--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a long time, I couldn't actually deal…" description: "\"For a long time, I couldn't actually deal with playing concerts; it was a totally alien concept to me, 'cause I was used to playing in clubs and dance ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/van-morrison-1192_actually_for-a-long-time-i-couldn-t-actually-deal_1882590.jpg" --- # For a long time, I couldn't actually deal with playing… ![“For a long time, I couldn't actually deal with playing concerts; it was a totally alien concept to me, 'cause I was used to playing in clubs and dance halls.” quote by Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/van-morrison-1192_actually_for-a-long-time-i-couldn-t-actually-deal_1882590.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/van-morrison-1192_actually_for-a-long-time-i-couldn-t-actually-deal_1882590.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/van-morrison-1192_actually_for-a-long-time-i-couldn-t-actually-deal_1882590.jpg) > “For a long time, I couldn't actually deal with playing concerts; it was a totally alien concept to me, 'cause I was used to playing in clubs and dance halls.” [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He struggled to adapt from intimate venues to large concert halls, feeling the scale was unfamiliar and challenging **In simple terms:** He found big concerts alien after playing small clubs Key Takeaway Embrace new performance settings gradually Themes adaptation performance scale growth Mood reflective determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - career transition - live music planning - audience engagement Key Concepts stage fright audience perception venue transition Questions to Reflect On - What steps can help ease the shift to larger audiences? - How does venue size affect artistic expression? A Different Perspective Large venues demand different preparation and mindset ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Alien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alien/) [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Clubs Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs-dance-2171901/) [Concept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concept/) [Concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dance Halls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-halls-572357/) [Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Halls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halls/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-clubs-433666/) [Playing Concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-concerts-2171900/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Totally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totally/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Used Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-playing-961912/) ## Related quotes > [For a long time, I couldn't actually deal with playing concerts, it was a totally alien concept to me, 'cos I was used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/for-a-long-time-i-couldn-t-actually-deal-with-playing-concerts-it-was-2/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [We were at our best when we were playing in the dance halls of Liverpool and Hamburg. The world never saw that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-best/we-were-at-our-best-when-we-were-playing-in-the-dance-halls-of/) [Pete Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-best/) > [“Dance halls were where young men and women conducted their courtships, and most had one clear objective: to find a spouse. Mercedes was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-hislop/dance-halls-were-where-young-men-and-women-conducted-their-courtships/) [Victoria Hislop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-hislop/) > [I don't necessarily enjoy playing concerts, although that has gotten more fun with a band. But the one thing I always have enjoyed is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-ervin-beam/i-don-t-necessarily-enjoy-playing-concerts-although-that-has-gotten/) [Samuel Ervin Beam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-ervin-beam/) > [I've been playing concerts for many years, and it's still as exciting as it was the first time. I hope that shows when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanilla-ice/i-ve-been-playing-concerts-for-many-years-and-it-s-still-as-exciting/) [Vanilla Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanilla-ice/) > [When I go to dance clubs, I always dance with big girls, so we finish at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/when-i-go-to-dance-clubs-i-always-dance-with-big-girls-so-we-finish/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) > [I like dancing but not in crowded clubs. I would rather dance alone than go to a club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/disha-patani/i-like-dancing-but-not-in-crowded-clubs-i-would-rather-dance-alone/) [Disha Patani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/disha-patani/) > [I had a client who was a professional baseball player once, and he would go to clubs and dance for seven, eight, nine hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-had-a-client-who-was-a-professional-baseball-player-once-and-he/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [My whole career I'm used to playing a lot of games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-belfour/my-whole-career-i-m-used-to-playing-a-lot-of-games/) [Ed Belfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-belfour/) > [I'm used to playing basketball my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juancho-hernangomez/i-m-used-to-playing-basketball-my-whole-life/) [Juancho Hernangomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juancho-hernangomez/) > [I am used to playing when I am fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/i-am-used-to-playing-when-i-am-fit/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [I was so used to playing at St Mirren and then Hibs all the time, so it was really important that the next place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/i-was-so-used-to-playing-at-st-mirren-and-then-hibs-all-the-time-so/) [John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/) > [I really got used to playing Maura.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-really-got-used-to-playing-maura/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [As kids, we were used to playing football with anything that we managed to kick and whenever we got a ball, it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/as-kids-we-were-used-to-playing-football-with-anything-that-we/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [Since my early days, I've been used to playing with older boys and strong defenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-jesus/since-my-early-days-i-ve-been-used-to-playing-with-older-boys-and/) [Gabriel Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-jesus/) ## More by Van Morrison > [The fog of illusion, the fog of confusion is hanging all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/the-fog-of-illusion-the-fog-of-confusion-is-hanging-all-over-the-world/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [Somebody's going to hear a song that will key in a nerve or something in their experience that represents their own vision. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/somebody-s-going-to-hear-a-song-that-will-key-in-a-nerve-or-something/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I realized that what I was looking for was doing collaborations with other people - people who can play a ballad, rock, jazz. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-realized-that-what-i-was-looking-for-was-doing-collaborations-with/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [It will make you feel good, and it will make you feel whole, when the spirit moves you and it fills you through and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/it-will-make-you-feel-good-and-it-will-make-you-feel-whole-when-the/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [ I'd much prefer to hear somebody like Ed Thigpen \[drummer with New York session group Stuff, and featured on innumerable hits\] take a solo.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-d-much-prefer-to-hear-somebody-like-ed-thigpen-drummer-with-new/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I've always listened to jazz or folk or blues. I was always listening to the prophets. I don't really go for...I don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-ve-always-listened-to-jazz-or-folk-or-blues-i-was-always-listening/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [My experiences with dope were not good for me. I had to go another route. Because in my experience, dope didn't give me those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/my-experiences-with-dope-were-not-good-for-me-i-had-to-go-another/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [You learn to read the audiences after a while, and there are all different kinds of gigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/you-learn-to-read-the-audiences-after-a-while-and-there-are-all/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [You gotta fight every day to keep mediocrity at bay...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/you-gotta-fight-every-day-to-keep-mediocrity-at-bay/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I didn't know what some of the stuff on Astral Weeks was about until years later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-didn-t-know-what-some-of-the-stuff-on-astral-weeks-was-about-until/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [Sometimes you do know where the ideas are coming from and sometimes you don't. You might get a song coming through that you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/sometimes-you-do-know-where-the-ideas-are-coming-from-and-sometimes/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [At the end of the day, we should give thanks and pray, to the one, to the one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/at-the-end-of-the-day-we-should-give-thanks-and-pray-to-the-one-to/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [Have I told you lately that I love you, have I told you lately there's no one above you. Fill my heart with gladness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/have-i-told-you-lately-that-i-love-you-have-i-told-you-lately-there-s/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I also like to do physical things. I like swimming a lot. I like traveling. Not touring traveling but just plain traveling. I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-also-like-to-do-physical-things-i-like-swimming-a-lot-i-like/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [There's no man alive who has any answers. We all know that. It's like the guru trip. All a guru can do is direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/there-s-no-man-alive-who-has-any-answers-we-all-know-that-it-s-like/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) [Explore all 276 Van Morrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) ## More Actually quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. 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Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/) [Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/) > [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. 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