Sunday, June 27, 2010

Everyone Won't Like Your Show

Create it anyway.

No matter how successful and popular your idea becomes, there will always be someone who doesn't like it. Some groups tried to remove Harry Potter books from school libraries. Over 50% of Americans watch the Super Bowl every year - but that means over 40% do not. Shakespeare had his critics; so did Michelangelo. Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime. If that happened to them, I can guarantee that not everyone will like your work.

Don't worry about it.

Bill Cosby once said, "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”

My other favorite quote on this subject is from the great rock and roll singer Rick Nelson (if you don't know about Rick, look him up on Wikipedia) from his song 'Garden Party,' "you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself."

Don't try to please everyone.

However, you do need more than an audience of one. Do show your idea to people you trust. Get their feedback. Show it to your mentors in the business (if you don't have one, get one) and get more feedback. Refine your idea. Your work really begins when you get in front of an audience. Arthur Fonzerelli was supposed to be a minor character in 'Happy Days,' --- Ron Howard's character, Richie Cunningham, was the star. But once Henry Winkler's Fonz became immensely popular, the show's creators changed their emphasis to take that into account. It's not compromising your dream to shape your work so the audience can enjoy it -- it's why we create.

So ignore the minority that won't enjoy your idea --- they have plenty of other entertainment options to choose. Be happy about the audience that does respond, and for whom you shaped your work.

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