The Trouble With Scorekeeping

Why is everything subject to keeping score?

A movie comes out and the box office is below expectations and the film is a bomb. No one says whether it’s a good film or an entertaining film. Whether it’s a nice way to pass two hours or so. But the weekend draw was slow.

An established music artist brings out a new collection and it sells less than its predecessor. The media begins to say what is the problem with the artist? Has he lost his talent?

If Mercedes sells fewer cars than it did last year, is Mercedes less a company?

I don’t know what the score proves, except in sports. In sports, the very nature of the game demands a winner and a loser. Yes, you do need to keep score for that. But to have less a score doesn’t mean you were less a player. It doesn’t mean you didn’t try your best.

I just read an essay by someone who was using low-ticket count to prove the relevance of various bands. That somehow, only two hundred tickets sold out of, say, 1500 was proof of a band’s lack of proficiency or fan support. I’ll bet that same critic has cherished remembrances of when he saw so and so and there were only “X” there. Was it raining? When was the last time they were there? Could I get off work? The sitter cancelled. Was there any promotion for the show? Low turnout for artists with little talent or material can prove their lack of acceptance. But if low seat count = lack of talent, then how would you account for the sell outs of some of those kinds of artists?

Using the Bruce Springsteen latest tour was curious. A show of 1800 people, to listen to material that is almost a century old, on the second leg of an American tour, that just got back from Europe “only” drew 1800? As if Mr. Springsteen needs any validation of his success or talent. That he can do such a tour and is willing to do so is enough proof of his status and commitment to music for me.

Scorekeeping is an easy way to prove opinions, but doesn’t tell the whole truth. If movies, CD releases or concerts are not up to quality, tell me why you think so. Don’t use low piece count to say, “See, what did I tell you?”

Citizen Kane was a box office failure.