Mike Daisey vs. a Yelp Reviewer
Colin Mitchell | Mar 24, 2011 | Comments 24 |
This is where we might be headed, folks. In this merging of the meta and the stage, I give you Meta-Theatre.
A clash between monologuist Mike Daisey and a Yelp reviewer who panned his newest piece “The Agony and Ecstacy of Steve Jobs” during a work-in-progress performance back in 2010.
It certainly has its entertainment value, but, productive? Remains to be seen. Daisey’s response starts after “MY RESPONSE” after the initial review.
THE REVIEW ON YELP:
MY RESPONSE:
I totally believe you are entitled to your opinion.
I do wish that your comments made clear that what you saw last July was a singular night, and was in fact the very first time any of this story has ever been told. No pre-writing, no scripting, nothing. All live.
The fact that the story had never been told before, in any form, and was being born that night is why the show ran the length it did, and accounts for a degree of slackness and its need for cohesion and editing. This fact was disclosed clearly to all who came in all the materials, and was in fact reiterated by the director in no uncertain terms before it began.
There is a reason works-in-progress are not usually subject to review in the theater–it’s actually where delicate work is happening, especially when the writing is live as well. So it is disappointing to see how callously you equate what you saw one night in July with the work that I’ve dedicated eight months to since then.
I invited you in to my roughest rough draft, and you shit in my living room. And you know what? Be my guest.
I am a huge partisan for our bright new online world.
The fact that you managed to walk down to the theater and stumble inside gives you the unalienable right to talk shit about it, even though what you saw isn’t the completed work, even though you were told this repeatedly and clearly. It even gives you the right to post it as a review, rating it on this site as though it is a fucking commodity that can be bought or sold, and that is the way it is.
But by that same token, it allows me to write you directly and let you know just what a shit you’ve been. Not that you know you are a shit—you don’t think about it on your way to review the next boutique hamburger sauna or new tapas-and-yogurt joint. There are so many things to rate in the world, after all, and you’ve reviewed 267 things on Yelp so far.
Perusing your reviews, I wanted to see what gets good reviews from you. Who is Steve “Batman” L?
I see you were much more impressed with this well-known establishment:
Check out Steve “Batman” L! High roller at the Cantilly, VA Hooters!
You roll deep for the Hooters –you go to multiple locations, you know which ones have the best food, you compare and contrast the women like meat–this is clearly where your critical facilities lie. This is your metier, the song that speaks to your heart. Maybe if we met at a Hooters and I tipped the waitresses enough someone would surreptitiously touch you in the back in a special place and you wouldn’t need to review so many Hooters restaurants.
Then there was this strikingly low review:
Oh Steve “Batman”L, you are hilarious! I remember so many beer pong playing guys in college who loved Hooters–they are, in fact, my core demographic! It is so surprising that my work didn’t speak more deeply to you!
There is so much more–the review of the doctor who got a low score from you because of your denial that your cat is giving you allergies, the night club reviews that boast about the “great chick to guy ratio” and “awesome hotties” filed a few brief months before you wrote reviews about your honeymoon suite after your wedding, the fact that all your socializing revolves around Yelp events…I think I love you. You are like a gift that keeps on giving.
But no matter how much you make me love you now, you were a shit.
Because clearly this wasn’t open to review. And you did, because why not? Why would an audience member have any responsibility in the relationship we forge in the space? With so much of our world commoditized, we start to believe this is a master and slave relationship.
And it’s not like there would ever be any consequences, right?
As a rule I don’t write letters like this to reviewers, no matter what, not ever. But I don’t often have my rehearsals audited and used to publicly judge my work, so I thought I’d be crass and base and do a bad thing.
But I do know how to hold myself accountable in our digital landscape, and ensure I don’t get too addicted to writing trolls like you. I’m posting your review, and this response, to my site to ensure it gets the readership it deserves.
I am a huge partisan for our bright new online world.
But I do not have to roll over for you fuckers.
Cordially,
md
Filed Under: colin mitchell • Featured • Ponderings
About the Author: COLIN MITCHELL: Actor/Writer/Director/Producer, award-winning playwright and screenwriter, Broadway veteran, Marvel comics scribe, Van Morrison disciple, Zen-Catholic, a proud U.S. citizen conceived in Scotland and born in Frankfurt, Germany, currently living in Los Angeles and doing his best to piss off as many people as possible.
I have the same complaint with MD as I do with the Spider-man producers who were complaining about the critics who published reviews before opening night. They welcome an audience to attend the performance, they would embrace any positive comments that may get published, but that call bullshit on anybody being critical until they specifically invited to do so. This dude wrote a Yelp review. So what? He has an opinion and he expressed it. Big deal. I’m a big fan of MD’s work. I’ve seen a work in progress and a piece he had performed for a couple years. I may have even said something on Facebook after seeing the pieces. I can’t remember, but maybe I was even critical. Who knows. But if I was, and MD got wind of it, I’d hate to see how he’d respond to all of my other inane FB comments and pictures. The bottom line for me is when you invite an audience to see your performance, you do so with the understanding that the people sitting there in front of you have working brains and opinions and access to social networks. They are more than warm bodies. So you have to accept the best and worst that comes with it. If you aren’t willing to accept it, then keep the door closed until the piece is “finished.”
