How Not To Take Criticism Like A Professional

Today on my internet adventures, I came across the Facebook page of the new off-Broadway show The Real Actors of NYC. The first post I see is a link to a video of someone performing, might I add someone they do not know, and it reads:

"The Real Actors of NYC awards the first ever "SHADE AWARD" to: [person's name] in his “OFF OFF OFF (OFF) Broadway” debut performance in NYC. All of us deliberated long and hard and, on a scale of 100, we think he deserves a 1 for his amazing performance. It’s pretty much the best thing we’ve seen (if we forget every other experience we’ve ever had in musical theatre). We believe in championing new and unproven talent and think [name] qualifies in spades. Congrats [name in all caps]!!!"



Now upon further research, I discovered that the person mentioned in this post had seen their show, and given it a negative review on Show-Score. Overall, the reviews for their show are mixed, but this person really didn't enjoy it, and posted his honest review of the piece. What they did in response was find his Youtube channel and trash talk his work on Facebook to "prove a point".



This isn't how you take criticism. As artists we all receive it, but how we handle it shows our true character, and clearly these people have questionable character. Plus they began being rude to the people commenting on the post in support of the person in the video. This is horrifying to see.



Now I know some will think that this isn't a big deal, that "it's just a joke", or "he had it coming", but let me just say that this is high school level behavior coming from professionals. If you think this is okay, take a moment and put yourself in this young man's shoes. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF THIS WAS YOU?

*I have removed the person's name from the pictures to ensure their privacy. Screen caps on link below:

https://musingsonstuffblog.wordpress.com

Updated On: 10/10/16 at 03:26 PM

I don't think that criticism should be one sided though.

Every piece of art has an audience and I think that people involved with a show should be entitled to tell people who don't like them " F*** you " and then show appriciation to those who like them and are allowing them to have a job by buying tickets and spreading positive word mouth.

If you really are thinking about everyone else who's working so hard on your show (I live with two playwrights; I've had that perspective), then don't bring the rest of them down with your childish BS. Good for you for clearing the air and apologizing to Eliyahu, but that's still not going to get me (and, I suspect, a lot of other people) want to see your show more now than before.

Oh karlan, you simply can't make the comparison between a review(non professional by the way) from a person who paid money to see the show and a post on Facebook page representing a professional production, that embarrasses and bully's a stranger.

People are wise enough to automatically discount a 1/100 show score, Karlan, just as they are a 100/100 score. You're not the only one familiar with the ways of the troll. Troll behavior coming from an artist, however, is another thing entirely.

followspot said: "People are wise enough to automatically discount a 1/100 show score, Karlan, just as they are a 100/100 score. You're not the only one familiar with the ways of the troll. Troll behavior coming from an artist, however, is another thing entirely.



"

Exactly what I wanted to say.

lol i'm in a facebook group about cast recordings with the guy that was the subject of the rant. i'll say this: he's always struck me as a little obnoxious (then again so are most people that collect cast recordings in my experience).

"...we needn't glob onto it. This is a small potatoes story not juicy piece of theater gossip."

What?!? Are you saying there's a conversation happening on this site that isn't important?

Thank you for your comments everyone. I am listening, I promise. While I am not new to writing, I am new to commercial producing and I am learning many lessons. It was wrong of me to react this way, and especially on a page that publicly represents the show. I have never posted a reaction to any review, either of my own work, or to the work of others. I can’t remember for sure but I think I’ve posted on BroadwayWorld maybe once or twice in my life, even though I’ve been a member and have been reading these boards for about 10 years.

I was wrong. I posted a sincere and unqualified apology on the show’s Facebook page the same day. I wrote a personal apology to the person the post was directed at, and the apology was accepted. I actually spoke with many people through the show’s messenger app on FB, and had open conversations about the situation and listened to how people were feeling about it.

THE REAL ACTORS OF NYC is a show that was inspired by the real lives of three struggling NYC actors. We have developed the show together over the past 5 years. I have watched them deal with all of the things that hard-working, talented actors go through, and I wrote the show to give them the chance to show their talent, show a little of what their life is like, and in a funny way I hope get their chance, even if within the context of a musical, to debut a show on Broadway.

As I said before I hope that despite my personal mistake and yes, my temporarily bruised ego, people will judge this work on its merits. It employs 7 very talented actors, 2 amazing stage managers, a great creative team and a great crew and they deserve to have their show play out like any other show. And I deserve whatever review any person feels appropriate to deliver. Truth!

I actually caught the show this week, and found it a charming and fun slice of life of a NY actor. It's also a piece in it's infancy and is clearly finding it's legs. It's hard as a community, that we tear shows down in their early stages, making it harder for new works of art to develop. Furthermore in the digital landscape people often don't actually articulate what they like/dislike about a given piece of art. Giving something a 1 without providing any constructive critique is an act of aggressive trolling all on it's own. Before attacking the show, I think everyone should see it and decide for themselves.

I second taboo123's words. Change your name, and pretend this gig wasn't even a blip on your radar. You've got a storm coming, pal. You're already the talk of several circles, and none of what is being said is positive. I'll put it this way: you're being compared in the same breath as Ken Davenport, and not in the terms his (valiant but few) supporters use.

Updated On: 10/12/16 at 04:42 PM

when a movie star retaliates at the first-string reviewer of the New York Times, sure, it's a hoot. When the composer of some random off-Broadway musical attempts to publically humiliate a random citizen who reviewed their show online, that's markedly less entertaining.

"It's a thread pointing out the ridiculousness and childish behavior of someone on the creative team who sought to track down a Show-Score user and humiliate them on their Facebook page."

This in essence is what I was hoping people would take from the post. I am an artist. I create and I perform. I get both very positive and very negative criticisms. But that doesn't mean I fight back. This is just an example of unprofessional behavior and something that in a community of artists as tight knit as ours, is distressing to see. We have to stick together.

NEVER did I think this would lead to people badmouthing a piece that they haven't seen and that is so new. I for one can't judge the show because I haven't seen it yet, I hope that others will take the opportunity to see the show and form an opinion afterwards.

The conclusion is mistakes were made and lessons were learned. Karlan apologized to the person and removed the post.

Karlan, it takes courage to be able to put our work out there, but it takes even more to admit to mistakes one has made. Thank you for showing courage on both fronts, and I hope you see more successes in your future.