--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was always pretty broad. I've had a…" description: "\"I was always pretty broad. I've had a couple bad experiences. One time, I showed up late for a gig in Brooklyn at an Italian restaurant. I ran on stage..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/nick-swardson-12742_audience_i-was-always-pretty-broad-i-ve-had-a-cou_2384306.jpg" --- # I was always pretty broad. I've had a couple bad… ![“I was always pretty broad. I've had a couple bad experiences. One time, I showed up late for a gig in Brooklyn at an Italian restaurant. I ran on stage, did my show, and then some guy in the audience threatened to kill me because he didn't like my joke. Instead of talking to him, I just ran off…” quote by Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/nick-swardson-12742_audience_i-was-always-pretty-broad-i-ve-had-a-cou_2384306.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/nick-swardson-12742_audience_i-was-always-pretty-broad-i-ve-had-a-cou_2384306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/nick-swardson-12742_audience_i-was-always-pretty-broad-i-ve-had-a-cou_2384306.jpg) > “I was always pretty broad. I've had a couple bad experiences. One time, I showed up late for a gig in Brooklyn at an Italian restaurant. I ran on stage, did my show, and then some guy in the audience threatened to kill me because he didn't like my joke. Instead of talking to him, I just ran off stage. And then, because I was late, the owner of the restaurant threatened to kill me. And I was 19 years old and so scared that I almost started crying. But, I've done every gig you can imagine, in every state.” [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing hostility and fear on stage reveals how quickly performance pressure can turn dangerous, yet perseverance pushes the artist onward despite trauma. **In simple terms:** Stage fear and threats can be overcome by continuing to perform. Key Takeaway Keep performing despite setbacks. Themes courage resilience performance fear growth Mood anxious determined Type personal narrative motivational When to use this quote - stand‑up gigs - touring - late arrivals - conflict with audience - career persistence Key Concepts Comedy public speaking psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect yourself while staying authentic? - What support systems help after a hostile event? A Different Perspective Threats may persist, and safety concerns can limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Bad experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-experiences/) [Broads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broads/) [Brooklyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brooklyn/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences/) [Gig Brooklyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gig-brooklyn-5916677/) [Gigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gigs/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Italian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italian/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Kill me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-me/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [One time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-time/) [Owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owners/) [Ran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ran/) [Ran Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ran-stage-1126076/) [Restaurants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurants/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Scared Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-started-3101616/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking to him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-to-him/) [Threatened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“I wasn’t scared, but I had started making sure the gate was locked at night and asking God what happens when you die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-wasn-t-scared-but-i-had-started-making-sure-the-gate-was-locked-at/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [It all changed when I realized I'm not the only one on the planet who's scared. 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Halfway through it, I forgot my lines and didn't know what to do, so I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barratt/i-ran-off-stage-at-my-first-gig-halfway-through-it-i-forgot-my-lines/) [Julian Barratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barratt/) > [Maybe this isn't the right thing to say, but I want you to know: When you ran for the stage, I've never been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/maybe-this-isn-t-the-right-thing-to-say-but-i-want-you-to-know-when/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [I have a good friend, Rudolf Serkin, the pianist, a very sensitive man. I was talking to him one day backstage after a concert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wyeth/i-have-a-good-friend-rudolf-serkin-the-pianist-a-very-sensitive-man-i/) [Andrew Wyeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wyeth/) > [Have you talked to North?" he said. "Yes," she said. "I asked him to get us cable." "I wish you weren't talking to him."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/have-you-talked-to-north-he-said-yes-she-said-i-asked-him-to-get-us/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [Many times I've gone on tours with Paul Anka. He would have someone sitting behind him to keep people from even talking to him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/many-times-i-ve-gone-on-tours-with-paul-anka-he-would-have-someone/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [Harry felt winded, as though he had just walked into something heavy. He had last seen those cool gray eyes through slits in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/harry-felt-winded-as-though-he-had-just-walked-into-something-heavy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[Pablo Escobar\] always told me that the day he used the phone would be his last day, something I had very clear while I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-pablo-escobar/pablo-escobar-always-told-me-that-the-day-he-used-the-phone-would-be/) [Juan Pablo Escobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-pablo-escobar/) > [On a crowded bus in Israel, a mother was speaking to her son in Yiddish. An Israeli woman reprimanded her. "You should be speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/on-a-crowded-bus-in-israel-a-mother-was-speaking-to-her-son-in/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Beth ceased to fear him from that moment, and sat there talking to him as cozily as if she had known him all her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/beth-ceased-to-fear-him-from-that-moment-and-sat-there-talking-to-him/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I have had stalkers over the years. The police deal with it but it is very scary. 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So I've kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/for-me-honestly-one-of-the-first-movies-i-did-i-was-always-pounding/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [That's great Bobby, but we don't have Dance Dance Revolution, so - you're dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/that-s-great-bobby-but-we-don-t-have-dance-dance-revolution-so-you-re/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Uh-oh? What does that mean? High score? Is that bad? Did I break it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/uh-oh-what-does-that-mean-high-score-is-that-bad-did-i-break-it/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Ok... so who wants to hear about my STD from the silent film era? Yeah, put your hands up for that one. This chick's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/ok-so-who-wants-to-hear-about-my-std-from-the-silent-film-era-yeah/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [If you want to be a comedian, go out. Do a week in Des Moines, Iowa. Try to make those people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/if-you-want-to-be-a-comedian-go-out-do-a-week-in-des-moines-iowa-try/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Shit's weak! Shit's weak! Wizzeak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/shit-s-weak-shit-s-weak-wizzeak/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [“I totally want to cut off your skin and wear it to my birthday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-totally-want-to-cut-off-your-skin-and-wear-it-to-my-birthday/) [nick swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [I always write and create. I'm never not creating. I'm always creating a show, every year, whether it gets picked up or not. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-always-write-and-create-i-m-never-not-creating-i-m-always-creating/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Most sketch aficionados have an enormous amount of respect for 'Mr. Show.' I didn't have HBO back then, so I was always trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/most-sketch-aficionados-have-an-enormous-amount-of-respect-for-mr/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [I would eventually like to write and star in my own stuff. I think I have a good comedic sense, so I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-would-eventually-like-to-write-and-star-in-my-own-stuff-i-think-i/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [I'm developing more stuff in my voice, more Nick Swardson. It's me as myself in a sense and kind of in my voice, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-m-developing-more-stuff-in-my-voice-more-nick-swardson-it-s-me-as/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Do you have bathrooms here, or do I have to shit in a plant?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/do-you-have-bathrooms-here-or-do-i-have-to-shit-in-a-plant/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [My roommates said they'd get me rims for christmas. And a CB Radio so I can talk to other car beds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/my-roommates-said-they-d-get-me-rims-for-christmas-and-a-cb-radio-so/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Hey Samantha, don't take the red pill!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/hey-samantha-don-t-take-the-red-pill/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [I started in the club route. I did the alternative scene later on. When I lived in New York, I did the Luna Lounge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-started-in-the-club-route-i-did-the-alternative-scene-later-on-when/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) [Explore all 53 Nick Swardson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was always pretty broad. I've had a couple bad experiences. One time, I showed up late for a gig in Brooklyn at an Italian restaurant. I ran on stage, did my show, and then some guy in the audience threatened to kill me because he didn't like my joke. Instead of talking to him, I just ran off stage. And then, because I was late, the owner of the restaurant threatened to kill me. And I was 19 years old and so scared that I almost started crying. 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