What Tony Bennett learned about performing from Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra
1) Show them you like them. 2) Don't worry about being nervous.
Tony Bennett on his first job, Sinatra's advice and San Francisco. [NPR]
GROSS: What do you think you learned from Bob Hope in terms of show business?
BENNETT: Well, it's a nice Jewish expression - you know? - show them you like them, you know? He always told me to - when you come out on the stage, you know, just make sure that you show the people that you enjoy being there and you want to entertain them and show them your enthusiasm.
Before appearing on TV for the first time, Bennett asked Frank Sinatra for advice:
He was just wonderful to me and sat me right down in his dressing room and gave me some wonderful advice about not worrying about being nervous because, he said, the public likes that. He said, if you don't care, he said, why should the audience care? He said, if you're nervous, they're going to see that you care, so they're going to root for you. And the more they root for you, the more you'll give back to them, he said, and it'll just be fine. And it was wonderful advice.
If you're nervous, they're going to see that you care.