--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't second-guess your audience. You…" description: "\"You can't second-guess your audience. You can only do what you think is right. If you do that, your audience will appreciate you\" — Lyle Lovett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/lyle-lovett-8466_appreciate_you-can-t-second-guess-your-audience-you_2705859.jpg" --- # You can't second-guess your audience. You can only do what… ![“You can't second-guess your audience. You can only do what you think is right. If you do that, your audience will appreciate you” quote by Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/lyle-lovett-8466_appreciate_you-can-t-second-guess-your-audience-you_2705859.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/lyle-lovett-8466_appreciate_you-can-t-second-guess-your-audience-you_2705859.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/lyle-lovett-8466_appreciate_you-can-t-second-guess-your-audience-you_2705859.jpg) > “You can't second-guess your audience. You can only do what you think is right. If you do that, your audience will appreciate you” [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists should trust their instincts rather than over‑analyzing audience expectations; authenticity earns genuine appreciation. **In simple terms:** Trust instincts, not audience guesses. Key Takeaway Create authentically, trust your vision. Themes creativity authenticity audience confidence artistic integrity Mood confident reflective Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - branding Key Concepts self‑expression risk taking Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance authenticity with audience? - What signals indicate audience resonance? A Different Perspective Audience may reject unconventional work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think about the gender of my readers or about reader expectations. I'm frankly scared to. I figured out a long time ago…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-don-t-think-about-the-gender-of-my-readers-or-about-reader/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [Producers are too ready to second-guess an audience, and they always play it very safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/producers-are-too-ready-to-second-guess-an-audience-and-they-always/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [ \["War Horse"\] does have action as well, but we allow the audience to appreciate the environment where these characters are from because the lens… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-kaminski/war-horse-does-have-action-as-well-but-we-allow-the-audience-to/) [Janusz Kaminski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-kaminski/) > [I do that in whatever language of the country I'm in, because the audience appreciate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-do-that-in-whatever-language-of-the-country-i-m-in-because-the/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [“The audience may not like your work; if you are very sure of your work, don’t waste your time defending it, just ignore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-audience-may-not-like-your-work-if-you-are-very-sure-of-your-work/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [You couldn't be performing if it weren't for the audience. I appreciate them being there. So why not applaud them? They took time out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/you-couldn-t-be-performing-if-it-weren-t-for-the-audience-i/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [If I've got a talent, it's for picking the right song at the right time for the right audience. And I can always seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/if-i-ve-got-a-talent-it-s-for-picking-the-right-song-at-the-right/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [Ive found that if you just try to make the film you want, youll find the right audience. If you try to please everyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/ive-found-that-if-you-just-try-to-make-the-film-you-want-youll-find/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I've seen the power of the community. A young person can stand up, talk about his dream, and someone from the audience will come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-pratury/i-ve-seen-the-power-of-the-community-a-young-person-can-stand-up-talk/) [Lakshmi Pratury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-pratury/) > [When you get just that right audience and just that right sound on stage and you can just sit back and kinda just let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lang/when-you-get-just-that-right-audience-and-just-that-right-sound-on/) [Jonny Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lang/) > [If I've got a talent, it's for picking the right song at the right time for the right audience. And I can always get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/if-i-ve-got-a-talent-it-s-for-picking-the-right-song-at-the-right-2/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [The ghastly thing about being a producer is that, once the curtain goes up, there is nothing you can do. At least when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-o-mara/the-ghastly-thing-about-being-a-producer-is-that-once-the-curtain/) [Kate O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-o-mara/) > [I've found that if you just try to make the film you want, you'll find the right audience. If you try to please everyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-ve-found-that-if-you-just-try-to-make-the-film-you-want-you-ll-find/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [Now, when I started my theater, the modus operandi was having the actors stare right into the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-foreman/now-when-i-started-my-theater-the-modus-operandi-was-having-the/) [Richard Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-foreman/) > [Really there's different scales of stories. Sometimes you want to tell one that 20, 30, 40, 50 million people will want to see and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/really-there-s-different-scales-of-stories-sometimes-you-want-to-tell/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) ## More by Lyle Lovett > [Helen Hunt is terrific, and I got to do a couple of guest spots with Helen and Paul Reiser on 'Mad About You.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/helen-hunt-is-terrific-and-i-got-to-do-a-couple-of-guest-spots-with/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [In school, I didn't speak up often in class. I was never the person to yell out an answer. If I knew it, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/in-school-i-didn-t-speak-up-often-in-class-i-was-never-the-person-to/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [Tipping your hat to a lady is good form. If you're at a dinner table, you'd most certainly take your hat off - cowboy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/tipping-your-hat-to-a-lady-is-good-form-if-you-re-at-a-dinner-table/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [The idea that we humans are good-natured, politically correct, nonjudgmental beings is pure fantasy. We are, at the very least, judgmental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/the-idea-that-we-humans-are-good-natured-politically-correct/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [Horses teach you patience and how to do things the right way so you can get the right result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/horses-teach-you-patience-and-how-to-do-things-the-right-way-so-you/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [Somehow you can tell the difference when a song is written just to get on the radio and when what someone does is their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/somehow-you-can-tell-the-difference-when-a-song-is-written-just-to/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [She was ugly from the front, and I said ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly. Well, I could handle it behind her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/she-was-ugly-from-the-front-and-i-said-ugly-ugly-ugly-ugly-ugly-well/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [Kemo Sabe, kiss my ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/kemo-sabe-kiss-my-ass/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [When you have a solid upbringing and a strong sense of place, that sustains you. My sense of home never leaves me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/when-you-have-a-solid-upbringing-and-a-strong-sense-of-place-that/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [If you forget the words to your own song, you can always claim artistic license. Forget the words to the national anthem and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/if-you-forget-the-words-to-your-own-song-you-can-always-claim/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [I married her just because she looks like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/i-married-her-just-because-she-looks-like-you/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [You're saying something with your appearance whether you mean to or not, so you may as well mean to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/you-re-saying-something-with-your-appearance-whether-you-mean-to-or/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [My parents worked for Exxon, and they gave me every chance to take part in music. I took guitar lessons, and I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/my-parents-worked-for-exxon-and-they-gave-me-every-chance-to-take/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [The first time I toured with the 'Large Band' in 1988, I got so tired. If I just stood still anywhere, I could go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/the-first-time-i-toured-with-the-large-band-in-1988-i-got-so-tired-if/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [You don't have to have anything in common with people you've known since you were five. With old friends, you've got your whole life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/you-don-t-have-to-have-anything-in-common-with-people-you-ve-known/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) [Explore all 80 Lyle Lovett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Time is really gold,spent it wisely with the people around you.Spread love,appreciate the beauty around you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jglargosta/time-is-really-gold-spent-it-wisely-with-the-people-around-you-spread/) [Jglargosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jglargosta/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/) [Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Love is too wonderful for us but why we often times do not ever appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamad-idrus/love-is-too-wonderful-for-us-but-why-we-often-times-do-not-ever/) [Mohamad Idrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamad-idrus/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-a-hoffman/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-stay-hopeful-to-believe/) [Irena A. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irena-a-hoffman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) Browse all 3,873 Appreciate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't second-guess your audience. You can only do what you think is right. 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