--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went from a playing in a bar on a bar…" description: "\"I went from a playing in a bar on a bar stool for free beer and tip money, where people weren't paying attention to me, to now I've got their attention..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/jake-owen-9072_attention_i-went-from-a-playing-in-a-bar-on-a-bar_1316207.jpg" --- # I went from a playing in a bar on a bar stool for free… ![“I went from a playing in a bar on a bar stool for free beer and tip money, where people weren't paying attention to me, to now I've got their attention. It's up to me to what I feed them with my music. It's up to me how I do that. I've put a lot of thought into how great the songs are, and how I…” quote by Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/jake-owen-9072_attention_i-went-from-a-playing-in-a-bar-on-a-bar_1316207.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/jake-owen-9072_attention_i-went-from-a-playing-in-a-bar-on-a-bar_1316207.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/jake-owen-9072_attention_i-went-from-a-playing-in-a-bar-on-a-bar_1316207.jpg) > “I went from a playing in a bar on a bar stool for free beer and tip money, where people weren't paying attention to me, to now I've got their attention. It's up to me to what I feed them with my music. It's up to me how I do that. I've put a lot of thought into how great the songs are, and how I want people to perceive me.” [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An artist must intentionally shape the content he delivers to an audience that now notices him. **In simple terms:** Control what you give listeners. Key Takeaway Curate your music with purpose. Themes artistry audience intentionality Mood determined creative Type musical motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - live performances - social media presence - fan engagement Key Concepts creative control brand building Questions to Reflect On - What message do you want your audience to receive? - How do you balance authenticity with audience expectations? A Different Perspective Audience attention can be fleeting and fickle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Bar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bar/) [Beer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beer/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Paying Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-attention/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Stool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stool/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [“I got a free beer for a $5 tip”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-got-a-free-beer-for-a-5-tip/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I always looked askance at Pandora and Spotify, regarding both as a passive means of experiencing music; they feed you music they presume you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/i-always-looked-askance-at-pandora-and-spotify-regarding-both-as-a/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [When we were younger, playing a bar or a club, we did what we did to get as many people to like what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/when-we-were-younger-playing-a-bar-or-a-club-we-did-what-we-did-to/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [I would, if I could, always feed to music. The singularly graceless action of thus filling one's body with roots and dead animals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/i-would-if-i-could-always-feed-to-music-the-singularly-graceless/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [If I'm, you know, in that mind-set and you're just playing in a bar and it's dark and you just dig in, I miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-tedeschi/if-i-m-you-know-in-that-mind-set-and-you-re-just-playing-in-a-bar-and/) [Susan Tedeschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-tedeschi/) > [Retirement security is often compared to a three-legged stool supported by Social Security, employer-provided pension funds, and private savings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sander-levin/retirement-security-is-often-compared-to-a-three-legged-stool/) [Sander Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sander-levin/) > [The first time someone I loved left me behind...I didn't know how my family would balance. We had been such a sturdy little end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-first-time-someone-i-loved-left-me-behind-i-didn-t-know-how-my/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I don't need no stool and mike stand. I don't need all of that to be funny. I've been funny my whole life. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-don-t-need-no-stool-and-mike-stand-i-don-t-need-all-of-that-to-be/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [I never use a piano stool. I always use a drum stool. Because I feel that when you're down there, you're playing in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-cullum/i-never-use-a-piano-stool-i-always-use-a-drum-stool-because-i-feel/) [Jamie Cullum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-cullum/) > [I think when you're just counting on your voice, you actually need double the energy. I find myself acting out the scenes and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/i-think-when-you-re-just-counting-on-your-voice-you-actually-need/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) > [Savor the throne, but don't mind the stool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/savor-the-throne-but-don-t-mind-the-stool/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [“Every word serves a purpose. It conveys an idea. And the idea behind words like feces, stool, or poop is exactly the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/every-word-serves-a-purpose-it-conveys-an-idea-and-the-idea-behind/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [I always wanted to be a comedic actor - that's what I wanted from the job - to do comedy and to create my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-comedic-actor-that-s-what-i-wanted-from-the/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [To go where the King goes afoot (i.e. to the stool).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/to-go-where-the-king-goes-afoot-i-e-to-the-stool/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“Sometimes I'm at stool all night." 507”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/sometimes-i-m-at-stool-all-night-507/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## More by Jake Owen > [Jason Aldean just asked me if I was here tonight for the remake of Stayin' Alive...I laughed...Then drank another beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/jason-aldean-just-asked-me-if-i-was-here-tonight-for-the-remake-of/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [I had a one night stand with my best friend's baby sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-had-a-one-night-stand-with-my-best-friend-s-baby-sister/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [At what point in life does a Richard decide to be called Dick? It bewilders me. I've never met a kid named Dick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/at-what-point-in-life-does-a-richard-decide-to-be-called-dick-it/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [There's a lot that goes into being Tim McGraw or Kenny Chesney. They have great songs, their show is great, they're very fit. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/there-s-a-lot-that-goes-into-being-tim-mcgraw-or-kenny-chesney-they/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [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/) > [The lips on my upper right bicep are my girlfriend's lips. She has the most amazing lips, and I wanted to carry them around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/the-lips-on-my-upper-right-bicep-are-my-girlfriend-s-lips-she-has-the/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [Everyone has their own path in life, no matter if it's being a celebrity or a singer. Quite frankly, I didn't move to Nashville…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/everyone-has-their-own-path-in-life-no-matter-if-it-s-being-a/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [I'm from Florida, so any time I get invited to come to Florida and play a show, I'm definitely always up for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-m-from-florida-so-any-time-i-get-invited-to-come-to-florida-and/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [But that's the problem with playing new music sometimes before the record comes out: You have a bunch of yayhoots with opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/but-that-s-the-problem-with-playing-new-music-sometimes-before-the/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [Its okay for a good girl to be a little bad from time to time¦Keep us boys on our toes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/its-okay-for-a-good-girl-to-be-a-little-bad-from-time-to-time-keep-us/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [Anytime you put your name on a ticket with nothing else attached to it, that's the true testament to where you are in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/anytime-you-put-your-name-on-a-ticket-with-nothing-else-attached-to/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [I pawned my grandpa's old guitar in collage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-pawned-my-grandpa-s-old-guitar-in-collage/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [You hear about people your whole life, 'So-and-so has cancer,' and you're like, 'Wow, that's too bad,' and then most people tend to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/you-hear-about-people-your-whole-life-so-and-so-has-cancer-and-you-re/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [I had always loved music. I grew up listening to classic country, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard. My dad loved Vern Gosdin and Keith Whitley.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-had-always-loved-music-i-grew-up-listening-to-classic-country/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [I learned the hard way real early in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-learned-the-hard-way-real-early-in-life/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) [Explore all 75 Jake Owen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went from a playing in a bar on a bar stool for free beer and tip money, where people weren't paying attention to me, to now I've got their attention. 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