--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As performers grow older, I reckon there…" description: "\"As performers grow older, I reckon there are two ways they can go. They can either be up there, playing more deeply from their guts than ever, or they ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/henry-rollins-170_end_as-performers-grow-older-i-reckon-there_2021592.png" --- # As performers grow older, I reckon there are two ways they… ![“As performers grow older, I reckon there are two ways they can go. They can either be up there, playing more deeply from their guts than ever, or they can be phoning it in so crassly that it leaves a lump in your throat as you leave the venue at the end of the show.” quote by Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/henry-rollins-170_end_as-performers-grow-older-i-reckon-there_2021592.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/henry-rollins-170_end_as-performers-grow-older-i-reckon-there_2021592.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/henry-rollins-170_end_as-performers-grow-older-i-reckon-there_2021592.png) > “As performers grow older, I reckon there are two ways they can go. They can either be up there, playing more deeply from their guts than ever, or they can be phoning it in so crassly that it leaves a lump in your throat as you leave the venue at the end of the show.” [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists either deepen authenticity with experience or deliver shallow, uninspired work that feels hollow **In simple terms:** Either deepen or become hollow Key Takeaway Choose depth over complacency Themes authenticity artistry aging Mood reflective critical Type observational advice When to use this quote - live concerts - theatre productions - musical tours - career retrospectives Key Concepts creative integrity performance quality Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep your work fresh as you age? - What signs indicate you’re phoning it in? A Different Perspective Depth requires continual self‑reflection and risk; complacency can be tempting ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard for performers to grow old gracefully, but I'm trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-murray/it-s-hard-for-performers-to-grow-old-gracefully-but-i-m-trying/) [Anne Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-murray/) > [The talking shows are like free jazz. I'm just gonna go out there and blow with the idea of keeping it streamlined and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/the-talking-shows-are-like-free-jazz-i-m-just-gonna-go-out-there-and/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [It's always been impressive to me when someone can really do what they want onstage. The audience has confidence in the performer and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/it-s-always-been-impressive-to-me-when-someone-can-really-do-what/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [One piece of advice that I would give to any young athlete or performer is remember to thank your mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/one-piece-of-advice-that-i-would-give-to-any-young-athlete-or/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [The development of the comedy club industry destroyed the uniqueness and intimacy of the profession but it also created jobs for comics and bred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/the-development-of-the-comedy-club-industry-destroyed-the-uniqueness/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [I like performers who I know are for real. You can tell, man, there's an intensity about their stuff. You can tell right away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-vega/i-like-performers-who-i-know-are-for-real-you-can-tell-man-there-s-an/) [Alan Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-vega/) > [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/) Ernest Gold > [Failing to differentiate among employees — and holding on to bottom-tier performers — is actually the cruelest form of management there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/failing-to-differentiate-among-employees-and-holding-on-to-bottom/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Just as performers, I think you'd be an idiot not to utilize YouTube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-wells/just-as-performers-i-think-you-d-be-an-idiot-not-to-utilize-youtube/) [Noel Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-wells/) > [I think that's what makes a great show: when the performers onstage aren't putting on a show, they're legitimately just having a freaking awesome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-grammer/i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-great-show-when-the-performers-onstage/) [Andy Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-grammer/) > [One performer whose band played my music better than I could myself was Art Farmer. 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Anders Ericsson ## More by Henry Rollins > [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In the summer of '84, you just couldn't escape the Born in the USA record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/in-the-summer-of-84-you-just-couldn-t-escape-the-born-in-the-usa/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [We spend millions of dollars to remove pain from our lives. It's why so many people get hooked on painkillers. 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