[Harp-L] accepting compliments

[Garry Hodgson <garry@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> FJM,
> Brings up a good point.  I used to not take compliements well from
> audience members.  I realized awhile ago that pointing out what was
> wrong with my playing or the show is akin to calling the complimenter
> stupid. 

it's also irrelevant.  what your fan is telling you is how it affected *him*,
not how you played technically.  it's a different thing, from a different 
point of view.  he doesn't care if you missed your overblows, or your
tremolo was substandard.  he cares that it sounded good (to him),
or excited him, or made him happy, or sad, or all of the above.

the grateful dead were famous for nights where they thought
they played like crap, but the fans loved it, and/or the tapes
showed otherwise.

> I now accept all accolades and critisims with a smile.  It's
> the professional thing to do.

you might ask them what it was about the music that he liked.
you probably won't get much information from most, but if you
luck into a fan that can articulate his feelings, you can learn
something about your music and performance that you, as the
performer, probably can't hear.

> So tell me how good I am!!! I promise not to make you feel stupid
> about it... :-)

i hope someday to be able to tell you that.  too bad AZ is so far.

----
Garry Hodgson, Technical Consultant, AT&T Labs

Your love, your anger, your kindness, your hate.
All of it creates the future for you and your children.
What kind of future are you creating today?