--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It started when I did a 20-minute act in…" description: "\"It started when I did a 20-minute act in the comedy clubs and only had enough material for 17 minutes, so I filled with a bit of belly dancing. Then th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/omid-djalili-11543_comedy_it-started-when-i-did-a-20-minute-act-in_2813078.jpg" --- # It started when I did a 20-minute act in the comedy clubs… ![“It started when I did a 20-minute act in the comedy clubs and only had enough material for 17 minutes, so I filled with a bit of belly dancing. Then the act got stronger and I didn't need it, but people asked for it.” quote by Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/omid-djalili-11543_comedy_it-started-when-i-did-a-20-minute-act-in_2813078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/omid-djalili-11543_comedy_it-started-when-i-did-a-20-minute-act-in_2813078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/omid-djalili-11543_comedy_it-started-when-i-did-a-20-minute-act-in_2813078.jpg) > “It started when I did a 20-minute act in the comedy clubs and only had enough material for 17 minutes, so I filled with a bit of belly dancing. Then the act got stronger and I didn't need it, but people asked for it.” [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The comedian added belly dancing to fill time, which initially helped but later became unnecessary as his act improved, yet audiences still requested it. **In simple terms:** He used a gimmick to fill gaps, later his skill grew, but fans still liked the gimmick. Key Takeaway Develop core material before relying on gimmicks. Themes comedy performance audience gimmick growth Mood humorous reflective Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - stage shows - improvisation - audience engagement - skill development - branding Key Concepts creativity adaptation entertainment Questions to Reflect On - When should a performer drop a successful gimmick? - How does audience expectation shape performance? A Different Perspective Overreliance on gimmicks can hinder authentic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-club/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [MY ACT IS 'NOTHING BUT COMEDY. I TALK SOUTHERN BECAUSE I PICKED IT UP WHEN I MOVED TO THE SOUTH. IM NOT TRYING TO…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-the-cable-guy/my-act-is-nothing-but-comedy-i-talk-southern-because-i-picked-it-up/) [Larry the Cable Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-the-cable-guy/) > [When I was in college at UCLA, I took a playwriting course. I was all set to be a writer. But I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/when-i-was-in-college-at-ucla-i-took-a-playwriting-course-i-was-all/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [“What is the stage? It's a place, baby, you know, where people play at being serious, a place where they act comedies. We've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-pirandello/what-is-the-stage-it-s-a-place-baby-you-know-where-people-play-at/) [Luigi Pirandello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-pirandello/) > [American families only spend 17 minutes a day on average having time together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-doctoroff/american-families-only-spend-17-minutes-a-day-on-average-having-time/) [Daniel L. 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I think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/i-understand-the-power-of-words-and-ideas-as-i-get-older-and-as-i/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [And certainly in British culture, as I'm sure it's the same with American culture, we warm to cultures where people can make fun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/and-certainly-in-british-culture-as-i-m-sure-it-s-the-same-with/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [I used to play Sunday football, but I have all but given up, because I'm too old and fat. After a 45-minute match I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/i-used-to-play-sunday-football-but-i-have-all-but-given-up-because-i/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [I was six years old and in a show-and-tell session at school. 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The Baha'is believe their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/muslims-believe-in-moses-christ-buddha-but-they-say-mohammed-was-the/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [My English side really loves the royal family, and my Iranian side hates me for this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/my-english-side-really-loves-the-royal-family-and-my-iranian-side/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [Stand-up gets much harder as you become older You become more conscious of how great an art it is and more embarrassed about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/stand-up-gets-much-harder-as-you-become-older-you-become-more/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [Breakfast is French toast. It's very similar to English toast. The only difference is, when I'm eating it, a Turkish friend comes round and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/breakfast-is-french-toast-it-s-very-similar-to-english-toast-the-only/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [I'm a Baha'i. I'm not a Muslim. I'm Baha'i. And the Baha'i faith is such a sweet faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/i-m-a-baha-i-i-m-not-a-muslim-i-m-baha-i-and-the-baha-i-faith-is-such/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [But the Baha'is have never been helpless victims of their tormentors. 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That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. 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