Rick Nielsen Quotes

I'd always put on little shows at home, but when I was 11, I did a community event in Woodford, where anyone could go. You had three days of vocal training and performed your song at the end.

For anyone who works in front of an audience there is no thrill quite like that of feeling and hearing the evidence of the audience members' enjoyment. Laughter and applause really are powerful.

It's really fun to be on stage in front of people.

I think I will always be performing; I don't think I can take that away. Because I really just enjoy it. I like getting up to sing; I like the challenge of learning new material and singing it in front of an audience.

When you're on stage, the real world just drops away for that time. It's pretty intense.

I love performing, and I love being in front of people. I love the pressure you get and the pleasure performing brings.

Billy Crystal knows how to make people laugh. He's got 30 years on stage... there's no telling him what's funny.

When I was 12, I played the Artful Dodger in Cameron McKintosh's production of 'Oliver!' when it came to Toronto. Just getting the role shocked my whole family, and I don't think I realized until then just how much I loved getting up in front of people and performing.

From then on, I realized this is what I want to do, what I'm supposed to do: Giving energy and receiving it back through applause. I love it. That's my world. I love it. I enjoy it. I live for it.

I was always an exhibitionist. I liked it when everyone laughed. But I didn't do plays in high school. I was too nervous.

I feel that if you can play on the streets or in a comedy club, then in a theatre it's a doddle because you've got an audience.

I need to do more on stage. I've got to get my fix!

Onstage I have a natural chutzpa that audiences like. I'm out there.

Being on stage is what I enjoy.

I had my first concert in front of 80,000 people at the International Soca Monarch Finals.

My mother always told me before shows to stand up and show them whose little boy you are.

I took a public speaking class in college and managed to make the class laugh a little bit.

I'd always put on little shows at home, but when I was 11, I did a community event in Woodford, where anyone could go. You had three days of vocal training and performed your song at the end. I sang 'I Say a Little Prayer.' It's a tough song to sing but they gave me the confidence to go for it and belt it out.

One of the first times I ever performed in front of a big group of people was at my kindergarten graduation. I did, like, a Michael Jackson impersonation as, like, a five year old. I had the suit and blazer, the glove and the fedora, and I just performed a whole Michael Jackson song. I'm sure it was 'Smooth Criminal.'

I think it's really, really good for me to be on stage once a year. It keeps your chops good. There's nothing else like it.

Usually, there's nothing being thrown toward the stage or at me. Then I feel pretty good about it.

There's some anxiety the 30 minutes before the show starts. But once you step on stage and face the people, everything goes away, and you have fun and enjoy the audience.

I'm a frustrated stand-up comic. If you hand me a microphone and I get one laugh, then I'll go on for 20 minutes.

There's nothing like spending an evening with an audience every night.

I've been onstage once for one performance with four days' rehearsal.