing is top-notch; her plotting and pace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-spencer-fleming/antiques-to-die-for-sets-the-gold-standard-for-the-classic/) [Julia Spencer-Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-spencer-fleming/) > [I hired top-notch people, trusted them to do their jobs, and then came to grips with the fact that I wouldn't be coaching as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/i-hired-top-notch-people-trusted-them-to-do-their-jobs-and-then-came/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [You'd been petting a stuffed dog?' she said 'A dead one?' 'It was a really well stuffed dog' I clarified. 'I have seen some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-d-been-petting-a-stuffed-dog-she-said-a-dead-one-it-was-a-really/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I love classic rock, rock and roll, that's the top notch. I love soul - bluesy music as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-reinhart/i-love-classic-rock-rock-and-roll-that-s-the-top-notch-i-love-soul/) [Haley Reinhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-reinhart/) ## More by Hannibal Buress > [ Acting is fun; it's easier than writing, and if you get on a \[TV\] show, it draws people to your stand-up. That's ultimately what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/acting-is-fun-it-s-easier-than-writing-and-if-you-get-on-a-tv-show-it/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [There's been times where I sold the place out, and I walked in and the guy's like, 'Uh, ID?' 'No, you can't ID me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/there-s-been-times-where-i-sold-the-place-out-and-i-walked-in-and-the/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I'm not like a super duper sneaker head. I got a couple pairs, but I'm not a "stand in line for sneakers" type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-m-not-like-a-super-duper-sneaker-head-i-got-a-couple-pairs-but-i-m/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [God sounds kinda like a shitty father to me. If God was so powerful why'd he have to give his son up? It sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/god-sounds-kinda-like-a-shitty-father-to-me-if-god-was-so-powerful/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I go to a lot of rap shows and sometimes take what they do from a performer's aspect, how they interact with the crowd.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-go-to-a-lot-of-rap-shows-and-sometimes-take-what-they-do-from-a/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [You want to grow where you came up so when you move, you get noticed easier. You can grow in New York but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/you-want-to-grow-where-you-came-up-so-when-you-move-you-get-noticed/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I like burritos more than Jesus because steak burritos are delicious. And they're real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-like-burritos-more-than-jesus-because-steak-burritos-are-delicious/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [If you want to do anything, you got to go do it. Perform a lot, write a lot, make yourself better. Use the Internet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/if-you-want-to-do-anything-you-got-to-go-do-it-perform-a-lot-write-a/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I never use a napkin on my lap at a restaurant...because I believe in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-never-use-a-napkin-on-my-lap-at-a-restaurant-because-i-believe-in/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [Gibberish rap is - I freestyle all the time, just hangin' out with friends. And sometimes when I'm freestyling, I'll lose my flow, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/gibberish-rap-is-i-freestyle-all-the-time-just-hangin-out-with/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I'd like to be remembered as good person and as one of the best comedians of my generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-d-like-to-be-remembered-as-good-person-and-as-one-of-the-best/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I like showing different types of comedy - showing that I could tell a story, or showing that I could do a one-liner, showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-like-showing-different-types-of-comedy-showing-that-i-could-tell-a/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I can work as a writer, but I wanted to do stand-up. And I knew I could, at worst, work as a stand-up. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-do-stand-up-and-i-knew-i-could/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [My nephew's always crying. I'm like, 'Dude, why are you crying? Your life is great. All you do is eat apple sauce and take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/my-nephew-s-always-crying-i-m-like-dude-why-are-you-crying-your-life/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [When somebody mangles one of my jokes, that bothers me more than somebody saying that I'm the worst comedian ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/when-somebody-mangles-one-of-my-jokes-that-bothers-me-more-than/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) [Explore all 81 Hannibal Buress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) ## 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. 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