What to say in a comment when listening to another artist's track?

My intention in starting this thread is to simply open an exploration of the listener comments and the kinds of things that might be said. It may be worth developing some guidelines on how and what to leave for the artist to read about your thoughts and feelings on his/her music (perhaps these exist somewhere on the site, so feel free to direct me there too if I have missed something that already exists - no sense re-inventing anything, although it may be worth re-visiting the current guidelines regardless). I think it may be especially useful for new-comers, as well as laying the groundwork for all of us who wish to help maintain MP3U as an active and supportive community of artists.

I will offer the following thoughts to start:

1. Most of us "intend" to be positive and helpful. (Sometimes we don't express ourselves with enough clarity to get that intention across, but I think we generally mean well).

2. We all struggle with listening to criticism ( a human condition, often a musician's Achilles heel), regardless of how well and precisely it may be expressed. So, it is likely best to let a comment sit for a a few days before responding. Taking a deep breath (or two or three) before we load a replying broadside is always a good strategy. If needed, take a week of deep breathing

3. Most "differences" are best expressed in Private Messages" or "e-mails," I think. A PDA - public display of aggression - does not serve any good purpose, I think. If a more public forum is needed for broader input or opinion, a thread could be started on the MP3U Forum, but I would not prefer this route myself. Privacy is preferred (dirty laundry in public sort of thing)

4. Seeking clarification and precision and sticking to observations is more productive than generalizations. For example, "the vocal in the second verse is not as clear to my ears as the first verse," rather than, "your music sucks" - these are hypothetical examples for demonstration purposes only .

5. Let reason prevail over emotion.

OK, that's all I'll say for the moment.

Please feel free to add/subtract. Community is developed by involvement

All the best,
Terry

[dawnsinclair]

I would just like to say that I thought Craig's post was amazing, brilliant and deserves the number one spot on Mondays and Wednesdays, Tony's replies and quips are wonderful, top of the pops and wicked and should definitely be brought out on CD and Andy's ripostes are stonkingly exquisite and deserves an oscar or bafta or sumfink else. This whole thread should be awarded the Pullitzer prize for banterfication. The world is too small for this kind of dialogificatory magnificence!!!

ten stars and 42 noms all round!!!