I have the opposite experience. My band got recently a poi-so-nous review. Our piano production got characterized as ‘broken toy keys’ and our music ‘blends in the other mediocre shit out there’.

We got quite a few passionate fans, so I did two things:

1. Published the review in our social media profiles, so I can check out the reaction. No empathy, just a link and the quote ‘we received a really bad review today. What do you think?’

Lots of encouragement from our fans, which made me happy. The most heartmelting fans got to the page and reacted to the review, suggesting that the reviewer is clueless and didn’t really do a research about the band.

2. Sent a kind email to the reviewer, thanking him for expressing his real emotions about something he had never heard before, suggesting that things like that could only make us stronger. At least the majority either loves or hates our music – they are not indifferent. That’s good.

The result? He thanked me for the gracious email and asked me to send him more stuff when we’d have something else to publish – ‘I think I’ll see it differently this time’, he suggested.

And he did – he published our music video to his audience a few days after it got released!

# Being a human can never hurt – that’s for sure. #

That’s a crap rule anyway. Way to make a scene. I definitely don’t consider what y’all did rude.

@ChrisRobley

My band recently lost a long-standing gig when the club cut back on the nights it had live music. Of course we were upset, but our bandleader called the owner and thanked him, telling him how much we appreciated having had such a long run. His answer was, “don’t worry, we’ll have you back,” and we’re already booked for another date. There’s nothing to be gained from being negative except a burned bridge.

“There’s no such thing as bad publicity” – P.T. Barnum

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” -Oscar Wilde

In my early days of playing, a booker whom I had sent a promo kit just flat out told me that I would never make it in the music business. She said my promo kit looked great but she didn’t think the music showed any promise. It was my first self-produced recording and I’ll openly admit that the EP I had sent her was definitely a “humble beginning,” but why discourage someone and tell them they don’t have a chance? I thanked her for her honesty, had a pity party for a minute or two, took it on the chin and then went on to call the next booker on my list.

Fast-forward about ten years: Since that phone call I have had the great fortune to share stages with a bunch of national acts, have music in a well-known video game, play in large festivals and venues, along with countless other really awesome music opportunities, all while being lucky enough to call music my full-time job for almost a decade. Whether you’re a plumber, a stock-broker, an athlete, a salesman, or a musician, it all takes time to grow and develop. Rather than becoming defensive or confrontational when rejection rears its ugly head (and it will do a lot of rearing), I think it says much more to just be cool, keep plugging away, and then let your accomplishments speak for themselves.

Being courteous and professional also really goes a long way. I’ve had bookers tell me that even if I suddenly started singing like a strangled donkey they’d still hire me because I was easy to work with and they just liked “me.” The saying is that “business isn’t personal” but I feel the complete opposite: Business IS ALWAYS personal. A human being working and interacting with another human being.

Don’t be discouraged, be strong and keep the faith, my friends!!!

-Freddie Long

http://freddielong.com
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