--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're your first best audience, long…" description: "\"You're your first best audience, long before anybody else hears you. So don't be an easy audience. Keep asking for more.\" — Michael Caine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/michael-caine-1152_acting_you-re-your-first-best-audience-long-bef_853051.jpg" --- # You're your first best audience, long before anybody else… ![“You're your first best audience, long before anybody else hears you. So don't be an easy audience. Keep asking for more.” quote by Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/michael-caine-1152_acting_you-re-your-first-best-audience-long-bef_853051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/michael-caine-1152_acting_you-re-your-first-best-audience-long-bef_853051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/michael-caine-1152_acting_you-re-your-first-best-audience-long-bef_853051.jpg) > “You're your first best audience, long before anybody else hears you. So don't be an easy audience. Keep asking for more.” [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your first audience is yourself; demand high standards from yourself before seeking external approval. **In simple terms:** You are your first audience; hold yourself to high standards. Key Takeaway Set high expectations for yourself. Themes self‑critique growth audience confidence Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - public speaking practice - creative writing - personal projects - skill development Key Concepts psychology self‑improvement performance Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑demand with self‑compassion? - What standards do you set for your own work? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can become paralyzing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ## Related quotes > [You have to understand that you are not making the film for yourself; you're making it for the audience. If I am asking my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-bachchan/you-have-to-understand-that-you-are-not-making-the-film-for-yourself/) [Abhishek Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-bachchan/) > [With moviemaking, the audience always has to keep asking, 'What happens next?' If you have the wrong piece of music over a scene, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-fox/with-moviemaking-the-audience-always-has-to-keep-asking-what-happens/) [Josh Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-fox/) > [Hollywood has lost touch with their audience a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/hollywood-has-lost-touch-with-their-audience-a-long-time-ago/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [Television used to be made much more in a vacuum; the only feedback the audience had for a long time was in a Nielsen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/television-used-to-be-made-much-more-in-a-vacuum-the-only-feedback/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [I am thrilled Lady Gaga has helped to teach her audience about long durational work and performance art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/i-am-thrilled-lady-gaga-has-helped-to-teach-her-audience-about-long/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I suppose what I aspire to do is to make it easy for the audience to connect with a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/i-suppose-what-i-aspire-to-do-is-to-make-it-easy-for-the-audience-to/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [“If you can create something useful, its reachable audience (e.g., employers or customers) is essentially limitless—which greatly magnifies your reward. On the other hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/if-you-can-create-something-useful-its-reachable-audience-e-g/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Performing live is easy in front of an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carmack/performing-live-is-easy-in-front-of-an-audience/) [Chris Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carmack/) > [If you aren't already a songwriter, try it. When you can say what you want to say, in your own words, it's incredibly easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-young/if-you-aren-t-already-a-songwriter-try-it-when-you-can-say-what-you/) [Chris Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-young/) > [I've always said that I myself am not the best audience for my own work, because I'm just not that receptive to comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/i-ve-always-said-that-i-myself-am-not-the-best-audience-for-my-own/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [As an actor my job is to deliver the best so that the audience not only likes my roles but also remembers them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himani-shivpuri/as-an-actor-my-job-is-to-deliver-the-best-so-that-the-audience-not/) [Himani Shivpuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himani-shivpuri/) > [I've always thought of the audience. I just want to entertain the audience. That's what it's about: what's good for the movie, what's best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-ve-always-thought-of-the-audience-i-just-want-to-entertain-the/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [Allen Anderson speaks from the heart about subjects he loves; this enthralls audiences everywhere. His outlook is realistic but invariably positive, encouraging everyone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-koster/allen-anderson-speaks-from-the-heart-about-subjects-he-loves-this/) Henry Koster > [My best audience and where I’m happiest is in the gay community. That’s where I feel the most accepted. It’s a community that appreciates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katerina-graham/my-best-audience-and-where-i-m-happiest-is-in-the-gay-community-that/) [Katerina Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katerina-graham/) > [...You believe that the kind of story you want to tell might be best received by the science fiction and fantasy audience. I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/you-believe-that-the-kind-of-story-you-want-to-tell-might-be-best/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) ## More by Michael Caine > [That to me is what my idea of film acting should be. There shouldn't be any acting. You should just be watching a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/that-to-me-is-what-my-idea-of-film-acting-should-be-there-shouldn-t/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [Theater acting is an operation with a scalpel, movie acting is an operation with a laser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/theater-acting-is-an-operation-with-a-scalpel-movie-acting-is-an/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [If you're a leading actor you don't work with another actor. You work with a lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/if-you-re-a-leading-actor-you-don-t-work-with-another-actor-you-work/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [“Be a duck, remain calm on the surface and paddle like hell underneath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/be-a-duck-remain-calm-on-the-surface-and-paddle-like-hell-underneath/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I try to make everyone around me feel comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-try-to-make-everyone-around-me-feel-comfortable/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [You can see all sorts of things in film acting if you know where to look and what to look for. One thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/you-can-see-all-sorts-of-things-in-film-acting-if-you-know-where-to/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I was a repertory actor, which meant that I did a play every week. I was a different character every week; for a year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-was-a-repertory-actor-which-meant-that-i-did-a-play-every-week-i/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [You start pretending to have fun, you might have a little by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/you-start-pretending-to-have-fun-you-might-have-a-little-by-accident/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [If you held a pistol at my head, I couldn't tell you who they're going to vote for Best Actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/if-you-held-a-pistol-at-my-head-i-couldn-t-tell-you-who-they-re-going/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I wear a baseball cap all the time, which I would never normally wear, and I walk very fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-wear-a-baseball-cap-all-the-time-which-i-would-never-normally-wear/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I've always loved reprehensible people because they're so much more interesting to play on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-ve-always-loved-reprehensible-people-because-they-re-so-much-more/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I want to stick around with the big boys. I don't want to be in the old folks home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-want-to-stick-around-with-the-big-boys-i-don-t-want-to-be-in-the/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I've been on movies where I literally couldn't hear what the other actor was saying. It's very awkward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-ve-been-on-movies-where-i-literally-couldn-t-hear-what-the-other/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [My father was a fish market porter. So I grew up on fish, because he used to steal one a day, I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/my-father-was-a-fish-market-porter-so-i-grew-up-on-fish-because-he/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [The trouble with women? Elbows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/the-trouble-with-women-elbows/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) [Explore all 282 Michael Caine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You're your first best audience, long before anybody else hears you. So don't be an easy audience. 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