You're a musician (pro or dedicated amateur) who's spent years studying, practicing endlessly, doing your best to master your craft. After a performance where you've *really* busted your guts, 2 people come up to talk to you.
One's a musician who knows **exactly** how tough your pieces were, and how magnificantly you did, and who compliments you highly on the performance. You're getting the acclaim of a talented peer, and it feels GREAT!!
The other is a complete musical nitwit (like me!), who knows NOTHING concerning music theory or performance....but who can only give you such profound comments like "it was so gorgeous, I wanted to cry; don't know WHY it felt so wonderful, but it did, and thank you!" while bubbling over with pleasure that she doesn't have the ability to quantify?
Is the musician likely to wince and put on a polite strained smile at the ignorant compliment, or take it as "best possible, under circumstances"? I really don't want to offend anyone. Help!
2006-10-06 04:01:35 · 6 answers · asked by samiracat 5 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
FYI, **I'm** the musical idiot who's been in this position of wanting to praise a performer, but who was afraid of insulting them....always wondered if it was better to say nothing, than to offer an ignorant compliment.
2006-10-06 04:12:39 · update #1
In the past, when performing with a VERY country band, we generally considered anything that didn't result in beer bottles flying to be a good set, and all compliments were appreciated. From my experience of the other end of it: Stephane Grappelli (sp?) - one of the greatest violin players of the last century, was so gracious as to say, 'tu a m'amour' and call my friend and I his blonde kittens (we were faithful Minneapolis front row fans for years) when we ventured to tell him how great we found him and his music. Other performers reactions might vary, depending on how tired they were, too.
2006-10-06 04:08:24 · answer #1 · answered by Baby'sMom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Compliments are meant to be taken graciously as they are given to make you feel good about what you just did. The deal is this most people in the world are probably not going to be able to tell you how great your music was in a technical sense, they just like how it sounds and want you to know that.
I would be more concerned if the musician is saying how great your pieces are, and the other musical nitwit was criticizing the work.
Hope this makes sense.
2006-10-06 11:07:29 · answer #2 · answered by SmileyGirl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that both are wonderful! Just because you don't know WHY something touched your heart doesn't mean that the sentiment isn't just as strong. Just because someone knows the invisible diffficulties of the music doesn't mean that the compliment is worth any more than the person who comes up with tears in their eyes over the emotion you have provoked. Any sincere compliment is wonderful! Blessings!
2006-10-06 11:06:39 · answer #3 · answered by redheadedcyclone 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Myself being a saxophonist, I would take pride in any praise bestowed upon me. If someone told me they were pleased by what I do, I would take it at that. Why would you rate a compliment based on the complimentor's musical prowess or lack there of?
2006-10-06 11:10:59 · answer #4 · answered by Special nobody 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who turns their nose up at a heartfelt compliment is a twit, regardless of where the compliment came from.
2006-10-06 11:11:09 · answer #5 · answered by jplrvflyer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like it was meant to be a compliment.
2006-10-06 11:05:15 · answer #6 · answered by pritty_princess_c 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