Taking criticism

[Just Some Bloke]

Everyone who goes out to work has to deal with criticism at some point or another. Those of us who work in the performing arts have to deal with it more than most. That's because, of course, people are specifically invited to come and see what we do.

 

If I go to see a piece of theatre or a band or whatever it might be, I am unable to watch the show without thinking "I wouldn't have done that with the lighting" or "I couldn't hear that lyric - mic could have been higher" or a wide variety of other criticisms. Sometimes I watch a show and think "the lighting design was great and the sound mix was really stunning, I'm also really impressed with how they got those scene changes done in time". That's criticism too.

 

Obviously, if I'm doing that then others will be doing the same to my work.

 

So the question is: how well do we all take criticism?

 

If someone didn't like what you did do you think they must therfore be t*ssers whose opinions you aren't interested in anyway, or do you feel everyone's opinion is equally valid and lie awake at night if you overhear a single punter say "I was a bit disappointed with the [whatever you did]"?

 

Are all opinions equal or are some more equal than others?

[dfinn]

Hi,

 

Being only a college student technician with no professional training, I have taught myself most of what I know, from personal experience and sites like this. Therefore when an industry professional is around, and they tell me how I should be doing things, I normally take on boards what they said and I want to learn, and they are probably right. If I did something differently than the pro would do it for a reason, I would tell that to him/ her that reason, he/ she may either then agree with me or provide an alternative, better solution, which I would try and take on board and implement.

 

However, if it is some smartypants jo public whose had a few pints, and starts mouthing off at me, saying I'm crap if the tinyest bit of feedback is heard, I will just remain calm and carry on as before.

 

I always try and see the situation from multiple view points, as I know that I am always learning, so should try my best to take on and encorporate the advice I have been given by the pro's in the business.

 

Thanks,

 

Daniel

[StevieR]

So the question is: how well do we all take criticism?

 

The quick answer to that has to be, in general, not very well.

 

It is only human to dislike criticism. However, those of us with a less narrow outlook on life might at least listen to what is being said and then make a judgement on whether or not the criticism is deserved. In some cases it may well be and that is where we can all learn something. It is all too easy to only look at something from one or two perspectives. It is the eyes and ears of another person that can show us the alternatives that we were blind to in the first instance.

 

So, without being able to accept criticism, we would never really move forward and develop.

 

Easy to say, though. Difficult to do each time.

 

Are all opinions equal or are some more equal than others?

 

Definately not! I think there will always be a set of people who always look for a way to criticise - however petty. Something in their makeup means that they are looking for ways to bring other people down in order to make themselves feel superior. There are also those who are genuinely trying to provide positive comments. The difficulty can sometimes be differentiating between them.

 

I sometimes think that the approach can help a lot. Someone that drops a 'that sound was sh*t' comment as they file past you at the end of the gig is not really being that helpful. Someone that has a chat over a cup of coffee and offers a few of their 'thoughts' should get your attention better.

 

Just my thoughts...

[Guest steve113]

I guess it depends who from. if a well known good LD told me my work was crap then fair play. otherwise it depends. if some kid tells me he can do better and that my Diamond 4 is crap I will [and have] told them to piss off. I am of the opinion that unless you can't see the band or artist then the LD isnt bad it just depends on how much 'extra' they do.

 

I guess it also depends on what level of criticism. if you have posts on some "Technical Forum" mostly populated by students and unemployed 'lighting designers' moaning over several pages about your work I would take it with a pinch of salt. if you get industry professionals all agreeing the work you have done is #### then yes worry!!

personally as an LD I work to the best of my ability and if the minority dont like my work then tough ####. when the majority dont like my work then I will start relooking my work.

 

If I did something differently than the pro would do it for a reason, I would tell that to him/ her that reason, he/ she may either then agree with me or provide an alternative, better solution, which I would try and take on board and implement.

 

when I work with local crews in venues I want them to do as I say not argue it their way. if its not how you have done it before then so what, get used to it. when I arrive at your venue I want you to unload my truck and work as per my design not argue with me on my design and where I should and where you woud put your parcans.

[GridGirl]

It totally depends on who is doing the criticising. If it's someone who knows what they're talking about, and it's constructive criticism, then I'll definitely take it on board. If it's Joe Public saying "your lighting was rubbish" then I don't tend to take it as seriously.

[Ynot]

As others have said - it all depends on who, what and how.

