Comments on: The Perils of DIY, Part 12 http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/ Welcome to I'dDream.com, est. Nov 1999. Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:17:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Cas Kopacki http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/comment-page-1/#comment-274020 Cas Kopacki Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:48:38 +0000 http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/#comment-274020 You're right in saying that you need critics to bolster the super-image, however, I think self-promotion does that, too. This is not to say that you haven't self-promoted enough. I know you've done that. There are avenues, though, that some artists manage to drive down to get them noticed and, sadly, they're often not devices of smart marketing - they are most often the product of pure luck. I've recently run into something of interest in relation to this, too. A friend of mine, Jasmine, has played a starring role in the "Too Much Coffee Man" opera, which opened again in Portland, OR last weekend. It was more-or-less trashed by The Oregonian (http://blog.oregonlive.com/steveduin/2008/04/too_much_coffee_man_opera_the.html). The reviewer didn't have too much to say about Jasmine's singing performance but decided a comment about her cleavage was appropriate (although, in context, her cleavage probably plays some role in her character): "In the opening act, Too Much Coffee Man -- Stacey Murdock in a full-body red PJs with an oversized coffee cup on his head -- and Espresso Guy are vying for the affections of soprano Jasmine Presson, who is dishing out the double shots of caffeine and cleavage." I found it interesting that a reviewer local to the showing panned the opera for the most part but the production has had pretty phenomenal reviews from the crowds. The critic certainly holds sway. But then art is subjective, is it not? Shouldn't we, as artists, be bullet proof to this knowing that full-well there will be people who, out the gate, will want to trash the work we produce? You’re right in saying that you need critics to bolster the super-image, however, I think self-promotion does that, too. This is not to say that you haven’t self-promoted enough. I know you’ve done that. There are avenues, though, that some artists manage to drive down to get them noticed and, sadly, they’re often not devices of smart marketing – they are most often the product of pure luck.

I’ve recently run into something of interest in relation to this, too. A friend of mine, Jasmine, has played a starring role in the “Too Much Coffee Man” opera, which opened again in Portland, OR last weekend. It was more-or-less trashed by The Oregonian (http://blog.oregonlive.com/steveduin/2008/04/too_much_coffee_man_opera_the.html). The reviewer didn’t have too much to say about Jasmine’s singing performance but decided a comment about her cleavage was appropriate (although, in context, her cleavage probably plays some role in her character):

“In the opening act, Too Much Coffee Man — Stacey Murdock in a full-body red PJs with an oversized coffee cup on his head — and Espresso Guy are vying for the affections of soprano Jasmine Presson, who is dishing out the double shots of caffeine and cleavage.”

I found it interesting that a reviewer local to the showing panned the opera for the most part but the production has had pretty phenomenal reviews from the crowds. The critic certainly holds sway.

But then art is subjective, is it not? Shouldn’t we, as artists, be bullet proof to this knowing that full-well there will be people who, out the gate, will want to trash the work we produce?

]]> By: Randy Bishop http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/comment-page-1/#comment-273494 Randy Bishop Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:15:15 +0000 http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/#comment-273494 Thanks Jeff. It's always good to know someone else (besides Cas and I) read the posts that we don't get too many comments on. Cas, yeah it's most definitely a chronic "artist selling their work" problem in general. But artists are at fault for relying on the critics word too. More times than not, the people buying, listening, reading, etc... aren't at all interested in a critics perspective. Typically the critics words are only used to bolster the "superhero artist" persona you alluded to. Thanks Jeff. It’s always good to know someone else (besides Cas and I) read the posts that we don’t get too many comments on.

Cas, yeah it’s most definitely a chronic “artist selling their work” problem in general. But artists are at fault for relying on the critics word too. More times than not, the people buying, listening, reading, etc… aren’t at all interested in a critics perspective. Typically the critics words are only used to bolster the “superhero artist” persona you alluded to.

]]> By: Jeff S http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/comment-page-1/#comment-272761 Jeff S Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:20:16 +0000 http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/#comment-272761 Interesting words about the Wilco record...very true. It's amazing how things work. I just read all your DIY series...they're fun to read. Interesting words about the Wilco record…very true. It’s amazing how things work. I just read all your DIY series…they’re fun to read.

]]> By: Cas Kopacki http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/comment-page-1/#comment-268143 Cas Kopacki Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:43:53 +0000 http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/#comment-268143 Speaking of DIY...today is the 4th anniversary of the blog action starting on Me Duce Tutus Eris. Look at where we are now! We're more together 1460 or so days later. Sort of. Speaking of DIY…today is the 4th anniversary of the blog action starting on Me Duce Tutus Eris.

Look at where we are now! We’re more together 1460 or so days later. Sort of.

]]> By: Cas Kopacki http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/comment-page-1/#comment-268133 Cas Kopacki Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:39:19 +0000 http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/#comment-268133 I think what you wrote about is actually the single most difficult part of being an artist, period. I'm in the midst of reading for a second time <i>How To Become A Famous Writer Before You're Dead</i> by Ariel Gore. This is a topic she hits on quite a bit because it's absolutely necessary to devise a "superhero" self not only for defense but, even more so, to exaggerate yourself into some sort of character. This can be applied to résumé writing and submission, too. You have to elevate yourself to a certain level without going over the truthfulness edge to get noticed. Aside from recording your actual material, I'd guess this is the biggest monster you'll ever have to face in terms of work and time. Yeah, a publicist. I'll send you my résumé. Ha ha. I think what you wrote about is actually the single most difficult part of being an artist, period. I’m in the midst of reading for a second time How To Become A Famous Writer Before You’re Dead by Ariel Gore. This is a topic she hits on quite a bit because it’s absolutely necessary to devise a “superhero” self not only for defense but, even more so, to exaggerate yourself into some sort of character. This can be applied to résumé writing and submission, too. You have to elevate yourself to a certain level without going over the truthfulness edge to get noticed. Aside from recording your actual material, I’d guess this is the biggest monster you’ll ever have to face in terms of work and time.

Yeah, a publicist. I’ll send you my résumé.

Ha ha.

]]> By: Randy Bishop http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/comment-page-1/#comment-267974 Randy Bishop Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:29:18 +0000 http://www.iddream.com/2008/04/03/the-perils-of-diy-part-12/#comment-267974 On the subject... Though not ENTIRELY. <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/monitormix/2008/04/branded.html" rel="nofollow">BRANDED</a>. On the subject… Though not ENTIRELY. BRANDED.

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