During the spring and in summer after my last year in high school I was a drummer in a small town MOR/country/cover band. Two of my classmates (keyboards, bass)had also been recruited by the 'main guy'. The band had existed over a number of years with same 'main guy', who was a lot older (probably in his thirties!)but various rotations of band members. Late August that year I'm reading the paper and see an ad looking for keyboard player, bass player and drummer, and 'main guy's' phone number. I call him to find out what was going on and he says 'I thought you were going to university.' (The other two were.)Now, I kinda thought he was lying, because I don't think he liked me, but whether it was a personality thing ("yer hair's too long")or a musical thing ("you fell asleep again during Cracklin' Rosie when we played it the third time") I'll never know. I just figured he didn't want me in the band, which by that time was okay by me. Point is, I wish he would've talked to me. Criticism, when constructive, although hard to absorb initially, can have far-reaching positive outcomes.
Skinfull