CRITICS AND REVIEWS
Critics are an essential part of our industry that can help make or break careers. The word critical can often be seen as negative, however one's work is always being critiqued by their audience, albeit subconsciously. When being reviewed by an established ‘critic’ whose analysis will be publicly released through print, tv, radio or web, this can often put fear into an artist due to the exposed feeling or uncertainty of how their art will be received by respected names in the industry.
Journalists can be an artists best or worst enemy. Being able to communicate effectively with them can definitely help gain a more positive analysis. It’s important to know the reviewer you are dealing with and their level of influence within your genre. Being able to monitor your time appropriately to those with a more-respected name or association in your medium and by massaging them (and their ego) accordingly can help return more favoured reviews.
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Negative reviews can lead to short-term setbacks whilst the positive can help launch careers through a boost in show attendance/ticket sales, airplays, likes and most importantly buys. Before the times of social media, reviews were the primary means of shaping public opinion on a release. Now anyone with a keyboard or phone can instantly review an experience (be it a concert, show, restaurant, car, gym etc), and release this to an audience through their social media. This has led to those who are seen as respected experts in the field now holding as much weight as ever.
Analysing these reviews can help an individual's own creative process as it provides different perceptions that one may not have considered. It is becoming viewed as an expert in your field that can be challenging. Critically analysing others works is a way to become an expert. Through analysing and reviewing performances, it helps establish one's knowledge of that field as over time giving credible, honest and thoughtful feedback will gain respect from those within that industry.
I have already seen the benefits of this from the launch of my website and the ‘news and reviews’ section above. Encouraged by the words described to me in the Johari Window, I have implemented observant, reflective and witty into pursuing me to do more reviews in this manner.
As mentioned earlier, whilst I am yet to release any tracks of my own, by attending first class events, associating with established names in the industry, attending SAE and now the website, I have noticed more people reaching out for my opinion. This ranges from artists wanting feedback on their ‘in-progress tracks’, patrons wanting to know which artists/events coming up they should attend and festival organisers seeking my thoughts on their events, both my experiences of the past and how they can improve that for the upcoming.
The more events and works I analyse and review myself the more confident I am becoming in my knowledge as I can then apply that to different aspects of the industry. This is an enjoyable side that the CIU class has brought out in me, and helped me to realise there are many aspects to the industry rather than just being the rockstar or DJ under the bright lights.
By intertwining the three this trimester, I have helped establish my “Fun, yet professional” identity through the power of social media and my website portfolio, which is helping me gradually become an expert in techno and music through constant analysis and reviews of others in the field. I'm also using these as a means to connect with booking agents/promoters, artists and potential employers, but just as importantly by using this as the platform to share my productions and engage with my audience, it will hopefully further establish my positive reputation and help my personal brand continue to grow.