---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A recording of a performance is a…"
description: "\"A recording of a performance is a recording of a performance. It's not the performance.\" — Mark Morris"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/mark-morris-17578_performance_a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-record_849712.jpg"
---

#  A recording of a performance is a recording of a…

![“A recording of a performance is a recording of a performance. It's not the performance.” quote by Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/mark-morris-17578_performance_a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-record_849712.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/mark-morris-17578_performance_a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-record_849712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/mark-morris-17578_performance_a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-record_849712.jpg)

> “A recording of a performance is a recording of a performance. It's not the performance.”

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A recording captures a performance, but not the live, embodied experience.

**In simple terms:** Recordings are not the same as the actual performance.

Key Takeaway

Value live experience over mere documentation.

Themes

art performance authenticity

Mood

reflective appreciative

Type

artistic philosophical

When to use this quote

- theater attendance
- live concerts
- dance workshops

Key Concepts

ephemerality media theory

Questions to Reflect On

- What aspects of live art are lost in recordings?
- How can recordings complement rather than replace performances?

A Different Perspective

Recordings can never fully convey the energy of a live event.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Recording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recording/)

## Related quotes

> [I was always more interested in the ultimate live performance rather than the recording for its own sake. And, for the audience too, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anderson/i-was-always-more-interested-in-the-ultimate-live-performance-rather/)

[Ian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-anderson/)

> [I had been creating music on tape that was to be listened to as a recording, rather than through performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lansky/i-had-been-creating-music-on-tape-that-was-to-be-listened-to-as-a/)

[Paul Lansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lansky/)

> [“Jokes don't matter… til the performance... if the performance is horrible so do and jokes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/jokes-don-t-matter-til-the-performance-if-the-performance-is-horrible/)

Deyth Banger

> [In some of the greatest recordings ever made, the performance is a part of the recording. Dylan's 'Rainy Day Women No. 12 and 35'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/in-some-of-the-greatest-recordings-ever-made-the-performance-is-a/)

[Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/)

> [You need 10,000 hours to figure out how to be good at something and I agree with that to a certain extent. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-vig/you-need-10-000-hours-to-figure-out-how-to-be-good-at-something-and-i/)

[Butch Vig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-vig/)

> [I'm not actually a very keen performer. I like putting shows together. I like putting events together. In fact, everything I do is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-not-actually-a-very-keen-performer-i-like-putting-shows-together/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [In fact, everything I do is about the conceptualizing and realization of a piece of work, whether it's the recording or the performance side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/in-fact-everything-i-do-is-about-the-conceptualizing-and-realization/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [“Performance is done for the sight and approval of others. Service is done knowing that God is watching and approving whether or not anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/performance-is-done-for-the-sight-and-approval-of-others-service-is/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [I just constantly judge myself based off my performance. When performance isn't good, I let it bring everything down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-hamlin/i-just-constantly-judge-myself-based-off-my-performance-when/)

[Denny Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-hamlin/)

> [I've realized that the only thing I'm interested in is the performance. If the performance is right, then I'm happy. You offer up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-ve-realized-that-the-only-thing-i-m-interested-in-is-the/)

[Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/)

> [The performance of performance has developed to such an extent in recent years that it challenges the music itself and will soon threaten it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-stravinsky/the-performance-of-performance-has-developed-to-such-an-extent-in/)

[Igor Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-stravinsky/)

> [My take is that acting is acting. A performance is a performance. With performance capture, if you don't get the performance on the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/my-take-is-that-acting-is-acting-a-performance-is-a-performance-with/)

[Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/)

> [The confidence you need is belief in your potential. If you see world-class potential in yourself, you'll put in the effort. If you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-confidence-you-need-is-belief-in-your-potential-if-you-see-world/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [ I realized \[using my own voice\] is what creates the performance in the performance art and that's what helps creates the distance for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalup-linzy/i-realized-using-my-own-voice-is-what-creates-the-performance-in-the/)

[Kalup Linzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalup-linzy/)

> [It is much more difficult to measure non-performance than performance. Performance stands out like a ton of diamonds. Non-performance can almost always be explained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-geneen/it-is-much-more-difficult-to-measure-non-performance-than-performance/)

[Harold Geneen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-geneen/)

