--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started playing music at East…" description: "\"When I started playing music at East Tennessee State University I would sit on a stool with a tip jar in front of me and play four hours a night at a c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/kenny-chesney-2066_barbecue_when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-ten_298685.png" --- # When I started playing music at East Tennessee State… ![“When I started playing music at East Tennessee State University I would sit on a stool with a tip jar in front of me and play four hours a night at a college bar called Quarterback's Barbecue. I wasn't thinking about doing it for a living. I was just making enough money to go to Taco Bell every…” quote by Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/kenny-chesney-2066_barbecue_when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-ten_298685.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/kenny-chesney-2066_barbecue_when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-ten_298685.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/kenny-chesney-2066_barbecue_when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-ten_298685.png) > “When I started playing music at East Tennessee State University I would sit on a stool with a tip jar in front of me and play four hours a night at a college bar called Quarterback's Barbecue. I wasn't thinking about doing it for a living. I was just making enough money to go to Taco Bell every day. People were eating chips, drinking beer and not listening to me. I'd had three or four years of people ignoring me, and I'd kind of gotten used to it.” [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes early gigs where he played for tips, indifferent audiences, and modest earnings, highlighting perseverance despite lack of recognition. **In simple terms:** Early performances were low‑pay, low‑profile, but he kept playing. Key Takeaway Keep practicing regardless of audience size. Themes perseverance music humility work ethic Mood determined reflective Type personal career When to use this quote - college bar gigs - early career - financial independence - building confidence Key Concepts gig economy artist development motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay motivated when audiences are indifferent? - What strategies help turn small gigs into larger opportunities? A Different Perspective Sustaining a music career often requires balancing artistic growth with financial realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barbecue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbecue/) [Barbecue Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbecue-wasn-2857676/) [Bars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bars/) [Beer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beer/) [Bells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bells/) [Chips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chips/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College Bar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-bar-2857674/) [Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Drinking beer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking-beer/) [East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east/) [East tennessee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east-tennessee-52497/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Four years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four-years/) [Fronts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fronts/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Ignore me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignore-me/) [Jars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jars/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Money Taco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-taco-2857675/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-music/) [Quarterback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarterback/) [Quarterback Barbecue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarterback-barbecue-2857677/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Stools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stools/) [Taco bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taco-bell/) [Tacos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tacos/) [Tennessee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennessee/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Tip Jar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tip-jar-222933/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in east Tennessee, and everybody knew everybody's business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-grew-up-in-east-tennessee-and-everybody-knew-everybody-s-business/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [When I was at uni, our whole college bar would gather around the quiz machine for a few games every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-riley/when-i-was-at-uni-our-whole-college-bar-would-gather-around-the-quiz/) [Rachel Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-riley/) > [I've had some of the best times of my life at The KK. The best staff at the greatest college bar in the country!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chelios/i-ve-had-some-of-the-best-times-of-my-life-at-the-kk-the-best-staff/) [Chris Chelios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chelios/) > [“A few moments later John handed her a large paper plate with a steaming serving of lasagna with garlic bread. “Looks delicious. Thanks.” She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-harman/a-few-moments-later-john-handed-her-a-large-paper-plate-with-a/) [Dianne Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-harman/) > [“Also, we decided that people who can afford giant bags of cocaine should really be embarrassed at leaving anything less than a cool hundy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/also-we-decided-that-people-who-can-afford-giant-bags-of-cocaine/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Golddigger whores on my sack cuz my shirt tag irritate me, groupie cunts on my cock cuz I put a dollar in the tip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/golddigger-whores-on-my-sack-cuz-my-shirt-tag-irritate-me-groupie/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [What you need for breakfast, they say in East Tennessee, is a jug of good corn liquor, a thick steak and a hound dog.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kuralt/what-you-need-for-breakfast-they-say-in-east-tennessee-is-a-jug-of/) [Charles Kuralt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kuralt/) > [I think, being from east Tennessee, you're kinda born with a little lonesome in your soul, in your blood. You know you've got that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-monroe/i-think-being-from-east-tennessee-you-re-kinda-born-with-a-little/) [Ashley Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-monroe/) > [When I think about singing, and music, I think about how the people who live on the East Tennessee side have more of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-june/when-i-think-about-singing-and-music-i-think-about-how-the-people-who/) [Valerie June](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-june/) > [Growing up in east Tennessee gave me my country roots, my twang, and a lot of my stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsea-ballerini/growing-up-in-east-tennessee-gave-me-my-country-roots-my-twang-and-a/) [Kelsea Ballerini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsea-ballerini/) > [The grandmother didn't want to go to Florida. She wanted to visit some of her connections in east Tennessee and she was seizing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/the-grandmother-didn-t-want-to-go-to-florida-she-wanted-to-visit-some/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [I'm a Tennessee boy. I grew up in East Tennessee most of my life, then came up to Philly to go to college and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/i-m-a-tennessee-boy-i-grew-up-in-east-tennessee-most-of-my-life-then/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [You've probably heard the term, 'red flag warning.' That means there are extreme conditions. Low humidity, high temperatures. The fuels are extremely dry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-miller/you-ve-probably-heard-the-term-red-flag-warning-that-means-there-are/) [Bruce Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-miller/) ## More by Kenny Chesney > [To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/to-get-to-wear-those-game-day-jerseys-down-the-hall/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [Music's my medication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/music-s-my-medication/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [the more you live the more things reflect all around you!