Redsavior pretty much showed the critics on here how to give a proper review. However this thread is for the producers of the tracks. Here you'll learn what to do if you get that occasional "idiot" that bashes your track unconstructively. How to handle your emotions concerning other negative constructive criticism, and how to get the most out of positive, encouraging reviews.

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You probably thought that by this being a Christian forum you were gonna get royal treatment no matter how bad or good your music sounded? Well you guessed wrong. Yeah there's a lot of not-so-honest guys on here that tell you what you wanna hear thinking they're going to encourage you to do better (when all they're really doing is giving you an ego boost, not a boost in your music), but the honest are everywhere... they are few.. but they are everywhere, even right here.

The most important rule when you receive ANY kind of reviews (affirming or negative), is to keep your response to them short and smart. Instead of blabbing about how great your track already is, and trying to prove the reviewer wrong, think of ways to make that review work for you in a different light.  Obviously, you can't please everyone. My method isn't going to work on all critics, but I guarantee you that 90% of the time it will, and both the artist and the critic will come out winners. In the following examples, you will see the common wrong approach that will have someone wind up getting hurt, starting a fight, or all sorts of needless drama on the board. Afterwards, the smart way of going about ANY review you get. Read on!

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WRONG APPROACH...(arrogant, insecure, unwise)

critic: I didn't like the annoying bells in your track. I think it would be better off without them

you: the bells are perfect and make up the track, without them the track wouldn't be what it is. It's a harmonious character in the track blablabla

*heh prepare to get flamed*

BETTER APPROACH (humble, smart, wise)

critic: I didn't like the annoying bells in your track. I think it would be better off without them

you: What did you find so annoying about the bells in my track?

*now watch you're gonna get an amazing review*

critic: well the track's bells has a sharp sting around 2khz that distorts the track, not only does it play a bunch of out of tune notes, but the rhythm which it is playing them in goes in contrast with everything the track stands for. I really love the other stuff in the track, but honestly, I think you should rerecord it with it's muted. Other than that it's great   

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I like to call my new humble approach... fishing for reviews. With my question I throw out a net, and then the critic answers, and I caught the fish. By fishing for reviews, I can get the most dishonest person to be honest about my track, and actually get constructive feedback that works. Fishing for reviews also works on one of those moron critics that have no social skills.

ciritc: this track sucks a crock of garbage

you: what it is about this track that sucks a crock of garbage?

critic: the bassline is so ugly sounding blabla

usually these kinds of critics aren't very good at explaning things, but by you showing the heart to ask instead of bashing him, you'll get constructive feedback from OTHERS reading.

Don't be afraid to try the advice you get. Yeah, you heard me. TRY IT ALL!! (even if it sounds stupid) It doesn't mean you'll end up using it in your track, but the fact that you were humble enough to go in to your studio and actually toy with the track doing exactly what the critic said, and hearing the outcome, is just priceless. You might actually end up liking their idea for your track and use it, although you were hostile to it in the beginning. If you think "bah I'm too good for these guys.." and you give the critics a finger at their advice and do nothing. Well how's that going to make you any better? Seriously! Think about it!.. you're being arrogant, proud, and eventually are going to get your emotions shattered somehow.. A lot of critics on any board, will go after an arrogant guy and wont' leave him alone. So don't be that arrogant guy that challenges everything the reviewer says.

good advice....

this year I have improved on criticism, giving and receiving.

Receiving: the fact that I think I got something good going, think its good and then met with pretty constructive criticism and made to take a look at what I think of good music and take a look at my songs structure and act on it.

Giving:  has really made me learn and evolve on what I know about dance music, if any I benefitted more, but the person that received did too.  I've gotten better at what to look for, even in my own music.

 i've posted all the scenarios through experience.

I know i've been all of them, the unconstructive idiot, the dishonest comforter, the arrogant producer, the humble producer, the constructive critic, ect. So now i know what's the best thing to do now and how to cause less drama and more music on the boards. 

Gerry,
While I can appreciate tha air of honesty you are trying to encourage. I don't like the approach that is generally being used.. I think you are focusing too much on the song and not the artist. You can go to a secular forum and get critisism. What sets us apart is that we are Christians and that we love one another.
In otherwords, you can follow your instructions perfectly on how to critisize and at the same time discourage the young producer from every making music again.

I think the better way would be to take your advice of sticking to helpful truthfulness and disregard your advice of not saying those little encouraging remarks that lack song critisism.

Every now and then I think people just need someone to say, yeah I like that don't quit! or You're awesome! or little things like that.

I just want people to be honest, thats all.  But Im not fond of people when the style I write, I put a song up, and usually I say what style it is, they are like "i hate it, it sucks or just not my style...and begin to flame it."  If its not your style dont comment on it, thats all.  But with our criticizm, we do need to add words of encouragement.

I'm "the n00b who doesn't know jack about this music"!

I think the key word here is "constructive", but even then, if someone wants to believe their music is beyond reproach, you can be constructive and they don't see it that way. It's the American Idol syndrome.

I tolerate criticism but I luvvvvv constructive criticism. I find it very useful but some people can't hack it. I think it helps going to art school. After a few critiques in front of a bunch of artists, you get thick skinned pretty quickly.

Moar cow bell?

You don't have to agree with Gerry...he's AWOL. 

Anyways..yer right. Oh..and welcome aboard Astro!