Originally Posted by Mark Kaufman
Unless I'm collaborating with others, opinions are the last thing I'm interested in during the creative process.

I do value opinions, no matter who expresses them, and they definitely have the power to sway me...but that's exactly why I want nothing to do with them while I'm inventing, not until a working draft of a piece is completed. THEN, maybe I'll rewrite it based on an outside opinion. More likely, I will remember the opinion that swayed me and apply it to future work.

All writers benefit from critique, but not all critique is beneficial. Because the quality of music is mostly subjective, there is no "best", so if we were to follow ALL criticism, it would be a roadmap to the generic middle, nothing resembling "outstanding". Meanwhile, creators who listen to no one run the risk of sucking while thinking they do not. It's up to each of us to decide how to respond to critique.



I hear you about "opinions-while-working" --those can be dangerous to the creative spirit.

Most good writers tend to be the their own toughest critics, and so 99% of the time will have already dealt with any potential problems that can arise in the construction of a song. But there can always be blind spots and "darlings" that we don't see as such.

But that has zero to do with if a song is any good or not. But for that, I am not sure that a peer's opinion is any more valid than any anonymous listener who might happen to like the same kind of music. A peer might be more valuable as to the mechanics of what makes the song tick or not but his/her own expertise may even actually get in the way of a simple visceral response to a song, like an everyday listener is more prone to have.

What you're describing in terms of "all criticism" or consensus of opinion reminded me of Rottentomatoes and how it irritates me when I suggest a movie to my sister and she says, "hmmm, it only got a 65 on Rottentomatoes" lol..

Thanks, Mark for you insights and a look into your process. smile

Mike



Last edited by Michael Zaneski; 07/06/19 06:55 PM.
Fate doesn't hang on a wrong or right choice
Fortune depends on the tone of your voice

-The Divine Comedy (Neil Hannon)
from the song "Songs of Love"
from the album "Casanova" (1996)