Handeling Criticism
Criticism - noun: the act of passing judgment as to the merits of anything. We do it every day, listen to it from our friends and family and hear it on the television and radio. We can dish it out well enough, but when it comes to taking it many people lack the resources. Some people internalize every word while others may blow it all off completely or turn it around and focus it back onto the other individual in retaliation. In the world of aesthetics where everything is subject to personal bias, criticism is even more widespread. It’s the only place where you can be wonderful and terrible in the same moment. It’s easy to be told you’re good, another to be told you need improvement, and different still is to be told how badly through harsh criticism. How do you deal with these less pleasing aspects? First, by learning how to avoid some of it.
Before we get into that, let’s start with this reality check: you are not the best voice actor in the world.
No one is. Best, and all the words like it, is one hundred percent subjective. For instance, I think Will Ferrell is a terrible actor. Does that invalidate his talent or make it untrue if someone else finds him entertaining? Not one bit. The same can be said of every voice actor, amateur or not, biding for a role. Each and every voice actor has that certain something they feel they do really well whether it be a pitch or tone they can achieve, crying or laughing on command, that something they feel may give them an advantage in a head to head competition. None of that matters though. All that matters in the end was whether or not you came close to that hard to describe ideal the producer had in mind. Just because you didn’t get the part doesn’t mean someone was better than you, but more that they were better for the part. Try not to take it personally and enjoy the process for what it is.
Once that has been established and rooted in your mind, you’ll find life much easier and you can avoid one of the easiest ways to attract harsh criticism from a project manager: hubris.
Hubris - noun: excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance. You know those movie stars we love to make fun of who demand a private trailer and will only drink water fresh off a glacier? We love to hate them so why would anyone want to be like that? Sure, you’ve had all the parts everyone else wanted and you’ve never lost an audition to anyone. You’re good, I’ll give you that. Real good if that’s true. Soon as you start acting like you’re the best thing to hit the scene though, be prepared. Modesty goes a long way while hubris leads to a line of people just waiting to put you in your place. And how can you really blame them? If you’re parading yourself to producers as someone they’d have to be stupid to not cast, you’re putting down all your peers. Be respectful of the other people auditioning and accept the fact that it is ultimately the producers decision who they cast. Be confident, but know where to draw the line. Talent will speak for itself.
Sometimes though, a producer’s reply still may come back sounding a little snippy. There are several possible reasons for this, the first of which will be very obvious as you read their reply. You didn’t submit your audition or lines according to the guidelines. Wrong format, wrong file name, there are any number of possible errors you might have made on accident. Double check what a project manager has asked for before submitting. It doesn’t take long and shows that you can follow simple instructions. Someone who has a lot of auditions to listen to or scenes to compile may find the lack of courtesy in not submitting correctly to be rather disrespectful and come across rude in their response. If you honestly feel insulted by the way they handled it, speak to them in a private manor about it. Overall though, it could have been prevented had you put forth a little more effort so keep that in mind when you defend your position.
Another reason the producer may have come across a little harsh? Work load. Just like you, a lot of these people have other jobs and responsibilities outside of the VA community. On top of that, their inbox is full of auditions and just about everyone wants a critique or they’re waiting on everyone’s lines trying to get things together, and they’ve a deadline to meet. You have to understand, these people aren’t trying to be rude. How many good, lengthy critique can you write for everyone who asked for one? How many times can you give direction can you give a cast member or wait for them to get in gear? Sometimes it boils down to simple words which are the easiest to read into. If the response you got was less than exemplary, know you’re probably not the only person who received something similar. It’s not personal, it’s trying to balance time and resources. Certainly don’t write them off, swearing to never work towards anything else they ever do. It could be you miss out on a great role down the road because you’ve held a silly grudge against a good producer who was overloaded.
Overall, you’ll be hard pressed to hear back from a production manager who isn’t understanding and considerate. Without voice talent, they can’t produce. It’s a symbiotic relationship and they want you as much as you want the role. That doesn’t mean you’ll never catch them on a bad day though. We’re all human. So when reading over a response, try to take it in the best way possible. Nine times out of ten, that’s the way it was intended.
When the finished project is out for the public to view, you’ve got an easier ride than your production manager. Mixing, sound effects, script, it all traces back to them. The only thing you’re responsible for is your performance. That doesn’t mean no one’s going to say you were the wrong person for the role or that you did a terrible job. As I stated before though, that’s all subjective and part of their personal bias. Personal opinions are just that, a person’s opinion. Even if several people agree, the producer chose you for that role and wouldn’t have done so if you weren’t the one they wanted. You’re helping someone realize a vision.
That said, there’s still going to be plenty of times when someone with less tact than many decides to dissect your acting very thoroughly and accurately. Not all contrastive critiques are going to be spot on just as all harsh ones aren’t going to be off the beaten path. Try looking into what kind of work the person critiquing you has done, both as a producer and voice actor. If they’ve got some good quality accomplishments of their own, give heed to their comments. If it’s someone who just likes to lurk about and tell others how to improve, their opinion is less valuable comparatively. Whatever you do, don’t have it out in a public arena with anyone whose criticism is blunt and harsh. Especially with the lurker variety, agree to disagree and forget about it. If you felt they were a jerk about it and you simply can‘t sit back and let them get away with it? Speak to them privately. I cannot stress this enough: never get into conflict in a public place. Things can be resolved more quickly and with a lot less drama if you just keep it private.
A good way to prepare for criticism of every kind is take a good listen to your own performance and take note of things you yourself have noticed you could have improved on or did well. Not only is self-analyzing a good tool for improvement as you begin to train your ear for the right things to listen for, but when someone else comes along and mentions something they heard, you’re prepared for it, no matter if they say it constructively or harshly. Go ahead and mention it yourself before anyone else decides to (thought don’t engage in those pity games where you say it to try and get people to lift you up with praise. That‘s immature and ridiculous). Being able to admit your own faults demonstrates maturity and a willingness to improve which can only help you in the long run.
If this harsh criticism is coming from a demo you’ve just posted, I recommend reading the production management article “Accepting Feedback: The Harsh Critic & Their Motives” as a companion to this one. You’ll find a lot of similar things we’ve discussed here, as well as a more extensive breakdown of who these critics are. It all boils down to opinion though.
Opinion - noun: a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty. There is plenty of merit in a person’s opinion but in the end only you give it power. If they’re a jerk, so what? That doesn’t mean there’s not the chance of some truth to their words, it just means there’s something else at play as well to modify their behavior. Try to think the best of people and give them the benefit of the doubt. Some people are trying to be rude but many others are just trying to be helpful. Keep a stiff upper lip, figuratively of course, and keep in mind that while there’s a difference between constructive criticism and harsh criticism, the line may be blurred to some.
Happy recording,
~Niko