While this blog is called TheMusicSnob, I’m usually pretty nice to people and things in my posts. At the same time, I do have a degree in English, and so occasionally I find someone’s use of it so offensive that I just gotta mention it.
I’ve got a contact form on this blog and occasionally people write me. Most of the time they are extremely nice and are just looking for the chance at some exposure, a review or something like that. Sometimes I’m a total d-bag and forget to write them back. If that happened to you, I’m sorry, I haven’t forgotten, it’s just that I have like 52,397 jobs and haven’t gotten around to it. Anyway, the people that offend my English sensibilities are those that write me asking for something and can’t be bothered to even write in near-complete sentences, and offer zero explanation of why I should bother spending my time to essentially do free research for you.
Case in point. Today I get an email that states:
“I need some info on getting my artist song s on ring tones to make money for the company”
That’s it. Let’s look at what information we don’t get:
- Who is this guy?
- What “company” is he talking about?
- Who’s this artist, and why should we care about him?
- Why was he so incapacitated that he couldn’t write us a proper note?
- Why should I care about this guy?
I’m all for helping people. But if you can’t bother to address any of these basic points, then don’t expect too much. I hope this guy isn’t approaching clubs, labels, producers, etc. with this communications strategy.
peace and harmony,
The Snob
Hear, hear!
If you’re interested, the best book on writing I’ve ever read is called The Writer’s Art, by James Kilpatrick.
You can still get it used!
http://www.amazon.com/Writers-Art-James-J-Kilpatrick/dp/0836279255
Jeff
I have enjoyed your insights since I first subscribed to your blog. This is one point that I find particularly irksome. So, I am complete agreement with you here.
I recently received a note written in dumb English in which the writer pleads with me to work on her behalf. As this note explains, “(she is )recently moved from her country Africa to the America where she is hopes to make it big in the music. (I) have to help her achieve her dream.”
This person doesn’t address me by name. She doesn’t properly introduce herself. Nor does she say why it is important that I work with her. She rambles on and tells me that it is important I work with her, but fails to mention why I should care.
I have found though that in the majority of such cases, if I ask for money this is the last that I hear from such a person. I received another such letter written by a person from England. When I asked, “What’s in it for me?” Their response was “Good Karma.” Why do musicians feel that anyone out here is going to give of their time without expecting something in return other than “Good Karma.”
I find this particularly troublesome coming from professional people. And I do get emails as well from professional types. Why and when did was it first assumed that because someone sends me a (normally unrequested) CD, for example, that I should feel obligated enough to write a lengthy review? I have even had “professional” publicists tell me that “I owed them” because they sent me a CD.
If they had written me before hand and taken the time to properly introduce themselves other than saying, “Yo, Yo, Yo, check my beats. I am the bomb.” I would have told them that I don’t review CDs. I don’t accept MP3s. And unless they are prepared to pay me for my time and experience, I couldn’t care less about them.
Hahaha. I’m not surprised that I’m not the only one who experiences this. I particularly enjoyed your phrases “dumb English” and “Yo, Yo, Yo, check my beats.” Hilarious.
I was scared when I saw the final construction you use, since many people say “I could care less about them” instead of the proper “I could NOT care less about them.” Fortunately you are not one of them.