 

Who - Do I know the critic? Do I know OF them? Do I believe that they have a standard against which to judge me and my work?

 

What - What are they actually saying? Is it a direct critique of a piece as a whole, or is it an analysis of one aspect of a show? (eg lighting or sound etc). Is it generalised or specific in other words?

 

How - perhaps the most important - Has the critic delivered their opinion in a constructive manner or just as a throwaway line? Are they genuinely appraising the quality or just expressing an initial reaction?

[deranged-angel]

As long as my boss is happy, I am.

 

Having done an English degree with Drama and theatre studies, I tend to analyse absolutely everything. Not critique in a kind of 'ooh that lighting was awful' but analyse as to why the lighting was such and what decisions the LD had come to and why they thought that was the best way and was it really the best way and if I was doing it, would I have done it that way. Needless to say, I spend more time looking up at the rig than watching the show. I started off in my English degree analysing novels and poetry, then I did a film module so analysed films then a started my tech course and now analyse everything in the theatre. I can't do anything without thinking long and hard about the artist's / designers choices.

 

It hurts my head being me.

 

Em

x

[Paul J Need]

Does it really matter where the criticism comes from? :)

 

The point is we should all listen to it and take on board what is being said; whether it comes from a 40 year Vet. of the entertainment industry or a 15 year on work experience. We may not agree with either of them but in listening we learn something; learn of someone elses opinion and just because we are proud of what we have created it may not be good enough to please someone else. Either that or listen intently; nod, smile then smack them in the mouth !!! ;) ( joke)

 

“To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”

[lightsource]

Does it really matter where the criticism comes from? :)

 

The point is we should all listen to it and take on board what is being said;

 

“To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”

 

Agreed there Paul, I don't get much in the way of negative feedback, but when I do, I look at weather the point was valid or not.

 

I know the Sound or the Lighting because I was there and I did it.

 

If someone gives me negative feedback, then I will think of how the event sounded / looked from MY point of view, and try to see where there criticisms fit. If the don't, they're discarded. If I think they've made a valid point, then it's taken on board.

 

It's part of the ...bettering oneself process. Sometimes critisism is valid, othertimes, just forget about it.

[gingertom]

There are various aspects to this that I feel warrant comment, that could go on for reams of paper........ But I shall not to save humanity from that boredom.

 

As I see it, and has been quoted by many far superior to me, as LX/SND/STAGE designers (or other roles) we are present to support the turns. As such it becomes very much an "art" form, and we all know that by their nature art forms are pretty much subjective.

 

My personal feeling is that as arts professionals we are subject to the scrutiny of multiple parties: I.e we have to please the act (whether it be turns,twirlys, bands etc), the director/producer, but most of all we have to please them funny folk that want to spend money sitting in a darkened room watching an act.

(why people do it I will never fathom).

 

I have and always will listen to comments from the general public, as they are the "outsiders" with no insight into the technical aspects of a production, and think that their comments may hold more value than an experienced LX/SND designer or op. Additionally it is those funny folk who effectively pay for our wages.

 

I suppose my point is that what a very good proddy lx may consider his best relight, a punter may decide looks like a badly placed desklamp. And equally a noiseboys worst nightmare of a show may be particularly pleasing to some patrons. So in the end, there will always be someone wanting to enlighten you as to how badly you did a job.

 

I find something satisfying (and it may be sad) about jotting down comments that are overheard, or directly passed on via crew or theatre staff about productions and aspects of said production. Whether they be mainly positive or negative it ensures a certain motivation to do better, or please more people, or try new things.

 

To summarise my ramblings I suppose all I can say is that criticism comes from all angles, and no matter who says it we should be willing to listen and learn and evaluate from it.

[lightsource]

There are various aspects to this that I feel warrant comment, that could go on for reams of paper........ But I shall not to save humanity from that boredom.

 

Thank god ;)

 

You are right in what you say. It is subjective.

 

To quote something that I should probably not be quoting because I can't remember it properly

 

You can please some people all of the time, but all people some of the time..... or words to similar effect

 

You can never please an entire audience :)

[Ike]

I have to admit I used to be awful at accepting criticism, I feel I've improved a lot over the past couple of years but I still wouldn't say I'm at all good at it.

