Rupert Holmes – HuffPost 8.13.14

Mike Ragogna: Mr. Rupert Holmes — master of stage, screen and recording studio — what advice do you have for new artists?

Rupert Holmes: Obviously, I recommend my own policy of taking every opportunity that’s offered when you’re first starting out. Beyond that philosophy, though, I’d suggest thinking about your audience as individuals and not some collective organism, and be thankful for them. No one on this Earth is owed an audience. I always find it fascinating that, even though dinosaurs were around much longer than our species has been on this planet, there is no evidence that any dinosaurs did standup comedy. There were no Triceratops who did impressions of a Stegosaurus, or who expected all the other dinosaurs to sit and listen while they sang a medley associated with The Flintstones. This idea that people will pay money to hear what you think is about as absurd a privilege as a human being can have. Personally, I always think that if I can distract someone for one hour from remembering that they have a dentist appointment tomorrow, my existence for at least one day has been justified. Unfortunately, I’ve just reminded myself that I have a dentist appointment tomorrow.