I always like to respond to emails as quickly as I can. I don’t always manage, but I do my best. I received one the other day that I don’t really know how to respond to. I’d appreciate your thoughts on this one!
“……. In fact I’ve found the mag rather overwhelmingly upbeat and tend to go for a quieter approach to music. I’m also lucky in being able to create opportunities within school for pupil performance. I have pinned up the application forms (and am delighted by your success) for any students who may be attracted to it. I find the logo rather off-puttingly babyish, as I suspect would some young musicians, but each to his own I guess…….. ”
This is obviously from a teacher who, as far as I am aware, hasn’t seen the current magazine with our new layout. Any thoughts?
4 Comments
I feel bad now because I have an email sitting in my inbox from you. I just feel I’d rather send you something well considered and (hopefuly!!!) helpful, than rush something incoherant off. So I will reply properly at some point in the near future – we have half term next week so I theoretically will have loads of time.
The only thing I can suugest for your charming teacher though is a response such as you value his/her opinions and if they have constructive suggestions to let you know. But I suppose as the saying goes ‘whatever floats you boat’. You’re not forcing him/her to read you magazine. Their email does seem a bit random in how they topics are mixed together though.
I personally love fluety the owl. And think it is an awesome logo. I still have my sweatshirt from Abbostholme 2005 (and it still fits!!! – which is because it was huge then not because I haven’t grown) and wear it loads of the time and I know masses of people who tell me they like – not just musicians. So babyishness doesn’t seem to be a problem for most people – and I haven’t been wandering round asking people if they like my sweatshirt.
Also the whole point of Flutewise is to inspire young players. Who are more likely to go in for optomism and happiness. AndI think it is rather sucessful at it. After all I’ve been inspired. Someone should do a survey of children who give up the flute asking them for their reasons why and whether they were Flutewise members. And then survey the same number of ones who are still playing and ask them whether they’re members. I bet more of the ones still playing will be members.
So don’t stop what you’re doing because of one person. I’m sure loads more people love it. After all you can’t please all the people all the time but you can please a lot of them a lot of the time – and that in it’s self is a phenominal achievement.
Rachel
I really, really appreciate your comments Rachel, thank you.
Liz
Hey, don’t knock the owl, it has feelings too!
I was hoping for a few more comments – thanks to those people who have responded by private email.
I’ve just sent my replyto the original email:
“Thanks for taking the trouble to reply to my email. I was somewhat taken aback – after over 20 years of virtually completely voluntary work this is the first negative feedback we’ve had. That’s quite good going I suppose.”
That’s ok, isn’t it?