--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reality is none of us should have…" description: "\"The reality is none of us should have time to do other projects. We should be so focused on the band and working on the band and exploring our talents ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/john-dolmayan-5969_band_the-reality-is-none-of-us-should-have-ti_2764345.jpg" --- # The reality is none of us should have time to do other… ![“The reality is none of us should have time to do other projects. We should be so focused on the band and working on the band and exploring our talents within it, making music that people can listen to within the confines of System of a Down that we shouldn't have time for anything else.” quote by John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/john-dolmayan-5969_band_the-reality-is-none-of-us-should-have-ti_2764345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/john-dolmayan-5969_band_the-reality-is-none-of-us-should-have-ti_2764345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/john-dolmayan-5969_band_the-reality-is-none-of-us-should-have-ti_2764345.jpg) > “The reality is none of us should have time to do other projects. We should be so focused on the band and working on the band and exploring our talents within it, making music that people can listen to within the confines of System of a Down that we shouldn't have time for anything else.” [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists should devote all energy to their primary creative pursuit, limiting side projects. **In simple terms:** Focus solely on the main band. Key Takeaway Prioritize band work. Themes dedication focus creativity Mood determined intense Type motivational artistic When to use this quote - band rehearsals - tour planning - songwriting sessions - studio recording Key Concepts artistic identity resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How does exclusive focus affect artistic evolution? - Can side projects enrich the main work? A Different Perspective Neglecting side projects can stifle personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Making Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [From the beginning of Queen there was such momentum that I never had any time to do anything else. My energy was 95% focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-may/from-the-beginning-of-queen-there-was-such-momentum-that-i-never-had/) [Brian May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-may/) > [You know, we're a hard working band but we don't ever take it for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/you-know-we-re-a-hard-working-band-but-we-don-t-ever-take-it-for/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [There are a lot of people in the industry and stuff who said no we don't want to sign a guitar band, that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/there-are-a-lot-of-people-in-the-industry-and-stuff-who-said-no-we/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [It was mind-blowing. It was a small place with 2,000 standing-up tickets. It's great to have your band back and working and playing again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-mind-blowing-it-was-a-small-place-with-2-000-standing-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just want a band and keep them working, people that I like and who I think a lot of. Once my band is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharoah-sanders/i-just-want-a-band-and-keep-them-working-people-that-i-like-and-who-i/) [Pharoah Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharoah-sanders/) > [We decided to self-title it '5 Seconds of Summer' because it really represents who we are and who we want to be as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/we-decided-to-self-title-it-5-seconds-of-summer-because-it-really/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [My band is stupid, and we're gonna continue to be stupid, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/my-band-is-stupid-and-we-re-gonna-continue-to-be-stupid-i-guess/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [“They build it, get it working and keep band-aiding it until it completely fails, then it becomes a crisis and gets updated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/they-build-it-get-it-working-and-keep-band-aiding-it-until-it/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I don't think you can reach the same highs working in a band as you can on your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-don-t-think-you-can-reach-the-same-highs-working-in-a-band-as-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [I do the least 'working on myself' in our band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-bridgers/i-do-the-least-working-on-myself-in-our-band/) [Phoebe Bridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-bridgers/) > [I just feel like bands always need to work harder than the hardest working band. You need to constantly be one-upping yourself and surprising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-williams/i-just-feel-like-bands-always-need-to-work-harder-than-the-hardest/) [Hayley Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-williams/) > [I love working with my band-mates in Alkaline Trio, but to make a rock record that was just mine was something that I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-skiba/i-love-working-with-my-band-mates-in-alkaline-trio-but-to-make-a-rock/) [Matt Skiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-skiba/) > [If you're working with a band and you really want to work them into the episode, you've got to say to them, "Look, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-stone/if-you-re-working-with-a-band-and-you-really-want-to-work-them-into/) [Matt Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-stone/) > [I would always rather be working on the band. All that other stuff is stuff I really enjoy doing, but I don't consider it...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-picciotto/i-would-always-rather-be-working-on-the-band-all-that-other-stuff-is/) [Guy Picciotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-picciotto/) > [If you produce yourself and you're working in a band, there's certain compromises everyone has to make, because it's a democracy and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-temple/if-you-produce-yourself-and-you-re-working-in-a-band-there-s-certain/) [Luke Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-temple/) ## More by John Dolmayan > [I never wanted System to take a hiatus. I think it was a disastrous move for us, because we never reached our peak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-never-wanted-system-to-take-a-hiatus-i-think-it-was-a-disastrous/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [You've gotta let things go in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/you-ve-gotta-let-things-go-in-life/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [My band is stupid, and we're gonna continue to be stupid, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/my-band-is-stupid-and-we-re-gonna-continue-to-be-stupid-i-guess/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [If you're in love with a girl, you go out with a girl and you break up with her it doesn't mean you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/if-you-re-in-love-with-a-girl-you-go-out-with-a-girl-and-you-break-up/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [When you're passionate about music, you don't give up on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/when-you-re-passionate-about-music-you-don-t-give-up-on-it/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [The fact is I don't write songs, per se; I've written a couple here and there, but that's not my forte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/the-fact-is-i-don-t-write-songs-per-se-i-ve-written-a-couple-here-and/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [There's four individuals in the band. I don't speak for any of the individuals except for myself, and neither does Serj. But because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/there-s-four-individuals-in-the-band-i-don-t-speak-for-any-of-the/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [The definition of a band is the selflessness. That's what a society is, isn't it? We're all thinking, like, together we make something great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/the-definition-of-a-band-is-the-selflessness-that-s-what-a-society-is/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [Don't believe everything the famous people tell you - they don't know anything for the most part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/don-t-believe-everything-the-famous-people-tell-you-they-don-t-know/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [I started selling in the early '90s, because at 18 years old, it's tough to go to your parents and say, 'Can I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-started-selling-in-the-early-90s-because-at-18-years-old-it-s-tough/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [It's hard to take a stand. Most people are just trying to earn a living, take care of their families, give their kids a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/it-s-hard-to-take-a-stand-most-people-are-just-trying-to-earn-a/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [No matter what, Daron is one of the best songwriters I've ever seen in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/no-matter-what-daron-is-one-of-the-best-songwriters-i-ve-ever-seen-in/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [I find it really difficult to keep my mouth shut when I see injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-find-it-really-difficult-to-keep-my-mouth-shut-when-i-see-injustice/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [We tried to get together multiple times to make an album, but there were certain rules set in place that made it difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/we-tried-to-get-together-multiple-times-to-make-an-album-but-there/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [While I was driving, I'd put on satellite radio and listen to whatever came on. Oftentimes, I'd hear something and ask myself how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/while-i-was-driving-i-d-put-on-satellite-radio-and-listen-to-whatever/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) [Explore all 100 John Dolmayan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/) [Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) Browse all 6,497 Band quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reality is none of us should have time to do other projects. 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