--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My dad was a really funny, really…" description: "\"My dad was a really funny, really talented guy who had a great success in a limited audience. But from him, I learned that he always felt the audience ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/joel-grey-7578_dad_my-dad-was-a-really-funny-really-talente_2815733.jpg" --- # My dad was a really funny, really talented guy who had a… ![“My dad was a really funny, really talented guy who had a great success in a limited audience. But from him, I learned that he always felt the audience was entitled to 150 per cent. If he was performing at an event, he'd keep playing until the last person had finished dancing.” quote by Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/joel-grey-7578_dad_my-dad-was-a-really-funny-really-talente_2815733.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/joel-grey-7578_dad_my-dad-was-a-really-funny-really-talente_2815733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/joel-grey-7578_dad_my-dad-was-a-really-funny-really-talente_2815733.jpg) > “My dad was a really funny, really talented guy who had a great success in a limited audience. But from him, I learned that he always felt the audience was entitled to 150 per cent. If he was performing at an event, he'd keep playing until the last person had finished dancing.” [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A performer should give beyond expectations, valuing audience experience over profit. **In simple terms:** Give more than what’s expected. Key Takeaway Exceed audience expectations. Themes generosity performance audience focus Mood thoughtful inspirational Type practical philosophical When to use this quote - live shows - public speaking - teaching - customer service Key Concepts service ethic artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance generosity with self‑care? - What limits can you set while still delighting others? A Different Perspective Unsustainable over‑extension can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience Entitled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-entitled-3551845/) [Audience Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-learned-1628300/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dad Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-really/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Limited Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-audience-1622568/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Talented Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talented-guy-436823/) ## Related quotes > [I have a lot of experience in the studio, performing onstage, talking to an audience. I learned most of that stuff when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-have-a-lot-of-experience-in-the-studio-performing-onstage-talking/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [I began to work the stage and get the audience into it. I also learned how to have fun out there. It is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaliyah/i-began-to-work-the-stage-and-get-the-audience-into-it-i-also-learned/) [Aaliyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaliyah/) > [“A motion picture, or music, or television, they have to maintain a certain decorum in order to be broadcast to a vast audience. Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/a-motion-picture-or-music-or-television-they-have-to-maintain-a/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When you do 'Before Sunset,' you know while it's a limited audience, there was a very small group of people that love 'Before Sunrise.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/when-you-do-before-sunset-you-know-while-it-s-a-limited-audience/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [Whereas painting is a more rarefied art form, with a limited audience, I recognized film as this extraordinary social tool that could reach tremendous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/whereas-painting-is-a-more-rarefied-art-form-with-a-limited-audience/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [If you make just hardcore horror, there's a limited audience for that. Whereas if it's horror mixed with action, I think you kinda broaden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/if-you-make-just-hardcore-horror-there-s-a-limited-audience-for-that/) [Paul W. S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-s-anderson/) > [The movies I make - the goal isn't a mass audience. They're not expensive films. So the attempt is to reach a much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/the-movies-i-make-the-goal-isn-t-a-mass-audience-they-re-not/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [I grew up as an only child. I think it might just be that my dad really didn't care that I was a girl.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-baker/i-grew-up-as-an-only-child-i-think-it-might-just-be-that-my-dad/) [Mitchell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-baker/) > [My dad was a really good golfer, and he just taught me how to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rohrbach/my-dad-was-a-really-good-golfer-and-he-just-taught-me-how-to-play/) [Kelly Rohrbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rohrbach/) > [My dad was really complex, and I was raised by that. My mom is really bright - very book bright - and so those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/my-dad-was-really-complex-and-i-was-raised-by-that-my-mom-is-really/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [I feel like if I'm going to give you a book about my dad, then I really want to give you my dad, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/i-feel-like-if-i-m-going-to-give-you-a-book-about-my-dad-then-i/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [My dad's really funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/my-dad-s-really-funny/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I wasn't a super talented fighter, you know? I didn't start off as a talented guy. I just really enjoyed MMA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-luque/i-wasn-t-a-super-talented-fighter-you-know-i-didn-t-start-off-as-a/) [Vicente Luque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-luque/) > [One problem people have is that they lie to themselves. You may think you are more talented then the next guy. Which is exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/one-problem-people-have-is-that-they-lie-to-themselves-you-may-think/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Not everybody in this league is the most talented guy in this world, but they're able to stay in this league and make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-green/not-everybody-in-this-league-is-the-most-talented-guy-in-this-world/) [Danny Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-green/) ## More by Joel Grey > [I'm crazy about surprises. I love chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-m-crazy-about-surprises-i-love-chance/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [I saw Lee J. Cobb in 'Death of a Salesman' when I was about 15, and I couldn't get up from my seat in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-saw-lee-j-cobb-in-death-of-a-salesman-when-i-was-about-15-and-i/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [The fundamental job of the actor is to tell about the human condition, to be a voice for the truest ideas and deepest emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/the-fundamental-job-of-the-actor-is-to-tell-about-the-human-condition/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [My daughter, Jennifer Grey, was in 'Dirty Dancing,' which was shot in the Catskill Mountains, where the great old Jewish entertainers used to appear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/my-daughter-jennifer-grey-was-in-dirty-dancing-which-was-shot-in-the/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [I loved being in the theater. It was a place of enormous excitement and happiness and safety and respect and dignity. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-loved-being-in-the-theater-it-was-a-place-of-enormous-excitement/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [I'm very slow. I'm a slow learner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-m-very-slow-i-m-a-slow-learner/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [That's what people forget about, is that when things are very, very powerful in a sad way, they have that possibility of also being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/that-s-what-people-forget-about-is-that-when-things-are-very-very/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > ['Cabaret' was the most commercial success that I've been involved in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/cabaret-was-the-most-commercial-success-that-i-ve-been-involved-in/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [I don't want to do material that I don't like. I've always stuck to that policy. If that means being out of work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-don-t-want-to-do-material-that-i-don-t-like-i-ve-always-stuck-to/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [My dad would take me downtown, and I'd stand backstage and watch him in the vaudeville pit band. I was 6 or 7. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/my-dad-would-take-me-downtown-and-i-d-stand-backstage-and-watch-him/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [If you don't tell the whole truth about yourself, life is a ridiculous exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/if-you-don-t-tell-the-whole-truth-about-yourself-life-is-a-ridiculous/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [Often, entertainment goes deeper, in terms of ideas, than the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/often-entertainment-goes-deeper-in-terms-of-ideas-than-the-newspapers/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [Larry Hagman and I are very old friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/larry-hagman-and-i-are-very-old-friends/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [My father was a musician and wanted me to study piano. I had no interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/my-father-was-a-musician-and-wanted-me-to-study-piano-i-had-no/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [You are either visual or you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/you-are-either-visual-or-you-re-not/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) [Explore all 90 Joel Grey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My dad was a really funny, really talented guy who had a great success in a limited audience. But from him, I learned that he always felt the audience was entitled to 150 per cent. 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