--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never quite felt totally comfortable…" description: "\"I've never quite felt totally comfortable up on stage. I've gotten more comfortable, but drinking wine is a crutch that gives me a little courage. It h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/matt-berninger-10530_awareness_i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortabl_2977483.png" --- # I've never quite felt totally comfortable up on stage… ![“I've never quite felt totally comfortable up on stage. I've gotten more comfortable, but drinking wine is a crutch that gives me a little courage. It helps me lose a little bit of the self-consciousness and the awareness of how awkward it is standing on a stage with lights and a bunch of people…” quote by Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/matt-berninger-10530_awareness_i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortabl_2977483.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/matt-berninger-10530_awareness_i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortabl_2977483.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/matt-berninger-10530_awareness_i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortabl_2977483.png) > “I've never quite felt totally comfortable up on stage. I've gotten more comfortable, but drinking wine is a crutch that gives me a little courage. It helps me lose a little bit of the self-consciousness and the awareness of how awkward it is standing on a stage with lights and a bunch of people looking at you while you sing love songs.” [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stage anxiety can be eased with a small amount of wine, which lowers self‑consciousness and boosts confidence. **In simple terms:** Wine helps reduce stage nerves. Key Takeaway Find healthy ways to manage performance anxiety. Themes performance confidence self‑esteem Mood anxious hopeful Type reflective advisory When to use this quote - live concerts - rehearsal routines - mental health strategies - substance use policies Key Concepts psychology addiction artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - What non‑alcoholic techniques could replace this habit? - How does confidence affect artistic authenticity? A Different Perspective Reliance on alcohol may become a crutch or dependency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Drinking wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking-wine/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-songs/) [Never quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-quit/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-consciousness/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [I have pit bulls barking at me on half of the love songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-have-pit-bulls-barking-at-me-on-half-of-the-love-songs/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I think the more you do this and the more comfortable you become on stage, you start speaking more and becoming more of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/i-think-the-more-you-do-this-and-the-more-comfortable-you-become-on/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [We feel quite comfortable on stage. That's our happy place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/we-feel-quite-comfortable-on-stage-that-s-our-happy-place/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [It took me years to actually get comfortable on the stage. I prefer the intimacy of screen; it comes easier to me. In theater,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aileen-quinn/it-took-me-years-to-actually-get-comfortable-on-the-stage-i-prefer/) [Aileen Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aileen-quinn/) > [In productions such as 'Anna Bolena' and 'Rigoletto,' the costumes are tailored, and they're tight. In 'Moby,' it's like you're wearing pajamas, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-costello/in-productions-such-as-anna-bolena-and-rigoletto-the-costumes-are/) [Stephen Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-costello/) > [I'm most comfortable on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-m-most-comfortable-on-stage/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I wear whatever makes me comfortable on stage, so that I feel confident. Some days it's a plaid skirt with a button-up and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sky-ferreira/i-wear-whatever-makes-me-comfortable-on-stage-so-that-i-feel/) [Sky Ferreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sky-ferreira/) > [I always say that I've grown little flaps on a stage and I've got these little gills that open, because on the stage I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-harris/i-always-say-that-i-ve-grown-little-flaps-on-a-stage-and-i-ve-got/) [Rosemary Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-harris/) > [I am somebody who is very comfortable on stage because I have been performing since childhood. I have done a lot of public events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-kakkar/i-am-somebody-who-is-very-comfortable-on-stage-because-i-have-been/) [Neha Kakkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-kakkar/) > [The more you perform and get out there, I guess the more practice you have at it and the better you are and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-pickler/the-more-you-perform-and-get-out-there-i-guess-the-more-practice-you/) [Kellie Pickler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-pickler/) > [I made a few records here and there by default, but I wasn't ever comfortable in that role. I wasn't comfortable on stage. We'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-made-a-few-records-here-and-there-by-default-but-i-wasn-t-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I enjoy it immensely, but I'm not comfortable on stage as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-enjoy-it-immensely-but-i-m-not-comfortable-on-stage-as-a-person/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [But I've always felt very comfortable on stage, even if I screw up. It always felt like a dog, this is my turf, piss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/but-i-ve-always-felt-very-comfortable-on-stage-even-if-i-screw-up-it/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [What I wear is everything - from how I carry my hair to what I'm wearing on my feet. I have to feel comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/what-i-wear-is-everything-from-how-i-carry-my-hair-to-what-i-m/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I've got to be comfortable when I'm