Get better feedback on your art
Artist: Mike Oleon Photographer: Joe Mazza
The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival just wrapped, and I was overjoyed to see all the new work from new artists that was presented, particularly at our puppet cabaret, “Nasty, Brutish & Short.”
I love the energy that new work brings, but more than that, I love seeing work that shows curiosity, experimentation and growth. Practically all art benefits from a bit of informed transformation, whether it resonates more deeply with audiences and striking closer whatever measure of success an artist hopes to evoke.
Getting quality feedback plays a crucial role in this journey, providing insights and perspectives that can lead to growth and refinement. But how do you find the right people to offer feedback, especially when experts are not within reach? And once you have it, how do you process and implement it effectively? This post aims to guide puppet artists and creators alike through the emotional and logistical challenges of seeking, receiving, and using feedback.
Finding Feedback Sources:
Experts are everywhere: Sometimes you’ll get your work in front of a sage-like wizard with years under their belt, but there’s plenty of secret experts all around us. Everyone is an expert in their own experience! Anyone who engages with your work can offer useful insights. Friends, family, local community members, are all excellent sources of experience. Even so called “expert artists” rely on the feedback of audiences to know how their work is landing.
Join Artistic Communities: Participate in the next Puppets in Progress, gather a group of friends to see shows with, and become friends with artists interested in puppetry.
Asking the Right Questions:
Be Specific: Generic questions elicit generic responses. A:"What do you think?" B: “It was great!” A:“K, Good talk!” Focus on aspects that you were specifically working on such as the quality of puppet movement, or clarity of storytelling.
When in doubt, go for ‘Open-Ended Yet Focused’: Questions like "What part of the performance is working?" “What took you out of it?” “What did you want more of?” can elicit detailed and useful responses.
Receiving Feedback Gracefully:
Stay Open and Non-Defensive: Remember, feedback is not a personal attack but an opportunity for growth. Listen actively without jumping to defend your work. This one takes practice, but really pays off.
Process Emotionally: It’s natural to feel vulnerable. Feedback can be excruciating! Allow yourself time to process the feedback emotionally before revisiting it analytically.
It’s not all gold, but most of it is useful: Not everyone is great at giving feedback, but listen anyway, be present while happening, and you can sort through it later.
Clarifying and Implementing Feedback:
Follow-Up Questions: If feedback is vague, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. For instance, "Could you elaborate on what you meant by 'lacking emotion' in the puppet's performance?"
Actionable Steps: Break down the feedback into actionable items. If someone suggests improving the puppet's movements, revisit those items and drill them with a friend.
Iterate, Iterate: Good works typically takes longer than our expectations. That’s OK! Implement feedback in stages and reassess. Sometimes, changes might not work as expected, and it’s okay to revert or re-adjust.
To sum it up: Feedback is often skipped, but it’s all around if you’ve got the courage to ask, and it can be really useful if you ask the right questions. As a puppet artist (or any sort of artist), embracing the process of seeking, receiving, and applying feedback not only enhances your skills but also deepens your connection with your audience and the creative community. Keep creating, keep sharing, and most importantly, keep evolving. See you at the puppet utopia.