Question 3: What have you learned from audience feedback?

Music Video:
In order to gather non-biased feedback I had different classes fill out a questionnaire, this was to see if I had shown an understanding of audiences through my productions. This type of research was used because it is qualitive as it is based on opinions and entailed dichotomous, likert questions and multiple choice.
The demographic was a year12 AS class who are studying media; I chose to use this age group because I gathered I would receive some constructive criticism. I received six questionnaires back for my music video; two female, both sixteen and four males, two sixteen and two seventeen. I received one questionnaire for my print productions, male aged 16.

Females:
Overall all the females rated my music video a four in general. Both of the females commented on how they found the skateboard shots hard to understand, this is evidently because skateboarding is usually more of a common subject with males. This shows how I could have improved the entire appeal and target audience by not using these shots in my music video. Furthermore, one of the females noted that the music video was too long, this was interesting as my music video only lasted 2minutes 35seconds and after researching I found that many music videos generally last up to 3minutes. However, for further improvement I would have to consider the length of my video to increase its overall appeal. However this female may not be a part of the ideal audience I was targeting. Both of the questionnaires stated that the mise-en-scene was the best part of my production; this isn’t surprising as the locations I filmed at were very picturesque and would appeal more to females rather than males and with the bright pastel colours enforced throughout my production would more likely be considered as feminine colours, so females can relate to it.
The females may not have been as passive as the males because there were no references to females throughout, this deprived the females of a personal identity in my video as they could not find themselves reflected in my production.
This feedback shows how females found more criticism in my music video than the males; this is significant as my target audience is primarily males.

Males:
All the male participants found no offence or part of my production confusing; they all circled ‘correct length’ when asked ‘was the music video: too short, correct length, too long and don’t know’ and did not suggest any ways of improving the appeal, thus showing that my music video was successful in targeting males, although the score given by each of the males was 4 out of 5. Three out of four of the males answered that they would listen to it again which was an achievement as the music video was to promote an unsigned band. Two males answered that the mise-en-scene was the best part of my production and the other two answered that the editing was; this was a relief due to the fact that I had tried hard in the editing and the mise-en-scene to get these noticed.
The reason why I did not achieve full marks on my feedback is possibly because I did not draw upon the preferred reading of the folk/acoustic audience’s expectations like successful contemporary artists do, for example, I used a series of skateboarding shots, this is rarely seen in this type of genre, however I used the shots to expand my potential fan base.
Predominantly the males rated my music video 4 out of 5 in terms of the standard of the enjoyment of the video and the engagement. Thus, meaning that my music video was successful in targeting young males of ages 16-17.

Analysis of each question

How much did you enjoy the music video?
As the first question it gives an idea of what the audience thought of the production. This answer usually reflects on how the rest of the questionnaire is completed. This question is particularly important because enjoyment of the production is the main focus when shooting and editing so it is vital to keep the video as enjoyable as possible from start to finish. If the feedback states that the audience did enjoy the production then this ultimately means that I have successfully utilised the generic conventions associated with the genre.

Did it hold your attention?
This question links with the first question, I found that I would get the same numerical response from question 1 and 2. Assuming that the demographic are passive, this question relates with schema theory which proposes that we have mental ‘scripts’ which help us to interpret familiar events in everyday life so therefore, if a viewer visits a familiar place in a text then it is likely to hold the attention of that viewer more so than another viewer where it is not familiar. The age group of the demographic that completed these questionnaires were of my ‘ideal’ audience, being the age I was targeting so to receive a good score for this question was a success.

How do you rate the camera work and editing?
This question is the first question where the audience judge the skill and understanding of the producer. It is vital to get a successful score on this question because even a passive audience will notice low-quality camera work and editing. This question follows up from the first two questions; if you have had an ineffective response in the first two questions then it is very likely that you will be unsuccessful in this question.

How do you rate the standard of mise-en-scene?
This question can vary on if the production has a narrative structure or not. If the production only focuses on the narrative instead of the mise-en-scene then it is likely that you will obtain a low score for this question. This question touches upon the hypodermic needle theory where Blulmer and Katz stated that individuals may choose and use a text for the purpose of diversion – an escape from everyday problems and routines.

Was the music video: too short, correct length, too long, don’t know?
This is the most simple multiple choice question on the questionnaire where the audience simply circled their preferred answer. This question relates to the second question so if the viewer had stated earlier on question 2 that the music video did not hold their attention then it is likely that they would circle ‘too long’.

