--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My job as a performer is to make sure…" description: "\"My job as a performer is to make sure that whatever happens in a performance lives in somebody else, that it's memorable... If you forget tomorrow what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/yo-yo-ma-8612_been_my-job-as-a-performer-is-to-make-sure-th_1279149.jpg" --- # My job as a performer is to make sure that whatever… ![“My job as a performer is to make sure that whatever happens in a performance lives in somebody else, that it's memorable... If you forget tomorrow what you heard yesterday, there's really not much point in you having been there - or me, for that matter.” quote by Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/yo-yo-ma-8612_been_my-job-as-a-performer-is-to-make-sure-th_1279149.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/yo-yo-ma-8612_been_my-job-as-a-performer-is-to-make-sure-th_1279149.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/yo-yo-ma-8612_been_my-job-as-a-performer-is-to-make-sure-th_1279149.jpg) > “My job as a performer is to make sure that whatever happens in a performance lives in somebody else, that it's memorable... If you forget tomorrow what you heard yesterday, there's really not much point in you having been there - or me, for that matter.” [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) ## 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’s purpose is to create lasting impact; if the audience forgets, the performance loses meaning, emphasizing the responsibility of both artist and listener. **In simple terms:** Performance must leave a lasting impression. Key Takeaway Strive for memorable performances. Themes artistic responsibility memory audience engagement Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - live concerts - theatrical shows - educational workshops - personal storytelling Key Concepts performance theory psychology of memory communication Questions to Reflect On - How can artists ensure lasting impact? - What makes a performance unforgettable? A Different Perspective Audience memory is unreliable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Memorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorable/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Performer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performer/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [I loved all fantasy, and I always thought that the ideal job as a performer and an entertainer would be to take on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-cerra/i-loved-all-fantasy-and-i-always-thought-that-the-ideal-job-as-a/) [Erica Cerra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-cerra/) > [I think people sometimes don't pay enough attention to what they do. I've done well, but the reason is pretty simple: I've worked my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/i-think-people-sometimes-don-t-pay-enough-attention-to-what-they-do-i/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [The heart and soul of every performer is fueled by the desire to take the emotion out of the crowd and replace it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-heart-and-soul-of-every-performer-is-fueled-by-the-desire-to-take/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's hard for a country performer to make a living in a Beatles society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/it-s-hard-for-a-country-performer-to-make-a-living-in-a-beatles/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [“A matter of physics—Length and Tension—How does the performer make it sing above the laws of sound?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-garcia-villa/a-matter-of-physics-length-and-tension-how-does-the-performer-make-it/) [Jose Garcia Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-garcia-villa/) > [“Commit today, forget tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-adair/commit-today-forget-tomorrow/) [Marina Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-adair/) > [“Let go, Rachel. Let go, and lie down with me. Close your eyes, and forget everything. Tomorrow will be here soon enough, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/let-go-rachel-let-go-and-lie-down-with-me-close-your-eyes-and-forget/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“And I have no control over which yesterdays I keep and which ones get deleted. This disease will not be bargained with. I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/and-i-have-no-control-over-which-yesterdays-i-keep-and-which-ones-get/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [All you have to do, is continue to try. forget about tomorrow lets live it up tonight baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-harris/all-you-have-to-do-is-continue-to-try-forget-about-tomorrow-lets-live/) Trenton Harris > [Go, forget me - why should sorrow, O'er that brow a shadow fling? Go, forget me - and tomorrow, brightly smile and sweetly sing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wolfe/go-forget-me-why-should-sorrow-o-er-that-brow-a-shadow-fling-go/) [Charles Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wolfe/) > [I drink on Sunday to forget that tomorrow is Monday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-drink-on-sunday-to-forget-that-tomorrow-is-monday/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/perhaps-you-will-forget-tomorrow-the-kind-words-you-say-today-but-the/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [I want to do things that will change someone's life, not something they'll forget about tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daveigh-chase/i-want-to-do-things-that-will-change-someone-s-life-not-something/) [Daveigh Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daveigh-chase/) > [Here's a story of everything we'll ever be. You can hide but some of use can never leave, and if you go, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hollywood-undead/here-s-a-story-of-everything-we-ll-ever-be-you-can-hide-but-some-of/) [Hollywood Undead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hollywood-undead/) > [Forget about tomorrow, tonight we're drinking from the bottle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-harris/forget-about-tomorrow-tonight-we-re-drinking-from-the-bottle/) [Calvin Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-harris/) ## More by Yo-Yo Ma > [With every year of playing, you want to relax one more muscle. Why? Because the more tense you are, the less you can hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/with-every-year-of-playing-you-want-to-relax-one-more-muscle-why/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [A composition is always more than the sum of its parts. In other words, a really good piece of music is more than itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/a-composition-is-always-more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts-in-other-words/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [Good things happen when you meet strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/good-things-happen-when-you-meet-strangers/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [My involvement in the political arena is to make sure there's a place for culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/my-involvement-in-the-political-arena-is-to-make-sure-there-s-a-place/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [When we enlarge our view of the world, we deepen our understanding of our own lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/when-we-enlarge-our-view-of-the-world-we-deepen-our-understanding-of/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [People will ask, 'Are you famous?' And I always answer, 'My mother thinks so.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/people-will-ask-are-you-famous-and-i-always-answer-my-mother-thinks-so/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [I remember when I was growing up. My great wish was to understand who I was and how I fit in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/i-remember-when-i-was-growing-up-my-great-wish-was-to-understand-who/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [It took me way beyond what I knew, into places of which I was totally scared, but as I became less frightened, I welcomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/it-took-me-way-beyond-what-i-knew-into-places-of-which-i-was-totally/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [One is that you have to take time, lots of time, to let an idea grow from within. The second is that when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/one-is-that-you-have-to-take-time-lots-of-time-to-let-an-idea-grow/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [You go through phases. You have to reinvent reasons for playing, and one year's answer might not do for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/you-go-through-phases-you-have-to-reinvent-reasons-for-playing-and/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [When people ask me how they should approach performance, I always tell them the professional musician should aspire to the state of the beginner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/when-people-ask-me-how-they-should-approach-performance-i-always-tell/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [Mastering music is more than learning technical skills. Practicing is about quality, not quantity. Some days I practice for hours; other days it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/mastering-music-is-more-than-learning-technical-skills-practicing-is/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [I think that peace is, in many ways, a precondition of joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/i-think-that-peace-is-in-many-ways-a-precondition-of-joy/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [Jazz has been such a force in music, that any musician, including classical composers, have been influenced, and obviously performers, also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/jazz-has-been-such-a-force-in-music-that-any-musician-including/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [Practicing is not only playing your instrument, either by yourself or rehearsing with others - it also includes imagining yourself practicing. Your brain forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/practicing-is-not-only-playing-your-instrument-either-by-yourself-or/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) [Explore all 79 Yo-Yo Ma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My job as a performer is to make sure that whatever happens in a performance lives in somebody else, that it's memorable... 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