--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you play a smaller, more intimate…" description: "\"When you play a smaller, more intimate venue, you can have real conversations with your audience, take risks, and stay current. You can also change the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/jason-mraz-975_arena_when-you-play-a-smaller-more-intimate-ve_975854.jpg" --- # When you play a smaller, more intimate venue, you can have… ![“When you play a smaller, more intimate venue, you can have real conversations with your audience, take risks, and stay current. You can also change the set list, on how the day feels or how the audience reacts. When you do arena shows, every arena looks and feels the same. You can't see who is in…” quote by Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/jason-mraz-975_arena_when-you-play-a-smaller-more-intimate-ve_975854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/jason-mraz-975_arena_when-you-play-a-smaller-more-intimate-ve_975854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/jason-mraz-975_arena_when-you-play-a-smaller-more-intimate-ve_975854.jpg) > “When you play a smaller, more intimate venue, you can have real conversations with your audience, take risks, and stay current. You can also change the set list, on how the day feels or how the audience reacts. When you do arena shows, every arena looks and feels the same. You can't see who is in the room.” [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intimate venues foster genuine connection, flexibility, and creativity, unlike uniform arena shows that distance the performer from the audience. **In simple terms:** Small venues enable real conversation and artistic risk. Key Takeaway Choose venues that match your artistic goals. Themes connection creativity audience engagement flexibility authenticity Mood reflective inspired Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - tour planning - live performance - setlist design - artist‑audience interaction Key Concepts Performance dynamics risk taking audience feedback Questions to Reflect On - How does venue size affect your artistic expression? - What can you do to maintain intimacy in big venues? A Different Perspective Large arenas can dilute personal interaction and reduce spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Intimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimate/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [As far as the live shows go, we're not leapfrogging all the smaller venues. We would have bypassed these kind of shows and gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hawkins/as-far-as-the-live-shows-go-we-re-not-leapfrogging-all-the-smaller/) [Dan Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hawkins/) > [I think, in a lot of ways, it's easier to play a smaller room. You can exploit the quieter dynamics you would shy away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/i-think-in-a-lot-of-ways-it-s-easier-to-play-a-smaller-room-you-can/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I headline concert halls for 20,000 people, but I still play smaller venues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guetta/i-headline-concert-halls-for-20-000-people-but-i-still-play-smaller/) [David Guetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guetta/) > [There's no doubt arena shows are exciting, but you don't get that up close and personal kind of vibe, and that's what rock n'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/there-s-no-doubt-arena-shows-are-exciting-but-you-don-t-get-that-up/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [Success and arena shows are a great anti-depressant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/success-and-arena-shows-are-a-great-anti-depressant/) [Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/) > [When I look back, I don't remember the best of the best. I don't remember arena shows with 20,000 people. I remember funky little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-gill/when-i-look-back-i-don-t-remember-the-best-of-the-best-i-don-t/) [Vince Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-gill/) > [I've played Madison Square Garden and Jones Beach several times, but I personally don't enjoy those larger venues. I much prefer theater or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-ve-played-madison-square-garden-and-jones-beach-several-times-but-i/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I'm just saying sometimes great to play smaller court, with the crowd very close. We can feel their energy, the passion, yeah, the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/i-m-just-saying-sometimes-great-to-play-smaller-court-with-the-crowd/) [Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/) > [I studied a lot on how to get better angles to be able to play at a smaller size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/i-studied-a-lot-on-how-to-get-better-angles-to-be-able-to-play-at-a/) [Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/) > [I've asked to go back into theaters and smaller venues because to me, in smaller venues I can really demonstrate my commitment to quality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-ve-asked-to-go-back-into-theaters-and-smaller-venues-because-to-me/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I can just be one of those guys that used in the mix, playing 4 or 5 if we play smaller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markieff-morris/i-can-just-be-one-of-those-guys-that-used-in-the-mix-playing-4-or-5/) [Markieff Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markieff-morris/) > [I prefer to play in smaller venues because I like the intimacy, the connection with the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovico-einaudi/i-prefer-to-play-in-smaller-venues-because-i-like-the-intimacy-the/) [Ludovico Einaudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludovico-einaudi/) > [For someone like me, if I ever had huge success or whatever that is, I would just play smaller venues two to three nights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/for-someone-like-me-if-i-ever-had-huge-success-or-whatever-that-is-i/) [Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/) > [We play some smaller songs larger than they are the record, and vice versa. It took me a while to get used to playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/we-play-some-smaller-songs-larger-than-they-are-the-record-and-vice/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [When you play in smaller places with a smaller symphony, sometimes there's a difference in quality. Sometimes it's murderous. Sometimes it's real torture. Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-murray/when-you-play-in-smaller-places-with-a-smaller-symphony-sometimes/) [Anne Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-murray/) ## More by Jason Mraz > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [There's a certain feeling of giving, a certain feeling of generosity in love songs. When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/there-s-a-certain-feeling-of-giving-a-certain-feeling-of-generosity/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I was raised playing music in coffeehouses and I feel that was the foundation for my career. I think it is important that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-was-raised-playing-music-in-coffeehouses-and-i-feel-that-was-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The best thing for you to do is shop at your local farmer's market and support the organic growers who are there. Because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-best-thing-for-you-to-do-is-shop-at-your-local-farmer-s-market/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [In my relationship, I was giving myself away to make the relationship better, but in actuality, wasn't doing better by doing that. