--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a temp for three years in New York…" description: "\"I was a temp for three years in New York when I was auditioning; when I was cast in 'Mad Men,' I was still a temp. I'm good at making copies; I'm good ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/rich-sommer-15874_auditioning_i-was-a-temp-for-three-years-in-new-york_2934678.jpg" --- # I was a temp for three years in New York when I was… ![“I was a temp for three years in New York when I was auditioning; when I was cast in 'Mad Men,' I was still a temp. I'm good at making copies; I'm good at typing things. I'm good at killing the day and making it look like I'm doing something.” quote by Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/rich-sommer-15874_auditioning_i-was-a-temp-for-three-years-in-new-york_2934678.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/rich-sommer-15874_auditioning_i-was-a-temp-for-three-years-in-new-york_2934678.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/rich-sommer-15874_auditioning_i-was-a-temp-for-three-years-in-new-york_2934678.jpg) > “I was a temp for three years in New York when I was auditioning; when I was cast in 'Mad Men,' I was still a temp. I'm good at making copies; I'm good at typing things. I'm good at killing the day and making it look like I'm doing something.” [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes using low‑skill work as a cover while pursuing creative ambitions, highlighting the tension between mundane jobs and artistic dreams. **In simple terms:** He used a temp job to hide his acting aspirations. Key Takeaway Leverage any job to fund your true passion. Themes career art illusion perseverance Mood reflective determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - temp work - auditions - career transition - financial support Key Concepts identity self‑presentation creative ambition Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a routine job into a stepping stone? - What risks arise from hiding your true goals? A Different Perspective The temp role may limit skill growth and networking opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auditioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditioning/) [Cast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cast/) [Cast Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cast-mad-4345007/) [Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-making-454985/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Mad men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-men/) [Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Temp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temp-184512/) [Temp Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temp-good-4345002/) [Temp Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temp-years-4345004/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Three years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-years/) [Typing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typing/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york/) ## Related quotes > [At the time I just was like, I can't believe I am on the show, and the first thing I have to do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pare/at-the-time-i-just-was-like-i-can-t-believe-i-am-on-the-show-and-the/) [Jessica Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pare/) > [“The devil can get you through your flesh. He knows the button to press on your flesh and have a way into your mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-devil-can-get-you-through-your-flesh-he-knows-the-button-to-press/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Technically, all tattoos are temporary, even permanent ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/technically-all-tattoos-are-temporary-even-permanent-ones/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Temp'rate in every place--abroad, at home, Thence will applause, and hence will profit come; And health from either--he in time prepares For sickness, age,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/temp-rate-in-every-place-abroad-at-home-thence-will-applause-and/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [The temp was 80 and I'm cruisin with my lady. Playin some Ralphie Vagon, ooh baby baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rob/the-temp-was-80-and-i-m-cruisin-with-my-lady-playin-some-ralphie/) [Lil Rob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rob/) > [“I just want you to know that most of the time, I have absolutely no fucking clue what I'm doing. I just happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-krumbine/i-just-want-you-to-know-that-most-of-the-time-i-have-absolutely-no/) [Jordan Krumbine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-krumbine/) > [I want people to really recognize that this is what I am naturally good at: I'm really good at making music and describing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-boogie-wit-da-hoodie/i-want-people-to-really-recognize-that-this-is-what-i-am-naturally/) [A Boogie wit da Hoodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-boogie-wit-da-hoodie/) > [I'm really good at making software for publishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/i-m-really-good-at-making-software-for-publishing/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) > [I do think that I'm not good at making pretty things. It doesn't come so naturally for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dumas/i-do-think-that-i-m-not-good-at-making-pretty-things-it-doesn-t-come/) [Marlene Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dumas/) > [Making FUN is good... but making fun on other is not good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-chandu/making-fun-is-good-but-making-fun-on-other-is-not-good/) [Arun Chandu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-chandu/) > [My brother Alex is so creative. He's good at making stuff and runs his own clothing brand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemar-roofe/my-brother-alex-is-so-creative-he-s-good-at-making-stuff-and-runs-his/) [Kemar Roofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemar-roofe/) > [Good shows tend to be more fun to do. If you feel like you are doing something good and making a good show, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/good-shows-tend-to-be-more-fun-to-do-if-you-feel-like-you-are-doing/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [“It wasn't the same. I'm pretty good at making the best of things, but it wasn't the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/it-wasn-t-the-same-i-m-pretty-good-at-making-the-best-of-things-but/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [I think England's always good at making something special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/i-think-england-s-always-good-at-making-something-special/) [Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/) > [Being good is making it look easy, but getting good is never easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-good-is-making-it-look-easy-but-getting-good-is-never-easy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Rich Sommer > [In college, my friend Melanie and I used to have weekly Jimmy Stewart viewings, and 'Harvey' seemed to make its way into the rotation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/in-college-my-friend-melanie-and-i-used-to-have-weekly-jimmy-stewart/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [Part of what I love about games is that, even if you're best friends with somebody, it gives you these sort of moments where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/part-of-what-i-love-about-games-is-that-even-if-you-re-best-friends/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I listen to a lot of podcasts, which are split down the middle between comedy and board game podcasts, and a couple of eclectic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-listen-to-a-lot-of-podcasts-which-are-split-down-the-middle-between/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I'm a bit of a nerd, and my extracurricular activity is nerd games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-m-a-bit-of-a-nerd-and-my-extracurricular-activity-is-nerd-games/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [The amount of times my wife has rolled her eyes at board games is impossible to count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/the-amount-of-times-my-wife-has-rolled-her-eyes-at-board-games-is/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I only aim for fashion that's long dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-only-aim-for-fashion-that-s-long-dead/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I abhor 'baby talk.' I speak to kids like I would any other person, and they seem to respond to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-abhor-baby-talk-i-speak-to-kids-like-i-would-any-other-person-and/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [The work that I've gotten in the hiatuses seems to indicate that I will have a little more work after 'Mad Men' than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/the-work-that-i-ve-gotten-in-the-hiatuses-seems-to-indicate-that-i/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [Gaming has been a great way to get to know people. That's part of what I love about games, that they are social.