---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In L.A., though, people get off busses…"
description: "\"In L.A., though, people get off busses calling themselves actors, so many are really not professionals.\" — John Ratzenberger"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/john-ratzenberger-11869_actors_in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-call_741778.jpg"
---

#  In L.A., though, people get off busses calling themselves…

![“In L.A., though, people get off busses calling themselves actors, so many are really not professionals.” quote by John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/john-ratzenberger-11869_actors_in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-call_741778.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/john-ratzenberger-11869_actors_in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-call_741778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/john-ratzenberger-11869_actors_in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-call_741778.jpg)

> “In L.A., though, people get off busses calling themselves actors, so many are really not professionals.”

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

## About This Quote

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

Many people claim titles without true expertise, leading to a mismatch between identity and skill.

**In simple terms:** Claims don’t equal skill.

Key Takeaway

Seek genuine competence.

Themes

authenticity professionalism identity

Mood

skeptical observational

Type

cautionary humorous

When to use this quote

- job interviews
- creative industries
- social media
- networking

Key Concepts

career social perception self‑presentation skill acquisition

Questions to Reflect On

- Are you truly skilled or just titled?
- How does false identity affect trust?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone can master a craft; effort is required.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-really/) [Busses Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busses-calling-5789388/) [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Calling Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling-actors-5789387/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Busses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-busses-5789386/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't consider a lot of actors that I really admire movie stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-kinnear/i-don-t-consider-a-lot-of-actors-that-i-really-admire-movie-stars/)

[Greg Kinnear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-kinnear/)

> [Hollywood likes to put actors in boxes, and it likes to put Asian actors in really small boxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-oh/hollywood-likes-to-put-actors-in-boxes-and-it-likes-to-put-asian/)

[Sandra Oh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-oh/)

> [I am very direct and I tend to treat everyone exactly the same, which sometimes gets me in trouble because some movie stars feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/i-am-very-direct-and-i-tend-to-treat-everyone-exactly-the-same-which/)

[John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/)

> [Television has filled the space for actors that really want to make good work and not just make a lot of money and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/television-has-filled-the-space-for-actors-that-really-want-to-make/)

[Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/)

> [Child actors going on to become adult actors never really works, apart from a few. Jodie Foster was the exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lester/child-actors-going-on-to-become-adult-actors-never-really-works-apart/)

[Mark Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lester/)

> [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/)

[Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/)

> [Yeah, the actors really come in as lumps of clay. We're ready to work with the directors and find our way. These guys really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-graae/yeah-the-actors-really-come-in-as-lumps-of-clay-we-re-ready-to-work/)

[Jason Graae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-graae/)

> [I do extensive storyboards so people can get a sense of what we're doing, and what the attitude and tone is. I work a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nutter/i-do-extensive-storyboards-so-people-can-get-a-sense-of-what-we-re/)

[David Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nutter/)

> [I want to create an environment that actors can be really free in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/i-want-to-create-an-environment-that-actors-can-be-really-free-in/)

[Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/)

> [I think a lot of quote-unquote 'comedic actors' really go for the laugh and are overly straining and sort of trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/i-think-a-lot-of-quote-unquote-comedic-actors-really-go-for-the-laugh/)

[Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/)

> [As much as it's nice to step into that massive world of Hollywood and be a big, famous actor, I prefer the career of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/as-much-as-it-s-nice-to-step-into-that-massive-world-of-hollywood-and/)

[Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/)

> [I really respect versatile actors, so I'd really like to throw myself in the deep end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samara-weaving/i-really-respect-versatile-actors-so-i-d-really-like-to-throw-myself/)

[Samara Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samara-weaving/)

> [There are so many great actors, but I really have a lot of respect for Johnny Depp. I've seen a lot of movies with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-speleers/there-are-so-many-great-actors-but-i-really-have-a-lot-of-respect-for/)

[Ed Speleers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-speleers/)

> [We've had no problems with the actors, but we keep a really loose set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farrelly/we-ve-had-no-problems-with-the-actors-but-we-keep-a-really-loose-set/)

[Peter Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farrelly/)

> [On 'Sin Nombre,' Adriano Goldman and I improvised a lot of things on-site. We were working with untrained actors, and you can't really block…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/on-sin-nombre-adriano-goldman-and-i-improvised-a-lot-of-things-on/)

[Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/)

## More by John Ratzenberger

> [ It was when Boston invited us to do a parade one November, and I was the only \[Star Wars\] cast member skeptical of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/it-was-when-boston-invited-us-to-do-a-parade-one-november-and-i-was/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [Sure, the comedians who swear or use scatological humor can get laughs, but they're uncomfortable laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/sure-the-comedians-who-swear-or-use-scatological-humor-can-get-laughs/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [ Maybe, I got a sense when \[Star Wars\] came out, and there were always these lines around the block. We didn't understand the popularity… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/maybe-i-got-a-sense-when-star-wars-came-out-and-there-were-always/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [A farce, or slapstick humor, does well universally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/a-farce-or-slapstick-humor-does-well-universally/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [ It was the last generation of writers \[ the Cheers\] that had grown up reading books instead of watching TV. So you weren't getting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/it-was-the-last-generation-of-writers-the-cheers-that-had-grown-up/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [Hollywood has lost touch with their audience a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/hollywood-has-lost-touch-with-their-audience-a-long-time-ago/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [Before 1972, no actors got residuals. They just got paid. No residuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/before-1972-no-actors-got-residuals-they-just-got-paid-no-residuals/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [I come from Bridgeport, Connecticut and have friends I grew up with there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/i-come-from-bridgeport-connecticut-and-have-friends-i-grew-up-with/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [I was a carpenter in Northern Vermont and got this tax refund check that just about covered a one-way airfare to London. So this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/i-was-a-carpenter-in-northern-vermont-and-got-this-tax-refund-check/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [From what I can see, too many kids don't learn pride in their country anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/from-what-i-can-see-too-many-kids-don-t-learn-pride-in-their-country/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [But from what I can see all around me today, that America is fading fast, if it's not already gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/but-from-what-i-can-see-all-around-me-today-that-america-is-fading/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [You've got to write for your audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/you-ve-got-to-write-for-your-audience/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [In fact, my son learned his first swear word from E.T. at age five. The way I look at it, E.T. stole a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/in-fact-my-son-learned-his-first-swear-word-from-e-t-at-age-five-the/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [After all, at end of the day, when you're breathing your last, it's not your producer, director, or cast mates by your bedside; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/after-all-at-end-of-the-day-when-you-re-breathing-your-last-it-s-not/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

> [To them, the real United States is just flyover country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/to-them-the-real-united-states-is-just-flyover-country/)

[John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

[Explore all 57 John Ratzenberger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/)

## More Actors quotes

> [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/)

[Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/)

[Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/)

> [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/)

[Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/)

[Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/)

> [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/)

[Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/)

> [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/)

[Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/)

[Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In L.A., though, people get off busses calling themselves actors, so many are really not professionals.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Ratzenberger"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-calling-themselves-actors-so-many/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actors"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-calling-themselves-actors-so-many/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/john-ratzenberger-11869_actors_in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-call_741778.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/john-ratzenberger-11869_actors_in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-call_741778.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/john-ratzenberger-11869_actors_in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-call_741778.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In L.A., though, people get off busses calling themselves actors, so many are really not professionals.” — John Ratzenberger",
                "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 Ratzenberger",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In L.A., though, people get off...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-calling-themselves-actors-so-many/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/in-l-a-though-people-get-off-busses-calling-themselves-actors-so-many/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