I catch your drift, Brian, but I do believe there should be some respect shown by an audience if the understanding is that this is not a “finished” work. Something that should be made specific and clear before the show. As you know, theatre isn’t theatre until you have an audience, and bringing in that element is crucial to the development process, but it is a stage, not the end. Clearly, at some point, you just gotta say, okay, here it is. Come see it. Say what you will.
Then again, I know there has been some stink raised in NY about making audiences pay exorbitant ticket prices for “previews” shows and then getting pissed off when people “review” the show on social networks. Maybe the producers should offer deeply discounted prices for previews, or hell, give ‘em away for free. I’ve often found an audience’s attitude takes a major shift towards the positive when the show is free. That way the atmosphere would be a happy one and the theatre makers could still use the audience element in a productive way without the fear of premature “reviews”.
“I have the same complaint with MD as I do with the Spider-man producers who were complaining about the critics who published reviews before opening night. ”
I write an admittedly unprofessional rant on my blog and I get to be compared to the producers of Spider-Man?
“They welcome an audience to attend the performance, they would embrace any positive comments that may get published, but that call bullshit on anybody being critical until they specifically invited to do so.”
That isn’t true, at least for me.
“This dude wrote a Yelp review. So what? He has an opinion and he expressed it. Big deal.”
I agree. I believe I said as much in my rant…and exercised the same right to opinion in responding.
“But if I was, and MD got wind of it, I’d hate to see how he’d respond to all of my other inane FB comments and pictures.”
I see this constantly–Mr. Yelp happened to post at a particular moment, when I was hopped up on Nyquil, so I suspect you and the rest of the internet is safe.
“The bottom line for me is when you invite an audience to see your performance, you do so with the understanding that the people sitting there in front of you have working brains and opinions and access to social networks. They are more than warm bodies. So you have to accept the best and worst that comes with it.”
If you read my post, you know that I understand this better than most–I was in fact hoping they would respect the agreement we had for the birthing of the show, and of course, the vast majority of folks did.
“If you aren’t willing to accept it, then keep the door closed until the piece is “finished.”
If you read my post, you’ll understand that my work isn’t possible behind closed doors–but like I said, this doesn’t normally happen, because I don’t normally lose my shit and eviscerate some lame Yelp reviewer.
“It certainly has its entertainment value, but, productive? Remains to be seen.”
Let me answer that for you, Colin. CLEARLY NOT PRODUCTIVE. Who are we kidding? Why on earth would me disemboweling some Hooters-loving mouthbreather be productive?
Then we’ll settle for “entertainment”. Which is enough for me on this particular occasion.
Thanks for chiming in, Mike.
The Hooters-loving mouthbreather was a member of the audience of the show, that’s who he was.
Salinger’s Fat Lady on the porch listening to the Glass family on the radio, perhaps?
For the record, it was a comment on the events page that he wrote, not a review. Also, hooters doesn’t suck as much as you might imagine.
They’ve got great burgers.
Mike Daisey if a liar that full (yes, even at his girth) on his ego. The so called “review” was a comment on an events page of yelp and not a review. He mislead everyone including the author of this article into thinking it was a review. Here, see for yourselves:
http://www.yelp.com/events/washington-the-agony-and-ecstacy-of-steve-jobs—a-monologue-by-mike-daisey-to-april-17
“For the record, it was a comment on the events page that he wrote, not a review.”
I’m only going to do this once.
A comment, made in a public space that reviews a piece is a review. I don’t care what internal systems are used by Yelp to signify what comments are “reviews” and which are “comments that get indexed by Google and review the show but don’t count as reviews because they are in a different section of our OCD website.”
I’m not lying–I understand your distinction, I reject it, and I didn’t care.
Mike Daisey is an egotistical fat idiot that is as talentless as he is big.
Based on your own subjective criteria, I guess you can consider that comment a review.
You’re correct, Mr. Daisey, when you say that a (rather detailed) comment expressing an opinion qualifies as a review — albeit informal (especially in the context of Yelp).
I don’t have a problem with you being pissed off about someone criticizing your performance without noting that it was a singular night, but I think it’s equally unfair to single out a handful of Steve’s 200+ reviews and say, based on those reviews, that he’s a “lame” “mouthbreather”.
You also have to realize that Yelp is very much a social networking site where many reviewers have an audience that they actually know. We usually take reviewing somewhat seriously, but sometimes we write to entertain. And, sometimes, businesses are so terrible that they don’t warrant much time and effort to write a comprehensive review.
All I’m trying to say is that putting Steve on blast and pegging him as, essentially, a douchebag based on a few silly reviews is a bit harsh.
Hey Bobby – word of warning. We don’t mind heated exchanges of ideas, or a well-intentioned, clever insult here and there, but if you have nothing more intelligent to offer than a bald-faced second grade name calling – then you’re going to get blocked on this site.
