THIS guy (eyeroll) Sorry it's been awhile. I just keep having birthdays and traveling and doing awesome things that keep me away from the computer. And I hate blogging from my phone. My fingers are too fat.
Because I've been away, I decided today was a good day to send out an email to my Gmail contacts, letting them know about the two new videos LadyPantz has released since Christmas. In the first email I ever sent, I encouraged it's recipients to let me know if they did not wish for me to update them when we released new videos. I promised to never write about anything other than new videos, and only received positive emails in return. Including today's email, I have only written 3 emails total since starting LadyPantz in October.
Today when I sent the email, I reminded it's recipients that I would happily take them off of my list if they desired. I had several people write back words of encouragement or appreciation, but then....
Because I've been away, I decided today was a good day to send out an email to my Gmail contacts, letting them know about the two new videos LadyPantz has released since Christmas. In the first email I ever sent, I encouraged it's recipients to let me know if they did not wish for me to update them when we released new videos. I promised to never write about anything other than new videos, and only received positive emails in return. Including today's email, I have only written 3 emails total since starting LadyPantz in October.
Today when I sent the email, I reminded it's recipients that I would happily take them off of my list if they desired. I had several people write back words of encouragement or appreciation, but then....
A guy whose name I won't mention (except to tell you that it is Patrick Brady and he can be found on Facebook by clicking this link) decided to write the following in response:
"Unless your next video has you getting run over by a truck in the end, beginning would be better, delete me from your list."
Now here's the thing. Aside from the terrible grammar, that seems kinda mean to me, and I have no idea what I could have done to deserve it. We used to work together at a hotel bar in Beverly Hills. He was very very old by Hollywood standards and still trying to break into the business. I was (as I always am of people's dreams) very supportive of him. I would ask him about auditions, encourage him to keep it up, and listen to boring stories he would tell me about time he spent at the Playboy mansion with his 19 year old girlfriend. We shared pictures of our dogs with one another, and worked as a pretty good team behind the bar. With the exception of just general douchiness that comes from using steroids and being born in Boston, I liked the guy. And he just told me he wants to see me get RUN OVER BY A TRUCK. Because he hates the comedy videos my friends and I are doing to make ourselves happy.
I gotta say, my feelings were very hurt by reading this message. I have no problem with someone not having the same taste in comedy as me. I also have no problem with someone not wanting to receive emails from a group they don't like. But to wish death upon them? This just felt so hateful. I honestly had tears well up in my eyes. All I am trying to do is make people feel joy and laughter, myself included, and this guy hates me. Or does he? Maybe he just hates himself. Maybe he wishes he was doing anything at all creatively. Maybe it was the 'roids talking. No matter the reason, I felt myself starting to feel really bad about myself. His hurtful words were working.
I remembered back to when I finished narrating my first audiobook. I accidentally stumbled upon some reviews by your average Joe consumer on Amazon. There were a few 1 star reviews and my heart just sank. I thought I had done an incredible job. I worked very closely with the author to make sure he got exactly what he wanted for his book. I slaved over this project and poured my heart and soul into it, and I was very proud of the final product, so when I read the subject lines on a few of the negative reviews, I just wanted to throw up.
"NEVER EVER MINNIE GOODE" said one. "SORRY MINNIE, AUDIOBOOKS ARE NOT FOR YOU" said another. I was crushed. But then, I scrolled down and saw a five star review, with the subject heading "MINNIE WAS INCREDIBLE." I saw another that said "IGNORE NEGATIVE REVIEWS, MINNIE WAS TOP NOTCH." This person went on to say that they never write reviews, but felt compelled to after seeing the negative reviews because they thought I did such an amazing job. I read some more and discovered that I had five 1-star reviews, a few 2-star reviews, but twelve 5-stars and nine 4-stars. Even though there were just a few negative reviews, they stung more than the 21 excellent reviews felt good.
I met up with DeDe and Hanie that night to see some comedy at UCB and told them the story. They were so sweet and reminded me that everyone has an opinion and the more our work gets thrust into the public's eye, the more judgement we would all start to feel. They reminded me that TWELVE 5's and NINE 4's was way more important than those piddly little 1's. We all had a good laugh about it, and I decided my new mantra for life would be 12-5's 9-4's. I say this every time I need to feel a little extra confidence, and let me tell you it works.
