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.
The worst thing about television is that everybody you see on television is doing something better than what you're doing. You never see anybody on TV just sliding off the front of the sofa, with potato chip crumbs all over their shirt.
When it comes to cars, only two varieties of people are possible - cowards and fools.
Humor is just another defense against the universe.
A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about.
every idiot who goes about with a 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.
Let a smile be your umbrella, and you'll end up with a face full of rain.
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