Richard Lewis Quotes

When we first went there we completely lacked confidence. Our manager told us our act was too long, and told us to drop certain numbers and concentrate on the exciting stuff. And he was right.

My ideal setting is I walk from the streets, backstage, and straight onto the stage. Two minutes, and I am on the stage. That way, in my head I have gone from my world and then into a social setting with my friends.

Maybe I just wasn't a show-biz type. I didn't miss performing at all.

All I have to concentrate on is my performing.

Every night, you fight for that standing ovation at the end of the night. And if you do something wrong, the domino effect is chaotic. And you must not allow yourself to make mistakes whatsoever. So in that case, theater, it's fascinating because of the discipline that you need.

I know what it feels like to walk out in front of a sold-out crowd of a thousand people that are there for you, and how good that feels, but as an opener, you just have to train yourself to think that it's going to be harder.

I never felt I left the stage.

Onstage I'm the happiest person in the world.

I think I should get a bigger between-the-song persona, so then I'm not wandering around the stage like some mad old auntie that's saying hello to people and falling over.

Nothing is real until you walk out on stage.

I'm not very good at being a performing monkey.

I got very addicted to performing. I just want to do that more.

Stand up is the most stressful, and hosting and presenting a show has its own stresses, because you've got an audience which you've got to entertain as well as an audience at home.

I don't prepare for a live show.

People might not believe me if I say I get nervous, but I tend to practice constantly to show a balanced performance.

I'd love to give my music to someone who really likes to wow the crowd. I feel like half the time I just want to hide in the dressing room!

All I want to do is be onstage. A performer needs to perform.

Backstage, I get sleepy, and want to curl up and snooze. I never get nervous, whatever the event. I feel quite detached until I walk on stage, and then some gear inside me clicks and off I go like a wind up doll.

I think generally playing live is a crap idea. So much of stage work is the presentation of personality, and I've never been interested in that.

I think the most challenging part of being a performer is just making sure that people know that when you get up there every night, it's unique and that you care.

I've realized that I can do performances.

Every audition is different, but I get incredibly nervous and insecure and worked up for however long I have to prep - that's when I get to spin. But you're not allowed to spin once you enter the room. Doubt really can't enter the room when you're auditioning - unless it's part of the character.

You can't just be a musician; you have to be an entertainer and perform and act just to hit the bar.

It's one of the things that looks good written down, but the reality is that you think about the pieces you're doing and try to bear in mind everyone in the audience.

I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play in front of thousands of people as if I am completely in the moment every moment.