--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I personally don't lock in a performance…" description: "\"I personally don't lock in a performance, because I do leave room for things to happen, so I just make sure I'm very intimate with what I'm saying and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/susan-kelechi-watson-19017_matter_i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance_675661.jpg" --- # I personally don't lock in a performance, because I do… ![“I personally don't lock in a performance, because I do leave room for things to happen, so I just make sure I'm very intimate with what I'm saying and why I'm saying it so that no matter what happens, we can do whatever we want to do and leave space for play.” quote by Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/susan-kelechi-watson-19017_matter_i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance_675661.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/susan-kelechi-watson-19017_matter_i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance_675661.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/susan-kelechi-watson-19017_matter_i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance_675661.jpg) > “I personally don't lock in a performance, because I do leave room for things to happen, so I just make sure I'm very intimate with what I'm saying and why I'm saying it so that no matter what happens, we can do whatever we want to do and leave space for play.” [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes staying flexible and deeply connected to one's purpose, allowing improvisation while maintaining clarity of intent. **In simple terms:** Stay clear on purpose, stay open to change. Key Takeaway Be intentional yet adaptable. Themes flexibility authenticity creativity intentionality Mood focused playful reflective Type advice motivational philosophical When to use this quote - theatre rehearsal - business negotiations - team brainstorming - live performance - creative writing Key Concepts mindful communication improvisation purpose alignment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance clarity of intent with openness to spontaneity? - What practices keep you grounded when improvising? A Different Perspective Too much openness can lead to lack of direction if purpose isn’t firmly grounded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) ## Related quotes > [There is something so intimate about saying the truth out loud. There is something so intimate about hearing the truth said. 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It’s not a physical space. It’s a part of our life that remains in a vacuum. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-teague/but-dead-people-leave-a-space-it-s-not-a-physical-space-it-s-a-part/) Paul Teague > [The idea for a book usually bubbles up from my sub-conscious when I am drifting off to sleep. Each one has started as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-bradby/the-idea-for-a-book-usually-bubbles-up-from-my-sub-conscious-when-i/) [Marie Bradby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-bradby/) > [“It was better to leave the space empty of words than to choose the wrong ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/it-was-better-to-leave-the-space-empty-of-words-than-to-choose-the/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [What empowers me in my daily work and life is the knowledge that I will be guided, if I let go of my need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-kavanagh/what-empowers-me-in-my-daily-work-and-life-is-the-knowledge-that-i/) [Jennifer Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-kavanagh/) > [I try to leave some space in my mind for things to surprise me or change my mind, I think that's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-try-to-leave-some-space-in-my-mind-for-things-to-surprise-me-or/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I call on you not to hate, because hate does not leave space for a person to be fair and it makes you blind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saddam-hussein/i-call-on-you-not-to-hate-because-hate-does-not-leave-space-for-a/) [Saddam Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saddam-hussein/) > [You've gotta leave enough space for your actors to bring stuff to the table and whatever the weather's doing that day or what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-adlon/you-ve-gotta-leave-enough-space-for-your-actors-to-bring-stuff-to-the/) [Pamela Adlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-adlon/) > [A lot of guitar players, in every genre, are afraid to leave space. They're afraid to leave a hole, afraid they'll fall down it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/a-lot-of-guitar-players-in-every-genre-are-afraid-to-leave-space-they/) [Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/) > [I plan years in advance, but I like to leave enough space in the narrative scheme to change things, because I always get my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/i-plan-years-in-advance-but-i-like-to-leave-enough-space-in-the/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) ## More by Susan Kelechi Watson > [I have a mole in my eye, which is a very specific thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-have-a-mole-in-my-eye-which-is-a-very-specific-thing/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [It's always really cool as an actor to have a character that people want to see the best for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/it-s-always-really-cool-as-an-actor-to-have-a-character-that-people/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [What I say is that there's this culture and this vibe and this community in Brooklyn that's so amazing and wonderful, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/what-i-say-is-that-there-s-this-culture-and-this-vibe-and-this/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [You have to practice the life you want regardless of what the circumstances are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/you-have-to-practice-the-life-you-want-regardless-of-what-the/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [You always have to keep setting the bar for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/you-always-have-to-keep-setting-the-bar-for-yourself/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [There's light and dark in all things, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/there-s-light-and-dark-in-all-things-you-know/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [We all need somebody to say, 'I love you. I see you. And I'm not going to give up on you.' Everybody has validity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/we-all-need-somebody-to-say-i-love-you-i-see-you-and-i-m-not-going-to/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [PBS was just such an awesome resource for a child's early development. And now I realize Mister Rogers is also an awesome resource for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/pbs-was-just-such-an-awesome-resource-for-a-child-s-early-development/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [There was no way to predict that 'This is Us' was going to be what it is, that it would really resonate with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/there-was-no-way-to-predict-that-this-is-us-was-going-to-be-what-it/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [There was a time when I just didn't have the opportunities, which meant going without things in my life - whether it was clothes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/there-was-a-time-when-i-just-didn-t-have-the-opportunities-which/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [Historically, and even now, women have been asked to give up on their dreams way more than men, mostly - because it's sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/historically-and-even-now-women-have-been-asked-to-give-up-on-their/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [Some of the joy in acting is switching it up: being able to do something that's different than what you've been doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/some-of-the-joy-in-acting-is-switching-it-up-being-able-to-do/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [I actually worked with an organization called Drama Club that works with incarcerated teens and youth in a detention center and in Rikers Island,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-actually-worked-with-an-organization-called-drama-club-that-works/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [I don't know that I constantly think about being a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-don-t-know-that-i-constantly-think-about-being-a-black-woman/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [I trained in theater. I loved Los Angeles, but I've found New York to be successful for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-trained-in-theater-i-loved-los-angeles-but-i-ve-found-new-york-to/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) [Explore all 33 Susan Kelechi Watson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) ## More Matter quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. 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If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [No matter what I do I'll always be stuck on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-stalin/no-matter-what-i-do-i-ll-always-be-stuck-on-you/) [J Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-stalin/) > [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [I think everyone will agree that it doesn't matter how we get to an international tournament. We are going to do whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/i-think-everyone-will-agree-that-it-doesn-t-matter-how-we-get-to-an/) [John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. 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It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) Browse all 23,868 Matter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I personally don't lock in a performance, because I do leave room for things to happen, so I just make sure I'm very intimate with what I'm saying and why I'm saying it so that no matter what happens, we can do whatever we want to do and leave space for play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susan Kelechi Watson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance-because-i-do-leave-room-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Matter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance-because-i-do-leave-room-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/susan-kelechi-watson-19017_matter_i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance_675661.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/susan-kelechi-watson-19017_matter_i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance_675661.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/susan-kelechi-watson-19017_matter_i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance_675661.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I personally don't lock in a performance, because I do leave room for things to happen, so I just make sure…” — Susan Kelechi Watson", "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": "Susan Kelechi Watson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I personally don't lock in a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance-because-i-do-leave-room-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance-because-i-do-leave-room-for/#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 } } ] } ```