You don't know what a rough crowd is. If all I have to do is go make people laugh, that's nothing. Let me tell you what a tough crowd is. A tough crowd is going to a morning service and you got six people there and you gotta pay your house payment. That's a tough crowd.
Interpretation
Performing for a tough audience requires more skill than merely making people laugh.
Sam Kinison highlights the challenges comedians face, illustrating that performing in front of a small, unresponsive audience is significantly more difficult than entertaining a large, enthusiastic crowd. This quote emphasizes the pressures of livelihood and the art of comedy, suggesting that true mastery lies in connecting with those who are not easily amused.
In practice
During a comedy show, a performer may reference this quote when discussing the difficulties of engaging an indifferent crowd.
It was great to be the rock comic, the shock comic. But after you've played Giants Stadium with Bon Jovi in front of 82,000 people, after you've done the 'Wild Thing' video with Jessica Hahn and every rock band from hell, you're not gonna top that.
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly.
I never eat sushi. I have trouble eating things that are merely unconscious.
We must laugh at man to avoid crying for him.
i made myself a snowball As perfect as can be. I thought I'd keep it as a pet, And let it sleep with me. I made it some pajamas And a pillow for it's head. Then last night it ran away, But first - It wet the bed.
There's no more faith in thee than in a stewed prune.
Well, you don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind. You don't pull on the mask of old Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Jim.
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