--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On stage you look much larger than you…" description: "\"On stage you look much larger than you are. You can have subtle changes of timing; how you place a punchline in a joke or movement or emotion according..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/sylvester-mccoy-40931_audience_on-stage-you-look-much-larger-than-you-a_2509877.png" --- # On stage you look much larger than you are. You can have… ![“On stage you look much larger than you are. You can have subtle changes of timing; how you place a punchline in a joke or movement or emotion according to an audience.” quote by Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/sylvester-mccoy-40931_audience_on-stage-you-look-much-larger-than-you-a_2509877.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/sylvester-mccoy-40931_audience_on-stage-you-look-much-larger-than-you-a_2509877.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/sylvester-mccoy-40931_audience_on-stage-you-look-much-larger-than-you-a_2509877.png) > “On stage you look much larger than you are. You can have subtle changes of timing; how you place a punchline in a joke or movement or emotion according to an audience.” [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A performer can appear more impressive through timing and delivery, adapting humor or emotion to the audience. **In simple terms:** Stage presence grows with timing and audience awareness. Key Takeaway Use timing to amplify impact. Themes performance communication audience engagement Mood confident playful Type advice observational When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - public speaking - acting auditions - teaching presentations Key Concepts theatrical presence timing impression management Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance timing with authentic content? - When does exaggeration become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Overreliance on timing may mask lack of substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timing/) ## Related quotes > [On stage you look much larger than you are. You can have subtle changes of timing; how you place a punch line in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/on-stage-you-look-much-larger-than-you-are-you-can-have-subtle/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [With television, you can make anyone look larger than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/with-television-you-can-make-anyone-look-larger-than-life/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [“Some men look larger at a distance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/some-men-look-larger-at-a-distance/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [A stage set should not make a pretty picture of its own. The empty stage should look formal and pleasing, but should seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-wilson-knight/a-stage-set-should-not-make-a-pretty-picture-of-its-own-the-empty/) G. Wilson Knight > [I'm sure some people might be offended by that, but this is my feeling about show business. It's not all about pure talent. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stern/i-m-sure-some-people-might-be-offended-by-that-but-this-is-my-feeling/) [Howard Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stern/) > [It's our approach to treat each show like an arena show. We over-invest in production to make the stage look bigger, turning the show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/it-s-our-approach-to-treat-each-show-like-an-arena-show-we-over/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [I liked hip-hop, wanted to do rap, and wanted to stand on a large stage. If you look at it in another angle... it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-nam-joon/i-liked-hip-hop-wanted-to-do-rap-and-wanted-to-stand-on-a-large-stage/) [Kim Nam-joon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-nam-joon/) > [Every time you're on stage, you look out at a packed house, people all the way up to the top, people having a blast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryan/every-time-you-re-on-stage-you-look-out-at-a-packed-house-people-all/) [David Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryan/) > [On stage, my look should be the total opposite of my look offstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie/on-stage-my-look-should-be-the-total-opposite-of-my-look-offstage/) [Jennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie/) > [I'm now wearing suits on stage, so I've kinda stepped up my game as far as image. Which I have to admit is kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-cross/i-m-now-wearing-suits-on-stage-so-i-ve-kinda-stepped-up-my-game-as/) [Christopher Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-cross/) > [My approach to parenting is that everything is open - everything. I'm not very good at covert, or subtle, and I've had to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-french/my-approach-to-parenting-is-that-everything-is-open-everything-i-m/) [Dawn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-french/) > [I think, in comedy, timing is everything. You and I could tell the same joke, but if one of our timing is off, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/i-think-in-comedy-timing-is-everything-you-and-i-could-tell-the-same/) T.I > [Jack Benny, Fred Allen. Their jokes were wonderful. It takes skill to be funny. The timing of Jack Benny was so fine. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/jack-benny-fred-allen-their-jokes-were-wonderful-it-takes-skill-to-be/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Love is all a matter of timing. It's no good meeting the right person too soon or too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/love-is-all-a-matter-of-timing-it-s-no-good-meeting-the-right-person/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [Don't rush it. When the timing is right, God will make it happen!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-dolmo/don-t-rush-it-when-the-timing-is-right-god-will-make-it-happen/) [Alexa Dolmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-dolmo/) ## More by Sylvester McCoy > [As far as I'm concerned, Cate Blanchett is a goddess, but she's really down to earth. She's got all those Oscars, she's made all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-cate-blanchett-is-a-goddess-but-she-s-really/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [On stage you look much larger than you are. You can have subtle changes of timing; how you place a punch line in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/on-stage-you-look-much-larger-than-you-are-you-can-have-subtle/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [If anybody asks me to do a job, I say, 'Yes.' I've said yes to everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/if-anybody-asks-me-to-do-a-job-i-say-yes-i-ve-said-yes-to-everything/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [I quite enjoy fame, especially when you go to conventions in America where they treat you like a god with stretch limos and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/i-quite-enjoy-fame-especially-when-you-go-to-conventions-in-america/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [Theatre is the principal job of an actor. An actor's job is to tell a story to someone in a room. TV and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/theatre-is-the-principal-job-of-an-actor-an-actor-s-job-is-to-tell-a/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [Every great decision creates ripples. Like a huge boulder dropping in a lake. The ripples merge and rebound off the banks in unforseeable ways.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/every-great-decision-creates-ripples-like-a-huge-boulder-dropping-in/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [“There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, where the sea's asleep and the rivers dream, people made of smoke and cities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/there-are-worlds-out-there-where-the-sky-is-burning-where-the-sea-s/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [I don't relax. I sit down and contemplate all the energetic things I should do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/i-don-t-relax-i-sit-down-and-contemplate-all-the-energetic-things-i/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [As far as I'm concerned, an audience is an audience. Whether it's an audience in Hull or the National Theatre, that's who you play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-an-audience-is-an-audience-whether-it-s-an/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) [Explore all 10 Sylvester McCoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On stage you look much larger than you are. 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