## More by Mark Morris

> [I want people to look like people when they're dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/i-want-people-to-look-like-people-when-they-re-dancing/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [I love the way in which I make up dances. It's a complicated way and the product is usually clear. Clear and simple. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/i-love-the-way-in-which-i-make-up-dances-it-s-a-complicated-way-and/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> ['Elitist' doesn't need to mean wealthy and conservative; it can also mean specialised and rarefied, and that's no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/elitist-doesn-t-need-to-mean-wealthy-and-conservative-it-can-also/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [Being queer you're supposed to adore figure skating. It's a sport, not an art. I love the costumes and hate the music and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/being-queer-you-re-supposed-to-adore-figure-skating-it-s-a-sport-not/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [I'm very tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/i-m-very-tough/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [Audiences don't want to see the kind of self-indulgent, boring dance that is so prevalent today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/audiences-don-t-want-to-see-the-kind-of-self-indulgent-boring-dance/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [The goal of Sunday is to leave my home as little as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/the-goal-of-sunday-is-to-leave-my-home-as-little-as-possible/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [There was always dance in opera until people forgot to keep it going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/there-was-always-dance-in-opera-until-people-forgot-to-keep-it-going/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [That piece has been choreographed so badly so many times. I'm loathe to do it but I may eventually because it is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/that-piece-has-been-choreographed-so-badly-so-many-times-i-m-loathe/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [“Love? The Doctor Sneered. What do you know about love? I read it in the mind of this creature. He has such love for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/love-the-doctor-sneered-what-do-you-know-about-love-i-read-it-in-the/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [The one reason people don't take dance seriously is because a lot of choreographers don't take dance seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/the-one-reason-people-don-t-take-dance-seriously-is-because-a-lot-of/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [Some people only work to recorded music because it's so reliable and exactly the same every time, which is exactly why I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/some-people-only-work-to-recorded-music-because-it-s-so-reliable-and/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [Sunday is a day of rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/sunday-is-a-day-of-rest/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [I never eat standing up, I never eat in front of the refrigerator. I treat myself very formally with meals. I don't watch TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/i-never-eat-standing-up-i-never-eat-in-front-of-the-refrigerator-i/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

> [Disney is thrilling and informative and important and beautiful and suspect. Butts was a detail I observed later and definitely ties in. I suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/disney-is-thrilling-and-informative-and-important-and-beautiful-and/)

[Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

[Explore all 36 Mark Morris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/)

## More Performance quotes

> [Performance matters because games are built on great performance, but form factor and energy efficiency matter incredibly because they want to build something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/performance-matters-because-games-are-built-on-great-performance-but/)

[Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/)

> [Certainly the most requested song in performance is 'Love is Here to Stay,' and that is a favorite for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-feinstein/certainly-the-most-requested-song-in-performance-is-love-is-here-to/)

[Michael Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-feinstein/)

> [I love fashion. I like dressing how I feel, and my music shows how I feel - they go hand in hand. My performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-love-fashion-i-like-dressing-how-i-feel-and-my-music-shows-how-i/)

[Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/)

> [One of the undervalued contributors to Trump's stunning 2016 victory was the masterful performance Pence had in his debate against Hillary Clinton running mate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/one-of-the-undervalued-contributors-to-trump-s-stunning-2016-victory/)

[Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/)

> [Win or lose or draw, you always go back and critique your performance and say you could have done things better. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/win-or-lose-or-draw-you-always-go-back-and-critique-your-performance/)

[Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/)

> [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/)

[Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/)

> [When I see things through my eyes, I don't want to ever just be really negative towards someone's performance. There are many ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/when-i-see-things-through-my-eyes-i-don-t-want-to-ever-just-be-really/)

[Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/)

> [I'm very proud of my performance in 'Bow Barracks Forever.' This was one of my most enjoyable experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/i-m-very-proud-of-my-performance-in-bow-barracks-forever-this-was-one/)

[Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/)

> [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [There is something about the live performance of an orchestra that makes it very different to a film. With a film, you can rewrite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/there-is-something-about-the-live-performance-of-an-orchestra-that/)

[Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/)

> [The life of a play begins and ends in the moment of performance. This is where author, actors, and directors express all they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-brook/the-life-of-a-play-begins-and-ends-in-the-moment-of-performance-this/)

[Peter Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-brook/)

> [“When we perform at our highest level of potential, we are content. Because we have given I best in what we enjoy doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/when-we-perform-at-our-highest-level-of-potential-we-are-content/)

[Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/)

> [Performance poetry is not one genre. Some chant, sing and dance. Some stand rooted to the spot and stare. Some chat their way in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/performance-poetry-is-not-one-genre-some-chant-sing-and-dance-some/)

[Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/)

> [We are a country obsessed by records. For us, hundreds, ten thousand runs, and large haul of wickets are more important than the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/we-are-a-country-obsessed-by-records-for-us-hundreds-ten-thousand/)

[Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/)

> [As a fan of the books, I feel fortunate to be part of 'The Hunger Games' family. It was an amazing experience; I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/as-a-fan-of-the-books-i-feel-fortunate-to-be-part-of-the-hunger-games/)

[Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/)

[Browse all 1,949 Performance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A recording of a performance is a recording of a performance. It's not the performance.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mark Morris"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-recording-of-a-performance-it-s-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Performance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-recording-of-a-performance-it-s-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/mark-morris-17578_performance_a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-record_849712.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/mark-morris-17578_performance_a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-record_849712.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/mark-morris-17578_performance_a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-record_849712.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A recording of a performance is a recording of a performance. It's not the performance.” — Mark Morris",
                "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": "Mark Morris",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A recording of a performance is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-recording-of-a-performance-it-s-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/a-recording-of-a-performance-is-a-recording-of-a-performance-it-s-not/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
