Patti Smith Quotes

I can tell jokes. I can talk to the audience. I can relax. I can change my songs whenever I want. I can change the tempos. I can change the mood, because I'm in charge.

Stand-up is my favorite thing I've ever done. There's so much independence.

Onstage I'm the one in control - I'm not at the mercy of how an editor chooses to put the scene together later. I can do things onstage that I would never do in real life. It's very freeing.

I want to be able to deliver the kind of show that I want - to go onstage with my chin held up.

I love to perform and express myself to inspire people.

I needed to be more self-determining, and the most self-determining thing you can do in comedy is stand-up.

When you take on an acting or dancing role, you have to trust your director, and in some ways there is freedom in relinquishing control.

I love acting because it's empowering. It empowers me.

I'm not that flashy in private; I'm usually pretty reserved. But on stage, it's about not being afraid of anything - of anyone judging you. It's one place you can be free. So why not sing as loud as you can, hoop and holler and jump around? A show is a moment. When it's done, it's over. I find that extremely liberating.

I was an extroverted kid and performed, like, acting and singing. Then, the older I got, I realized I enjoyed performing things that I came up with myself more and I enjoyed making people laugh more than making people cry or think.

I did one pageant in sixth grade, and I loved it! I loved the dresses and the big hair.

The best part about stand-up is that you control everything. Period.

Stand-up is the only thing I have complete control over. There's something to be said for that.

I feel sexy when I'm doing what I love - like when I'm singing or performing or something - that's when I feel the most in control and in my element.

What you wear onstage is a reflection of your artistry.

When I am on stage, I feel completely free and just want to let go.

I liked theatre because I could hide behind a role I was playing, but now, I just love being on stage. I don't pretend that I'm anyone else, I just show my full range when I am up there, and it's very liberating.

I feel like I grow wings on stage.

Once you learn how to free up in front of the camera, it's like nothing else.

Doing comedy was liberating in a way.

I'm a performer, so when I get to any space, I make it my own for that moment and have fun.

The biggest impact that acting and theater had was, of course, stage presence, but it also had a big impact on my writing.

Singing is something I love to do. I feel very confident doing it.

When I go onstage and am performing the way I want to... I finally feel like myself.

I really like doing stand-up, because it gives you an immense amount of freedom. You haven't got anyone telling you what to do. It's great to have that much power over what you do. You don't have that in television.