--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Standup is like shorthand. Every bit must…" description: "\"Standup is like shorthand. Every bit must be both brief and profound or the audience will lose interest.\" — Johnny Lever" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/johnny-lever-7150_audience_standup-is-like-shorthand-every-bit-must_3231866.jpg" --- # Standup is like shorthand. Every bit must be both brief… ![“Standup is like shorthand. Every bit must be both brief and profound or the audience will lose interest.” quote by Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/johnny-lever-7150_audience_standup-is-like-shorthand-every-bit-must_3231866.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/johnny-lever-7150_audience_standup-is-like-shorthand-every-bit-must_3231866.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/johnny-lever-7150_audience_standup-is-like-shorthand-every-bit-must_3231866.jpg) > “Standup is like shorthand. Every bit must be both brief and profound or the audience will lose interest.” [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement likens stand‑up comedy to a concise language, requiring each joke to be short yet deep to keep the audience engaged. **In simple terms:** Comedy must be brief and profound. Key Takeaway Aim for concise, meaningful humor. Themes comedy communication engagement Mood humorous insightful Type artistic practical When to use this quote - open‑mic nights - writing sessions - corporate events - online sketches Key Concepts brevity depth performance Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance brevity with depth? - What makes a joke both short and profound? A Different Perspective Risk of oversimplifying complex ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) ## Related quotes > [Be true to your audience, or you will lose money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/be-true-to-your-audience-or-you-will-lose-money/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [I get burned out on standup. But I like acting. I do like it. But sometimes you just feel like a monkey. You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-get-burned-out-on-standup-but-i-like-acting-i-do-like-it-but/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I was just trying to blend the standup that I do almost with like the visual sketch stuff that I did on "Saturday Night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-that-i-do-almost-with-like-the/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Even though standup seems like one-way conversation, if you're doing it right, it's actually a two-way discussion between the comic and the audience... the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/even-though-standup-seems-like-one-way-conversation-if-you-re-doing/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [I am not a big fan of very prepared standup. I like when Dave Attell writes and I appreciate it but I much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-kreischer/i-am-not-a-big-fan-of-very-prepared-standup-i-like-when-dave-attell/) [Bert Kreischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-kreischer/) > [Everyone kept telling me I should go into standup, and I was like, 'They look broke and sad, I'm not sad and I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/everyone-kept-telling-me-i-should-go-into-standup-and-i-was-like-they/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [It's weird because standup can be like therapy. Comedians can't be satisfied with just having fun with our friends. We've got to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artie-lange/it-s-weird-because-standup-can-be-like-therapy-comedians-can-t-be/) [Artie Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artie-lange/) > [I just love all the music. My grandma was a church organist for 40 years, and she got me into jazz music and great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-just-love-all-the-music-my-grandma-was-a-church-organist-for-40/) [Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/) > [When you're "East Coast" person, you are so insufferable, and you have no idea. And I was. One, because I was miserable, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/when-you-re-east-coast-person-you-are-so-insufferable-and-you-have-no/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [All black people who are even minimally conscious, black people who have ever experienced Europe's technological power crusading in the vanguard of a civilizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-nkosi/all-black-people-who-are-even-minimally-conscious-black-people-who/) [Lewis Nkosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-nkosi/) > [ Beneath everything else, North and West, there ran a profound, unvoiced, almost subconscious conviction that the \[American\] nation was going to go on growing-in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/beneath-everything-else-north-and-west-there-ran-a-profound-unvoiced/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [From the grasses in the field to the stars in the sky, each one is doing just that; and there is such profound peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/from-the-grasses-in-the-field-to-the-stars-in-the-sky-each-one-is/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) ## More by Johnny Lever > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Comedy comes from childhood only. The humour genes you are born with remain with you. I was always making mischief and making people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/comedy-comes-from-childhood-only-the-humour-genes-you-are-born-with/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Gone are those days where I would probably work for five shifts in a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/gone-are-those-days-where-i-would-probably-work-for-five-shifts-in-a/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Back To Dad' gives a message that every youngster should learn and this is surely going to leave a very strong impact on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/back-to-dad-gives-a-message-that-every-youngster-should-learn-and/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [For artists like me nothing matters more than the audience's respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/for-artists-like-me-nothing-matters-more-than-the-audience-s-respect/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Comedy is more an art of body language and gestures - it is more a performance of an artist than the lines given to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/comedy-is-more-an-art-of-body-language-and-gestures-it-is-more-a/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Ranchi is a much better place than Mumbai or any other big city in the country. People here are simple and open-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/ranchi-is-a-much-better-place-than-mumbai-or-any-other-big-city-in/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [In fact, I get angry when people laugh at me. I go to the airport and the ground hostess starts laughing at me when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/in-fact-i-get-angry-when-people-laugh-at-me-i-go-to-the-airport-and/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [When you're on a battlefield, you should know how to fight your way to victory, and you've to be very well-prepared for it. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/when-you-re-on-a-battlefield-you-should-know-how-to-fight-your-way-to/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [I don't boast about being a holy person but I know that prayer can do miracles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/i-don-t-boast-about-being-a-holy-person-but-i-know-that-prayer-can-do/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Comedy is tough. It is a serious business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/comedy-is-tough-it-is-a-serious-business/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [My son assisted a few directors and my daughter does stand up acts with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/my-son-assisted-a-few-directors-and-my-daughter-does-stand-up-acts/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Johnny Walker and I were very close. My house is just next to his, we were neighbours. Some time back, he came to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/johnny-walker-and-i-were-very-close-my-house-is-just-next-to-his-we/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [As for insecurity, I have none because I know nobody has offered variety in comedy like I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/as-for-insecurity-i-have-none-because-i-know-nobody-has-offered/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [I started as a stand-up comedian at charity shows in Mumbai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/i-started-as-a-stand-up-comedian-at-charity-shows-in-mumbai/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) [Explore all 94 Johnny Lever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) ## 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": "Standup is like shorthand. 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