--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The day before I work, I don't like to…" description: "\"The day before I work, I don't like to even look at the script and let whatever happens happen on the set. But I do prepare a lot. I'm a big believer i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/jeffrey-tambor-2977_big_the-day-before-i-work-i-don-t-like-to-ev_2275764.jpg" --- # The day before I work, I don't like to even look at the… ![“The day before I work, I don't like to even look at the script and let whatever happens happen on the set. But I do prepare a lot. I'm a big believer in that.” quote by Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/jeffrey-tambor-2977_big_the-day-before-i-work-i-don-t-like-to-ev_2275764.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/jeffrey-tambor-2977_big_the-day-before-i-work-i-don-t-like-to-ev_2275764.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/jeffrey-tambor-2977_big_the-day-before-i-work-i-don-t-like-to-ev_2275764.jpg) > “The day before I work, I don't like to even look at the script and let whatever happens happen on the set. But I do prepare a lot. I'm a big believer in that.” [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes balancing spontaneous performance with thorough preparation to achieve authentic acting. **In simple terms:** Prepare well, then stay open to the moment. Key Takeaway Combine rehearsal with flexibility. Themes acting preparation spontaneity authenticity Mood focused reflective Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - rehearsals - live theater - film sets - improv workshops Key Concepts method acting improvisation creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when preparation is enough? - When does spontaneity enhance a performance? A Different Perspective Over‑preparing can stifle instinctual creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I prepare a lot. For 'The Artist Is Present,' it took me a year to teach my body not to produce acids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/i-prepare-a-lot-for-the-artist-is-present-it-took-me-a-year-to-teach/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [All we're in control of is what we do day to day on set and how we prepare to do our job each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwilym-lee/all-we-re-in-control-of-is-what-we-do-day-to-day-on-set-and-how-we/) [Gwilym Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwilym-lee/) > [I don't want to be like a flag in the wind one day like this and one day like the other, praying for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-don-t-want-to-be-like-a-flag-in-the-wind-one-day-like-this-and-one/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [Being independent isn't as flashy as a lot of people may think. It's a lot of hard work; its a lot of investing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-devaughn/being-independent-isn-t-as-flashy-as-a-lot-of-people-may-think-it-s-a/) [Raheem DeVaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-devaughn/) > [“Children need long distance, steady, persistent advocates who do the hard, quiet, thankless day-to-day work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kenny/children-need-long-distance-steady-persistent-advocates-who-do-the/) [Deborah Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kenny/) > [Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/plan-your-work-for-today-and-every-day-then-work-your-plan/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [A job is just a job at the end of the day, and work sometimes comes from the most unlikely places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bucatinsky/a-job-is-just-a-job-at-the-end-of-the-day-and-work-sometimes-comes/) [Dan Bucatinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bucatinsky/) > [“i woke up thinking the work was done i would not have to practise today how naive to think healing was that easy when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/i-woke-up-thinking-the-work-was-done-i-would-not-have-to-practise/) [Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/) > [When I'm working, I'm working and I'm focused on that day's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amell/when-i-m-working-i-m-working-and-i-m-focused-on-that-day-s-work/) [Stephen Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-amell/) > [Going to the golf course every day for work? That's a good job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/going-to-the-golf-course-every-day-for-work-that-s-a-good-job/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-workman-of-today-works-every-day-in-his-life-at-the-same-tasks/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Put in an honest day's work. It is the building block of a spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-toshio-sudo/put-in-an-honest-day-s-work-it-is-the-building-block-of-a-spiritual/) [Philip Toshio Sudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-toshio-sudo/) > [At the end of the day, there's so much work that has to be done to impact positive change in any direction you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-yoba/at-the-end-of-the-day-there-s-so-much-work-that-has-to-be-done-to/) [Malik Yoba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-yoba/) > [I never dreamed I would one day work at it White House.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hughes/i-never-dreamed-i-would-one-day-work-at-it-white-house/) [Karen Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hughes/) > [I'm not the most vocal guy, but I try to lead by example every single day with how I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/i-m-not-the-most-vocal-guy-but-i-try-to-lead-by-example-every-single/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) ## More by Jeffrey Tambor > [I think I made $55 a week, and it was bliss... I was doing theater. It was all I ever wanted to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-think-i-made-55-a-week-and-it-was-bliss-i-was-doing-theater-it-was/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I'm the voice of a Chipotle Burrito. The world has changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-m-the-voice-of-a-chipotle-burrito-the-world-has-changed/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I had a bilateral lisp, and I was overweight. I was the kid who played with the flowers on the ground in the outfield…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-had-a-bilateral-lisp-and-i-was-overweight-i-was-the-kid-who-played/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I think Maura'is funnier than I am, wittier than I am, more intelligent than I am, and I think she's just floating me at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-think-maura-is-funnier-than-i-am-wittier-than-i-am-more-intelligent/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [There are secrets in families. That is the definition of a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/there-are-secrets-in-families-that-is-the-definition-of-a-family/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I can't say enough about the guts and the talents of Amazon. They're so agile, they're so nimble; they picked us up two weeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-can-t-say-enough-about-the-guts-and-the-talents-of-amazon-they-re/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I think shows being sent out this way - pressing a button and 10 episodes can go out to the U.S.A., and the U.K.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-think-shows-being-sent-out-this-way-pressing-a-button-and-10/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [We are part of the zeitgeist, and we are communicating in a human, real way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/we-are-part-of-the-zeitgeist-and-we-are-communicating-in-a-human-real/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [The Tambors were conservative Jews, and we attended Temple Beth Shalom at 14th Avenue and Clement Street in San Francisco. We were the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/the-tambors-were-conservative-jews-and-we-attended-temple-beth-shalom/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Usually when you act, you know where you're going, where the point is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/usually-when-you-act-you-know-where-you-re-going-where-the-point-is/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [At the beginning of the Larry Sanders show, you know, we were grateful to get guests. At the end, it was as if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/at-the-beginning-of-the-larry-sanders-show-you-know-we-were-grateful/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I don't like show business. I don't like the business. I love acting. I love this. I love talking to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-don-t-like-show-business-i-don-t-like-the-business-i-love-acting-i/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Families are families are families are families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/families-are-families-are-families-are-families/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [The 'Hey now's' are delivered as people pass me. As I just get near ear range, I hear, 'Hey now!' and that's very funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/the-hey-now-s-are-delivered-as-people-pass-me-as-i-just-get-near-ear/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [People are identifying not only with the trans movement, but also the Pfefferman family. What I am noticing is people are coming up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/people-are-identifying-not-only-with-the-trans-movement-but-also-the/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) [Explore all 143 Jeffrey Tambor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [What I know about Ali Krieger is no moment is ever going to be too big for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-i-know-about-ali-krieger-is-no-moment-is-ever-going-to-be-too/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) Browse all 12,477 Big quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The day before I work, I don't like to even look at the script and let whatever happens happen on the set. 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