--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to make myself, and subsequently…" description: "\"I try to make myself, and subsequently the audience, as uncomfortable as possible, whether it's completely desecrating a song they thought was one thin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/j-tillman-2-46720_audience_i-try-to-make-myself-and-subsequently-th_1092765.jpg" --- # I try to make myself, and subsequently the audience, as… ![“I try to make myself, and subsequently the audience, as uncomfortable as possible, whether it's completely desecrating a song they thought was one thing, or getting too drunk to really do a very good job.” quote by J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/j-tillman-2-46720_audience_i-try-to-make-myself-and-subsequently-th_1092765.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/j-tillman-2-46720_audience_i-try-to-make-myself-and-subsequently-th_1092765.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/j-tillman-2-46720_audience_i-try-to-make-myself-and-subsequently-th_1092765.jpg) > “I try to make myself, and subsequently the audience, as uncomfortable as possible, whether it's completely desecrating a song they thought was one thing, or getting too drunk to really do a very good job.” [J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deliberately creating discomfort challenges norms and provokes deeper audience engagement. **In simple terms:** Create discomfort to provoke thought. Key Takeaway Use discomfort to spark reflection. Themes artistic expression audience engagement risk Mood provocative experimental Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - live concerts - theatre - stand‑up comedy Key Concepts performance art psychology Questions to Reflect On - What limits should you set on discomfort? - How does discomfort affect your own performance? A Different Perspective Excessive discomfort can alienate or upset audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-uncomfortable-1117117/) [Desecrating Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desecrating-song-2833201/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Drunk Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk-really-589530/) [Getting drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-drunk/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-job/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Uncomfortable Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable-possible-2833202/) ## Related quotes > [You want the audience to be uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/you-want-the-audience-to-be-uncomfortable/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [Is it possible to do something that that makes an audience uncomfortable, challenges them, makes them see things they're not used to? Here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/is-it-possible-to-do-something-that-that-makes-an-audience/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [“Any connoisseur knows you've got to be drunk to really enjoy a good romance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/any-connoisseur-knows-you-ve-got-to-be-drunk-to-really-enjoy-a-good/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [I have a really good time some nights, but then I push it over the edge and ruin my boyfriend's night. I'm an ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-winehouse/i-have-a-really-good-time-some-nights-but-then-i-push-it-over-the/) [Amy Winehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-winehouse/) > [“Being drunk really brought out her inner vicious bitch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarra-manning/being-drunk-really-brought-out-her-inner-vicious-bitch/) [Sarra Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarra-manning/) > [“Muscat is like a mind-altering drug. A stroll in its streets is like getting drunk for the first time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/muscat-is-like-a-mind-altering-drug-a-stroll-in-its-streets-is-like/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“How do you talk to a new love about an old one, especially so early in a relationship? If I’d brought it up earlier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/how-do-you-talk-to-a-new-love-about-an-old-one-especially-so-early-in/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Of course, everybody makes mistakes, and we've all been young and stupid. But people need to have a sense of respect, particularly in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/of-course-everybody-makes-mistakes-and-we-ve-all-been-young-and/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Getting drunk was good. I decided that I would always like getting drunk. It took away the obvious and maybe if you could get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/getting-drunk-was-good-i-decided-that-i-would-always-like-getting/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I think the little kid next to me that got middle seat must be getting drunk from my Jack Daniels breath. And I stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-think-the-little-kid-next-to-me-that-got-middle-seat-must-be/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [I have actually programmed a fair bit in Perl, like I have C++ code published with my name on it. Other things I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-actually-programmed-a-fair-bit-in-perl-like-i-have-c-code/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I can do this, I tell myself firmly. I can be attracted to him. It's just a matter of self control and possibly also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-can-do-this-i-tell-myself-firmly-i-can-be-attracted-to-him-it-s/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs With the boom box blaring as we're falling in love Got a bottle of whatever, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvil-lavigne/singing-radiohead-at-the-top-of-our-lungs-with-the-boom-box-blaring/) [Arvil Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvil-lavigne/) > [Want to talk third wave feminism, you could cite Ariel Levy and the idea that women have internalized male oppression. Going to spring break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/want-to-talk-third-wave-feminism-you-could-cite-ariel-levy-and-the/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [And I sat there getting drunker and drunker and more in love and more in love...And you can never touch a girl in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/and-i-sat-there-getting-drunker-and-drunker-and-more-in-love-and-more/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) ## More by J. Tillman > [You know, there's an economy in lyric-writing that doesn't afford you, or at least me - I usually start off with nine or 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tillman-2/you-know-there-s-an-economy-in-lyric-writing-that-doesn-t-afford-you/) [J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) > [I was like, 'Josh Tillman, you are not a songwriter. You are an ape. Stop thinking of yourself as a songwriter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tillman-2/i-was-like-josh-tillman-you-are-not-a-songwriter-you-are-an-ape-stop/) [J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) > [With sad music, or music that's perceived as sad, there's a sense of solidarity that can be really powerful. My songs are all joyful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tillman-2/with-sad-music-or-music-that-s-perceived-as-sad-there-s-a-sense-of/) [J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) > [My humor is my creativity, and my skepticism is a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tillman-2/my-humor-is-my-creativity-and-my-skepticism-is-a-gift/) [J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) > [Funny is a good foil. Humor is illuminating, and it also gives you power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tillman-2/funny-is-a-good-foil-humor-is-illuminating-and-it-also-gives-you-power/) [J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) > [I think that providing obstructions in the live setting is when you get something that actually means something, as opposed to just aping your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tillman-2/i-think-that-providing-obstructions-in-the-live-setting-is-when-you/) [J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) > [I would play my Dungeons and Dragons songs and watch people's eyes glaze over, and then I would start joking around between songs, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tillman-2/i-would-play-my-dungeons-and-dragons-songs-and-watch-people-s-eyes/) [J. Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) [Explore all 8 J. Tillman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tillman-2/) ## 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 try to make myself, and subsequently the audience, as uncomfortable as possible, whether it's completely desecrating a song they thought was one thing, or getting too drunk to really do a very good job.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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