---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I only do a show when there's somebody I…"
description: "\"I only do a show when there's somebody I want to talk to.\" — Jerry Seinfeld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/jerry-seinfeld-880_shows_i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i_988066.jpg"
---

#  I only do a show when there's somebody I want to talk to.

![“I only do a show when there's somebody I want to talk to.” quote by Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/jerry-seinfeld-880_shows_i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i_988066.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/jerry-seinfeld-880_shows_i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i_988066.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/jerry-seinfeld-880_shows_i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i_988066.jpg)

> “I only do a show when there's somebody I want to talk to.”

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Performance is most meaningful when directed at someone you genuinely wish to engage.

**In simple terms:** Perform for people you want to talk to.

Key Takeaway

Seek authentic connections in your work.

Themes

communication authenticity performance

Mood

humorous thoughtful

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- teaching
- networking
- leadership

Key Concepts

audience engagement intentionality humor

Questions to Reflect On

- Who is your ideal audience?
- How can you tailor your message without losing authenticity?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone will appreciate or respond to your message.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [You can only mentor somebody if they want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ramone/you-can-only-mentor-somebody-if-they-want-to-be/)

[Phil Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ramone/)

> [“And somebody might now want to ask me, "Can't you ever be serious?" The answer is, "No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-somebody-might-now-want-to-ask-me-can-t-you-ever-be-serious-the/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [I wish I was a phone machine. I wish if I saw somebody on the street I didn't want to talk to I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-wish-i-was-a-phone-machine-i-wish-if-i-saw-somebody-on-the-street-i/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [I think to give something a chance, to really get to know somebody, you want to do it out of the public eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/i-think-to-give-something-a-chance-to-really-get-to-know-somebody-you/)

[Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/)

> [When is enough enough? In envy's eyes, enough never is. Somebody else always has something we want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-friday/when-is-enough-enough-in-envy-s-eyes-enough-never-is-somebody-else/)

[Nancy Friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-friday/)

> [“I don’t want to make somebody else. I want to make myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/i-don-t-want-to-make-somebody-else-i-want-to-make-myself/)

[Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/)

> [You can die 4 somebody &amp; they still want understand what you did for them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daquann-bowers/you-can-die-4-somebody-they-still-want-understand-what-you-did-for/)

[DaQuann Bowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daquann-bowers/)

> [I Think if You Care About Somebody, You Should Want Them To Be Happy. Even if You Wind Up Being Left Out .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-think-if-you-care-about-somebody-you-should-want-them-to-be-happy/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [When you're a fan of somebody you want to be a fan in all sorts of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/when-you-re-a-fan-of-somebody-you-want-to-be-a-fan-in-all-sorts-of/)

[Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/)

> [“If everyone wants to be somebody, I want to be somebody else”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-bellamacina/if-everyone-wants-to-be-somebody-i-want-to-be-somebody-else/)

[Benny Bellamacina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-bellamacina/)

> [It you want to be somebody, If you want to go some where, you've got to wake up and pay attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/it-you-want-to-be-somebody-if-you-want-to-go-some-where-you-ve-got-to/)

[Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/)

> [All girls want is for somebody to want them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-girls-want-is-for-somebody-to-want-them-back/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When women are trying to keep a man, just make sure it's a man that you want to keep. You know, he might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-ma/when-women-are-trying-to-keep-a-man-just-make-sure-it-s-a-man-that/)

[Remy Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-ma/)

> [If you care about somebody, you should want them to be happy. Even if you wind up being left out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/if-you-care-about-somebody-you-should-want-them-to-be-happy-even-if/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [If I see one side of somebody, I want to see the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-russell/if-i-see-one-side-of-somebody-i-want-to-see-the-other-side/)

[Kurt Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-russell/)

## More by Jerry Seinfeld

> [“i chose not to run”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-chose-not-to-run/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [We’re all trying to get to the same island, whether you swim, fly, surf, or skydive in, it doesn’t matter. What matters is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/we-re-all-trying-to-get-to-the-same-island-whether-you-swim-fly-surf/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [I have a nice bookshelf in my office, but not my house. I'm crass, but not that crass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-have-a-nice-bookshelf-in-my-office-but-not-my-house-i-m-crass-but/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [There's no downside to fame and people who whine about it make me sick. It's the greatest thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/there-s-no-downside-to-fame-and-people-who-whine-about-it-make-me/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [We're all trying to get to the same island — whether you swim, fly, surf, or skydive, it doesn't matter. What matters is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/we-re-all-trying-to-get-to-the-same-island-whether-you-swim-fly-surf-2/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [I was in the drug store the other day trying to get a cold medication...Not easy. There's an entire wall of products you need.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-was-in-the-drug-store-the-other-day-trying-to-get-a-cold-medication/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [I went up to the camp and Paul had me eat my first oyster I had never had an oyster in my life. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-went-up-to-the-camp-and-paul-had-me-eat-my-first-oyster-i-had-never/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [Then, finally, the third year, begging the parents, I got the Superman Halloween costume. Cardboard box, self-made top, mask included. Remember the rubber band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/then-finally-the-third-year-begging-the-parents-i-got-the-superman/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [This is really a crazy idea, you know. It probably won't work, but that will be interesting, too. You have to motivate yourself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/this-is-really-a-crazy-idea-you-know-it-probably-won-t-work-but-that/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [If you get something right, you really feel it, right in your chest, on stage. I think it's an incomparable experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/if-you-get-something-right-you-really-feel-it-right-in-your-chest-on/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [People have an infinite attention span if you are entertaining them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/people-have-an-infinite-attention-span-if-you-are-entertaining-them/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [It's hard to do nothing because you tend to do something and then you have to drop everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/it-s-hard-to-do-nothing-because-you-tend-to-do-something-and-then-you/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [A really hard laugh is like sex-one of the ultimate diversions of existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/a-really-hard-laugh-is-like-sex-one-of-the-ultimate-diversions-of/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [There are many things you can point to as proof that the human is not smart. But my personal favorite would have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/there-are-many-things-you-can-point-to-as-proof-that-the-human-is-not/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [You know what I never get with the limo? The tinted windows. Is that so people don't see you? Yeah, what a better way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/you-know-what-i-never-get-with-the-limo-the-tinted-windows-is-that-so/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

[Explore all 342 Jerry Seinfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

## More Shows quotes

> [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/)

[Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/)

> [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/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/)

[Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/)

> [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [It is extremely difficult to do anything constructive, let alone deep, on daily commercial television, especially on a talk show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-do-anything-constructive-let-alone-deep/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/)

[Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/)

[Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/)

> [The talk shows in the States want celebrities, not authors. In France, it is different; writers are called upon to comment on everything. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-talk-shows-in-the-states-want-celebrities-not-authors-in-france/)

[Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/)

> [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/)

[Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/)

> [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/)

[Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/)

> [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/)

[Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/)

[Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/)

Browse all 18,017 Shows quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I only do a show when there's somebody I want to talk to.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jerry Seinfeld"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i-want-to-talk-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Shows"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i-want-to-talk-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/jerry-seinfeld-880_shows_i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i_988066.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/jerry-seinfeld-880_shows_i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i_988066.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/jerry-seinfeld-880_shows_i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i_988066.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I only do a show when there's somebody I want to talk to.” — Jerry Seinfeld",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jerry Seinfeld",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I only do a show when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i-want-to-talk-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-only-do-a-show-when-there-s-somebody-i-want-to-talk-to/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