on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-to-be-comfortable-when-i-m-on-stage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Matt Berninger > [When you realize that the baby's healthy and born, it's a release and you're so happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/when-you-realize-that-the-baby-s-healthy-and-born-it-s-a-release-and/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [The last thing you want to do is write songs about being in a band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/the-last-thing-you-want-to-do-is-write-songs-about-being-in-a-band/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave know best. Although I wear a lot of jeans, I've been told that Nick Cave doesn't own a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/leonard-cohen-and-nick-cave-know-best-although-i-wear-a-lot-of-jeans/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I have pit bulls barking at me on half of the love songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-have-pit-bulls-barking-at-me-on-half-of-the-love-songs/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [ Weirdly, I was still trying to be the older brother, and trying to get him \[Tom Berninger\] to try to be more like me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/weirdly-i-was-still-trying-to-be-the-older-brother-and-trying-to-get/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [It takes us a long time to write a song that we all really like, so it makes sense that it would take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/it-takes-us-a-long-time-to-write-a-song-that-we-all-really-like-so-it/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [When it comes to lyrics, I just write down a lot of things, and only a very tiny fraction of it, I think, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/when-it-comes-to-lyrics-i-just-write-down-a-lot-of-things-and-only-a/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [A song is a song and, if I am emotionally connected to do it, whether it is sad or not sad, I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/a-song-is-a-song-and-if-i-am-emotionally-connected-to-do-it-whether/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I'm doing a little freelance work, and I think everybody's trying to take their minds off rock and roll for a little while and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-m-doing-a-little-freelance-work-and-i-think-everybody-s-trying-to/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I'm a stubborn guy that loses his temper, sometimes driving the station wagon in the wrong direction for hours and hours and never admitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-m-a-stubborn-guy-that-loses-his-temper-sometimes-driving-the/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I love to make songs out of some of those shadows - you know, some of the things you lie awake thinking about, social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-love-to-make-songs-out-of-some-of-those-shadows-you-know-some-of/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [A lot of my lyrics are approximate meaning without me knowing why they sound right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/a-lot-of-my-lyrics-are-approximate-meaning-without-me-knowing-why/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [Sometimes you have to wear what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/sometimes-you-have-to-wear-what-you-want/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [The same song can have drastically different feels and personalities just by changing some minor things. A different drumbeat or some vocal overdub could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/the-same-song-can-have-drastically-different-feels-and-personalities/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I focus on the words and then I have fun putting together the music after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-focus-on-the-words-and-then-i-have-fun-putting-together-the-music/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) [Explore all 65 Matt Berninger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) ## More Awareness quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [I know the importance of highly trained awareness of the “moment” and the immediate and intuitive response of the photographer. It should be obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/i-know-the-importance-of-highly-trained-awareness-of-the-moment-and/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV and AIDS all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/i-m-part-of-a-team-that-raises-millions-of-dollars-and-raises/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) Vashti Quiroz-Vega > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-means-to-have-a-goal-but-finding-means-to-be-free-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) [Browse all 4,768 Awareness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never quite felt totally comfortable up on stage. I've gotten more comfortable, but drinking wine is a crutch that gives me a little courage. It helps me lose a little bit of the self-consciousness and the awareness of how awkward it is standing on a stage with lights and a bunch of people looking at you while you sing love songs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Berninger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortable-up-on-stage-i-ve-gotten/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Awareness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortable-up-on-stage-i-ve-gotten/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/matt-berninger-10530_awareness_i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortabl_2977483.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/matt-berninger-10530_awareness_i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortabl_2977483.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/matt-berninger-10530_awareness_i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortabl_2977483.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've never quite felt totally comfortable up on stage. I've gotten more comfortable, but drinking wine is a…” — Matt Berninger", "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": "Matt Berninger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've never quite felt totally comfortable...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortable-up-on-stage-i-ve-gotten/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-ve-never-quite-felt-totally-comfortable-up-on-stage-i-ve-gotten/#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 } } ] } ```