Thank you for sharing the behind the scenes of getting a review copy. The coercive “gentle” language and your points about the audience and gender were really on point imo. In regards to that author incident from years ago, maybe you are projecting a bit from your personal traumas alongside your empathy. Maybe it didn’t crush her to hear it and instead motivated her or she brushed it aside etc. Who knows! Don’t necessarily assume how it affects someone… Yes, we should all be thoughtful with our words but we are human and sometimes we hurt people unintentionally with them. Generally imo it’s better to be honest than to repress or silence yourself. I know I keep bringing up this book to you, but The Artists Way addresses the types of blocks/shadows you’re describing for you and Michael! Seriously please check it out from the library and just take a peek…. It’s so relevant to what you’re saying imo. The “shadow artist” not allowing themselves to create due to fear and instead filling the void with consuming for example (which yes is me too)! Generally speaking… Like with anything, the more you do something the less scary it is. Exposure therapy. With professional/creative critiques, sure it can still sting at times, but you do get used to it and you learn what to take to heart or not. It actually strengthens your own inner voice and vision to have people question it. At the end of the day, like with many things, you have to sift through all the noise and come to your own conclusions. I’ve always been called “sensitive” since I was very young and of course terrified of failing/making mistakes but at my new job this year (at a significant art museum no less working with some high profile people and artists), I’ve been making tons! And guess what? I’m learning and growing so much. (Not to mention I see people at the top and talented, smart people making mistakes too. No one is immune to them. This has been so humanizing to observe of people tbh.) The best advice before it started was from someone who told me I would make plenty of mistakes and look foolish and that it’s ok! This perspective going in actually took a huge pressure off of perfectionist me and has been so freeing! I’ve learned how to be more compassionate to myself through this…. Not to mention if I hadn’t taken the risk I’d have also missed out on the greatest career achievements of my life. So was it worth it to face my fears and go through the mess ups? Undeniably, yes. Consider the payoffs, not just what scares you. Don’t make choices that limit yourself because of fear. In a lot of cases going towards the fear is a catalyst for personal expansion. Like you say yourself here, “You have to put yourself out there before you’re ready because that’s how you figure it out.” I completely agree. For those of us who are particularly hard on ourselves feeling “ready” will almost never come. You just have to take the leap.
Love this discussion. Your observations are so on point, and most people aren’t aware of these things unless they work in publishing/ marketing, or are receiving these free PR decks. A great example of this is the Witch Sister tarot, it was so interesting how at the time of its release suddenly everyone was talking about it, and now it’s gone quiet. I will wait to see who is still talking about it in another 6 months to a year before I decide if I want to try it out myself.
Thanks, babe! Yeah almost everything now goes quiet after a couple of weeks. I suspect even when a deck is really good, that chatter goes quiet because we're all so overstimulated by decks (especially those that receive PR) that we by necessity need to move on to others.
I honestly appreciate your candor about being approached and how you were approached. I don't think I've ever heard another RU-vid creator go into any sort of detail beyond "I was sent this for a review; they didn't pay me". Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing these insights with the rest of us. And I adore your reactions to the crow (I thought it might have been one of mine at first!) and the "Wooohooo!". That one gave me giggles.
this was really interesting! loved how you approached this and got your thoughts across as always! and omg i especially love the lil artist war cry at the end 🧚🐝🦥
What will they pay for free advertising "just IF you enjoy the deck! Well seen! I also completely understand your reluctance to criticize someone's creation.It' s tricky🤯 And I also heard the crow 😊
As a deck creator and consumer, critical reviews are still marketing. I think honesty is the best policy. I've watched critical reviews about decks and decided that I actually enjoyed the aspect/s that the reviewer was criticizing. As a creator you have to develop thick skin (tbh mine is still developing lol). People will hurt your feelings whether it's intentional or not. I think it is healthy for creators to avoid reviews unless someone specifically sends them a review to read/watch. The motorcycle guy's "woohoo" 🤣🤣
Congratulations you now work in advertising ;) they didn’t mention ‘honest review’? In regards to the critique of what you make, if you love it and think it’s great, does it matter what other people think?
Yeah… capitalism at its finest. People think they have a “right” to have their own RU-vid channel and make money if the channel is big but no, it was all meant to serve marketing and use everyday people to push commercials for free.
