How to Annoy an Artist
So recently I wrote a piece about how to support artists, and when I examined some of my reasons for that I realized that there are so many times when we are inadvertently disrespected. Usually this isn't because people are setting out to be rude. Usually these things are born out of a lack of knowledge of the process and a lack of understanding that music isn't about attention and exposition, it is about expression and experience. And it's dang hard work on anything approaching a professional level.
Here go some of my pet peeves! Some of the following things may not tick off or annoy every musician, but these things certainly are on my list and I would wager are on a lot of other folks' lists as well.
Expecting FREE: Asking a musician to give you their latest CD for free? Telling a musician to put all their stuff on Soundcloud so you can listen for free? No. No. No. Just no. Why? Because it shows a huge lack of respect for that person's time and resources as well as their talent. Unless you know the artist really well (you're best buds or related, etc) don't ever just ask for and expect something for free. And while some people say, "It never hurts to ask...", it can be quite a burden when an artist feels compelled to meet your request so as not to appear rude. If a stranger asked you to give up a piece of your livelihood just because they want it, you would likely be frustrated too. Use common sense here though: autographs may be an exception as well as asking for something for charity (within reason). And of course there are many times when we do offer a download for free or offer free streaming on our websites, but don't expect that this stuff will stay free forever. I personally caught flak for pulling some pieces from my first album off of Soundcloud. It is available from so many other places that I chose to remove them. I own the rights to those songs and no one else has that final say. "Promotional" and "indefinitely available for free" are two different things. When an artist or anyone gives away something for free, it should always be on their terms.
Expecting an artist to cater to your tastes: Do not expect an artist to take your suggestions to create a piece to your liking unless you are commissioning it. That doesn't mean artists won't take feedback or read reviews. We do. We rely on feedback to know what audience we are attracting, but we control our aesthetic and our vision. You'd better be a collaborator or a financier to think that I am going to possibly entertain switching genres or writing parodies just because you think it would be a neat idea. You may think this seems short-sighted or limits me as an artist, but I'm limited by my time. There are a great many projects that I balance at any given moment, and I'm not going to pause and divert my efforts for someone that doesn't understand the time and effort involved. Sounds harsh? Consider if you ran your business at the whim of everyone that walks by your store. You work to understand your customer base, but you also have to keep scope in mind. Spreading myself thin serves no one in the end and creates for a very confusing body of work.
Giving unsolicited advice: Is this a problem? For me it is actually. I get a lot of unsolicited advice from people that think they are being helpful or are trying to sound intelligent. Sadly they are only asserting their ignorance and wasting time for both of us (since I usually politely listen for a while). If you don't play piano, don't give me piano practicing tips. I don't give an accountant accounting tips or try to "school" a lawyer. I've been playing for over two decades and I'll seek out a professional if I have questions. If you haven't studied sound or actually recorded an electric guitar and tube amp, don't suggest mic placements or equipment. I have networks of people that spend a lot of time in recording studios that are much more capable of giving me advice than most. Don't tell me how to filter out unwanted noises if you don't understand how EQs and gates really work. These things are not "magic." And most of all, don't argue with me about it when I gently explain how this stuff really works! As fans, you may want to be involved... Great! So give feedback, not advice. What did you like or not like? That's much more useful than offering a solution to a perceived "problem" that you don't understand. Asking questions is fine too. I'm happy to answer. And keep in mind that just because you offer feedback doesn't automatically mean I'm going to change my future songs just for you. Music is a matter of taste and ten people may love the thing about my latest album that you hate. See the previous pet-peeve for clarity.
Expecting that an artist will not change: So your favorite band tried something different with their latest album... Sometimes these forays into new territory are well received and other times fans are "offended" that the new album sounds different than the old. Then the artists are compelled to defend their right to experiment and reach and push. If we didn't try new things, music would become stagnant. Many of us start by learning and playing in an established space and then start blending genres or testing the limits of our core genre. Music is diverse because we push and try new things. Some of those things catch on and others remain niche or fade away. You don't have to like that album or even buy it. Vote with your money but don't expect that band to cater to your whims. Claiming it isn't fair to their fans isn't a valid argument either. Our fan bases grow and change with us. Your musical tastes are allowed to change and so is an artist's music vision. I don't expect everyone who bought my first album will buy my second one, because they are different. My music reflects who I am at that moment in time, not who my fans expect me to be.
So, I apologize if you found this to be a bummer of a posting. Would be interested in other artists' opinions as well as fans'. Hopefully this is a new perspective for some who find themselves struggling to connect with an artist and gives a voice to artists struggling with the folks around them (point them to this piece). Ask intelligent questions, give feedback, and show your support in ways that count.
