Comments on: Streamlining the SN Fan Awards

By: Quartet Fan

Quartet Fan — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 17:26:31 +0000

I’m sorry, but I’ve heard very, very few “part-time” groups who were good enough overall to be on the main stage at NQC. They might have a singer or two who will eventually get there, but overall, no.

As far as the award changes go, some of them are good (dj) and some are bad (individual parts).

By: JB

JB — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:27:11 +0000

Mr. Murray:
Thank you for explaining the difference between an opinion and whining….Merry Christmas..

By: David Bruce Murray

David Bruce Murray — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:05:41 +0000

JB,
As I said, when NQC is bending over backwards to give nearly every artist from the exhibit hall an opportunity to perform during the week, plus throw in the fact that you only come for two days, I’m sorry, but it strikes me as whining when you complain that too many of the same, full-time groups are being allowed to sing.

However, if you pay attention, you’ll also see me disagree with guys like Daniel Mount, Doug Harrison, and even Chuck Peters from time to time, but you’ve never seen me say THEY were whining.

Therefore, your second post is wrong as well.

In fact, you’ve dug an even deeper hole into whiny territory now that you’ve admitted you have a personal stake in wanting to see more regional and part-time groups at NQC.

Plus, I never said any part time group didn’t work hard. That’s really beside the point. I’m not trying to convince you of anything…just offering an opposing point of view.

By: THOM R.

THOM R. — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:07:14 +0000

I welcome the changes. I agree with Trent here, too. Part-time is not a dirty word and many great groups are excluded from the “inner circle” that should be given an equal chance. I agree too with Lacey that the results have become way too predictable recently. The same ole “winners” year after year after year. But, leave the show on Thursday night, and keep it formal.

Avery makes a good point about the schizo “tie” between Inspirations and EHSSQ. Interestingly that it was first called a “tie” then called a “statistical tie.” It all sounded a little too contrived for my taste. It was more like “let’s pay homage to the old guys, they’re good ole boys that have been at it a long time, and we all know these other guys would not even have a chance were it not for BG videos!”
In think in this case change is good.

By: JB

JB — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:03:24 +0000

Mr. Murray:
I’m sorry if you think I am “whining”. It amazes me that when you have an opinion that doesn’t match yours, it is considered whining. I don’t care when, if, who, or where they have the awards. They make no difference to me anyway. I have the groups and singers I enjoy and those that I don’t. I married into a “part-time” singing group and believe me they work as hard or harder than any full-time group, and Mr. Murray, you will never convince me otherwise on that. It is sad that full-time artists have forgotten that they just didn’t become a fulltime, award winning artist over night. Thank God for the part-timers.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 10:49:33 +0000

Avery said: “And far from being a ’step backward,’ as Mount calls the elimination of awards based on group composition…”

Avery, go back and take a look at the first few years of Singing News Fan Awards. They did not have separate part or group composition awards back then. There is a closer parallel between this list of categories and the original list than anyone has yet pointed out.

And by the way, if you’re campaigning for gender equity, you should campaign for SN to combine their Male and Female vocalist awards into one Favorite Vocalist Award. Then you can sit back and see what happens.

By: Trent

Trent — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 04:13:39 +0000

“Part-time” is not a dirty word. 95% of the groups on the main stage started out as part-time groups. Somehow they are only worthy of singing at NQC at night after they quit their day jobs. I don’t understand the problem NQC has with folks who can sing great but aren’t on the road full-time.

By: Chuck Peters

Chuck Peters — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:32:36 +0000

Trimming the awards ballot is a good move.. long overdue. to JB: If they ever eliminate awards (or anything) to give more time to regional or part time artists.. that’s when I lose interest in the main stage.

By: Lacey

Lacey — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:05:47 +0000

Well it will certainly be interesting to see if the certain people who ALWAYS win in a certain part category even make it to the ballot! It was getting way too predictable anyway. Half the time it seemed like the votes weren’t cast because of current talent but just cause that’s who that voter always voted for before.
I’m not sure I like the idea of the awards show being on Saturday afternoon instead of Thursday night. I think it will change it from being a formal event that people dress up for (fans included) to a “jeans and t-shirt it’s the end of the week, I just don’t care anymore, you can’t make me wear anything that is binding or cramps my poor abused feet” type of deal…if half of the artist are even there with more and more of them packing up and heading out on Friday night so they can make a paying date on Saturday night.

By: David Bruce Murray

David Bruce Murray — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:38:11 +0000

JB wrote:
“I think we are missing out on a lot of good, quality singers because someone thinks there are only a handful that are worthy enough to be on the main stage.”

I can’t speak to worthiness, but the statement is true. Only a handful of artists in SG are good enough, musically speaking, to sell tickets. NQC offers so many opportunities for groups of all shapes and sizes to perform during the week, I can’t believe there are still people like JB who whine about groups not getting on the main stage.

By: Charles Brady

Charles Brady — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 01:33:49 +0000

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

By: JB

JB — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 18:51:37 +0000

I say do away with all awards and open the “main stage” up to more of the groups, be it trios, quartets, or solo artist, that we never get to hear because they have not “earned their right” to be on the main stage. I think we are missing out on a lot of good, quality singers because someone thinks there are only a handful that are worthy enough to be on the main stage. I love going to the NQC every year and we can only make it to the Fri. and Sat. night sessions, however, we hear the same singers on Sat. as we heard on Friday. It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do, you have to play “politics”.