--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If people aren't dancing, we're not doing…" description: "\"If people aren't dancing, we're not doing our job.\" — Trombone Shorty" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/trombone-shorty-4668_dance_if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing_1486298.jpg" --- # If people aren't dancing, we're not doing our job. ![“If people aren't dancing, we're not doing our job.” quote by Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/trombone-shorty-4668_dance_if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing_1486298.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/trombone-shorty-4668_dance_if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing_1486298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/trombone-shorty-4668_dance_if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing_1486298.jpg) > “If people aren't dancing, we're not doing our job.” [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music’s purpose is to move people physically and emotionally; if they don’t dance, the performance missed. **In simple terms:** Music should make people dance; otherwise it fails. Key Takeaway Create experiences that compel movement. Themes music performance joy Mood energetic playful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - concerts - festivals - clubs - public events Key Concepts rhythm cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - How can you gauge audience desire to dance? - What alternatives engage non‑dancers? A Different Perspective Not all audiences value dancing equally; some prefer listening. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aren Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aren-dancing-5428198/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Dancing Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing-doing-2818495/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-job/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Aren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-aren/) ## Related quotes > [I would love to keep dancing. Doing 'Strictly' has been so wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-weymouth/i-would-love-to-keep-dancing-doing-strictly-has-been-so-wonderful/) [Emma Weymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-weymouth/) > [I was always interested in dancing and doing extracurricular activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-malhotra/i-was-always-interested-in-dancing-and-doing-extracurricular/) [Sanya Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-malhotra/) > [By the age of 13-14, I realized that I could make people laugh. So I started dancing, doing mimicry, and even playing music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-khan/by-the-age-of-13-14-i-realized-that-i-could-make-people-laugh-so-i/) [Sajid Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-khan/) > [I know when I'm not dancing, and I go home, I usually work with my dad, who's an electrician. So I do stuff like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-macmanus/i-know-when-i-m-not-dancing-and-i-go-home-i-usually-work-with-my-dad/) [Tristan MacManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-macmanus/) > [Sergio Martinez is doing his job and I'm trying to do my part, and we want to be able to get some spotlight in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-maidana/sergio-martinez-is-doing-his-job-and-i-m-trying-to-do-my-part-and-we/) [Marcos Maidana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-maidana/) > [My pleasure comes from doing my job in the best possible way. Whether it is at Chelsea or Juventus or Watford, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluca-vialli/my-pleasure-comes-from-doing-my-job-in-the-best-possible-way-whether/) [Gianluca Vialli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluca-vialli/) > [If you're doing a job that you love, why would you give it up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-page/if-you-re-doing-a-job-that-you-love-why-would-you-give-it-up/) [Joanna Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-page/) > [It is all about working hard, focusing and doing our job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolo-toure/it-is-all-about-working-hard-focusing-and-doing-our-job/) [Kolo Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolo-toure/) > [I like to have some time off after doing a job and spend some time with my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-baxendale/i-like-to-have-some-time-off-after-doing-a-job-and-spend-some-time/) [Helen Baxendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-baxendale/) > [Concentrate on doing the job, not the fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/concentrate-on-doing-the-job-not-the-fear/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [The American people are doing their job today. They should be given a chance to show whether they wish to preserve the principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-american-people-are-doing-their-job-today-they-should-be-given-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [At the end of the day, it is about taking care of your family. Going out and doing the job like Stevie Ray would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-is-about-taking-care-of-your-family-going/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [Being a professional means doing your job on the days you don't want to do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-halberstam/being-a-professional-means-doing-your-job-on-the-days-you-don-t-want/) [David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-halberstam/) > [I am only doing my job, and if I score against Mark Hughes' team, it is nothing personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-only-doing-my-job-and-if-i-score-against-mark-hughes-team-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Doing a job RIGHT the first time gets the job done. Doing the job WRONG fourteen times gives you job security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/doing-a-job-right-the-first-time-gets-the-job-done-doing-the-job/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## More by Trombone Shorty > [Sometimes on my show, I just play something out of the blue, and the band picks up on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/sometimes-on-my-show-i-just-play-something-out-of-the-blue-and-the/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [I wanted to become a better entertainer, and I learned from my brother James Andrews. And I've been studying some tape of James Brown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-wanted-to-become-a-better-entertainer-and-i-learned-from-my-brother/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [That's the way New Orleans is. It's driven by the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/that-s-the-way-new-orleans-is-it-s-driven-by-the-music/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [I got a chance to work with Mystikal and Mannie Fresh and Juvenile and all these people as I was growing up, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-got-a-chance-to-work-with-mystikal-and-mannie-fresh-and-juvenile/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [People get caught up in recreating something, and that actually hurts the genre of music because there's nothing new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/people-get-caught-up-in-recreating-something-and-that-actually-hurts/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [Life would be pretty boring if I didn't explore. It's about letting my ears take me on an adventure to soak in everything I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/life-would-be-pretty-boring-if-i-didn-t-explore-it-s-about-letting-my/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [Music in New Orleans has always been the heartbeat that drives the city. It was that even before Katrina, and that's what we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/music-in-new-orleans-has-always-been-the-heartbeat-that-drives-the/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [I've lost a bunch of friends - some of them in jail, some of them made bad choices, some of them aren't where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-lost-a-bunch-of-friends-some-of-them-in-jail-some-of-them-made/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [I always dreamed of playing a show with Bono and Edge and the guys in Green Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-always-dreamed-of-playing-a-show-with-bono-and-edge-and-the-guys-in/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [I never really listened to any particular trombone players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-never-really-listened-to-any-particular-trombone-players/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [I've dreamed a lot of things and a lot of them have come true. The Grammy nomination was the last thing on my list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-dreamed-a-lot-of-things-and-a-lot-of-them-have-come-true-the/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [New Orleans made me who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/new-orleans-made-me-who-i-am/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [I've had a strong will power to become one of the best. And I'm not gonna let nothing stop me from going to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-had-a-strong-will-power-to-become-one-of-the-best-and-i-m-not/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [I've been playing music since I was four, so it's part of my life. It's all I know. It's just a part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-been-playing-music-since-i-was-four-so-it-s-part-of-my-life-it-s/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) > [It's like drinking water. You have to have water every day, and music is like water for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/it-s-like-drinking-water-you-have-to-have-water-every-day-and-music/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) [Explore all 107 Trombone Shorty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) ## More Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If people aren't dancing, we're not doing our job.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Trombone Shorty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing-our-job/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing-our-job/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/trombone-shorty-4668_dance_if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing_1486298.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/trombone-shorty-4668_dance_if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing_1486298.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/trombone-shorty-4668_dance_if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing_1486298.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If people aren't dancing, we're not doing our job.” — Trombone Shorty", "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": "Trombone Shorty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If people aren't dancing, we're not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing-our-job/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/if-people-aren-t-dancing-we-re-not-doing-our-job/#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 } } ] } ```