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/gaming-has-been-a-great-way-to-get-to-know-people-that-s-part-of-what/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I think not every improviser is a good stage actor. Certainly not every stage actor is a good improviser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-think-not-every-improviser-is-a-good-stage-actor-certainly-not/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I would be lucky to be remembered as Harry Crane. That being said, I think it's a goal for most actors to have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-would-be-lucky-to-be-remembered-as-harry-crane-that-being-said-i/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I'm very happy to say goodbye to the three-button suits. I hate three-button suits. Some people can pull them off, but they're legitimately really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-m-very-happy-to-say-goodbye-to-the-three-button-suits-i-hate-three/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [My only foray into anything stock-market-related was in my eighth grade social studies class. I have steered clear ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/my-only-foray-into-anything-stock-market-related-was-in-my-eighth/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I wonder if games are maybe a terminus for ideas. Things can be books or movies or operas or plays, but once they're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-wonder-if-games-are-maybe-a-terminus-for-ideas-things-can-be-books/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I have an RSS reader, Feeddler. I mostly subscribe to board game blogs - they have reviews of new games and discussions about trends.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-have-an-rss-reader-feeddler-i-mostly-subscribe-to-board-game-blogs/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) [Explore all 41 Rich Sommer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) ## More Auditioning quotes > [When I was six years old my friend was auditioning for 'Annie,' and I decided I wanted to audition with her. My mom was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-emerson/when-i-was-six-years-old-my-friend-was-auditioning-for-annie-and-i/) [Jacqueline Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-emerson/) > [When I was auditioning for 'Gotham,' I got a handful of comics from different decades, so I had a perspective - it's been around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-michael-smith/when-i-was-auditioning-for-gotham-i-got-a-handful-of-comics-from/) [Cory Michael Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-michael-smith/) > [There are several times when I walked into a room and just felt like such a sham. That's the problem with auditioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/there-are-several-times-when-i-walked-into-a-room-and-just-felt-like/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [Dating is sort of like auditioning. Even on your worst day, if you're right for the role, you're going to get another shot; you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mcgorry/dating-is-sort-of-like-auditioning-even-on-your-worst-day-if-you-re/) [Matt McGorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mcgorry/) > [Auditioning is a horrible experience because you know you are being absolutely scrutinized and judged. There are days where you can do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/auditioning-is-a-horrible-experience-because-you-know-you-are-being/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [I don't get jobs in films by auditioning. I'm not blonde. You can't place me in movies the way you can with certain actors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-oh/i-don-t-get-jobs-in-films-by-auditioning-i-m-not-blonde-you-can-t/) [Sandra Oh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-oh/) > [All you have to remember is 'audition' is synonymous with 'opportunity. I mean, if you absolutely hate auditioning, do you also hate opportunities? That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-swank/all-you-have-to-remember-is-audition-is-synonymous-with-opportunity-i/) [Hilary Swank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-swank/) > [When I'm auditioning for something, if it's not me, I really hope the part doesn't go to me. You know what I mean? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-keller/when-i-m-auditioning-for-something-if-it-s-not-me-i-really-hope-the/) [Rachel Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-keller/) > [There's no enemy in the auditioning process. Everybody wants you to be the right person when you walk in the room. We're all just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mosley/there-s-no-enemy-in-the-auditioning-process-everybody-wants-you-to-be/) [Michael Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mosley/) > [I was crazy poor, but I was learning and putting myself out there and getting hired to do whatever gig I could and auditioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-cannon/i-was-crazy-poor-but-i-was-learning-and-putting-myself-out-there-and/) [Kay Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-cannon/) > [I found myself in this conundrum of loving acting, but not liking the path that you have to take to do it. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-found-myself-in-this-conundrum-of-loving-acting-but-not-liking-the/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [Usually when you're auditioning for something, you are taking whatever is coming at you and saying 'yes' because you have to to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-ralph/usually-when-you-re-auditioning-for-something-you-are-taking-whatever/) [Jason Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-ralph/) > [Woody Allen, that was a dream come true, although I never really talked to him. Auditioning was fun, because you don't really hear much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/woody-allen-that-was-a-dream-come-true-although-i-never-really-talked/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [Auditioning is always so different for different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/auditioning-is-always-so-different-for-different-things/) [Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/) > [I was in a play just outside of London and started auditioning for 'Sex Education,' but I just completely had the mindset that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ncuti-gatwa/i-was-in-a-play-just-outside-of-london-and-started-auditioning-for/) [Ncuti Gatwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ncuti-gatwa/) [Browse all 277 Auditioning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditioning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a temp for three years in New York when I was auditioning; when I was cast in 'Mad Men,' I was still a temp. 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