--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Coming at the acting business as a…" description: "\"Coming at the acting business as a technician, I really enjoy the process of working. I really enjoy being in a rehearsal room, starting a theatre piec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/neil-patrick-harris-2281_acting_coming-at-the-acting-business-as-a-techn_2812234.png" --- # Coming at the acting business as a technician, I really… ![“Coming at the acting business as a technician, I really enjoy the process of working. I really enjoy being in a rehearsal room, starting a theatre piece for the first time. I really enjoy shooting in front of the crew, and I really love going on location. I think all that is just so exciting. So…” quote by Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/neil-patrick-harris-2281_acting_coming-at-the-acting-business-as-a-techn_2812234.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/neil-patrick-harris-2281_acting_coming-at-the-acting-business-as-a-techn_2812234.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/neil-patrick-harris-2281_acting_coming-at-the-acting-business-as-a-techn_2812234.png) > “Coming at the acting business as a technician, I really enjoy the process of working. I really enjoy being in a rehearsal room, starting a theatre piece for the first time. I really enjoy shooting in front of the crew, and I really love going on location. I think all that is just so exciting. So I've never really been drawn into the fame of being an actor, which in L.A., is part and parcel of the deal. I think for a lot of people, especially kids, it's hard to not get wrapped up in the world of the perks that the job brings.” [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He finds joy in the craft and process of acting rather than fame, valuing rehearsal, collaboration, and on‑set work **In simple terms:** He loves the work itself, not the celebrity Key Takeaway Focus on mastering your craft, not the spotlight Themes craft process collaboration authenticity joy Mood enthusiastic reflective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - rehearsal - film set - location shooting - new productions Key Concepts artistic integrity intrinsic motivation creative fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay motivated when fame pressures arise? - What practices keep you grounded in the process? A Different Perspective The industry still rewards fame, which can distract from artistic growth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Enjoy The Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-the-process/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I've learned that I can't do it all at once. So, you have to figure out your angle of attack. Coming in on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/columbus-short/i-ve-learned-that-i-can-t-do-it-all-at-once-so-you-have-to-figure-out/) [Columbus Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/columbus-short/) > [My parents met because my father was an actor friend of one of my mom's brothers, but my mother has never set foot on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/my-parents-met-because-my-father-was-an-actor-friend-of-one-of-my-mom/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [“The fame of an actor is won in minutes and seconds, not in years. The latter are only helpful in the recurrence of opportunities;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/the-fame-of-an-actor-is-won-in-minutes-and-seconds-not-in-years-the/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [The fame of an actor is won in minutes and seconds, not in years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/the-fame-of-an-actor-is-won-in-minutes-and-seconds-not-in-years/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [I don't cry. Well, you know, I think coming from an acting background that's really helped me because I more than anyone know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-kerns/i-don-t-cry-well-you-know-i-think-coming-from-an-acting-background/) [Joanna Kerns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-kerns/) > [My job isn't about pursuing fame and then becoming an actor. It's about becoming an actor, and if fame follows suit, that's fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-speleers/my-job-isn-t-about-pursuing-fame-and-then-becoming-an-actor-it-s/) [Ed Speleers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-speleers/) > [I got into the acting business very young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macarthur/i-got-into-the-acting-business-very-young/) [James MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macarthur/) > [Acting for me is not a business, it's about trying to make pieces of art that I believe that I feel proud of. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/acting-for-me-is-not-a-business-it-s-about-trying-to-make-pieces-of/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [Remember, acting is not a business of glamour. It is science, craft and an art. Read about acting; don't do it for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boman-irani/remember-acting-is-not-a-business-of-glamour-it-is-science-craft-and/) [Boman Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boman-irani/) > [If you hang around long enough to show these people what you can do, you have a chance in this acting business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-cady/if-you-hang-around-long-enough-to-show-these-people-what-you-can-do/) Frank Cady > [Acting is a business and a political act and a craft, but I also feel like it's a service - specifically, for a military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/acting-is-a-business-and-a-political-act-and-a-craft-but-i-also-feel/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [From as early as I can remember, I wanted to have something to do with the acting business. I was a TV junkie as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherien-dabis/from-as-early-as-i-can-remember-i-wanted-to-have-something-to-do-with/) [Cherien Dabis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherien-dabis/) > [Acting's more of a business for me now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-quaid/acting-s-more-of-a-business-for-me-now/) [Randy Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-quaid/) > [I'm in the acting business. That's the ego business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-in-the-acting-business-that-s-the-ego-business/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [The longer you are in acting business, the more you cherish the times when you're working with people that do great work, and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/the-longer-you-are-in-acting-business-the-more-you-cherish-the-times/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) ## More by Neil Patrick Harris > [My favorite time to dance is at, like, wedding receptions, when it's all ages and everyone seems to be having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/my-favorite-time-to-dance-is-at-like-wedding-receptions-when-it-s-all/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I pride myself in being able to straddle demographics, and if that was said as Barney Stinson, it would mean a little different thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-pride-myself-in-being-able-to-straddle-demographics-and-if-that-was/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Paris is not so exciting and romantic when you’re jet lagged and alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/paris-is-not-so-exciting-and-romantic-when-you-re-jet-lagged-and-alone/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I didn't want to go marching down the street with camera crews. Oy. To get married? Really? It seems like you have an agenda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-didn-t-want-to-go-marching-down-the-street-with-camera-crews-oy-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > ['Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young father to be, guy in a marriage, work in conflict, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-represent-a-young-father-to-be/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [What defines a relationship is the work that's involved to maintain it, and it's constantly changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/what-defines-a-relationship-is-the-work-that-s-involved-to-maintain/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I like to make decisions based on things I'm interested in doing, not what seems like the next move in my quote-unquote career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-like-to-make-decisions-based-on-things-i-m-interested-in-doing-not/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [“He wanted a home. He wanted a family. He wanted to have friends. But none of those things were realistic. At least not until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/he-wanted-a-home-he-wanted-a-family-he-wanted-to-have-friends-but/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. Your genius will live on for generations to come...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/rest-in-peace-steve-jobs-your-genius-will-live-on-for-generations-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Before babies, I worked very hard to make sure I understood my surroundings and figured out where I fit in the world, whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/before-babies-i-worked-very-hard-to-make-sure-i-understood-my/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I often teach a graduate theater seminar on Greek tragedy in performance. I usually begin by saying that no matter what technological advances occur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-often-teach-a-graduate-theater-seminar-on-greek-tragedy-in/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Thankfully I've been quite lucky in my career, but it's always good to re-evaluate things and think about what else you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/thankfully-i-ve-been-quite-lucky-in-my-career-but-it-s-always-good-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I think it has been a weird mistake to have people with their own music careers going on and judging people because when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-think-it-has-been-a-weird-mistake-to-have-people-with-their-own/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I have more artistic control in a smaller show. But it doesn't really matter. Sometimes you can have the smallest role in the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-have-more-artistic-control-in-a-smaller-show-but-it-doesn-t-really/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [As I learned from chapters past, it's important to try and stay in the chapter that you're in, and enjoy it while it's lasting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/as-i-learned-from-chapters-past-it-s-important-to-try-and-stay-in-the/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) [Explore all 174 Neil Patrick Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) ## 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. 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