Try Honesty, Try Honesty
Hey folks,
So, here I am reading over the comments on my blog, and someone decided to leave some rather unpleasant comments about me, and Dali Hopper. Ordinarily, this would not bother me. In fact, we welcome criticism and insight from outside sources. This helps us grow and evolve as a band, because it’s the bands that stay hungry and are always trying to improve their sound and prove themselves every time out that last. In fact, during just about every practice, there are people around that are always making comments and discussing our sound, and ways we can improve. Even after the last show, people were saying, “We really liked the show, but we had a hard time hearing you over the drums.” Granted, we had a confined space to work in and I was RIGHT next to the drummer and don’t feel that my microphone was turned up enough, but that’s ok. This is an example of what I’m talking about, but the comments made on my last blog, well they are just childish and downright immature. First there is some etiquette for critiquing and commenting on a blog.
1. Be Honest. Honesty will go far, but be honest without making yourself sound like a jackass.
EXAMPLE: “Dali Hopper sucks ass; sweaty, smelly ass” doesn’t exactly make the commenter appear to be too intelligent. People will think “What a stupid asshole”
CORRECTION: “Dali Hopper is not my kind of band, perhaps German Synth-Pop-Neo-Punk-Electro-HipHop is more the way to go for you guys.” That is more to the point. Yet you still don’t make yourself look like an asshole. People will think “That’s good insight for the band, I agree, German Synth is the way to go.” You see what I mean? It generates discussion.
2. Offer insight. When critiquing, it is important to offer ways to improve.
EXAMPLE: “And you can’t sing” is, again, not helping your IQ out today. And again, makes you look like a stupid asshole.
CORRECTION: “Perhaps you should take some vocal lessons, you were off key in several spots and your voice seems to weaken near the end of each chorus” This makes you sound intelligent, offers insight as to exactly why you feel that the singer cannot sing, and provides a method of improvement.
3. Use your real name and e-mail address. Mature people will think higher of you if you have balls and use your real name and/or e-mail address. This way in doing so, you offer people the opportunity to provide a rebuttal to your opinion, or agree with your opinion and maybe expand further on your comments. This will also give people the impression that you are trying to offer advice, and not give off the impression that you are a moron. If you fail to follow rules 1 and 2, but still manage to pull off rule 3; at least people will know who to call a stupid asshole.
EXAMPLE: mom@gmail.com, i know, for a fact, couldn’t possibly be your real e-mail address. No intelligent human being would select such a moronic e-mail address.
CORRECTION: i_am_a_stupid_asshole@gmail.com would be more appropriate for you; since you’re a stupid asshole.
In conclusion, 1. Be Honest, 2. Offer Insight, 3. Have balls. This will help you go a long way in not being a stupid asshole.
For the rest of you, I hope you enjoyed our last show at Hot Rods, more to come, in larger venues, I promise. I have a few things up my sleeve that should put us on our way. Also, if anyone wants a cheaply created 4-song demo to enjoy, let me know. For the right price, I can hooks you up fat yo.
Making 9:00pm count (by not being a stupid asshole)
J
hm. said,
June 1, 2008 at 4:28 am
you_are_a_stupid_asshole@gmail.com… sounds like a good one for you
jasonsmith21 said,
June 1, 2008 at 12:16 pm
awesome…..still not enough sack to use a real name….
I’m glad you at least had enough sense this ttime to offer some insight other than “Dali Hopper sucks”. I’ll be the first to admit that it might take me a take or two to get the song right, but fact of the matter is, it’s my voice on the tracks, and the guys and I are happy with our sound, if we weren’t, we’d be talking about it and changing it; either that, or I wouldn’t be at rehearsal every week. We are a band, and we communicate face to face or on the phone, not hiding behind bum e-mails and no names. Our music is our art, we make it for us. There were people who hated Elvis, The Beatles, and the like. Jack White has made more money than I will ever see in a long, long time, and worked with some of the greatest artists of our time, and that bastard can’t sing either.
There are a few things I have noticed though (I mean, outside of the no name thing):
1. A slight hint of jealousy; sounds like someone wants to be where we are, but can’t. Granted, we haven’t done all that much yet, other than completely turn around our sound, write enough new material for a new album, and play a show, all without the benefit of a bassist, but we are probably a lot farther along than wherever it is you may be. Last time I checked, I was at rehearsal, and you weren’t.
2. Your opinion is that I can’t sing; ok, that’s all fine and dandy, but, can you? If you could, you’d be singing in a band, and wouldn’t have time for smart ass comments and taking the time to make up all these fake e-mail accounts as to mask your identity.
Well, good luck to you. I hope you succeeded in whatever it was you were trying to accomplish. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have writing to do prior to rehearsal.
hm. said,
June 1, 2008 at 3:04 pm
actually i can and do sing, but have no desire to sing in a band, sorry not jealous, get off your high horse man
hm. said,
June 1, 2008 at 3:05 pm
at lease jack white can stay on tune…
jasonsmith21 said,
June 2, 2008 at 10:21 am
Fantastic, now we’re getting somewhere.
Since you can sing, and I apparently can’t, what tips can you offer for the issues that you think I have? Please keep in mind that “Get lessons” is not an answer. We as a band don’t mind the criticism, we actually welcome it, provided it is constructive and not “you suck, get lessons”. Anything that helps us become a better band.
For the record, it isn’t a high horse at all, I’m only 5’1″ so I don’t exactly have the ability to get on top of very large horses. My biggest issue is people who do nothing but rag on bands and insult people who are in positions they want to be in (on stage for example) but don’t have the ability/guts to just do it. You on the other hand, say that you have the ability to do what we do, just do not have the desire to. Had your comments been well constructed in the first place, all these fun little quips and jabs would have been unnecessary. As I have said in previous blogs/comments, we welcome the criticism, just use your real name so that if we have questions outside the realm of the internet we can ask you; and don’t take your opinion and word it as such that you come off as someone who is jealous and immature, and just wants to rag on me and the band.
It’s too band you aren’t in a band or performing anywhere, we’d love to come and check you out. In the event you decide to jump into a band or do some solo stuff, whatever, let us know, we’d be happy to give you a listen; but a little piece of advice, you’ll have to use a name (even if it isn’t your own), it’s hard to draw a crowd if no one knows you’re there.