--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think a lot comes from having the…" description: "\"I think a lot comes from having the experience of doing stand-up comedy. It allows you to figure out the psychology of an audience; what things are fun..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/keenen-ivory-wayans-18283_audience_i-think-a-lot-comes-from-having-the-expe_2402925.jpg" --- # I think a lot comes from having the experience of doing… ![“I think a lot comes from having the experience of doing stand-up comedy. It allows you to figure out the psychology of an audience; what things are funny and not.” quote by Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/keenen-ivory-wayans-18283_audience_i-think-a-lot-comes-from-having-the-expe_2402925.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/keenen-ivory-wayans-18283_audience_i-think-a-lot-comes-from-having-the-expe_2402925.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/keenen-ivory-wayans-18283_audience_i-think-a-lot-comes-from-having-the-expe_2402925.jpg) > “I think a lot comes from having the experience of doing stand-up comedy. It allows you to figure out the psychology of an audience; what things are funny and not.” [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performing comedy teaches you to read audience reactions and understand what triggers humor. **In simple terms:** Comedy reveals audience psychology. Key Takeaway Study audience cues to improve communication. Themes humor psychology communication Mood lighthearted insightful Type motivational educational When to use this quote - public speaking - marketing pitches - teaching - team leadership Key Concepts stand-up audience dynamics empathy Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply comedic timing in non‑comedic settings? - What audience signals indicate disengagement? A Different Perspective Humor may not translate across cultures or serious topics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Funny things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-things/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Stand up comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-up-comedy/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [I took a stand-up comedy class because I'd always wanted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanie-buss/i-took-a-stand-up-comedy-class-because-i-d-always-wanted-to/) [Jeanie Buss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanie-buss/) > [Now obviously popularity isn't everything when it comes to stand up comedy, but the art form itself is better today than it ever has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/now-obviously-popularity-isn-t-everything-when-it-comes-to-stand-up/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [While awaiting sentencing, I decided to give stand-up comedy a shot. The judge had suggested I get my act together, and I took him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/while-awaiting-sentencing-i-decided-to-give-stand-up-comedy-a-shot/) [Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/) > [As a live stand-up comedy performer, I have the benefit of choosing real entrance music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/as-a-live-stand-up-comedy-performer-i-have-the-benefit-of-choosing/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [For me, the way I stay consistent is through stand-up comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/for-me-the-way-i-stay-consistent-is-through-stand-up-comedy/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [But sometimes it's good to dare yourself to do the unthinkable. And rather than stand in front of an audience with no clothes on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-davis/but-sometimes-it-s-good-to-dare-yourself-to-do-the-unthinkable-and/) [Evan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-davis/) > [Comedy doesn't really matter that much; I know that. I treat it like an adult - I don't treat it like a child or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/comedy-doesn-t-really-matter-that-much-i-know-that-i-treat-it-like-an/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [About a year after I moved to Los Angeles, I decided I wanted to be a joke writer for a late night talk show.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/about-a-year-after-i-moved-to-los-angeles-i-decided-i-wanted-to-be-a/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [You know, it wasn't even that I'm a funny guy, I just loved stand-up comedy and I wanted to do it. It was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/you-know-it-wasn-t-even-that-i-m-a-funny-guy-i-just-loved-stand-up/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [Stand-up comedy is an art form and it dies unless you expand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kinison/stand-up-comedy-is-an-art-form-and-it-dies-unless-you-expand-it/) [Sam Kinison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kinison/) > [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [Stand-up comedy in the end, unlike the rest of the entertainment industry, is a meritocracy. There's a certain level of undeniability you can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/stand-up-comedy-in-the-end-unlike-the-rest-of-the-entertainment/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I go to a lot of stand-up comedy. I find more inspiration from observational stuff than from rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riz-ahmed/i-go-to-a-lot-of-stand-up-comedy-i-find-more-inspiration-from/) [Riz Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riz-ahmed/) ## More by Keenen Ivory Wayans > [The pressures having grown up in this business can be really rough. And it is a testament to you that you have remained focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/the-pressures-having-grown-up-in-this-business-can-be-really-rough/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [We've seen so many films now, that you have to be on par with the best films that have preceded you. You just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/we-ve-seen-so-many-films-now-that-you-have-to-be-on-par-with-the-best/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [I think that if you, as a comedian, are trying to be in people's face, then you've got to come up with new stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/i-think-that-if-you-as-a-comedian-are-trying-to-be-in-people-s-face/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [It's rare that you cut out something that is really good. You screen all of it, and when the audience doesn't respond, you cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/it-s-rare-that-you-cut-out-something-that-is-really-good-you-screen/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [Creativity is the answer. I always prefer the creative solution to an expensive solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/creativity-is-the-answer-i-always-prefer-the-creative-solution-to-an/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [There are two phases to a movie. First you shoot the movie, and then you make the movie. Generally, post-production is longer than filming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/there-are-two-phases-to-a-movie-first-you-shoot-the-movie-and-then/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [I enjoy the character interplay. Sometimes the audience is not laughing, but smiling, and that is almost just as good because it keeps them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/i-enjoy-the-character-interplay-sometimes-the-audience-is-not/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [All I need is a camera and I'll make things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/all-i-need-is-a-camera-and-i-ll-make-things-happen/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [I go through a whole process with the actors first, building and creating characters, then I encourage them to sort of live in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/i-go-through-a-whole-process-with-the-actors-first-building-and/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [Just making a good movie is hard to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/just-making-a-good-movie-is-hard-to-do/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [We do nods to Charlie's Angels and Mission Impossible because they are popular with our fan base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/we-do-nods-to-charlie-s-angels-and-mission-impossible-because-they/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [Great art is not instant. It comes from experience, it comes from a place within. If you're trying to generate material, then you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/great-art-is-not-instant-it-comes-from-experience-it-comes-from-a/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [You can kind of feel when things are going to work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/you-can-kind-of-feel-when-things-are-going-to-work-out/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [In rare instances you have to give up what you thought was a great scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/in-rare-instances-you-have-to-give-up-what-you-thought-was-a-great/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [I put the cameras on her and told her to be obnoxious as she could possibly could be. She was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/i-put-the-cameras-on-her-and-told-her-to-be-obnoxious-as-she-could/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) [Explore all 35 Keenen Ivory Wayans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) ## 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 comes from having the experience of doing stand-up comedy. 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