---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To achieve the intimacy between performer…"
description: "\"To achieve the intimacy between performer and audience in storytelling, I feel like I have to let the audience in on my emotional state, not just, \"Her..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/paul-f-tompkins-3121_achieve_to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performe_1608949.jpg"
---

#  To achieve the intimacy between performer and audience in…

![“To achieve the intimacy between performer and audience in storytelling, I feel like I have to let the audience in on my emotional state, not just, &quot;Here's a story I'm going to tell by rote, and you're just going to listen to it, because I'm such a wonderfully entertaining fellow.&quot; It's the idea of…” quote by Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/paul-f-tompkins-3121_achieve_to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performe_1608949.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/paul-f-tompkins-3121_achieve_to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performe_1608949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/paul-f-tompkins-3121_achieve_to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performe_1608949.jpg)

> “To achieve the intimacy between performer and audience in storytelling, I feel like I have to let the audience in on my emotional state, not just, "Here's a story I'm going to tell by rote, and you're just going to listen to it, because I'm such a wonderfully entertaining fellow." It's the idea of sharing enough of myself that it's not just all about, "Look at me, look at me." There's an element to it of, "You understand what I'm talking about, right? You've been in this place that I've been in," which makes it a richer experience.”

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Storytelling works best when the performer shares genuine emotion, inviting the audience into their inner world rather than delivering a detached performance.

**In simple terms:** Share feelings to connect with listeners.

Key Takeaway

Be vulnerable, let audience feel your experience.

Themes

authenticity connection storytelling

Mood

intimate reflective

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- theater performance
- stand‑up comedy
- personal speeches
- workshop teaching

Key Concepts

emotional honesty audience engagement

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance honesty with restraint?
- What emotions do you want your audience to experience?

A Different Perspective

If the performer overshares, it may alienate or overwhelm the audience.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/)

## Related quotes

> [When I go for a project, I wonder what underpinning a project will have that's going to give the audience some emotional access to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-go-for-a-project-i-wonder-what-underpinning-a-project-will/)

[Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/)

> [The bedrock thing of country music is, it's about storytelling. I feel like I was able to find a niche because I connected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/the-bedrock-thing-of-country-music-is-it-s-about-storytelling-i-feel/)

[Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/)

> [I like storytelling, and I feel more confident as the years have gone on about my ability to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-like-storytelling-and-i-feel-more-confident-as-the-years-have-gone/)

[Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/)

> [I feel like with a lot of Madlib's beats, they are made for storytelling. I feel like when I'm working on stuff with him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-gibbs/i-feel-like-with-a-lot-of-madlib-s-beats-they-are-made-for/)

[Freddie Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-gibbs/)

> [Writing a story starts out as a puzzle in your mind, of "What is it I'm fantasizing about right now that makes me think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bujalski/writing-a-story-starts-out-as-a-puzzle-in-your-mind-of-what-is-it-i-m/)

[Andrew Bujalski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bujalski/)

> [When you define the audience, the performer becomes what the audience wants. Politicians do that all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-graham/when-you-define-the-audience-the-performer-becomes-what-the-audience/)

Dan Graham

> [At heart, I guess I'm a saloon singer because there's a greater intimacy between performer and audience in a nightclub. Then again, I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/at-heart-i-guess-i-m-a-saloon-singer-because-there-s-a-greater/)

[Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/)

> [There are so many people in film and television that get between a performer and the audience, and that's frustrating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-conti/there-are-so-many-people-in-film-and-television-that-get-between-a/)

[Tom Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-conti/)

> [What you're hoping for about the concert is an overall collective experience that everyone has and that you share with them and when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-plaskett/what-you-re-hoping-for-about-the-concert-is-an-overall-collective/)

[Joel Plaskett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-plaskett/)

> [Pop stardom is not very compelling. I'm much more interested in a relationship between performer and audience that is of equals. I came up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/pop-stardom-is-not-very-compelling-i-m-much-more-interested-in-a/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [The way that music is approached in the temple is very call and response; it breaks down that barrier between performer and audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taraka-larson/the-way-that-music-is-approached-in-the-temple-is-very-call-and/)

[Taraka Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taraka-larson/)

> [Something that I think extends to a lot of African cultures is that the line between performer and audience is blurry. My mom would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelela/something-that-i-think-extends-to-a-lot-of-african-cultures-is-that/)

[Kelela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelela/)

