--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember the first time I was booked…" description: "\"I remember the first time I was booked into a jazz club. I was scared to death. I'm not a jazz artist. So I got to the club and spotted this big poster..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/richie-havens-19658_art_i-remember-the-first-time-i-was-booked-i_1062347.jpg" --- # I remember the first time I was booked into a jazz club. I… ![“I remember the first time I was booked into a jazz club. I was scared to death. I'm not a jazz artist. So I got to the club and spotted this big poster saying, 'Richie Havens, folk jazz artist.' Then I'd go to a rock club and I'm billed as a 'folk rock performer' and in the blues clubs I'd be a…” quote by Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/richie-havens-19658_art_i-remember-the-first-time-i-was-booked-i_1062347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/richie-havens-19658_art_i-remember-the-first-time-i-was-booked-i_1062347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/richie-havens-19658_art_i-remember-the-first-time-i-was-booked-i_1062347.jpg) > “I remember the first time I was booked into a jazz club. I was scared to death. I'm not a jazz artist. So I got to the club and spotted this big poster saying, 'Richie Havens, folk jazz artist.' Then I'd go to a rock club and I'm billed as a 'folk rock performer' and in the blues clubs I'd be a 'folk blues entertainer.'” [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on the anxiety of being labeled in various music genres, revealing the fluidity of artistic identity and the pressure of expectations. **In simple terms:** Genre labels cause fear and confusion. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique artistic identity. Themes identity creativity performance Mood anxious reflective Type personal observational When to use this quote - live performances - career planning - branding - self‑acceptance Key Concepts sociology self‑concept artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How do labels affect your self‑view? - Can you define yourself beyond categories? A Different Perspective It may not apply to non‑performers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Entertainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainer/) [Entertainers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainers/) [Folk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folk/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Performer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performer/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Any nobody from the folk blues world could avoid being influenced by Woody Guthrie, who is actually of Scottish-Irish ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/any-nobody-from-the-folk-blues-world-could-avoid-being-influenced-by/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [I was a virtuoso of all the folk-blues guitar styles by the time I reached 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/i-was-a-virtuoso-of-all-the-folk-blues-guitar-styles-by-the-time-i/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [The early influences, in many ways, were in Baltimore. I was passing open windows where there might be a radio playing something funky. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-leiber/the-early-influences-in-many-ways-were-in-baltimore-i-was-passing/) [Jerry Leiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-leiber/) > [I grew up with a heavy diet of gospel, folk, and blues because those are kind of the cornerstones of traditional American music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/i-grew-up-with-a-heavy-diet-of-gospel-folk-and-blues-because-those/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [We have disappointments all the time in the business, and I've lost way more projects than I've booked. I've learned from every opportunity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-thorne/we-have-disappointments-all-the-time-in-the-business-and-i-ve-lost/) [Bella Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-thorne/) > ['Futurama' was a big deal. People had already started to hear about me a little bit here and there, but that was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dimaggio/futurama-was-a-big-deal-people-had-already-started-to-hear-about-me-a/) [John DiMaggio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dimaggio/) > [If Kate Moss hadn't been booked when she was 14, Kate Moss might not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/if-kate-moss-hadn-t-been-booked-when-she-was-14-kate-moss-might-not/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [When I got out of college, I booked a movie called 'Go for It!' with Lionsgate, came out here, and I've been acting ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rodriguez/when-i-got-out-of-college-i-booked-a-movie-called-go-for-it-with/) [Gina Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rodriguez/) > [I was the first to promote The Beatles in the States, and Ed Sullivan called me first about them before he ever booked them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-bernstein/i-was-the-first-to-promote-the-beatles-in-the-states-and-ed-sullivan/) [Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) > [My parents made me finish high school before I started acting, and I did, like, two weeks of fine arts college before I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pare/my-parents-made-me-finish-high-school-before-i-started-acting-and-i/) [Jessica Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pare/) > [I changed my act because I wasn't getting booked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-changed-my-act-because-i-wasn-t-getting-booked/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [Eventually I booked a 2-line role on a show called 'JAG' and slowly the parts got bigger and better. I'm very thankful that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-witwer/eventually-i-booked-a-2-line-role-on-a-show-called-jag-and-slowly-the/) [Samuel Witwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-witwer/) > [I heard of this Texas studio. The owner, Tony Rancich, wanted to fly us out for the day to see the studio. I booked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vincent-mcmorrow/i-heard-of-this-texas-studio-the-owner-tony-rancich-wanted-to-fly-us/) [James Vincent McMorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vincent-mcmorrow/) > [I filled in for Papa Roach because we weren't doing much. Unwritten Law had a few more shows booked, but I got the call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-palermo/i-filled-in-for-papa-roach-because-we-weren-t-doing-much-unwritten/) [Tony Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-palermo/) > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) ## More by Richie Havens > [Music is the major form of communication. It's the commonest vibration, the people's news broadcast, especially for kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/music-is-the-major-form-of-communication-it-s-the-commonest-vibration/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [Everything I want to do, and to accomplish, is on the other side of the universe. That's peace of mind, energy, freedom. And I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/everything-i-want-to-do-and-to-accomplish-is-on-the-other-side-of-the/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [Richie is the only one of my nine who's really moved away. I can't get rid of most of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/richie-is-the-only-one-of-my-nine-who-s-really-moved-away-i-can-t-get/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [I must have played every college and university at least three times, and that goes for most of the clubs. I'd be on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-must-have-played-every-college-and-university-at-least-three-times/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [Woodstock was both a peaceful protest and a global celebration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/woodstock-was-both-a-peaceful-protest-and-a-global-celebration/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [I believe I inherited my sense of music from my father. My father was an ear piano player; he could just hear something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-believe-i-inherited-my-sense-of-music-from-my-father-my-father-was/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [I don't get sick. I can't afford to get sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-don-t-get-sick-i-can-t-afford-to-get-sick/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [You can't even kill yourself if it isn't your time to go. People have no control whatsoever over what happens to them, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/you-can-t-even-kill-yourself-if-it-isn-t-your-time-to-go-people-have/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [I believe we have a double in every country. There's something about that that is probably a commonness that we don't make note of.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-believe-we-have-a-double-in-every-country-there-s-something-about/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [I saw the Village as a place you could escape to, to express yourself. When I first went there, I wrote and performed poetry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-saw-the-village-as-a-place-you-could-escape-to-to-express-yourself/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [Woodstock happened in August 1969, long before the Internet and mobile phones made it possible to communicate instantly with anyone, anywhere. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/woodstock-happened-in-august-1969-long-before-the-internet-and-mobile/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [I really sing songs that move me. I'm not in show business. I'm in the communications business. That's what it's for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-really-sing-songs-that-move-me-i-m-not-in-show-business-i-m-in-the/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [I'm not in show business; I'm in the communications business. That's what it's about for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-m-not-in-show-business-i-m-in-the-communications-business-that-s/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [I started out by myself, but it eventually turned into a trio by the mid-'60s - a conga drum and another guitarist. And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-started-out-by-myself-but-it-eventually-turned-into-a-trio-by-the/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [I actually grew up with people from all over the world. There wasn't enough of a difference to feel different from anybody else. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-actually-grew-up-with-people-from-all-over-the-world-there-wasn-t/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) [Explore all 32 Richie Havens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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