Roy,

That is very unfortunate. As sort of a "spokesman of sorts for my industry" let me say that I hate that you got that review. That person should never be allowed to critique songs.

One of the things that all people who go for reviews or critiques or help to some of these organizations need to remember is that many of the people doing the reviewing are often bitter, frustrated writers and artists on their own (successful one's seldom have the time or the interest in helping people outside of their circle of friends. They are too busy looking for their own interests.) But far too many let their own biases and frustrations get in the way of constructively helping people.

Also it is very difficult to get many of you to understand the volume of songs, letters, e-mails, phone calls, that come in all the time, and all too many of them are angry, frustrated, nasty also.

We have all seen threads on these pages that get testy, frustrated and devalue into personal attacks and insulting tones. We have all felt insulted and wanted to "Take our ball and bat and go home." That is the way it is any time you are dealing with creative endevors. Everyone has their opinions just like everyone has another part of the body on the lower regions.

So try never to take one reviewer, one opinion, one song, one show, one opportunity that doesn't pan out, too much to heart. Use it to make you better. Nothing motivates a writer like being pissed off if it forces them to be a better writer. In the end that might have been one of the best things you ever got. Remember, they told Elvis to "go back to driving a truck."

I'm sorry you got that and wish people from "my side of the desk" would have a little more tact, common sense and sympathy for their fellow writers and artists.

It is like I told one of my friends who was a hit writer one time. We were in a meeting with some hit writers and publishers at NSAI. Everyone was discussing how we could make NSAI better and more inclusive for the members. There were a lot of complaints like the one you have here.

The hit writer asked "Why are we doing this? Are their any real writers out there that really deserve help?"

The leader of the meeting turned to me.

"Well let's talk to someone who is out there in the field. (I was doing a ton of workshops around the US and Canada at the time)Marc?"

I said, "We'll I think there are some really good writers out there, and everyone needs to be able to go for their dream. Are their any hits? I don't know. But somebody helped you once."

Many of my friends and contemporaries forget where they come from. I don't.

MAB

Last edited by Marc Barnette; 12/31/09 03:41 PM.