> [“They say it's the 'me' generation. It's not. The arrogance is taught, or it was cultivated. It's self-conscious. That's what it is. It's conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/they-say-it-s-the-me-generation-it-s-not-the-arrogance-is-taught-or/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [I always call performing live "giving the people the medicine," because when you're engaged in it, you can feel the sort of soul magic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-always-call-performing-live-giving-the-people-the-medicine-because/)

[Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/)

> [When you talk about the exchange of energy between performer and audience and audience and performer, I hope that I'm one of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-devaughn/when-you-talk-about-the-exchange-of-energy-between-performer-and/)

[Raheem DeVaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-devaughn/)

## More by Paul F. Tompkins

> [You can find nice clothes that suit your style at any number of places - Goodwill, Salvation Army, stores like that. They're all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/you-can-find-nice-clothes-that-suit-your-style-at-any-number-of/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [If you pay attention, stand-up can be great improv training ground. But one of the things that helped me the most was doing warm-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/if-you-pay-attention-stand-up-can-be-great-improv-training-ground-but/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [If the idea is you're working at a job solely to pay the bills because you have ambitions to do something else, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/if-the-idea-is-you-re-working-at-a-job-solely-to-pay-the-bills/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [I love to do the stream-of-consciousness thing, because it's exciting for me, and I like to think it's exciting for the audience, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/i-love-to-do-the-stream-of-consciousness-thing-because-it-s-exciting/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [How has podcasting changed things? A lot of people ask me if I feel I should be more famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/how-has-podcasting-changed-things-a-lot-of-people-ask-me-if-i-feel-i/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [My favorite movie is Lawrence Of Arabia. But that's a long, long movie. So although I've seen it several times, it's not as fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/my-favorite-movie-is-lawrence-of-arabia-but-that-s-a-long-long-movie/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [Fonzie was impossibly cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/fonzie-was-impossibly-cool/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [I came from a big family, with not enough attention. It's classic. I wasn't the baby, but was second to last. It's absolutely the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/i-came-from-a-big-family-with-not-enough-attention-it-s-classic-i/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [You can make me laugh at a thing that I think is horrific. You can make me laugh at a thing that affects me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/you-can-make-me-laugh-at-a-thing-that-i-think-is-horrific-you-can/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [Someone thought that I dropped out of Harvard. I am a college dropout, but I dropped out of Temple University in Philadelphia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/someone-thought-that-i-dropped-out-of-harvard-i-am-a-college-dropout/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [It's important for us all to elect people not just on blind party loyalty. We've got to really examine what candidates say and do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/it-s-important-for-us-all-to-elect-people-not-just-on-blind-party/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [More than just a sobering history lesson, 'Angry Birds' is a beautiful game. It's absolutely lovely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/more-than-just-a-sobering-history-lesson-angry-birds-is-a-beautiful/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [I'm sure that like anybody else, I'm probably the sum total of my life experiences. If I'm smart and I've gained any wisdom, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/i-m-sure-that-like-anybody-else-i-m-probably-the-sum-total-of-my-life/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [Part of our job is to dig deep and rediscover the joy that we had when we were first starting out. Also, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/part-of-our-job-is-to-dig-deep-and-rediscover-the-joy-that-we-had/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

> [There's so much being said about Donald Trump already, all the time, and the more you joke about him, the more you risk making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/there-s-so-much-being-said-about-donald-trump-already-all-the-time/)

[Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

[Explore all 139 Paul F. Tompkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/)

## More Achieve quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/)

[Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/)

> [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/)

[Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/)

Deon Taylor

> [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/)

Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera

> [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/)

[Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power &amp; movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/)

[Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/)

> [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/)

[Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/)

Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "To achieve the intimacy between performer and audience in storytelling, I feel like I have to let the audience in on my emotional state, not just, \"Here's a story I'm going to tell by rote, and you're just going to listen to it, because I'm such a wonderfully entertaining fellow.\" It's the idea of sharing enough of myself that it's not just all about, \"Look at me, look at me.\" There's an element to it of, \"You understand what I'm talking about, right? You've been in this place that I've been in,\" which makes it a richer experience.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Paul F. Tompkins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performer-and-audience-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achieve"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performer-and-audience-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/paul-f-tompkins-3121_achieve_to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performe_1608949.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/paul-f-tompkins-3121_achieve_to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performe_1608949.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/paul-f-tompkins-3121_achieve_to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performe_1608949.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To achieve the intimacy between performer and audience in storytelling, I feel like I have to let the…” — Paul F. Tompkins",
                "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": "Paul F. Tompkins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To achieve the intimacy between performer...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performer-and-audience-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/to-achieve-the-intimacy-between-performer-and-audience-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
