If You Can’t Say Anything Nice….
Let’s say I walk into your job. I stand at your desk watching you work. I take notes as you concentrate on your tasks pouring yourself into what needs to be accomplished that day. Then at the end of the day I go home, look at my notes, pull out my laptop, log into my blog and begin typing away. Typing my opinions on how I felt your projects were accomplished that day. I mention the pictures of your kids on your desk, and then say that I don’t think they are very attractive. I say that I felt like your time could have been spent far more effectively if you had done it my way. Even though I don’t know how to do your job. I don’t really know what it takes to accomplish your job from a day-to-day basis, and I don’t know what you’re personally going through while you’re expected to do this job. I type all these things because I’m hidden behind a username, or miles of road. I’ll never see you again in person, and if I do, you won’t recognize me.
Now, let’s pretend that your job was to entertain me.
I work with a lot of artist blogs. Places where not only are artists pouring themselves into their art, but pouring themselves into entertaining you. The consumer. And on top of that they are pouring themselves, or at least trying to pour themselves, into connecting with the consumer online. Because after all, that’s what the consumer wants, right? It’s pretty amazing some of the stuff that people will ‘comment’ on an artists website, especially in the Christian market.
Here’s a comment on an artists site when they blogged about one of their songs doing well on radio:
“Not a big fan of “_____”, but I’m glad you’re getting recognition. Your music in general is much better than most Christian music. Plus I Love how passionate you are about God”
Okay, it’s not as bad as me saying your kids are ugly, but it’s pretty close right? Songwriters? Am I wrong?
Or how about another band that is looking for a new way to interact their fans and offering a public audition for an open position in their band. Seriously?! What band does that? That’s awesome. Musicians everywhere would want to be a part of this right?
Guys, I want to commend you on your idea for finding a new member through a video search, rather than a close-knit circle audition. However…you have 2, maybe 3 gigs a month per your tour page…..unless that changes, why bother?
Again, not overly ‘mean’, but I’ve always heard ‘If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all’. Seems like a pretty simple rule right? I mean, don’t you think this particular band is hoping to book more shows, and has been working on that for the last several years. Bottom line is, if that’s your ‘contribution’ to the conversation, isn’t it easier to just stay out of it?
Or how about a band that is working to keep their fans connected and excited about a record that isn’t coming for a few months. You know something special to just keep folks reminded that the band hasn’t forgotten about them.
Ya know, if we have to wait 4 months, and here we have to put up with all the hype during that time, we just might LOSE INTEREST by then. Some will say, who cares? Some will get tires of all the hype and no blast. New songs? The anticipation better be worth it all, or fans will be fried!
No pressure huh? ’You better entertain me the way I want to be entertained or else’.
And to be honest with you, these are some of the more tame comments I have seen pass through. Seems a little weird to me. How about you? Maybe I’m just sensitive to that stuff, because I’m really bad with critics. I hate that people can jab at something you have poured yourself into and completely discredit what you are doing…. especially when the point is to be entertaining and uplifting those same ‘critics’ and you’re making something for them.
Thoughts?
Great post. Happens to me, too. Not long ago, I was accused of being in link with Satan because I’m a magician. Highly original…I mean, I’ve never heard that one before. Ha!
What I’ve discovered is that when negative comments come my way, the controversy actually stirs up discussion because my true fans jump in to encourage and protect. And when that happens, why wouldn’t I be thankful for the guy who came along to post a meaningless comment?
Plus, what if someone who disagrees with us ends up teaching us something valuable by offering a fresh, opposing perspective? Don’t get me wrong…encouragement is awesome. It certainly makes me feel good. But I can’t remember many times I became better at what I do because someone commented, “Good job.”
Amen and amen
With the advent of more forms of “instant” gratification I think patience has been completely pushed aside. Consumers want what they want. NOW!
I kind of like the little peeks along the way. Peeks we, as fans, have not had instant access to before. It’s like we are getting to open a package every day or so leading up to that big package! I like opening packages. Little clips that when May finally arrives will make sense (at least for “______”s CD release)!
Do I want “All ** Cr*****n” to be available now? Yes, but I am content (mostly) to wait until March 2nd! Whining won’t change anything. Right? If I survived tobyMac releasing “City on Our Knees” in August & the CD didn’t drop until today, then I can be patient until May.