Would you listen to it again?
This is simply a yes or no question. This reflects if the audience enjoyed the track and the music video overall and taking into account the genre and the conventions.

Can you suggest anything that would improve the appeal?
This is the first opportunity where the audience can voice their own opinion on the production. If the question is left blank then it is likely that the viewer was passive and homogenous.

Were there any aspects that you find offensive? I.e. representation of race, gender, age, culture
This is significant as many people find minor issues in modern media texts from objectification to women or a misunderstood stereotype. If there is a response in this question then it is likely that the overall score of the production will be low.

Was there any part you found confusing or hard to understand?
This is another chance for the audience to give constructive ideas on how they would alter the production to fit themselves. If there is an answer on this question then it is likely that the final score of the production will not be successful as a part in the music video did not make sense to them.

What is the best part of the production?
This part of the questionnaire is simply for the audience to praise you on successful areas. For example: shots, editing, mise-en-scene, enjoyment etc.

Does the video reflect the style of music?
This question is another multiple choice and is merely just a yes, no or undecided question. This is a chance for the audience to collect in all the conventions, shots and editing of the production and decide whether you have successfully understood the genre theory.

Does the video successfully promote the artist/band/group?
This is very significant as the brief explains that we are to promote an unsigned band. So to be successful in this question ultimately means that the production was successful in promoting an unsigned band. Again, this is a yes or no question giving the audience no way of explaining their answer, if a viewer circles ‘no’ then you have no idea of how to improve on this aspect.

On a scale of 1 2 3 4 5 with 5 being the highest how do you rank the music video?
Being the last question, this question must finalise the viewer’s opinion on your production. This is the audience’s chance to show you what they thought of your production as a whole, considering the editing, props, costumes, shots, locations/mise-en-scene etc.

(female audience feedback)

Print Productions
Unfortunately I was only able to carry out one questionnaire for my print productions, this being one male aged 16.
Despite this, the feedback was very useful in understanding audiences and what they expect from each genre. As I was primarily targeting males, the questionnaire was effective and as I received very successful feedback from the questionnaire meaning I was successful in targeting the demographic of young males.

Analysis of each question

Does the digipak successfully reflect the genre of music?
This question makes the audience look at the print productions as a whole, taking into account the edits, use of stills, mise-en-scene, costumes etc. However, for this to be accurate the viewer must understand the concept of genre.

Does the magazine advert successfully reflect the genre of music?
This question again requires the viewer to understand genre. This question also touches upon audiences expectations of genre. For question 1 and 2 to be successful ultimately means that you have understood audience theory and genre theory.

How do you rate the standard of graphics in the package?
This gives every type of person in any tribe to give a judgment of how the package artistically looks. This is very important as most audiences judge cover art on face value.

How do you rate the standard of graphics and print album?
This question is asking the same as question 3. However it is asking for an opinion on the print productions as an album.

How successfully is the Britishness of the package established?
This question mostly depends on the type of genre you are promoting. However in each genre the roots of the band are significant to their music. This can also vary on how different people depict what Britishness is. However, a low score on this question does not affect the final score of the print productions.

Would the magazine advertisement encourage you to buy the digipak?
This is another multiple choice question with the answers listed as yes, no or undecided. This gives an upfront straight answer to what the audience makes from your digipak. It is likely that if you receive a low score from this question then you are most likely going to receive a low score in the entire questionnaire.

Can you suggest anything that could improve the appeal of the productions?
This is the first question of the questionnaire that allows the viewer to give a worded opinion. This reflects an understanding of generic conventions and audience theory. This is the audiences chance to explain what they expect from generic texts and what would intrigue them into buying the production.

Were there any aspects that you find offensive? I.e representation of race, gender, age, British
This question allows audiences to criticise your production. This is a significant question as any situation can be perceived as offensive if understood differently.

Identify the strongest feature of the print productions
This is another chance for the audience to praise aspects of your productions with consideration to the genre, images, costumes etc. It is important to create a strong feature in the print productions as each group of audiences view different texts in different ways.

Rate the print package
This question requires the viewer to rate the print productions with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. This rates the entire package as a whole to give you an idea on how audiences observe media texts.

(Male audience feedback - print productions)