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From: Dean FH Macy
Organization: New England Talent, Ltd. - Epilogue Records
To: Vocalist <vocalist>
Subject: Re: First bad review
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

My two cents worth-

Enjoy it. Most people, actresses included, never get reviewed. As a Broadway director once told
me, "Good review, bad review, it doesn't matter. The publicity is the same." His name was David
Merrick.

I learned that was true during my freshman year at Columbia U when I was give the task of creating
sound effects for the stage play revival of "The Spiral Staircase." In the thunderstorm scene there
is a lot of opening and closing the front door and I had to make the effects match the changing door
status for realism. I thought I'd done a great job until the Trib printed the review. "The sound
effects were very well done except during the thunderstorm scene the sound was that of a toilet
flushing everytime the door was opened. One could picture a giant toilet just outside and wondered
if all who exited the stage from that point on the set vanished into the sewer."

I was mortified even though David tried to ease my review pain. However, because of that review, a
year later I was asked by another director who was doing "Mad Woman" if I would do the overbearing
sound effects for that show. I did and earned enough tuition to pay for two years at Columbia.

So, go ahead. Pin it on your wall but not the bathroom. You earned it, you worked hard for it.
Put it where everyone who visits can see it. Rejoice and be merry.

--
Dean FH Macy, Lit.D./Mus.D.
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"Specializing in Management of exceptionally talented youth in Music"
EPI Records - NetWork Films
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"Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path
And leave a trail."