---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our early days - our audiences were…"
description: "\"Our early days - our audiences were always very sparse. We played very obscure places in very obscure parts of the world, mainly Kansas. We played frat..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/phil-ehart-35772_audience_our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always_812539.jpg"
---

#  Our early days - our audiences were always very sparse. We…

![“Our early days - our audiences were always very sparse. We played very obscure places in very obscure parts of the world, mainly Kansas. We played frat parties, we played high school proms, we played clubs.” quote by Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/phil-ehart-35772_audience_our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always_812539.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/phil-ehart-35772_audience_our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always_812539.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/phil-ehart-35772_audience_our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always_812539.jpg)

> “Our early days - our audiences were always very sparse. We played very obscure places in very obscure parts of the world, mainly Kansas. We played frat parties, we played high school proms, we played clubs.”

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

## About This Quote

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

Early performances were in tiny, remote venues, often in Kansas, at parties and schools.

**In simple terms:** They started in very small, obscure places.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humble beginnings and keep touring.

Themes

humility growth music industry touring audience early career

Mood

nostalgic reflective determined

Type

anecdotal inspirational

When to use this quote

- small towns
- college events
- high school dances
- clubs
- frat parties

Key Concepts

DIY ethic grassroots local scenes building fanbase adaptability

Questions to Reflect On

- How did playing obscure venues shape your music?
- What strategies helped expand your audience?

A Different Perspective

Limited exposure made it hard to gain wider recognition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audiences Sparse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audiences-sparse-275589/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Early Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-days-275590/) [Frat parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frat-parties/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Kansas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kansas/) [Obscure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscure/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Played Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-clubs-275587/) [Played Frat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-frat-275591/) [Played Obscure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-obscure-275588/) [Prom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prom/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [I have played for many clubs, and for many managers, and been through many highs and lows. But one thing has never changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gomez/i-have-played-for-many-clubs-and-for-many-managers-and-been-through/)

[Mario Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gomez/)

> [The biggest similarity between me and my character is that we've both played clubs for 20 years. In real life, the clubs aren't quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vonda-shepard/the-biggest-similarity-between-me-and-my-character-is-that-we-ve-both/)

[Vonda Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vonda-shepard/)

> [We got £25 a week in the early Sixties when we were first with Brian Epstein, when we played the clubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/we-got-25-a-week-in-the-early-sixties-when-we-were-first-with-brian/)

[George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/)

> [I played for four clubs during my career and for me it was like having four wives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluca-vialli/i-played-for-four-clubs-during-my-career-and-for-me-it-was-like/)

[Gianluca Vialli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluca-vialli/)

> [I played so many clubs growing up, and back in that period, in the '60s, we'd play, like, four, five sets a night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-played-so-many-clubs-growing-up-and-back-in-that-period-in-the-60s/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [I go to goth clubs dressed as a frat guy so I can stand around and look terribly uncomfortable. At frat parties I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/i-go-to-goth-clubs-dressed-as-a-frat-guy-so-i-can-stand-around-and/)

[Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/)

> [Let's just say I didn't get invited to a lot of frat parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chozick/let-s-just-say-i-didn-t-get-invited-to-a-lot-of-frat-parties/)

[Amy Chozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chozick/)

> [“I overhear kids in my classes talking about frat parties— Omigod Michelle so lost her phone at the club! —and they sound fun, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-porpora/i-overhear-kids-in-my-classes-talking-about-frat-parties-omigod/)

[Kenny Porpora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-porpora/)

> [When I was in college, I remember fearing that the dreary grind of adulthood would feature infinitely more existential dread than frat parties had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-i-was-in-college-i-remember-fearing-that-the-dreary-grind-of/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [ “There wasn't even enough meat to make proper fun of \[…\] I keep waiting for somebody else to come on TV, maybe a cabinet… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-green/there-wasn-t-even-enough-meat-to-make-proper-fun-of-i-keep-waiting/)

[Stephen Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-green/)