 

I will never forget something that happened about two years ago when I was managing a very small venue on the outskirts of Manchester. The house technician was about as bad as me at accepting criticism and was having a particularly bad day. A short while into the gig a slightly drunk German guy came up to him and suggested something to him re the sound, he immediately started taking the piss out of this guy and didn't listen to a word he was saying. It wasn't until about an hour later I overheard his name, recognised it and immediately went over to speak to him. It turns out he is an incredibly well respected audio engineer who was staying with friends and had come to see his friends sons band. He had a huge wealth of knowledge and would have happily shared it had it not been for the attitude of the "dick-head engineer".

 

I find learning by someone else's mistakes so much nicer than learning by your own. :)

[Jamtastic3]

I don't mind criticism too much, based mostly on whether it is constructed or justified rather than someone just saying something before they think. In some respects you can learn alot from criticism because people who work in the same field as you may throw you ideas which you may have never thought about before and could take on next time.

It is annoying though I find just like many of us, that when going to see a show, gig or concert, you tend to look into the technical aspects waaaay too much compared to every other Joe.... well I find that anyway.

[paulears]

personally as an LD I work to the best of my ability and if the minority dont like my work then tough ####. when the majority dont like my work then I will start relooking my work.

I have to say that this minority issue makes no sense at all. If I lit a show, and eveybody liked it bar one person then my first question to myself would be who is the one person, and does he know what he is talking about? If this person happened to be a lighting designer of some repute, one of the people I respect opinions from, then I'd discount the fact that everybody else liked it and try hard to make it better, and ask for advice. Most non-lighting people only spot poor lighting when it goes dark. Quality, not quantity of opinion is the thing.

 

when I work with local crews in venues I want them to do as I say not argue it their way. if its not how you have done it before then so what, get used to it. when I arrive at your venue I want you to unload my truck and work as per my design not argue with me on my design and where I should and where you woud put your parcans.

 

Wow! If you came to a venue where I was working with an attitude like that, I can assure you that your life would be one really miserable time. I've lost count of the number of LDs who do have this "I'm the LD, call me God" attitude.

 

The venue people know their venue well - they may well know from bitter experience that a fixture placed in a certain place won't work - obstructions, stage rake, low dead portals etc - as LD, we'd expect you to modify your plan accordingly - and the good ones, once they see the problem do. I'd suggest that if I met you, we'd end up arguing, and I would do exactly what your plan requested - the crew would do it and then wait for you to realise too late that they were right and you were wrong. You'd almost certainly discover that everything took a long time, breaks would happen on the dot, and simple things would be a real issue for you - not us.

 

With a better attitude, things would work really well. The other thing, of course, is that word spreads very quickly that XYZ LD is a total idiot, dreadful to work with and should be given a wide berth.

 

 

When you visit a venue - remember, you are a guest in their building. You have no rights whatsoever to expect anything other than what you asked for. Perhaps we may even have worked together in the past - I don't know - but I can think of a few people who kind of could be you?

 

 

I suspect I may take your advice in this matter not that seriously with your described treatment of the house crews - er, have you ever been part of a team? If so - why have you got this wierd way of working?

[Guest steve113]

Paul, we live in different worlds. you are talking about this from a theatrical point of view. I am talking about a rock 'n' roll point of view where we arrive at 8AM and sound check is at 3 with everything focussed and working.

 

I will of course provide full paperwork and ajust plans where necessary. but if you think I will ajust my plan specially for each venue with 40 european tour dates you are having a laugh! I will provide three designs one for an arena size stage, another for a standard 60 x 40 and one for small venues.

 

I fully appreciate the fact techs know their venue and I am polite and professional. HOWEVER in the case of the above an in-experienced student who questions things every time you do them differently to how he does them in his school hall there creates a problem. I work fully as part of a team and will listen to venues advide with regards to rigging and power etc - but when I have toured day to day and I have done a week with 4 hours/night sleep and THEN I have a student questioning my or my crews work its very annoying.

 

as an initial introduction I am fully co-operative and professional, but equally if I am pressed for time I NEED to get on with what I am doing quickly. if one in-experienced person continually questions everything due to their in-experience it will delay things - in my world we have no time for this. mostly we have a good laugh with the house guys but we do have tight time limits and shedules and as anyone will tell you its not good being held up by amateurs.......at the end of the day its my head on the line!

 

9/10 times house crew help us with rigging points, hang our lamps and do a great job and they do get all the respect they deserve.