How Not To Take Criticism Like A Professional

[ekline1]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 3:26pm

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

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

 

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

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 3:30pm

They're being super-douchey in their attempt at defense, too.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 3:41pm

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. 

[Karlan Judd]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 4:28pm

Hi All,

I am the writer of this show and the composer of the post referred to by ekline1. There is so much to say here. I tend to agree with Sunny11 that there is a double standard. But I have seen that so many were offended by my attempt at a humorous post about someone who had not posted a thoughtful review, but instead had posted a meaningless and thoughtless 1/100 for our show. And so for this, I apologize. 

Before deleting the post, I gave a full apology to the person who the post was directed at. Why is an individual protected from response when they say a new musical that is barely making it to an Off Broadway stage is excruciating? Should I rise above it and simply move on? Sure. But sometimes you don't want to do that anymore. It is mean-spirited to dis' a show in such a way when it is in its infancy. Is there any thought at all to the difficult struggle it has taken to get the show to this point? Not in the majority of remarks I saw. And frankly, people around me will say that I take the life of the show into my hands when I continue to post even here. Wow, are we really so confined that we can't have a discussion about this without people making threats that they will ruin me over this? 

I realize that a public Facebook page is not my personal rant space, and so for that I apologized to this person. People said I should have written him directly beforehand. Maybe. 

Someone on the posting said that there is a lot of harshness in this business. Yes, that is true. I have lived through much of it. And I wasn't only thinking of myself. I was thinking of our actors who are working so hard to build something new, and are very talented. I will not use their names here because I don't think they should be involved in what many here will see as "my bad." But I just think someone should be held accountable when they post a mean-spirited review. My reaction was to be snarky in response. I will continue to have my own sense of humor in my private life and in my writing, but I will refrain from engaging with individuals who are negative towards our show, for my own sanity and for decorum's sake. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 4:42pm

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.

[Karlan Judd]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 4:52pm

I promise I am not going to respond to every post on this thread, but Lizzie, I really hope people want to come and see THE REAL ACTORS OF NYC because its a great show, because it brings a new voice to Off Broadway, and because people enjoy it and can relate to it...those are the only reasons I have. And so I hope that if it is your kind of musical you will come and see it...and that if you want to learn more about it, you will read reviews from people who intelligently give their opinion about the show, which is all I can ask.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 5:00pm

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. 

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 5:08pm

This has got to be a publicity stunt... And kind of a genius one lol... I kinda wanna see your show now... Best shilling I've ever seen on this board and I'm not even mad about it :)

[followspot]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 5:23pm

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.

Posted: 10/10/16 at 5:59pm

Good luck with your career Karlan

any 'real actor of nyc' knows this community is small and needs each other to be supportive

to perpetrate trolling, bullying a kid over a critique and putting him down clearly expresses how vile it all is 

karma is a lovely thing  

you can best bet you should never put this show on your resume and change your name because more than likely this story has spread quite quickly and most likely people in the community wouldn't want to work with that kind of venom. 

But good luck on that..

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 7:12pm

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.

Posted: 10/12/16 at 7:52am

A lesson in civility:

 

http://www.onstageblog.com/columns/2016/10/11/the-unprofessional-professionals-when-a-composer-reacts-to-criticism-in-the-worst-way-possible

 

 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 8:05am

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).

[dexter3]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 9:40am

Hey guys, I don't know anyone involved with this show or either people named in this "controversy".  It's way too easy to jump on the shame train nowadays....especially on an anonymous board.  What this Karlan Judd guy did was stupid, but let's let his show be.  It's hard enough in this industry already and he's probably already paying the price for his comments...we needn't glob onto it.  That blog post about the issue is like completely overkill.  This is a small potatoes story not juicy piece of theater gossip.

[newintown]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 10:32am

"...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?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 11:01am

Why is an individual protected from response when they say a new musical that is barely making it to an Off Broadway stage is excruciating?

If they felt it was excruciating, why should they be punished for giving their opinion?  Do you treat everyone who has ever posted a negative remark about any show this way, or just your show?  I have found a few shows so excruciating, I left before intermission, and sometimes I post exactly that.  A negative opinion is just as valid as a positive opinion, whether it's your show or not has zero relevance.

It is mean-spirited to dis' a show in such a way when it is in its infancy.

If you perform it in front of an audience, then you invite opinions of the audience.  The infancy is in your fragile and overprotective ego.  It stuns me that you claim to have written a show and have no idea how this works.  And if you pretend that you have never said a bad word about any show you've seen that you didn't enjoy, you will be hard-pressed to find anyone who believes you.  

Is there any thought at all to the difficult struggle it has taken to get the show to this point?

I'm sure there is from the friends and family of those working on the show, but if you're asking that from completely unrelated strangers who bought a ticket and then express their opinion on what they saw, then you must be entirely new to planet Earth.  But I would love to hear all about how everyone associated with your show takes that into account for every show they have ever seen in their lives and therefore, has never said anything negative about any production.  That would truly be remarkable and newsworthy.

[Karlan Judd]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:06pm

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!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:14pm

Karlan Judd said: "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."

This may help.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/newcsd.cfm?id=100587

[deloverly]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:29pm

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. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:32pm

Where was anyone in this thread attacking the show? 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.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 4:42pm

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

[Sunny11]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 5:48pm

Remember when James Franco called Brantley a little bitch after a bad review for Of mice and men ? 

It's not like artists never retaliate against critics. I find it entertaining when they do actually.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 7:41pm

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.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 8:25pm

If you want to survive in this business you should consider leaving the boards and reviews behind when it comes to your own productions. If you are OK with the great reviews, you have to be OK with the negative reviews too and no one makes it through life in this business without some negative reviews. Whether it is an overall poor review or negative feedback for an entire production or for your performance, it is going to happen at some point in your career. With the advent of Broadway boards and social media, criticism can be sharp, unprofessional and personal. The only way to maintain your sanity and avoid getting depressed, distracted and otherwise bent out of shape is to STOP READING things related to your show and your performance. Focus on the work and leave the trolls to focus on theirs.  

[ekline1]

Posted: 10/16/16 at 11:47am

 "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.