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/the-more-you-live-the-more-things-reflect-all-around-you/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [Best start putting first things first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/best-start-putting-first-things-first/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [I think there is a part of life that I'm missing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-think-there-is-a-part-of-life-that-i-m-missing/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [I want there to be a level of respect between everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-want-there-to-be-a-level-of-respect-between-everybody/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [I like to rock and roll, but I'm a mushy guy, too. I want to be the guy that all the girls love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-like-to-rock-and-roll-but-i-m-a-mushy-guy-too-i-want-to-be-the-guy/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [They didn't let just anybody in that club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/they-didn-t-let-just-anybody-in-that-club/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [The kings of the school, man, we're the boys of fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/the-kings-of-the-school-man-we-re-the-boys-of-fall/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [My mother is a very fun-loving person. She has been through a lot in her life. She has had a couple of divorces. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/my-mother-is-a-very-fun-loving-person-she-has-been-through-a-lot-in/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [I didn't have any clue as to what true marriage meant. I was so used to committing to one thing - music - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-didn-t-have-any-clue-as-to-what-true-marriage-meant-i-was-so-used/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [Live a little, love a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/live-a-little-love-a-lot/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [You just might miss your babies growing like mine did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/you-just-might-miss-your-babies-growing-like-mine-did/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [ \[Music\] is the one thing that connects the dots in all kinds of ways. No matter how you were brought up, no matter what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/music-is-the-one-thing-that-connects-the-dots-in-all-kinds-of-ways-no/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [The thing that I love, especially after sound check, is when I'm in that stadium alone. It's complete silence. I love that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/the-thing-that-i-love-especially-after-sound-check-is-when-i-m-in/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) [Explore all 188 Kenny Chesney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) ## More Barbecue quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [I think I can capture the taste buds of the average right-wing conservative who loves barbecue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/i-think-i-can-capture-the-taste-buds-of-the-average-right-wing/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [The price of barbecue is eternal vigilance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-price-of-barbecue-is-eternal-vigilance/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [No one would barbecue their family dog. Why is a cow or a pig or a chicken different?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ness/no-one-would-barbecue-their-family-dog-why-is-a-cow-or-a-pig-or-a/) [Mike Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ness/) > [I felt like I couldn't meet a single rich person. Regardless of where I live, they don't want to talk to me. I threw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cubas/i-felt-like-i-couldn-t-meet-a-single-rich-person-regardless-of-where/) [Chris Cubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cubas/) > [Tell him to leave me alone, Astrid. Else I’ll have to barbecue him and make akri angry at me. I don’t want to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/tell-him-to-leave-me-alone-astrid-else-i-ll-have-to-barbecue-him-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [He cleared his throat and reminded himself that if you pissed Her Holiness off, they'd need barbecue tongs to pick up your steaming pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-cleared-his-throat-and-reminded-himself-that-if-you-pissed-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obviously, for my line of work, I cannot eat barbecue that often. It takes a little bit to digest and it's not the healthiest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-gasol/obviously-for-my-line-of-work-i-cannot-eat-barbecue-that-often-it/) [Marc Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-gasol/) > [(The baby sneezed. Wulf jumped as fire shot out of its nostrils and almost singed his leg.) Excuse me. I almost made Dark-Hunter barbecue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-baby-sneezed-wulf-jumped-as-fire-shot-out-of-its-nostrils-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“She had to laugh. "You're making me hungry." "Me, too." His gaze locked with hers, making it clear it wasn't just barbecue he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-daniels/she-had-to-laugh-you-re-making-me-hungry-me-too-his-gaze-locked-with/) [B.J. Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-daniels/) > [The Simi gots some barbecue sauce in her bag. It kind of looks like blood if you squint at it the right way. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-simi-gots-some-barbecue-sauce-in-her-bag-it-kind-of-looks-like/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I don't diet. There's going to be barbecues and macaroni and cheese - but I'll have broccoli and salad the next day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/i-don-t-diet-there-s-going-to-be-barbecues-and-macaroni-and-cheese/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [Every year, I do a New Year's day party at my home. I invite my staff and my friends and their kids. Around 40-50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nobu-matsuhisa/every-year-i-do-a-new-year-s-day-party-at-my-home-i-invite-my-staff/) [Nobu Matsuhisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nobu-matsuhisa/) > [In England "The Day After," though unpopular with viewers, seems to have confirmed the average Englishman's mindless prejudice against Kansas. Shortly after the film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/in-england-the-day-after-though-unpopular-with-viewers-seems-to-have/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) > [Some guys smoke. Some guys drink. Some guys chase women. I'm a big barbecue-sauce guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-majerus/some-guys-smoke-some-guys-drink-some-guys-chase-women-i-m-a-big/) [Rick Majerus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-majerus/) [Browse all 200 Barbecue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbecue/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started playing music at East Tennessee State University I would sit on a stool with a tip jar in front of me and play four hours a night at a college bar called Quarterback's Barbecue. I wasn't thinking about doing it for a living. I was just making enough money to go to Taco Bell every day. People were eating chips, drinking beer and not listening to me. I'd had three or four years of people ignoring me, and I'd kind of gotten used to it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenny Chesney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-tennessee-state-university-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barbecue" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-tennessee-state-university-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/kenny-chesney-2066_barbecue_when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-ten_298685.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/kenny-chesney-2066_barbecue_when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-ten_298685.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/kenny-chesney-2066_barbecue_when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-ten_298685.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I started playing music at East Tennessee State University I would sit on a stool with a tip jar in…” — Kenny Chesney", "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": "Kenny Chesney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I started playing music at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-tennessee-state-university-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/when-i-started-playing-music-at-east-tennessee-state-university-i/#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 } } ] } ```