Pegasus Schmegasus.......
Aug. 6th, 2005 09:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poltr1Yes, I know it's almost the due date to submit nominations for this year's Pegasus Awards. And once again, I'm having a hard time thinking of songs and filkers to nominate.
Here's what the voices in my head tell me, along with my responses.
"But you've never heard these songs". Yeah, it's true that I don't listen to a lot of filk in a given week.
"Are we looking for songwriting ability or performance ability?" Both. Some are strong in one area and not-so-strong in the other. And that's why there are two separate categories for these areas.
"But they've won in the past, or have already been nominated". So? Is there anything that prevents them from being nominated again? The only category where there are no repeat winners are the "Best Filk Song" category. And songs that haven't won in the past can certainly be nominated again. There's no time limit.
"I don't know any songs that fit the special categories." 'Salright. There's nothing that says you *have* to nominate in every category.
"Why bother? It's nothing more than a friggin' popularity contest!" Unfortunately, yes. And many awards are just that -- recognition from one's peers that you did a great job. Sometimes nominations are done based on friendship and loyalty. Others are more objective and look beyond friendship. We're lokoing for "best" here, and that's quite subjective.
"So why don't you nominate yourself and your songs?" Because I'm not as good as I think I am. Besides, I don't get enough play time. That means no one else will nominate me. And furthermore, I think it's rather selfish to nominate or vote for oneself.
So what am I waiting for? A little bit of time to carefully consider who I'm going to nominate. Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tarkrai for extending the deadline slightly.
Here's what the voices in my head tell me, along with my responses.
"But you've never heard these songs". Yeah, it's true that I don't listen to a lot of filk in a given week.
"Are we looking for songwriting ability or performance ability?" Both. Some are strong in one area and not-so-strong in the other. And that's why there are two separate categories for these areas.
"But they've won in the past, or have already been nominated". So? Is there anything that prevents them from being nominated again? The only category where there are no repeat winners are the "Best Filk Song" category. And songs that haven't won in the past can certainly be nominated again. There's no time limit.
"I don't know any songs that fit the special categories." 'Salright. There's nothing that says you *have* to nominate in every category.
"Why bother? It's nothing more than a friggin' popularity contest!" Unfortunately, yes. And many awards are just that -- recognition from one's peers that you did a great job. Sometimes nominations are done based on friendship and loyalty. Others are more objective and look beyond friendship. We're lokoing for "best" here, and that's quite subjective.
"So why don't you nominate yourself and your songs?" Because I'm not as good as I think I am. Besides, I don't get enough play time. That means no one else will nominate me. And furthermore, I think it's rather selfish to nominate or vote for oneself.
So what am I waiting for? A little bit of time to carefully consider who I'm going to nominate. Thanks to
tarkrai for extending the deadline slightly.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-08-07 01:36 am (UTC)So don't nominate them. At this stage, you're suggesting what you consider the best. You're not forced to include songs you don't know.
"Are we looking for songwriting ability or performance ability?"
In terms of songs, I consider the material and not the performance. For performers and songwriters, I'd say the opposite -- but those are the "people" awards, which give me no end of grief.
"But they've won in the past, or have already been nominated"
According to the rules, a song which has already won a Pegasus is no longer eligible for nomination, period. I disagree with this rule, but it's there, in black and white. As for already nominated, so what? In fact, that may be a good indicator that the song is at the right level for a Pegasus, but just hasn't gotten one yet.
"Why bother? It's nothing more than a friggin' popularity contest!"
Yes, in some ways. And the fact remains that if it's ever going to be anything else, people who are Clueful will need to be in the majority of those nominating, at least. Plus, the more people from the more places who get involved, the lower the geographic bias of the nominations. I love the fact that the Peggies are now offered to (pushed at? :-) folks worldwide, so that the filk communities in, e.g., the UK and Germany can be as involved as those in Ohio.