Where I feel this has cost me is in the personality situation, where you're expected to be a personality. You not only have to write and record, but you have to go out and sell it. Well, I'm not a salesman, and I'm very bad at selling things. If I had to do that for a living, I'd probably be completely broke. I can't sell myself. And I don't even want to. That's something that's not going to change.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker feels that having to promote their work personally has harmed their personal life and identity.
- In plain terms
- I am bad at selling myself and do not want to be a public personality.
- What can you take from it?
- Authentic creative work can be compromised by commercial promotion demands.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you balance art and business?
- Is selling your work part of the art?
Another view
Not all creators can afford to ignore sales responsibilities.
More from Van Morrison
When I was fifteen, I became a professional musician. I got involved with people and did certain things which led me to start making records and touring. And l…
Permalink to quote #6 Music to me is spontaneous, writing is spontaneous and it's all based on not trying to do it. From beginning to end, whether it's writing a song, or playing gu…
Permalink to quote #8 The odd time something happens and you go into some kind of enchantment (on stage). But you have to work very hard to get that. Most of the time you're just pl…
Permalink to quote #5
Related quotes
I was born at the age of twelve on a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lot.
Judy GarlandJudy Garland quote #1 I've always been skeptical of people who say they lose themselves in a part. Someone once came up to Spencer Tracy and asked, 'Aren't you tired of always playi…
James (Jimmy) StewartJames (Jimmy) Stewart quote #2 I was never the kind of painter or sculptor who kept a shop.
Michelangelo BuonarrotiMichelangelo Buonarroti quote #4