--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not that there weren't great shows, and…" description: "\"Not that there weren't great shows, and not that there wasn't plenty of fine music played. It's just that the consistency and the height of where we co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/phil-lesh-23560_audience_not-that-there-weren-t-great-shows-and-n_1757744.jpg" --- # Not that there weren't great shows, and not that there… ![“Not that there weren't great shows, and not that there wasn't plenty of fine music played. It's just that the consistency and the height of where we could take it, with the help of the audience, was less, I felt, in the '90s.” quote by Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/phil-lesh-23560_audience_not-that-there-weren-t-great-shows-and-n_1757744.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/phil-lesh-23560_audience_not-that-there-weren-t-great-shows-and-n_1757744.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/phil-lesh-23560_audience_not-that-there-weren-t-great-shows-and-n_1757744.jpg) > “Not that there weren't great shows, and not that there wasn't plenty of fine music played. It's just that the consistency and the height of where we could take it, with the help of the audience, was less, I felt, in the '90s.” [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comments on 1990s music shows losing audience‑driven energy compared to earlier decades. **In simple terms:** 1990s shows felt less energetic than earlier ones. Key Takeaway Seek ways to boost audience engagement. Themes music culture performance Mood reflective nostalgic Type opinion critique When to use this quote - concert planning - venue design - artist‑fan communication - marketing strategies Key Concepts audience interaction creative evolution industry trends Questions to Reflect On - What can modern shows learn from past eras? - How does audience feedback shape performance? A Different Perspective Nostalgia may bias perception of past quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Consistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistency/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [We were in a little bubble to a degree, but you'd never really know what was going on elsewhere, you'd done a tour in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ridgeley/we-were-in-a-little-bubble-to-a-degree-but-you-d-never-really-know/) [Andrew Ridgeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ridgeley/) > [I got this call that they wanted me to join this cast. They called it a family show, and it thought that it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-danza/i-got-this-call-that-they-wanted-me-to-join-this-cast-they-called-it/) [Tony Danza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-danza/) > [Some felt my looks would not go down with the Bengali audience. They felt I was not photogenic. Others felt I was just what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rituparna-sengupta/some-felt-my-looks-would-not-go-down-with-the-bengali-audience-they/) [Rituparna Sengupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rituparna-sengupta/) > [As things grew for me I felt like I was losing myself and wanted to stay true to myself as well. I didn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/as-things-grew-for-me-i-felt-like-i-was-losing-myself-and-wanted-to/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I grew up on the side of the stage. I never had a fear of an audience. I never felt like they were separated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-carter/i-grew-up-on-the-side-of-the-stage-i-never-had-a-fear-of-an-audience/) [Carlene Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-carter/) > [I used to have trouble in front of an audience. I felt uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-goulet/i-used-to-have-trouble-in-front-of-an-audience-i-felt-uncomfortable/) [Robert Goulet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-goulet/) > [When I performed at 'Open Mic U.K.' I had this connection with the audience that I'd never felt before, and I loved it. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/birdy/when-i-performed-at-open-mic-u-k-i-had-this-connection-with-the/) [Birdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/birdy/) > [It felt really nice to not have anybody talking about numbers, and no one is talking about ratings. From my experience, it felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-schilling/it-felt-really-nice-to-not-have-anybody-talking-about-numbers-and-no/) [Taylor Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-schilling/) > [“Livia nodded and unwrapped a pink page from the stem of her bouquet. She spoke softly, so only Blake could hear her. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-nodded-and-unwrapped-a-pink-page-from-the-stem-of-her-bouquet/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [When the pursuit of natural harmony is a shared journey, great heights can be attained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-hill/when-the-pursuit-of-natural-harmony-is-a-shared-journey-great-heights/) [Lynn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-hill/) > [I'm an actor who works, and a lot of this is luck for me, that I get to be a part of really great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/i-m-an-actor-who-works-and-a-lot-of-this-is-luck-for-me-that-i-get-to/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [I am completely and utterly hooked to all the great shows on A&E and Court TV that are about small town murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-pollak/i-am-completely-and-utterly-hooked-to-all-the-great-shows-on-a-e-and/) [Kevin Pollak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-pollak/) > [The British model, which I've always thought was great, is that you do a TV show and then they sell it. Then you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/the-british-model-which-i-ve-always-thought-was-great-is-that-you-do/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [All the great shows owe a lot to 'Hill Street Blues.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennie-james/all-the-great-shows-owe-a-lot-to-hill-street-blues/) [Lennie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennie-james/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) ## More by Phil Lesh > [We sing a little song before we eat, a little blessing before we eat, and it's really - we're thanking the Lord and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/we-sing-a-little-song-before-we-eat-a-little-blessing-before-we-eat/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [Michael is the kind of guy who has rhythm; he has rock'n'roll in his soul, whether he really plays it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/michael-is-the-kind-of-guy-who-has-rhythm-he-has-rock-n-roll-in-his/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [To sing a simple round is truly an enlightening experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/to-sing-a-simple-round-is-truly-an-enlightening-experience/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [And that format was - we'd been using that format, I guess, since the late '70s, and it was starting to get very predictable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/and-that-format-was-we-d-been-using-that-format-i-guess-since-the/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [Especially in the realm of bringing an opportunity to do something creative to people, as I said, who wouldn't ordinarily have that opportunity. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/especially-in-the-realm-of-bringing-an-opportunity-to-do-something/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [If, as some savants of consciousness suggest, we are actually agreeing to create, from moment to moment, everything we perceive as real, then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/if-as-some-savants-of-consciousness-suggest-we-are-actually-agreeing/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [So what it boils down to, in my humble opinion, is that we need to support the arts in schools, and at every other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/so-what-it-boils-down-to-in-my-humble-opinion-is-that-we-need-to/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [In St. Louis, some people were hurt seriously when some fans got on top of a roof that was where other fans were underneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/in-st-louis-some-people-were-hurt-seriously-when-some-fans-got-on-top/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [... We borrowed it all from Coltrane. I started encouraging everybody in the band to listen to John Coltrane - 'Check it out, see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/we-borrowed-it-all-from-coltrane-i-started-encouraging-everybody-in/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [In a way, it's my way of dealing with, finding closure with Grateful Dead music, and giving thanks in a way to Jerry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/in-a-way-it-s-my-way-of-dealing-with-finding-closure-with-grateful/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [Yes, Pluton, actually, in the play. And I play him in my most stentorian voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/yes-pluton-actually-in-the-play-and-i-play-him-in-my-most-stentorian/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [Because, first of all, we were becoming aware during that tour that there was a group of people that was following the band around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/because-first-of-all-we-were-becoming-aware-during-that-tour-that/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [... Everything we (the Grateful Dead) ever did was a demonstration of the value of cross-fertilization, It was unconscious at first, but when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/everything-we-the-grateful-dead-ever-did-was-a-demonstration-of-the/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [When the band would leave the stage, and then the audience would just take over, and keep the groove goin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/when-the-band-would-leave-the-stage-and-then-the-audience-would-just/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [Actually, the year anniversary of what you just heard, my son Grahame and I are going to be in a play together, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/actually-the-year-anniversary-of-what-you-just-heard-my-son-grahame/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) [Explore all 25 Phil Lesh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) ## 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": "Not that there weren't great shows, and not that there wasn't plenty of fine music played. 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