--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I go on stage, I still have that…" description: "\"When I go on stage, I still have that open-mic mentality of trying to prove myself.\" — Noah Kahan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/noah-kahan-5507_go_when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-ope_799983.jpg" --- # When I go on stage, I still have that open-mic mentality… ![“When I go on stage, I still have that open-mic mentality of trying to prove myself.” quote by Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/noah-kahan-5507_go_when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-ope_799983.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/noah-kahan-5507_go_when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-ope_799983.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/noah-kahan-5507_go_when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-ope_799983.jpg) > “When I go on stage, I still have that open-mic mentality of trying to prove myself.” [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist admits that performing live still triggers a desire to prove himself, reflecting an ongoing drive for validation and growth. **In simple terms:** Stage performance still feels like a personal test. Key Takeaway Embrace the drive to improve while staying authentic. Themes performance anxiety growth mindset authenticity Mood introspective motivational Type self‑help artistic When to use this quote - live concerts - songwriting sessions - rehearsals - public speaking Key Concepts psychology artistic expression career development Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance confidence with humility? - What practices help maintain authenticity on stage? A Different Perspective Constant self‑validation can hinder enjoyment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentality/) [Open mic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mic/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [Every time I get a chance to get the ball in my hands it's just my mentality of trying to make a big play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deebo-samuel/every-time-i-get-a-chance-to-get-the-ball-in-my-hands-it-s-just-my/) [Deebo Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deebo-samuel/) > [ Most people our age have the whole "dating game" \[mentality\] of trying to sell yourself or be strategic. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-horan/most-people-our-age-have-the-whole-dating-game-mentality-of-trying-to/) Gerard Horan > [That's my mentality. I'm trying to earn my job, keep my job, whatever it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-acuna-jr/that-s-my-mentality-i-m-trying-to-earn-my-job-keep-my-job-whatever-it/) [Ronald Acuna Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-acuna-jr/) > [I'm not trying to prove myself, and I'm not trying to shock anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameela-jamil/i-m-not-trying-to-prove-myself-and-i-m-not-trying-to-shock-anyone/) [Jameela Jamil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameela-jamil/) > [I am not out here trying to prove anybody wrong. I am just trying to prove myself right. Because I know what I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-hurts/i-am-not-out-here-trying-to-prove-anybody-wrong-i-am-just-trying-to/) [Jalen Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-hurts/) > [I am here trying to prove myself every single game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-bogdanovic/i-am-here-trying-to-prove-myself-every-single-game/) [Bojan Bogdanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-bogdanovic/) > [I'm always trying to prove myself to the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/i-m-always-trying-to-prove-myself-to-the-rest-of-the-world/) [Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/) > [I've been trying to prove myself since I picked up this brown ball at the age of 7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-trubisky/i-ve-been-trying-to-prove-myself-since-i-picked-up-this-brown-ball-at/) [Mitchell Trubisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-trubisky/) > [I'm not trying to prove myself a great filmmaker. I don't know much about filmmaking anyway. I'm trying my hand at it to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-m-not-trying-to-prove-myself-a-great-filmmaker-i-don-t-know-much/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I've spent my whole life trying to prove myself and to show I'm as good as any private school person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/i-ve-spent-my-whole-life-trying-to-prove-myself-and-to-show-i-m-as/) [Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/) > [I was trying to prove myself and be known as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-elordi/i-was-trying-to-prove-myself-and-be-known-as-an-actor/) [Jacob Elordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-elordi/) > [I've had enough of trying to prove myself to people. Now I don't care about what people think as long as I'm happy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-ve-had-enough-of-trying-to-prove-myself-to-people-now-i-don-t-care/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I haven't done nothing in this league. Every day I come into practice or come into a game, I'm just trying to prove myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-green/i-haven-t-done-nothing-in-this-league-every-day-i-come-into-practice/) [Gerald Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-green/) > [Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove myself to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-myself-to-myself/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I find myself trying to explain more, and explain the perspective of my mentality, or the mentality I'm trying to convey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pusha-t/i-find-myself-trying-to-explain-more-and-explain-the-perspective-of/) [Pusha T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pusha-t/) ## More by Noah Kahan > [I just wanted to sound like Green Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/i-just-wanted-to-sound-like-green-day/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [I was obsessed with dinosaurs when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/i-was-obsessed-with-dinosaurs-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [Forever is a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/forever-is-a-long-time/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [I definitely feel a lot of pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/i-definitely-feel-a-lot-of-pressure/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [I've really enjoyed the attention of people knowing my music and hearing me and coming to see me. But I also am really scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/i-ve-really-enjoyed-the-attention-of-people-knowing-my-music-and/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [I want people who live in small towns to know I hear them, I see them and I know what it's like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/i-want-people-who-live-in-small-towns-to-know-i-hear-them-i-see-them/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [Vermont has been home to so many amazing breweries and to be able to represent my home state in this way has been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/vermont-has-been-home-to-so-many-amazing-breweries-and-to-be-able-to/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [The word 'forever' used to terrify me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/the-word-forever-used-to-terrify-me/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [Sometimes I just feel like Larry David walking around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/sometimes-i-just-feel-like-larry-david-walking-around/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [I try to be honest in my songs because it helps me cope. It also helps me, hopefully, connect with people that are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/i-try-to-be-honest-in-my-songs-because-it-helps-me-cope-it-also-helps/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [One thing that really helps me is I have a lot of friends who work very different jobs and work very hard. I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/one-thing-that-really-helps-me-is-i-have-a-lot-of-friends-who-work/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [There are a couple records that really helped aid the imagery of 'Stick Season,' Sam Fender's 'Seventeen Going Under,' for one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/there-are-a-couple-records-that-really-helped-aid-the-imagery-of/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [Even when I play shows, I'm more nervous to play a show in Vermont or New Hampshire than I am to play a song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/even-when-i-play-shows-i-m-more-nervous-to-play-a-show-in-vermont-or/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [I've been a James Bay fan forever. When I signed to Republic, I was so excited because it was James Bay's record label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/i-ve-been-a-james-bay-fan-forever-when-i-signed-to-republic-i-was-so/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [When I would write songs that were more pop-y in a studio, I would go home and write a song that was more folk-y…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/when-i-would-write-songs-that-were-more-pop-y-in-a-studio-i-would-go/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) [Explore all 100 Noah Kahan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) ## More Go quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [I go out there and I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-chubb/i-go-out-there-and-i-work/) [Nick Chubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-chubb/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) > [I don't know what successful journaling really looks like... I think it really does look so different for everyone who does it, I'm always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/i-don-t-know-what-successful-journaling-really-looks-like-i-think-it/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [“Everywhere is home, let is go home”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzuco-hu-nh/everywhere-is-home-let-is-go-home/) Dzuco Huỳnh > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) Browse all 23,138 Go quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I go on stage, I still have that open-mic mentality of trying to prove myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noah Kahan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-open-mic-mentality-of-trying-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Go" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-open-mic-mentality-of-trying-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/noah-kahan-5507_go_when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-ope_799983.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/noah-kahan-5507_go_when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-ope_799983.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/noah-kahan-5507_go_when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-ope_799983.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I go on stage, I still have that open-mic mentality of trying to prove myself.” — Noah Kahan", "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": "Noah Kahan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I go on stage, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-open-mic-mentality-of-trying-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-open-mic-mentality-of-trying-to/#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 } } ] } ```