Gary Larson Quotes

Auditioning for 'Philomena' was such a traumatic experience because I had three callbacks, and I was absolutely positive that I was just an option.

I normally feel relief that I didn't die onstage or forget all my lines. Then I start remembering that I have to do it again sometime, and it'll probably not go as well.

I'm intimidated every day I go on the stage and everyday I go on a movie set. It's terrifying and I always want to reshoot the first day or the first week, I'm so terrified.

You can go onto that stage every night, and it's always the equivalent of going onto the topmost diving board, and you don't know if there's any water in the pool.

I get nervous as hell when it's time for the songs to come out.

If I'm not nervous, if I don't have at least a little bit of the same self-doubt and anxious feelings I had when I started playing, then it will be time for me to go on. I must have that tension.

It's terrifying to be the lead. There's a moment of excitement, and then pure terror.

Every time I improvise I'm aware that I could be ruining what it is that we're doing and we'll just have to do it again.

I am certainly suffering from a modicum of performance anxiety.

My version of a stress dream is, really, showing up on a concert stage with a drum set and not knowing the chart.

I had panic attacks during rehearsal. There were times when I really thought I wasn't going to be able to do it.

Auditioning for something you already know and love is terrifying.

Auditions are not a natural environment, and you feel judged, even though everyone is just excited to find the right person.

I get nervous when they start shooting piano players.

Auditioning is the worst.

You have that moment just before you go on - I've had it in every play - where you just kind of want to run away. There's a whole audience, and they are waiting outside, and you're like, 'Why am I doing this again? Why? Why?'

Stage fright is not a thing about 'Am I any good?' It's about 'Am I gonna be good tonight?' It's a right-now thing. It helps me. If I went out there thinkin', 'Eh, we'll go slaughter 'em,' I'm positive something would go seriously wrong.

I always feel scared and insecure on a film set. I don't know any other way.

I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.

On stage, I am in the dark.

I'm nervous whenever I perform.

I was so intimidated by the thought of improvising back in the '80s when I was in Chicago. I think the opportunity only even came up once that I can recall, and I turned down the offer. It was to go improvise in some club in the suburbs or something. Good God, I couldn't think of anything more frightening than to get up there without a plan.

I'm not saying I look cool, but every single time I go onstage, it is a fail if I don't feel like I'm going to pass out at least twice.

I go through insanity before a show. It's not really a process but it's like absolute mortal fear.

Before every performance I feel nervous.