--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My joke, which isn't really a joke, is…" description: "\"My joke, which isn't really a joke, is that there will be one of two tours: the tour for the album that does well, or the tour for the album that stiff..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/richard-marx-16976_albums_my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-tha_1795369.jpg" --- # My joke, which isn't really a joke, is that there will be… ![“My joke, which isn't really a joke, is that there will be one of two tours: the tour for the album that does well, or the tour for the album that stiffs.” quote by Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/richard-marx-16976_albums_my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-tha_1795369.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/richard-marx-16976_albums_my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-tha_1795369.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/richard-marx-16976_albums_my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-tha_1795369.jpg) > “My joke, which isn't really a joke, is that there will be one of two tours: the tour for the album that does well, or the tour for the album that stiffs.” [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success determines whether a tour is celebratory or disappointing, highlighting the stakes of artistic reception. **In simple terms:** Tour outcomes depend on album success. Key Takeaway Prepare for both success and setbacks. Themes music career risk expectation Mood pragmatic reflective Type motivational business When to use this quote - album release planning - tour scheduling - marketing strategy - contingency budgeting Key Concepts industry dynamics performance pressure fan reception Questions to Reflect On - What backup plans can you create for a tour? - How do you measure success beyond sales? A Different Perspective Unforeseen events can disrupt even well‑planned tours. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Touring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touring/) ## Related quotes > [While we were touring for 'Vacation,' we weren't aware that the record wasn't doing well. It was a good tour, but the album didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-caffey/while-we-were-touring-for-vacation-we-weren-t-aware-that-the-record/) [Charlotte Caffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-caffey/) > [I wouldn't do just a tour, it would have to be an album, and the album would have to beat Pull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kip-winger/i-wouldn-t-do-just-a-tour-it-would-have-to-be-an-album-and-the-album/) [Kip Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kip-winger/) > [I admire the Pope. I have a lot of respect for anyone who can tour without an album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-admire-the-pope-i-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-anyone-who-can-tour/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [When we came off the tour for the last album, we started on this one. We've just been chipping away at it. We're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rowntree/when-we-came-off-the-tour-for-the-last-album-we-started-on-this-one/) [Dave Rowntree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rowntree/) > [When the Greatest Hits came out and we did that tour, I just felt I wanted to take a break, totally. Probably because, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/when-the-greatest-hits-came-out-and-we-did-that-tour-i-just-felt-i/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [I tour whether I have album out or not. I tour more than any other hip-hop artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-tour-whether-i-have-album-out-or-not-i-tour-more-than-any-other-hip/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [“I’d been on the road for twenty-five years, pretty much. I was like a mouse on a wheel: album, tour, album, tour, album, tour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-d-been-on-the-road-for-twenty-five-years-pretty-much-i-was-like-a/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [If you talk about the 'Tango in the Night' album, the reason I didn't do that tour was because the album took about 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/if-you-talk-about-the-tango-in-the-night-album-the-reason-i-didn-t-do/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [So we are not doing the traditional album, tour, album, tour, album, tour anymore. We're going to tour when we want to, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/so-we-are-not-doing-the-traditional-album-tour-album-tour-album-tour/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [To do a world tour with my album, that would be really incredible. I love travelling, and I love travelling through my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-henderson/to-do-a-world-tour-with-my-album-that-would-be-really-incredible-i/) [Ella Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-henderson/) > [I like to prepare each tour in a different way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maluma/i-like-to-prepare-each-tour-in-a-different-way/) [Maluma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maluma/) > [I love to go on tour and perform. I love all the parts of the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-armatrading/i-love-to-go-on-tour-and-perform-i-love-all-the-parts-of-the-process/) [Joan Armatrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-armatrading/) > [You live the life of a gipsy when you are on tour, and that's not ideal for family life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-hucknall/you-live-the-life-of-a-gipsy-when-you-are-on-tour-and-that-s-not/) [Mick Hucknall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-hucknall/) > [When you're on tour, you know exactly what you're doing and what's required of you. There's a routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-nash/when-you-re-on-tour-you-know-exactly-what-you-re-doing-and-what-s/) [Kate Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-nash/) > [There is sort of an unspoken 'no skateboarding' clause on tour that I break pretty often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-skiba/there-is-sort-of-an-unspoken-no-skateboarding-clause-on-tour-that-i/) [Matt Skiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-skiba/) ## More by Richard Marx > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I really didn't have any plans to record prior to doing My Own Best Enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-really-didn-t-have-any-plans-to-record-prior-to-doing-my-own-best/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The only thing that's a little tricky about it is sometimes people assume that if it's a new song, it's a reflection of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/the-only-thing-that-s-a-little-tricky-about-it-is-sometimes-people/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I don't think I've ever laid out a batch of songs that pick myself apart the way that these do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-laid-out-a-batch-of-songs-that-pick-myself/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [It never ceases to amaze me that I get to do this for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/it-never-ceases-to-amaze-me-that-i-get-to-do-this-for-a-living/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I saw your smile and my mind could not erase the beauty of your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-saw-your-smile-and-my-mind-could-not-erase-the-beauty-of-your-face/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I understand that, but this disc shows the type of music that I've always liked and wanted to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-understand-that-but-this-disc-shows-the-type-of-music-that-i-ve/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I'm happy, I would say that I'm one of the happiest people I know but I've certainly had periods of profound sadness, depression and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-m-happy-i-would-say-that-i-m-one-of-the-happiest-people-i-know-but/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [But more importantly, I think he remembered how very close I was with my own dad, who had died in 1997.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/but-more-importantly-i-think-he-remembered-how-very-close-i-was-with/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I'm now so keenly aware that I have everything to prove and nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-m-now-so-keenly-aware-that-i-have-everything-to-prove-and-nothing/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [People take songs so literally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/people-take-songs-so-literally/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I think I do better when things are a little tougher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-think-i-do-better-when-things-are-a-little-tougher/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I love when people get songs wrong. I love when people take something from a song that's totally not what I intended!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-love-when-people-get-songs-wrong-i-love-when-people-take-something/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [But once you have some success in one style, the business wants to lock you in that vein forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/but-once-you-have-some-success-in-one-style-the-business-wants-to/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I can't wait to front my band with these new songs and play for fans, but I've decided to keep my day job too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-can-t-wait-to-front-my-band-with-these-new-songs-and-play-for-fans/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) [Explore all 38 Richard Marx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) ## More Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) [Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My joke, which isn't really a joke, is that there will be one of two tours: the tour for the album that does well, or the tour for the album that stiffs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Marx" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-that-there-will-be-one-of-two/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Albums" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-that-there-will-be-one-of-two/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/richard-marx-16976_albums_my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-tha_1795369.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/richard-marx-16976_albums_my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-tha_1795369.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/richard-marx-16976_albums_my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-tha_1795369.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My joke, which isn't really a joke, is that there will be one of two tours: the tour for the album that does…” — Richard Marx", "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": "Richard Marx", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My joke, which isn't really a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-that-there-will-be-one-of-two/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/my-joke-which-isn-t-really-a-joke-is-that-there-will-be-one-of-two/#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 } } ] } ```