--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A stand-up act is almost like a pool. You…" description: "\"A stand-up act is almost like a pool. You know what I mean? It's like a pool, and you're always skimming little leaves out of it, messing with the chlo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/pete-holmes-4618_body_a-stand-up-act-is-almost-like-a-pool-you_884957.jpg" --- # A stand-up act is almost like a pool. You know what I… ![“A stand-up act is almost like a pool. You know what I mean? It's like a pool, and you're always skimming little leaves out of it, messing with the chlorine level, putting up umbrellas. You're trying to make one little stagnant body of water perfect. Whereas a late-night show is like a river…” quote by Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/pete-holmes-4618_body_a-stand-up-act-is-almost-like-a-pool-you_884957.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/pete-holmes-4618_body_a-stand-up-act-is-almost-like-a-pool-you_884957.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/pete-holmes-4618_body_a-stand-up-act-is-almost-like-a-pool-you_884957.jpg) > “A stand-up act is almost like a pool. You know what I mean? It's like a pool, and you're always skimming little leaves out of it, messing with the chlorine level, putting up umbrellas. You're trying to make one little stagnant body of water perfect. Whereas a late-night show is like a river, always moving forward.” [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A stand‑up routine is a controlled, static environment, while a late‑night show is dynamic and ever‑changing. **In simple terms:** Stand‑up is static; late‑night is fluid. Key Takeaway Adapt your craft to the medium’s rhythm. Themes comedy creativity performance Mood humorous insightful Type observational entertaining When to use this quote - writing jokes - live shows - TV production Key Concepts static vs dynamic creative process audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How does medium shape comedic style? - Can you blend both approaches? A Different Perspective Static formats can limit spontaneity and growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Late night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-night/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [I talk about how I'm a people-pleaser and I'm really jolly, but there's a side of me that comes out late at night like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-villasenor/i-talk-about-how-i-m-a-people-pleaser-and-i-m-really-jolly-but-there/) [Melissa Villasenor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-villasenor/) > [On 'Late Night,' it's like we're all in on the joke. That's what I wanted it to be. I'm not doing something sneaky. Inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/on-late-night-it-s-like-we-re-all-in-on-the-joke-that-s-what-i-wanted/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [That was an interesting thing I learned I think the first time I did a late night show or something. It was like, "Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/that-was-an-interesting-thing-i-learned-i-think-the-first-time-i-did/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I think I'm okay; I got a pretty good shot when I concentrate. I like pool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gza/i-think-i-m-okay-i-got-a-pretty-good-shot-when-i-concentrate-i-like/) Gza > [“The whole thing feels like a pool of water that I'm trying to hold in my hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/the-whole-thing-feels-like-a-pool-of-water-that-i-m-trying-to-hold-in/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [Guys can be like the 8 pool Game...where there is so many balls but only one special just waiting for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guys-can-be-like-the-8-pool-game-where-there-is-so-many-balls-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It makes you feel like the pool is yours when you have your family there. You walk up to them and see them crying...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-pascoe/it-makes-you-feel-like-the-pool-is-yours-when-you-have-your-family/) [Sophie Pascoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-pascoe/) > [For me, acting is like a pool you dive into. If you're lucky, you find what you need, then get out again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/for-me-acting-is-like-a-pool-you-dive-into-if-you-re-lucky-you-find/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [You can't get a dolphin. What are you gonna do, like, put it in your pool?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/you-can-t-get-a-dolphin-what-are-you-gonna-do-like-put-it-in-your-pool/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The Big Valbowski is kinda like a pool just jump right in and get wet!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-venis/the-big-valbowski-is-kinda-like-a-pool-just-jump-right-in-and-get-wet/) [Val Venis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-venis/) > [No," said a voice, "the only thing wrong on a night like that is that there is a world and you must come back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/no-said-a-voice-the-only-thing-wrong-on-a-night-like-that-is-that/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Night was like Christmas. There wasn't nearly enough of it to go around, especially in June.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-c-stevens/night-was-like-christmas-there-wasn-t-nearly-enough-of-it-to-go/) [Courtney C. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-c-stevens/) > [I often wake up in the night, and I like to have something to think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-often-wake-up-in-the-night-and-i-like-to-have-something-to-think/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I always view my music like a city at night, like Atlanta. I view my music in lights. So Far Gone would be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-always-view-my-music-like-a-city-at-night-like-atlanta-i-view-my/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Im gonna live the night like its the best night of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano/im-gonna-live-the-night-like-its-the-best-night-of-my-life/) Stefano ## More by Pete Holmes > [When somebody comes across as authentic and genuine and sweet, people just want to spend time with that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-somebody-comes-across-as-authentic-and-genuine-and-sweet-people/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [When my wife left me, in real life, T. J. Miller was like, 'I'm shooting a movie in Pittsburgh. I'll fly you out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-my-wife-left-me-in-real-life-t-j-miller-was-like-i-m-shooting-a/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [The underlying goal of comedy is feeling not-alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/the-underlying-goal-of-comedy-is-feeling-not-alone/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [Religion often is very embarrassing, and I totally get it. So I am sort of sometimes burdened with the fact that I love talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/religion-often-is-very-embarrassing-and-i-totally-get-it-so-i-am-sort/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [When it comes to being called a pronoun, sometimes I like to call other people 'me.' I go, like, 'Oh, these mes voted for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-it-comes-to-being-called-a-pronoun-sometimes-i-like-to-call/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [Why do we say 'Have a great weekend?' That's just a spell. You're just going - I have no control over your weekend. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/why-do-we-say-have-a-great-weekend-that-s-just-a-spell-you-re-just/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [The biggest idea of a good time for me is making the Batman videos that we did. That is my ideal day. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/the-biggest-idea-of-a-good-time-for-me-is-making-the-batman-videos/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [Science would like to tell us that people laugh because of the benign violation theory, but comedy doesn't have hard rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/science-would-like-to-tell-us-that-people-laugh-because-of-the-benign/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [It's hard to control the things that are going to inspire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/it-s-hard-to-control-the-things-that-are-going-to-inspire-you/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [I mostly do faces and sounds. That's what I do. Comedy doesn't have to be art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/i-mostly-do-faces-and-sounds-that-s-what-i-do-comedy-doesn-t-have-to/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [Comedians really are like a species. That's not to be exclusive. Anyone can kind of become one. You have to pay your dues, though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/comedians-really-are-like-a-species-that-s-not-to-be-exclusive-anyone/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [What people respond to is intimacy and regularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/what-people-respond-to-is-intimacy-and-regularity/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [When I got divorced, the first people I called were Nick Kroll and John Mulaney and T. J. Miller - all the pals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-i-got-divorced-the-first-people-i-called-were-nick-kroll-and/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [Sometimes I liken the comedian's lifestyle a little bit to a firefighter's in the sense that there's a lot of waiting and a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/sometimes-i-liken-the-comedian-s-lifestyle-a-little-bit-to-a/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [My wife left me when I was 28 in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/my-wife-left-me-when-i-was-28-in-real-life/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) [Explore all 108 Pete Holmes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [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/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A stand-up act is almost like a pool. You know what I mean? It's like a pool, and you're always skimming little leaves out of it, messing with the chlorine level, putting up umbrellas. You're trying to make one little stagnant body of water perfect. 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