--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An improv artist's best instrument is…" description: "\"An improv artist's best instrument is their ability keep their antennae clean so they're able to receive what I call the connection to creativity. It's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/reggie-watts-4551_ability_an-improv-artist-s-best-instrument-is-th_2063188.png" --- # An improv artist's best instrument is their ability keep… ![“An improv artist's best instrument is their ability keep their antennae clean so they're able to receive what I call the connection to creativity. It's the thing that you see in any amazing moment that any human being is performing. Whether it's watching Michael Jordan navigating through all these…” quote by Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/reggie-watts-4551_ability_an-improv-artist-s-best-instrument-is-th_2063188.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/reggie-watts-4551_ability_an-improv-artist-s-best-instrument-is-th_2063188.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/reggie-watts-4551_ability_an-improv-artist-s-best-instrument-is-th_2063188.png) > “An improv artist's best instrument is their ability keep their antennae clean so they're able to receive what I call the connection to creativity. It's the thing that you see in any amazing moment that any human being is performing. Whether it's watching Michael Jordan navigating through all these attackers and then suddenly rising up and putting the ball in the most amazing way, or watching an actor on stage playing Shakespeare, but not thinking about the actor anymore or the stage or you or the chair, any of these kinds of moments of transcendence.” [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative flow depends on keeping one's mind open and receptive, allowing spontaneous inspiration to arise. **In simple terms:** Stay open to receive inspiration. Key Takeaway Practice mental clarity to boost creativity. Themes creativity mindfulness performance art Mood playful inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - improvisation rehearsals - creative brainstorming - public speaking - athletic performance Key Concepts receptivity flow state spontaneity Questions to Reflect On - What habits keep your mind clean? - How do you balance focus with receptivity? A Different Perspective Too much openness can lead to distraction or lack of focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) [Chairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairs/) [Clean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean/) [Connection Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection-creativity-1559669/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Creativity Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity-thing-1894100/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Improv Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improv-artist-3142947/) [Improvisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisation/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jordan/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Most amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-amazing/) [Performing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performing/) [Rising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rising/) [Rising up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rising-up/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Transcendence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendence/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [When you're improvising, you're relying on this connection to creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/when-you-re-improvising-you-re-relying-on-this-connection-to/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [“Think of the jazz improv artist responding to the musical banter among her fellow players onstage. Aside from whatever training they've done in advance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-quesada/think-of-the-jazz-improv-artist-responding-to-the-musical-banter/) [Donna Quesada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-quesada/) > [“Professor Adam Galinsky, an American social psychologist who has studied the connection between creativity and international travel, says that ‘Foreign experiences increase both cognitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-o-farrell/professor-adam-galinsky-an-american-social-psychologist-who-has/) [Maggie O'Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-o-farrell/) > [Creativity has nothing to do with creating something, creativity is simply the presence of God. Those who are fortunate enough to come in contact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/creativity-has-nothing-to-do-with-creating-something-creativity-is-2/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Creativity is not a “thing,” it’s a process that happens as a proactive mental activity to a problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/creativity-is-not-a-thing-it-s-a-process-that-happens-as-a-proactive/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [Technology is technology and then art form and people's creativity is another thing. Anything that helps an artist do anything - great! Technology for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/technology-is-technology-and-then-art-form-and-people-s-creativity-is/) [Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/) > [I think we're all born with a sense of humor. Creativity is another thing though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-we-re-all-born-with-a-sense-of-humor-creativity-is-another/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I don't claim to be an expert on this, but I think ADD and creativity may be the same thing; it's just that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/i-don-t-claim-to-be-an-expert-on-this-but-i-think-add-and-creativity/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [This is the most profound spiritual truth I know: that even when we're most sure that love can't conquer all, it seems to anyway.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-the-most-profound-spiritual-truth-i-know-that-even-when-we-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Persistence compounds. One more try, one more day, one more effort—that could be your breakthrough. When you feel like giving in - that little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olawale-daniel/persistence-compounds-one-more-try-one-more-day-one-more-effort-that/) [Olawale Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olawale-daniel/) > [We are witnessing a great awakening. Millions of Texans, millions of Americans are rising up to reclaim our country, to defend liberty and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-are-witnessing-a-great-awakening-millions-of-texans-millions-of/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [“Invest maximum amount of time into refining your gift and become best at what you were called to do and you will be surprised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/invest-maximum-amount-of-time-into-refining-your-gift-and-become-best/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [It goes without saying that only inner greatness possess a true value ("une valeur véritable,", Fr.) . Any attempt to rise up (or at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/it-goes-without-saying-that-only-inner-greatness-possess-a-true-value/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Oft in the silence of the night, When the lonely moon rides high, When wintry winds are whistling, And we hear the owl's shrill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/oft-in-the-silence-of-the-night-when-the-lonely-moon-rides-high-when/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [When we start helping the weak and the poor to rise everyone will begin to change. Those who have power and riches will start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/when-we-start-helping-the-weak-and-the-poor-to-rise-everyone-will/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) ## More by Reggie Watts > [It's hard to move on when you can see too many good possibilities or any kind of possibility really. That's something that always kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/it-s-hard-to-move-on-when-you-can-see-too-many-good-possibilities-or/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race: half white, half black. That question's always been on my mind: 'What are you?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-half-white-half-black-that/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [I want to be able to make a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-want-to-be-able-to-make-a-movie/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [If you have something you do that's unique, you just end up in situations. Your art can take you to places without you working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/if-you-have-something-you-do-that-s-unique-you-just-end-up-in/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [I like sincerely talking about market analysis and how marketing is ahead of design and design needs to catch up to fulfill the promise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-like-sincerely-talking-about-market-analysis-and-how-marketing-is/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [I love photographs. I love taking photographs. When I see something that's great, I want to capture that. You put it out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-love-photographs-i-love-taking-photographs-when-i-see-something/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [Just remember, everything you are is...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/just-remember-everything-you-are-is/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [What I'm doing on stage now is just the tip of the iceberg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/what-i-m-doing-on-stage-now-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [When you look at a photo twenty years from now, if you look at a photo of a moment in your life, or some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/when-you-look-at-a-photo-twenty-years-from-now-if-you-look-at-a-photo/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [When I'm performing, I hope my research and my experience with those things I'm talking about rings true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/when-i-m-performing-i-hope-my-research-and-my-experience-with-those/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [I've been taking pictures of wherever I go, or on planes, whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-ve-been-taking-pictures-of-wherever-i-go-or-on-planes-whatever/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [The most important thing is to keep creating and following my inklings as they come into being and acting on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/the-most-important-thing-is-to-keep-creating-and-following-my/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [I like that feeling of discombobulation that comes in creating an absurd world that doesn't make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-like-that-feeling-of-discombobulation-that-comes-in-creating-an/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [Sometimes airport security people recognize me. I'll go through the whole screening process and at the end they'll go, 'Hey, man, I really like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/sometimes-airport-security-people-recognize-me-i-ll-go-through-the/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [I had a job at a movie theater for like a year and a half and then a job at a health food store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-had-a-job-at-a-movie-theater-for-like-a-year-and-a-half-and-then-a/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) [Explore all 109 Reggie Watts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An improv artist's best instrument is their ability keep their antennae clean so they're able to receive what I call the connection to creativity. 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