Comments

And how not to read them

I don't read online comments about our work. I had in the past, but I stopped doing it a few years back. I check the reviews from time to time, and I will scan through the comments on Patreon and platforms where people support us directly. These are our biggest fans.

But everything else - social media, Twitter, Reddit - I don't look at them. I learned a while back that nothing good comes from this. So even if there are hundreds of positive ones, my eyes will find that one negative opinion that will affect me for a little while.

Yesterday, my lovely wife, Paulina, sent me screenshots of Facebook comments criticising my work on one of our latest projects. It wasn't a general thread - it was specifically about my work - even mentioning my name.

Now, don't get me wrong.

Constructive criticism is good, and I even went back and fixed a minor issue after reading the feedback.

Most of it could have been more helpful, but it quickly turned into a bandwagon, with people piling on.

There are a few ways we could deal with that situation.

Respond, stew on it, be angry and sad or ignore it.

I've tried all of the above and more in the past, but the last one usually works the best. It isn't easy to use it. It's difficult to ignore when someone hates your work. Especially when you spend weeks and months and, in the end, were proud of it.

It can cast doubt on everything.

However, this time was different.

And I kept thinking about why the comments did not affect me as much as in the past.

One answer was that I have more experience, am more confident in my work, and have seen much negativity and abuse thrown at us for the past years. I survived. So I'm somewhat used to that.

Two is that I have systems in place for quality control. I know I am not perfect in what I do. Like everyone else, I make mistakes all the time. However, I designed our system so that other people check my work and offer me their notes. They let me know if something is wrong with the production, the mix, or anything else.

By the time we got to the final mixes, the project had been through many adjustments and many people, besides me, double and triple-checked everything—people I trust.

If they were happy, I'm happy. And in reality, if someone criticises my work, they criticise the whole team's effort. People who work in the industry on these projects daily.

In the end, the online comments are subjective opinions. No matter what we do, some people won't like it, and that's fine. I don't like many things.

The difference is that I don't go online and hate others, but hey, that's the beauty of the internet!

Fortunately, I'm too busy to care.

PODCAST PRODUCER LATEST

The latest Casefile Presents show is out - In the Shadows!

In The Shadows delves into a riveting mystery from 1991. When the body of a young woman is discovered by two terrified boys in the desert near Bakersfield, California, authorities quickly target her popular star-athlete boyfriend.

In the Shadows is available on Wondery+ channels. It's a fantastic podcast from Ottavia, who created Labyrinth with us before. So check it out - you won't be disappointed!

YOUTUBE

My brothers are slacking again, so there are no videos this week.

LEARNING

Finally, it's here!

My beauty, my love!

No, I'm not talking about Paulina. I'm talking about my Kawai NV5S hybrid piano that came last Tuesday. It's a joy to look at and play it. It makes such a huge difference that I can practice away from the studio on the computer screen.

I have also purchased a blank manuscript and want to do more pen-and-paper composing rather than always using my Virtual Instruments. Watch this space.

When people say material things don't bring joy and happiness, they never buy anything cool. Like my PSI A17m speakers, Playstation or Kawai piano. It feels like Christmas.

BOOKS

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I'm 80% in, and I can't stop. Any spare minute, I grab my kindle and get sucked into the story.

FUN

You. The latest season is out, and it's a British whodunnit. As always, funny, outrageous and a great watch.

Tubular Bells. We went to see the 50th anniversary of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. It was a live concert in Bristol and a good evening. The musicians did a great job taking us on the musical journey.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you (hopefully!) next week!

Mike

https://mikemigas.com/

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