I’m referring to the “fat idiot” portion of your brilliant comment. “Talentless” is a subjective opinion, and even “egotistical” meanders in that range, so I can let those go, but “fat idiot”? No. Personal attacks are for children who are out of ideas.
This is an adult site. Minus the porno.
Clear?
In that case you should go ahead and ban Daisey. Is “mouthbreather” a brilliant constructive comment? No it is simply a subconscious regurgitating of his most used part of his body remixed into an outgoing insult. (he is fat). A hack who cant take criticism is one thing, outwardly internet fighting with random people like a 13 year old on call of duty on xbox is so amateur its just sad. Get a grip on reality, guy.
Wait — Mike Daisey’s raging rant doesn’t qualify as an attack? Making fun of someone for liking Hooters isn’t childish?
No, it’s entertainment — right?
Sorry Colin, I was just taking it to the same level Mike Daisey set. Seems a bit unfair to criticize me yet you give him (Mike) full reign to be a jerk. Go ahead and block me. Then I’ll just figure you as a supporter of Mike Daisey and will stop reading this site. Good day sir.
“About the Author: COLIN MITCHELL: Actor/Writer/Director/Producer, award-winning playwright and screenwriter, Broadway veteran, Marvel comics scribe, Van Morrison disciple, Zen-Catholic, a proud U.S. citizen conceived in Scotland and born in Frankfurt, Germany, currently living in Los Angeles and doing his best to piss off as many people as possible.”
Yes – but is he single and hetero? So cute!
Back to the subject… I’ve met Steve, and he has his moments. Although generally he’s a nice guy, MD might have a point. Steve needs to cut back on the booze, and MD needs to cut back on the Nyquil. Ok, kids?
And here they come.
Last time I saw this outpouring was from the Gale Harold Fan Club.
Frankly, Sophie, yes, Daisey’s rant was more entertaining than Bobby’s. And more intelligent.
And thank you Mr. Justice for helping me regain my sanity. I appreciate the concern.
And now, your humble ringmaster, will gently step aside, and let the inevitable onslaught of Daisey haters comments speak for themselves.
Just keep it civil, kids. Annnnnd. Go!
Uh, okay. Just coming out of retirement momentarily on this one.
Why yes, CJ, I am hetero, single and cute. Thank you.
And please take notice of CJ’s snappy comment at the end there. That’s the idea!
Okay, re-submerging again. Carry on.
How’s this for 2nd grade name calling:
“I don’t normally lose my shit and eviscerate some lame Yelp reviewer.”
“.. me disemboweling some Hooters-loving mouthbreather be productive?”
Now to see more, why not see the 2nd grade name calling on his post. For all that’s holy man, how many times do you (Mike D) need to use the word “sh*t” in a blog post? In my many years on this earth I’ve learned that those who curse without reason are mentally the least creative people due to their inability to control both thei temper and limited vocabulary. just some advice from and old 54 year old man (me). Grow up son, grow up an be a man when someone offers criticism.
*batting her eyelashes*
I’m cute, too… but I hate dating. I’ll be in town on Wednesday. We can have coffee, then if neither of us smells funny, we can get married and start trying to make babies.
The original poster wrote:
Ugh I saw this show on its first run and was so pissed off. It ran 3 hours and was a rip off of the Wikipedia article about Steve Jobs.
and a few hours later added what he had written in July:
“The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” as performed by Mike Daisey for the world premiere at The Woolly Mammoth Theatre in DC on July 19, 2010 was indeed an agony to sit through…. and the rest Daisey quoted.
I like Daisey’s work. But I’m hoping he can learn from this experience. There are a lot of self destructive entertainment figures, Lindsay, Charlie, others feeding the gossip channels. Daisey has the capability to prove smarter than them.
I stand by my comments. You invite an audience, you take what they have to say in response…good/bad/indifferent. Just because you tell an audience how you WANT them to behave doesn’t mean they have to listen. If they pay money, you have an obligation to the, not the other way around. If attendance was by invitation, then I agree they do have an obligation to the performer.
I completely agree, though, that it is unfair for an audience member to give the impression that this is a “finished” work and not a work-in-progress as I know MD made clear to his audience.
MD is a talented performer/monologist/storyteller/whateveryouwanttocall him and he’s important to our cultural fabric. For the trolls who popped up here in the comments to suggest otherwise or comment on his size: Your inane comments should be saved for Yelp.
For me the interesting part isn’t whether the guy had the right to put his opinion online, or whether MD had the right to rant about him online. This new e-world gives both the right to write for their audiences.
For me, the most prophetic observation is Colin’s, “This is where we might be headed.” The train has arrived. We are there. We are now in a place where yelp reviews have every bit as much power as trained professional theatre critics, if not more.
This week I got an email from Goldstar featuring the user reviews of my own show. I was curious but nervous as I read each one, aware that any one of the people could just kill me for any reason. As a producer, it was much scarier than reading an LA Times review. Fortunately they were all great, except for one, which was polite and respectful. But the point is, the internet has taken the opinion of everyman and given him a readership as large as a trained critic. It is a wonderful train wreck of progress!