Love!
Sarah Schonert, the Lyrical Physicist
Here go some of my pet peeves! Some of the following things may not tick off or annoy every musician, but these things certainly are on my list and I would wager are on a lot of other folks' lists as well.
Expecting FREE: Asking a musician to give you their latest CD for free? Telling a musician to put all their stuff on Soundcloud so you can listen for free? No. No. No. Just no. Why? Because it shows a huge lack of respect for that person's time and resources as well as their talent. Unless you know the artist really well (you're best buds or related, etc) don't ever just ask for and expect something for free. And while some people say, "It never hurts to ask...", it can be quite a burden when an artist feels compelled to meet your request so as not to appear rude. If a stranger asked you to give up a piece of your livelihood just because they want it, you would likely be frustrated too. Use common sense here though: autographs may be an exception as well as asking for something for charity (within reason). And of course there are many times when we do offer a download for free or offer free streaming on our websites, but don't expect that this stuff will stay free forever. I personally caught flak for pulling some pieces from my first album off of Soundcloud. It is available from so many other places that I chose to remove them. I own the rights to those songs and no one else has that final say. "Promotional" and "indefinitely available for free" are two different things. When an artist or anyone gives away something for free, it should always be on their terms.
Expecting an artist to cater to your tastes: Do not expect an artist to take your suggestions to create a piece to your liking unless you are commissioning it. That doesn't mean artists won't take feedback or read reviews. We do. We rely on feedback to know what audience we are attracting, but we control our aesthetic and our vision. You'd better be a collaborator or a financier to think that I am going to possibly entertain switching genres or writing parodies just because you think it would be a neat idea. You may think this seems short-sighted or limits me as an artist, but I'm limited by my time. There are a great many projects that I balance at any given moment, and I'm not going to pause and divert my efforts for someone that doesn't understand the time and effort involved. Sounds harsh? Consider if you ran your business at the whim of everyone that walks by your store. You work to understand your customer base, but you also have to keep scope in mind. Spreading myself thin serves no one in the end and creates for a very confusing body of work.
Giving unsolicited advice: Is this a problem? For me it is actually. I get a lot of unsolicited advice from people that think they are being helpful or are trying to sound intelligent. Sadly they are only asserting their ignorance and wasting time for both of us (since I usually politely listen for a while). If you don't play piano, don't give me piano practicing tips. I don't give an accountant accounting tips or try to "school" a lawyer. I've been playing for over two decades and I'll seek out a professional if I have questions. If you haven't studied sound or actually recorded an electric guitar and tube amp, don't suggest mic placements or equipment. I have networks of people that spend a lot of time in recording studios that are much more capable of giving me advice than most. Don't tell me how to filter out unwanted noises if you don't understand how EQs and gates really work. These things are not "magic." And most of all, don't argue with me about it when I gently explain how this stuff really works! As fans, you may want to be involved... Great! So give feedback, not advice. What did you like or not like? That's much more useful than offering a solution to a perceived "problem" that you don't understand. Asking questions is fine too. I'm happy to answer. And keep in mind that just because you offer feedback doesn't automatically mean I'm going to change my future songs just for you. Music is a matter of taste and ten people may love the thing about my latest album that you hate. See the previous pet-peeve for clarity.
Expecting that an artist will not change: So your favorite band tried something different with their latest album... Sometimes these forays into new territory are well received and other times fans are "offended" that the new album sounds different than the old. Then the artists are compelled to defend their right to experiment and reach and push. If we didn't try new things, music would become stagnant. Many of us start by learning and playing in an established space and then start blending genres or testing the limits of our core genre. Music is diverse because we push and try new things. Some of those things catch on and others remain niche or fade away. You don't have to like that album or even buy it. Vote with your money but don't expect that band to cater to your whims. Claiming it isn't fair to their fans isn't a valid argument either. Our fan bases grow and change with us. Your musical tastes are allowed to change and so is an artist's music vision. I don't expect everyone who bought my first album will buy my second one, because they are different. My music reflects who I am at that moment in time, not who my fans expect me to be.
So, I apologize if you found this to be a bummer of a posting. Would be interested in other artists' opinions as well as fans'. Hopefully this is a new perspective for some who find themselves struggling to connect with an artist and gives a voice to artists struggling with the folks around them (point them to this piece). Ask intelligent questions, give feedback, and show your support in ways that count.
Love!
Sarah Schonert, the Lyrical Physicist
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