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/in-my-relationship-i-was-giving-myself-away-to-make-the-relationship/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [It's our God forsaken right to be loved, loved, loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/it-s-our-god-forsaken-right-to-be-loved-loved-loved/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The measure of your character is not what you do when people are looking. It’s what you do when you think no one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-measure-of-your-character-is-not-what-you-do-when-people-are/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Being out in nature inspires me as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/being-out-in-nature-inspires-me-as-a-writer/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I get my most creative energy after a show, so I love to go back to the hotel and compose new material. I generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-get-my-most-creative-energy-after-a-show-so-i-love-to-go-back-to/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Whenever I'm in need of inspiration and mantras, I go straight to simple affirmations. 'I am strong', 'I am brave', 'I can do this'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/whenever-i-m-in-need-of-inspiration-and-mantras-i-go-straight-to/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Everything in life influences my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/everything-in-life-influences-my-music/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Growing up as a singer, and a cast member, and now as an adult, a songwriter, I get the luxury of choosing the kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/growing-up-as-a-singer-and-a-cast-member-and-now-as-an-adult-a/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I had a gig in Sweden. There were thousands of people there, and when I launched into 'I'm Yours,' they were all singing along.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-had-a-gig-in-sweden-there-were-thousands-of-people-there-and-when-i/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“I won't give up on us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-won-t-give-up-on-us/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I have a very awesome seat in the house every time I play. When the lights come up, and the sound turns on, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-have-a-very-awesome-seat-in-the-house-every-time-i-play-when-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) [Explore all 316 Jason Mraz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) ## More Arena quotes > [The sidelines are not where you want to live your life. The world needs you in the arena!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/the-sidelines-are-not-where-you-want-to-live-your-life-the-world/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [To see classic rock, you had to go to an arena. But punk was happening everywhere, even in little towns in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/to-see-classic-rock-you-had-to-go-to-an-arena-but-punk-was-happening/) [Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/) > [The "family" has clearly emerged anew in the late 1970s as a central subject for discussion, debate, research and writing in bothscholarly and popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/the-family-has-clearly-emerged-anew-in-the-late-1970s-as-a-central/) Sheila Kamerman > [Cannes is a sort of gladiators' arena, and that's the fun part of it. When you accept to come here to open the festival,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-dahan/cannes-is-a-sort-of-gladiators-arena-and-that-s-the-fun-part-of-it/) [Olivier Dahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-dahan/) > [ We're striving to stay in the arenas. We \[Papa Roach\] had just little things that just took our show a step up and were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-palermo/we-re-striving-to-stay-in-the-arenas-we-papa-roach-had-just-little/) [Tony Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-palermo/) > [The most difficult idea to reconcile in war is the notion that anything is going to be solved by killing a stranger, or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/the-most-difficult-idea-to-reconcile-in-war-is-the-notion-that/) [Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/) > [I've never liked talking about my personal life, ever. Ever since I was 20, I've lived in a kind of public arena; and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-dalton/i-ve-never-liked-talking-about-my-personal-life-ever-ever-since-i-was/) [Timothy Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-dalton/) > [Every NBA arena has six cameras in the ceiling. The question is what does the software do with video feeds? How to surface that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/every-nba-arena-has-six-cameras-in-the-ceiling-the-question-is-what/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [Most of my films I call arena films. I deal with a confined area -- an arena -- and I try to cover every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/most-of-my-films-i-call-arena-films-i-deal-with-a-confined-area-an/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [If you're also in the arena and you're putting your ideas out and you're owning them and you're saying "I disagree with you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-you-re-also-in-the-arena-and-you-re-putting-your-ideas-out-and-you/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-shoup/the-galleries-are-full-of-critics-they-play-no-ball-they-fight-no/) [David M. Shoup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-shoup/) > [The rules of survival never change, whether you're in a desert or in an arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/the-rules-of-survival-never-change-whether-you-re-in-a-desert-or-in/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [We live in a very pluralistic society today. There are Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, atheists, Roman Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Christians like me. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/we-live-in-a-very-pluralistic-society-today-there-are-buddhists/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I just like playing music and doing it with people that I care about. It doesn't really matter where. It's like, 'Why don't we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-klinghoffer/i-just-like-playing-music-and-doing-it-with-people-that-i-care-about/) [Josh Klinghoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-klinghoffer/) > [Successful weight management really means a permanent change in lifestyle - and success in this arena provides that person with a great opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/successful-weight-management-really-means-a-permanent-change-in/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) Browse all 674 Arena quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you play a smaller, more intimate venue, you can have real conversations with your audience, take risks, and stay current. You can also change the set list, on how the day feels or how the audience reacts. When you do arena shows, every arena looks and feels the same. 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