--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a scene [where the improvisers must…" description: "\"In a scene [where the improvisers must interact] without the letter S, the audience is waiting for you to lose - so they can laugh at you. Don't try to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/224/keith-johnstone-13430_audience_in-a-scene-where-the-improvisers-must-in_2982928.png" --- # In a scene \[where the improvisers must interact\] without… ![“In a scene [where the improvisers must interact] without the letter S, the audience is waiting for you to lose - so they can laugh at you. Don't try to win.” quote by Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/224/keith-johnstone-13430_audience_in-a-scene-where-the-improvisers-must-in_2982928.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/224/keith-johnstone-13430_audience_in-a-scene-where-the-improvisers-must-in_2982928.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/224/keith-johnstone-13430_audience_in-a-scene-where-the-improvisers-must-in_2982928.png) > “In a scene \[where the improvisers must interact\] without the letter S, the audience is waiting for you to lose - so they can laugh at you. Don't try to win.” [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improvisation thrives when performers release the urge to dominate, embracing uncertainty and audience expectations. **In simple terms:** Don’t try to dominate; embrace uncertainty. Key Takeaway Let go of winning mindset. Themes improvisation performance audience uncertainty Mood playful thoughtful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - theatre workshops - team building - public speaking - creative training Key Concepts creative risk collaborative flow psychological safety Questions to Reflect On - What happens when you stop trying to win? - How does audience pressure shape performance? A Different Perspective Focusing on winning can stifle spontaneity and connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-waiting-2213980/) [Improvisers Interact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisers-interact-4647387/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Letter Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letter-audience-4647389/) [Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters/) [Lose Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-laugh-842652/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Scene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scene/) [Scene Improvisers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scene-improvisers-4647388/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Waiting for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-for-you/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Obviously when you lose you can't laugh but on a training day, why can't you laugh? It should be normal, in my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-rudiger/obviously-when-you-lose-you-can-t-laugh-but-on-a-training-day-why-can/) [Antonio Rudiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-rudiger/) > [It is bad to suppress laughter. It goes back down to your hips. Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/it-is-bad-to-suppress-laughter-it-goes-back-down-to-your-hips-man/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“...Television is cretinizing me – I can feel it. Soon I’ll be like the TV artists. You know the people I mean. Girls who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/television-is-cretinizing-me-i-can-feel-it-soon-i-ll-be-like-the-tv/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/man-when-you-lose-your-laugh-you-lose-your-footing/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [But the rest are even scared to open up and laugh. You know, that's the first thing that got me about this place, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/but-the-rest-are-even-scared-to-open-up-and-laugh-you-know-that-s-the/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [And one of the things I noticed pretty early on in art school was that my classmates had no notion of an audience. Right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/and-one-of-the-things-i-noticed-pretty-early-on-in-art-school-was/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I feel happy that the audience are waiting to watch a movie like 'Masaan' and are accepting off-beat movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/i-feel-happy-that-the-audience-are-waiting-to-watch-a-movie-like/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [You have that moment just before you go on - I've had it in every play - where you just kind of want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-raine/you-have-that-moment-just-before-you-go-on-i-ve-had-it-in-every-play/) [Jessica Raine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-raine/) > [“When I got a networking event, I don’t see a crowd of strangers—I see an admiring audience waiting for me to perform so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-i-got-a-networking-event-i-don-t-see-a-crowd-of-strangers-i-see/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > ['Vicky Donor' proved that the audience was waiting for well-scripted funny films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yami-gautam/vicky-donor-proved-that-the-audience-was-waiting-for-well-scripted/) [Yami Gautam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yami-gautam/) > [“Every talent has an audience waiting to be inspired and entertained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakaii/every-talent-has-an-audience-waiting-to-be-inspired-and-entertained/) [Lakaii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakaii/) > [There's a hunger our there for different types of stories, and I think there's an audience that's waiting and primed to accept a vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-famuyiwa/there-s-a-hunger-our-there-for-different-types-of-stories-and-i-think/) [Rick Famuyiwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-famuyiwa/) > [I will be like this forever.I am still standing where you left me waiting. Just you touch me and I will be alive once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/insane-insomniac/i-will-be-like-this-forever-i-am-still-standing-where-you-left-me/) [Insane & Insomniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/insane-insomniac/) > [When you follow your bliss a kind of track opens up, that's always been there, waiting for you. And the life that you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/when-you-follow-your-bliss-a-kind-of-track-opens-up-that-s-always/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More by Keith Johnstone > [Suppose Mozart had tried to be original? It would have been like a man at the North Pole trying to walk north, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/suppose-mozart-had-tried-to-be-original-it-would-have-been-like-a-man/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [An artist who is inspired is being obvious. He’s not making any decisions, he’s not weighing one idea against another. He’s accepting his first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/an-artist-who-is-inspired-is-being-obvious-he-s-not-making-any/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [I was crazy about silent comedy - in the old days, and crazy about Japanese movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/i-was-crazy-about-silent-comedy-in-the-old-days-and-crazy-about/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [The problem's always been to deal with the fear.Cos the fear is pretty . . . it ruins everybody really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/the-problem-s-always-been-to-deal-with-the-fear-cos-the-fear-is/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/none-of-us-really-grow-up-all-we-ever-do-is-learn-how-to-behave-in/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [Wherever you go it's the same fear. And the same protective devices. There is one big error I think and partly my fault which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/wherever-you-go-it-s-the-same-fear-and-the-same-protective-devices/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [Good improvisers seem telepathic; everything looks pre-arranged, This is because they accept all offers made—which is something no ‘normal’ person would do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/good-improvisers-seem-telepathic-everything-looks-pre-arranged-this/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [I left my theatre the Loose Moose almost twenty years ago, and I hardly ever go back. Sometimes I go back to do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/i-left-my-theatre-the-loose-moose-almost-twenty-years-ago-and-i/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [There are people who prefer to say ‘Yes’, and there are people who prefer to say ‘No’. Those who say ‘Yes’ are rewarded by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/there-are-people-who-prefer-to-say-yes-and-there-are-people-who/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [I don't even think you should tell the audience you're improvising. It's like an apology in case it's bad : 'we're just making it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/i-don-t-even-think-you-should-tell-the-audience-you-re-improvising-it/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [You can sort of trick people into being really good. Even if they didn't know anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/you-can-sort-of-trick-people-into-being-really-good-even-if-they-didn/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [The best laughs are on the recognition of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/the-best-laughs-are-on-the-recognition-of-truth/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [If you have a good idea, open your mouth and say something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/if-you-have-a-good-idea-open-your-mouth-and-say-something-else/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [Enjoy things even when you’re screwing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/enjoy-things-even-when-you-re-screwing-up/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [My feeling is the moment the theatre is not full you have to do something else. But most people somehow think 'If we did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/my-feeling-is-the-moment-the-theatre-is-not-full-you-have-to-do/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) [Explore all 50 Keith Johnstone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) ## 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": "In a scene [where the improvisers must interact] without the letter S, the audience is waiting for you to lose - so they can laugh at you. 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