--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think a lot of composers get into…" description: "\"I think a lot of composers get into trouble just making up a plot and expecting an audience to follow that.\" — John Eaton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/john-eaton-25837_audience_i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trou_2652255.jpg" --- # I think a lot of composers get into trouble just making up… ![“I think a lot of composers get into trouble just making up a plot and expecting an audience to follow that.” quote by John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/john-eaton-25837_audience_i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trou_2652255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/john-eaton-25837_audience_i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trou_2652255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/john-eaton-25837_audience_i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trou_2652255.jpg) > “I think a lot of composers get into trouble just making up a plot and expecting an audience to follow that.” [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on improvised plots without audience consideration risks disengagement. **In simple terms:** Unplanned stories can lose listeners. Key Takeaway Plan narratives with audience in mind. Themes storytelling audience planning Mood creative reflective Type analytical practical When to use this quote - theater productions - film scripts - live performances Key Concepts narrative structure engagement Questions to Reflect On - How do you test audience reaction? - When is improvisation appropriate? A Different Perspective Improvisation can spark creativity when balanced with structure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Composers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composers/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of composers I know hate temp scores because people get attached to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-price/a-lot-of-composers-i-know-hate-temp-scores-because-people-get/) [Steven Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-price/) > [If you aim at anything lower that is expecting your audience to be really alert and aware, then you're going to be caught out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-expecting-your-audience-to-be/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [Television executives only commission something that somebody else has already commissioned that's doing well on another station - they're afraid of expecting an audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/television-executives-only-commission-something-that-somebody-else/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [There are a lot of composers who were fantastic, but I challenge them to write a record that you could play five times a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/there-are-a-lot-of-composers-who-were-fantastic-but-i-challenge-them/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [A lot of composers before me have been on this mission to change the world by getting off equal temperament, and I'm definitely one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aphex-twin/a-lot-of-composers-before-me-have-been-on-this-mission-to-change-the/) [Aphex Twin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aphex-twin/) > [Well, the very best operas are the ones written by the very best composers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/well-the-very-best-operas-are-the-ones-written-by-the-very-best/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [The more dollars the studio producers put in, the less freedom we have. If the budget hits $100m, they get scared - they'll take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/the-more-dollars-the-studio-producers-put-in-the-less-freedom-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [There's still a lot I need to do as a player, as a musician, as a sound creator. I have commissioned 170 pieces: that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/there-s-still-a-lot-i-need-to-do-as-a-player-as-a-musician-as-a-sound/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [Men have been in the forefront of music for centuries, and they have written glorious music, loved and appreciated by many. In some ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-harbach/men-have-been-in-the-forefront-of-music-for-centuries-and-they-have/) [Barbara Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-harbach/) > [As far as rock groups, I really like Stone Temple Pilots. As for classical composers, it's Bach. I love Paganini, too, the Italian composer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-schulze/as-far-as-rock-groups-i-really-like-stone-temple-pilots-as-for/) [Matt Schulze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-schulze/) > [As improvisers, we're acting as composers in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/as-improvisers-we-re-acting-as-composers-in-front-of-people/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I always loved the motion picture scores and the great film composers like Elmer Bernstein.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra-jr/i-always-loved-the-motion-picture-scores-and-the-great-film-composers/) [Frank Sinatra Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra-jr/) > [Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange instruments which do not require ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/not-many-composers-have-ideas-far-more-of-them-know-how-to-use/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Nobody can give a good performance unless the authors and composers have written a good part, a fact which is often overlooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/nobody-can-give-a-good-performance-unless-the-authors-and-composers/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [There are no black film composers doing the likes of Star Wars, doing the likes of E.T., doing the likes of Jurassic Park. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-johnson/there-are-no-black-film-composers-doing-the-likes-of-star-wars-doing/) [J. J. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-johnson/) ## More by John Eaton > [But nevertheless, it's music ultimately that matters in opera, and opera is a piece of music reaching out as a vision in sound reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/but-nevertheless-it-s-music-ultimately-that-matters-in-opera-and/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [It's not important to me to found a school; it's not important to me to have disciples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/it-s-not-important-to-me-to-found-a-school-it-s-not-important-to-me/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [What's important for me is to communicate the vision that I have in sound with the audience that's hearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/what-s-important-for-me-is-to-communicate-the-vision-that-i-have-in/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [If you look at the timing of many of the Greek dramas from the theatrical point of view, it's all off, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/if-you-look-at-the-timing-of-many-of-the-greek-dramas-from-the/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [I think one of the greatest enemies in the use of technology, however, is the idea that if you use the technology you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-think-one-of-the-greatest-enemies-in-the-use-of-technology-however/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [In other words, I think that if an audience listens to something as an experience of how in tune it is or something of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/in-other-words-i-think-that-if-an-audience-listens-to-something-as-an/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [Well, let me, first of all, say, that as a microtonal composer, I've never been much of a theorist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/well-let-me-first-of-all-say-that-as-a-microtonal-composer-i-ve-never/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [I think the composer and production staff of an opera have a real responsibility to use visual elements of all kinds to make clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-think-the-composer-and-production-staff-of-an-opera-have-a-real/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [I want the audience to be so involved in the sweep of the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-want-the-audience-to-be-so-involved-in-the-sweep-of-the-music/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [Well, opera began with an intent to resuscitate Greek drama, that is, modern opera as we know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/well-opera-began-with-an-intent-to-resuscitate-greek-drama-that-is/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [I think I was first to do live performances on a modern electronic sound synthesizer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-think-i-was-first-to-do-live-performances-on-a-modern-electronic/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [The way that I got involved with microtonal music was, frankly, through jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/the-way-that-i-got-involved-with-microtonal-music-was-frankly-through/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [We need it to capture the energy of contemporary life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/we-need-it-to-capture-the-energy-of-contemporary-life/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [We need to open up the future. We also need to keep everything valuable from the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/we-need-to-open-up-the-future-we-also-need-to-keep-everything/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [Well, the very best operas are the ones written by the very best composers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/well-the-very-best-operas-are-the-ones-written-by-the-very-best/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) [Explore all 22 John Eaton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [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/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think a lot of composers get into trouble just making up a plot and expecting an audience to follow that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Eaton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trouble-just-making-up-a-plot-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Audience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trouble-just-making-up-a-plot-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/john-eaton-25837_audience_i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trou_2652255.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/john-eaton-25837_audience_i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trou_2652255.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/john-eaton-25837_audience_i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trou_2652255.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think a lot of composers get into trouble just making up a plot and expecting an audience to follow that.” — John Eaton", "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": "John Eaton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think a lot of composers...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trouble-just-making-up-a-plot-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trouble-just-making-up-a-plot-and/#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 } } ] } ```