After I read [Patrick's] email, I felt myself spiraling into a sad sad place. So I decided to send him a message of love in return.
"Hey Sweetie!
So good to hear from you!!! Oh my God your email was so funny. You were always such a jokester. I'll go ahead and upgrade you to my Daily Updates email list. So glad you like what we are doing! Kisses!!!!
P.S. Still doing the "acting thing"??? I'd love to hear all about it.
Love, Minnie
12-5's 9-4's, jerk.
"Unless your next video has you getting run over by a truck in the end, beginning would be better, delete me from your list."
Now here's the thing. Aside from the terrible grammar, that seems kinda mean to me, and I have no idea what I could have done to deserve it. We used to work together at a hotel bar in Beverly Hills. He was very very old by Hollywood standards and still trying to break into the business. I was (as I always am of people's dreams) very supportive of him. I would ask him about auditions, encourage him to keep it up, and listen to boring stories he would tell me about time he spent at the Playboy mansion with his 19 year old girlfriend. We shared pictures of our dogs with one another, and worked as a pretty good team behind the bar. With the exception of just general douchiness that comes from using steroids and being born in Boston, I liked the guy. And he just told me he wants to see me get RUN OVER BY A TRUCK. Because he hates the comedy videos my friends and I are doing to make ourselves happy.
I gotta say, my feelings were very hurt by reading this message. I have no problem with someone not having the same taste in comedy as me. I also have no problem with someone not wanting to receive emails from a group they don't like. But to wish death upon them? This just felt so hateful. I honestly had tears well up in my eyes. All I am trying to do is make people feel joy and laughter, myself included, and this guy hates me. Or does he? Maybe he just hates himself. Maybe he wishes he was doing anything at all creatively. Maybe it was the 'roids talking. No matter the reason, I felt myself starting to feel really bad about myself. His hurtful words were working.
I remembered back to when I finished narrating my first audiobook. I accidentally stumbled upon some reviews by your average Joe consumer on Amazon. There were a few 1 star reviews and my heart just sank. I thought I had done an incredible job. I worked very closely with the author to make sure he got exactly what he wanted for his book. I slaved over this project and poured my heart and soul into it, and I was very proud of the final product, so when I read the subject lines on a few of the negative reviews, I just wanted to throw up.
"NEVER EVER MINNIE GOODE" said one. "SORRY MINNIE, AUDIOBOOKS ARE NOT FOR YOU" said another. I was crushed. But then, I scrolled down and saw a five star review, with the subject heading "MINNIE WAS INCREDIBLE." I saw another that said "IGNORE NEGATIVE REVIEWS, MINNIE WAS TOP NOTCH." This person went on to say that they never write reviews, but felt compelled to after seeing the negative reviews because they thought I did such an amazing job. I read some more and discovered that I had five 1-star reviews, a few 2-star reviews, but twelve 5-stars and nine 4-stars. Even though there were just a few negative reviews, they stung more than the 21 excellent reviews felt good.
I met up with DeDe and Hanie that night to see some comedy at UCB and told them the story. They were so sweet and reminded me that everyone has an opinion and the more our work gets thrust into the public's eye, the more judgement we would all start to feel. They reminded me that TWELVE 5's and NINE 4's was way more important than those piddly little 1's. We all had a good laugh about it, and I decided my new mantra for life would be 12-5's 9-4's. I say this every time I need to feel a little extra confidence, and let me tell you it works.
After I read [Patrick's] email, I felt myself spiraling into a sad sad place. So I decided to send him a message of love in return.
"Hey Sweetie!
So good to hear from you!!! Oh my God your email was so funny. You were always such a jokester. I'll go ahead and upgrade you to my Daily Updates email list. So glad you like what we are doing! Kisses!!!!
P.S. Still doing the "acting thing"??? I'd love to hear all about it.
Love, Minnie
12-5's 9-4's, jerk.
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