It is a lesson in patience. Getting to see the process has given me a greater appreciation for what goes into, not only the recording process, but what goes into the studio to stage process! It is hard work for these musicians! It’s not just the “2 or 3″ shows a month! And they are human. With families. And the need for down time.
Be patient. It will all be awesome.
BTW. I love your honesty. I know you enjoy your home time and deserve that pat on the back you don’t like! I appreciate what you have done for me over the past 16 months. Bringing a world I had never explored before right to my computer! Stay the course, Brody. It is all for the Glory of God.
I’ve become cautious about what I say (in print especially) lately. Not because I say negative things about people (I don’t think I do), but because I’ve been feeling if I don’t have something positive to add, like you said, stay out of it. There’s enough negative stuff out there, and if I’m having a bad day (or week, or month) adding to that noise isn’t good for anyone.
You know…I’m not a big fan of this post. I mean if you really cared about me getting the picture you would have been completely honest and shared the names of the posters mentioned above. Now I feel like I can’t really trust you. Should I keep reading your blog?
I guess I’m just concerned that I am giving up my valuable time to come and read your “really cool” blog and you won’t even tell me the whole story. I thought we were so much closer than that. I mean…I read you every day = you should do what I want. I’m now not sure if I really know you or if you are taking the time to know and serve me.
Though I am now swimming in an ocean of uncertainty…I will love you and your blog anyway. Even if you don’t write or post or twitter or take pictures or create things the way I want you to, I will take the high road and love you. Why do I do this? Because Jesus does. In other words…I ain’t quittin’ you.
Loving you forever in Christ,
Reconsidering our Relationship
You have comedians for friends, Brody.
The negative comments are just someones way of saying “I’m right and you are wrong” Really how creative! In the last ten or fifteen years with the internet we have tons more information which leads us to the wrong conclusion that we are smarter, especially smarter than anyone else.
By the way what did ever happen to ” if you don’t have anything nice to say…..” That should have been brought back with the peace symbol…
I feel like I can’t disagree with this post, LOL!!
And I do kind of get it. I mean I’m not even an artist, but as a blogger I definitely experience this. I think, sadly, that anytime you put yourself out their in the public realm you have to expect that people are going to say these kinds of things. You’re going to get criticism.
I know how frustrating it is, though, recently I’d had a commenter/follower on twitter who never comments unless it’s to disagree with me. It feels so frustrating, but I guess that she doesn’t feel like she needs to say anything when she agrees.
I feel like I can’t disagree with this post, LOL!!
And I do kind of get it. I mean I’m not even an artist, but as a blogger I definitely experience this. I think, sadly, that anytime you put yourself out there in the public realm you have to expect that people are going to say these kinds of things. You’re going to get criticism.
I know how frustrating it is, though, recently I’d had a commenter/follower on twitter who never comments unless it’s to disagree with me. It feels so frustrating, but I guess that she doesn’t feel like she needs to say anything when she agrees.
I hate seeing those comments on blogs. It makes me wonder why those people even bother following the artists’ blogs to begin with. Whatever happened to Ephesians 4:29?
I’ll be honest, there’s a lot of music out there that I’m not that into, and some of it is Christian music. But given the chance, I’d still encourage those bands because even though they may not be my style doesn’t mean their music isn’t reaching anyone else. If they’re producing fruit, who am I to say it should be oranges, or that bananas aren’t good enough? Ya know?
And even if we’re talking about secular music, I’ll still have respect for the bands. I know my taste in music isn’t the ultimate authority on what everyone else’s taste should be.
Nothing like getting to the heart of the matter!! I must say that I, on occasion, have disagreed with a post those I know have put out there. Like with any conversation between people, there are times people will disagree. However, if you are then discouraging others from doing the work laid out before them by the Lord, you have gone to far! It is not our place to say “God did not ask that of you”, it is ours to encourage others to do it, even it is not what we would have chosen.
I love this, the first paragraph is pretty my day every day. Everybody in our industry knows more about everything than you do.
Yah.. i hear you… negitive commentors are so annoying.. and we have gotten a lot of them after our son passed away.. becasue people didnt feel that we grieving the right way… and it seemed like our son was more of a burden than a blessing.
Talk about ripping out the hearts of 2 grieving parents… and these were people who call themselves Christians.. i dunno..just made my wife and I so mad and upset…. that i dont think people realize behind a blog are real people who are doing these blogs. You know its not just a machine who it updating these websites… but people with real feelings real emotions.. People just need to use the brain theywere given and think before they click “post comment”