> [“He describes opening up an artery, flushing the blood out with water, and pumping in alcohol. I’ve been to frat parties like that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/he-describes-opening-up-an-artery-flushing-the-blood-out-with-water/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [I'm so disappointed in the frat parties at Columbia. I'm like an English boy going to an American college. I'm thinking cheerleaders, I'm thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-minghella/i-m-so-disappointed-in-the-frat-parties-at-columbia-i-m-like-an/)

[Max Minghella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-minghella/)

> [I went to about one frat party a year. A year seemed to be enough time for me to forget how much I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/i-went-to-about-one-frat-party-a-year-a-year-seemed-to-be-enough-time/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [We ordered pizza at midnight and played video games, and I went to a few frat parties. I didn't know how to 'hang out'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/we-ordered-pizza-at-midnight-and-played-video-games-and-i-went-to-a/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [The early days were really difficult because it was constant no's, I didn't have an agent. I always knew that I had something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madelyn-cline/the-early-days-were-really-difficult-because-it-was-constant-no-s-i/)

[Madelyn Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madelyn-cline/)

## More by Phil Ehart

> [I can't think of anybody we toured with that had more impact on us than Queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/i-can-t-think-of-anybody-we-toured-with-that-had-more-impact-on-us/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [ We \[ The Kansas\]'re somewhat hard-pressed at this time to imagine any bands that'll be around 40 years from now (and that's our personal opinion). ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/we-the-kansas-re-somewhat-hard-pressed-at-this-time-to-imagine-any/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [If you're learning a new instrument, have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/if-you-re-learning-a-new-instrument-have-fun/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [There's so much interaction between the crowd and the music that it's an incredible moment to be a part of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/there-s-so-much-interaction-between-the-crowd-and-the-music-that-it-s/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [Kansas has always considered itself a "rock band" - some people might say "symphonic rock band," others might say a "classical rock band," but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/kansas-has-always-considered-itself-a-rock-band-some-people-might-say/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [It's always a challenge to hit the stage running, with Kansas' music, because it's demanding from the very first note, so we try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/it-s-always-a-challenge-to-hit-the-stage-running-with-kansas-music/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [We actually had a Kansa band softball team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/we-actually-had-a-kansa-band-softball-team/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [Due to people's health, and certain things that have happened to people's physicality because of their healthy, that would probably keep us from touring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/due-to-people-s-health-and-certain-things-that-have-happened-to/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [I don't enjoy "Dust in the Wind"as much. But I do enjoy "Song for America," "Carry on, Wayward Son," and many songs- Kansas is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/i-don-t-enjoy-dust-in-the-wind-as-much-but-i-do-enjoy-song-for/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [I would go see local bands play, and noticed how many girls were there to see the band, and that's what inspired me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/i-would-go-see-local-bands-play-and-noticed-how-many-girls-were-there/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [When we were starting out, there was no "label" as progressive rock - it didn't exist ... so we were just a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/when-we-were-starting-out-there-was-no-label-as-progressive-rock-it/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

> [I've learned a long time ago to never say never about the band Kansas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/i-ve-learned-a-long-time-ago-to-never-say-never-about-the-band-kansas/)

[Phil Ehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

[Explore all 13 Phil Ehart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/)

## 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": "Our early days - our audiences were always very sparse. We played very obscure places in very obscure parts of the world, mainly Kansas. We played frat parties, we played high school proms, we played clubs.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Phil Ehart"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always-very-sparse-we-played-very/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Audience"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always-very-sparse-we-played-very/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/phil-ehart-35772_audience_our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always_812539.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/phil-ehart-35772_audience_our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always_812539.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/phil-ehart-35772_audience_our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always_812539.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Our early days - our audiences were always very sparse. We played very obscure places in very obscure parts…” — Phil Ehart",
                "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": "Phil Ehart",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ehart/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Our early days - our audiences...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always-very-sparse-we-played-very/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ehart/our-early-days-our-audiences-were-always-very-sparse-we-played-very/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
