Email: Compelled To Respond?

[Blanket Jackson]

poll'd

Assuming that the email is a person-to-person message and not SPAM or some such solicitation.

[Jerry Shaw]

First!

Only if I have something to add.

I have no problem ignoring 98% of eMail.

[Fred Farkus]

One of the nice conveniences of email is that you can ignore it easily if you wish.

[cruisemates]

As a person who makes is living on the web, dealing with pubic relations firms and advertisers a great deal, as well as a parent company. I will say it is ALWAYS a good idea to respond if you feel the person on the other end would appreciate knowing you got the message.

Better safe than sorry.

Oddly, I find musicians and personal friends to be among the least courteous when it comes to responding to personal email - so I feel a bit compelled to say this *here*. That *if* you feel you could use more gigs, money, etc, you probably should get in the habit of not only always responding, but trying to make that reponse clear, personable and positive in tone.

Email brings the possibility to misinterpret the other user's intent. So in business, my protocol is that the only email that does NOT deserve a response is the courtesy email from someone else saying they got MY email.

Just for the record, I live in Phoenix but I work for a Los Angeles company, I know several people in NYC I correspond with almost daily, and Miami is like a second home. I have more virtual friends than real friends, and I am sitting in Orlando airport as I type this right now. I live a virtual life, and that is largely because I learned to use the web in what I consider a "professional" manner.

You can accomplish FAR more with email than you would ever expect.

Also - I have turned down applicants for jobs, etc , because they couldn't do decent email. I had one luthier who wanted to redo my Les Paul (local) but he screwed up his own phone number. Then he followed up with another message with cursing like "Big F***ing deal, so I couldn't type my number."

I never said anything negative to this guy, he shot himself in the foot with bad email. I just stopped communicating with him. Frankly, he came across like he was high and I dont want someone who can't remember his own phone number ( or see the keys in focus) working on my frets & neck.

[coldfingaz]

This poll (specifically option #3) is way too absolute.

I don't feel compelled to respond to most emails, but some do require a response at least as a courtesy depending on their nature, who sent them, what the sender expects, what your involvement is on the subject matter, etc.

It's simple common sense.

[Big White Tele]

Always respond, unless its a scam, or rediculous submission.

[coreybox]

I don't feel compelled to respond to most emails, but some do require a response at least as a courtesy depending on their nature, who sent them, what the sender expects, what your involvement is on the subject matter, etc.


Yup.

I don't feel "compelled" to respond to all emails, but it's very rare that I don't respond.

I don't respond to spam, and this includes FWDs and mass mailings from friends and people I know.

If the email is meant for me, it's usually asking me to do something. I'll respond with the results. I'll say "thank you" if they are passing information along (sometimes if I see them soon, such as at work, I'll just thank them in person). I'll confirm arrangements to make sure everyone is on the same page.

So basically, I respond to most emails, but I don't feel like it is unnecessary chatter for the sake of writing something (sort of like my post here!).

[bluesjuke]

You might think twice about not responding.
My new Soliciter friend has confirmed that my new found windfall is on it's way to me right now from Nigeria.

And I owe it all to responding to just one Email.

[phoenix 7]

Um...I'll go with: it depends on who the person is or what the email is about? :dunno

[Travst]

I don't feel compelled to answer anything, even the phone.

[travisvwright]

Thank you emails are the bane of my existence. I hate them. I get hundreds of emails some of which have very important information but a "Thank you" that's replied to all on a topic I wasn't even really involed with really bugs me, and is very narcissistic and unprofesional.

[DGTCrazy]

If someone sends me a thank you email....I certainly don't respond thanking them for their thank you email. Silly to do so.

It's like a telephone conversation; I say goodbye, they say goodbye....then I hang up (unless your 16...and play the "who will hang up first" game).....LOL

[lakehaus]

Email from anonymous? Nah.

Email from acquaintance or bulk distro list (business/work related - not specifically to me)? Probably. If nothing more than to acknowledge receipt.

Email from a friend or business related - specifically to me? Hell yeah.

[scottlr]

Always respond, unless its a scam, or rediculous submission.

Same here.

[cruisemates]

I hate to say it, but in business SENDING a "thank you" email, especially if they have done you a favor, is always a good idea. How would uyou like if you did someone a favor (played a free gig, fixed their amp) and they just said "thanks man, see you later."

Taking the time to say "I really appreciated what you did." counts.

FWIW: I am in a field where I get TONS of free perks. I just took an 8-day cruise in Mexico on the company's dime, followed up by a free trip to Orlando to see the new Disney Cruise Ship (just returned last night) - they pay air and even give me a drinking acct.

If you are in music, I suggest you investigate the public relations field, I think you would be shocked on what is spent to break a new artist these days - free albums, concerts, t-shirts, partys, etc. I am just saying musicians with a "too cool for you" attitude are a dime a dozen, but the ones who remember names and make sure people are treated right are the ones who go far.

PR is a very big business.

[claudel]

I don't feel compelled to answer anything, even the phone.

I don't feel compelled to answer anything, especially the phone.