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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

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Subject: 2009 WPM Awards Author: Tom Brusky [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: Thursday, Jul 10, 2008 NOTE: You will notice that a couple of threads about this year's awards program were removed. WPM officially recognizes all ten of this year's winners equally, so no more messages written to bash WPM, debate the 2008 awards results, or incite rage among readers will be accepted. It is time to move on and concentrate on next year's awards. Feel free to reply to this post with any constructive comments or opinions about the restructuring of the 2009 awards program. -- Hi everyone! I'm excited to release information about the restructuring of the awards program for next year. The motivation for the restructuring is to give every voter the strongest sense of assurance that their individual ballot can make a real difference in the outcome of the awards. Highlights of the restructuring include: * Registration is now required to vote, which not only deters campaigning, but also greatly simplifies the voting and ballot validation processes. * Voters will now be able to vote online as well as through the mail. * New anti-campaign deterrents and regulations are being enacted. * Every rule used to disqualify a ballot will be unquestionably specific. * The undercover informant program has been disbanded. Link: http://www.wisconsinpolkamusic.com/wpmawards.html Make especially sure you check out the "Voting Rules, Regulations, and FAQs" link at the bottom of the page. Thanks! -Tom [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: 2009 WPM Awards Author: Accordion Dave [Edit] Date Posted: Thursday, Jul 10, 2008 Campaigning might be a good thing. Let me explain. There are bands that I have never heard play or in some cases never even heard of. There have been instances that upon hearing the music of certain bands, for the first time, they have become instant favorites. I have been exposed to new music through the Polka Hall of Fame near Cleveland and through various internet sites such as You-Tube. If your band plays great music don't keep it a secret. Get out and campaign. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: 2009 WPM Awards Author: Tom Brusky [Edit] Date Posted: Thursday, Jul 10, 2008 If we're on the same page, Dave, then I agree with you 100%. Campaigning in general is really promoting, and I am all about promotion when it comes to polka bands. I think every band should spend a little time and money promoting their services to the local public and on the internet. I can understand if a band chooses not to promote because they don't need or want any exposure, but any band that does want more work will only get it by putting and keeping themselves in the public eye. Let that be a good lesson to all bands. How is a guy like Dave going to come out to hear you play if you don't let him know who and where you are? Polka bandleaders in general are usually not natural promoters, but, if you're serious about promoting your band, talk to those few bandleaders who do it well and learn their techniques. -- On a sidenote, I've been asked what would happen if I let go of every rule and allowed anyone to do whatever they wanted to compete for the WPM awards. If I went that route: 1. I would change all of the categories to "Most Popular Band", "Most Popular Personality", etc. because none of the awards would be won on merit. They would be won based on who has the most fans, friends, co-workers, and extended family. 2. I don't think anyone is interested in who has the largest extended family and most co-workers. 3. The awards would have no prestige of any kind. They would be nothing but novelties. 4. The awards would only be fun for the fans and friends of the nominees actively competing for the most votes. Unless your favorite nominee was one of the competitors, voting for him or her would not make a dent in the results. 4. I believe that just about everyone out there wants to see which nominees the public chooses to bestow with prestigious awards because of those nominees' contributions to polka music. (I know I do, and since I'm the guy who runs the awards program and pays for the awards... yada yada yada. LOL!) The concept of the WPM awards is to figuratively tap a cross-section of the polka public and see which names come out on top. Every guideline and rule we implement or amend as each year goes by is designed to bring us closer to that goal. --- On another topic, Dave mentioned YouTube. This is probably the most popular medium for which musicians can share their talents with the rest of the world. Maybe someone can share some information about how one would get their videos onto YouTube. There are probably a lot of polka people who have videotapes of polka bands going back into the 80's and 90's. What you have is undoubtedly a goldmine to other polka afficianados. YouTube or any other site like that allows you to share those goldmines with everyone else in the world. -Tom [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: 2009 WPM Awards Author: Accordion Dave [Edit] Date Posted: Thursday, Jul 10, 2008 I don't know the technical details of placing videos on You-Tube, I'll have to leave that to someone else. On the subject of promotion, it is often difficult to find out who is playing where. When an event is being "promoted" on the radio, the disc jockey often leaves out the most important piece of information. WHERE IS THE EVENT? Often, all I hear is something like this... Now WSQZ, The Nifty Eight-Fifty takes you to Ron Radio at the big polka bash.... Thanks Bob, this is Ron Radio, the Polka King on the Nifty-850 WSQZ. I'm here at the big polka bash. We're having a great time and we will be here until 6PM. "Stinky and the Fudgepackers" will be playing all afternoon. We're talking with Mary Zookachevich who made some great pierogies this year. Mary, how do you make pierogies?... Well Ron, you start with flour and water... blah blah blah...... Driving between Binghamton and Scranton, during 3 phone-in remote breaks from the event they never once said WHERE it was! (The names, call letters, and dial position have been changed to protect the guilty parties.) On the subject of awards, perhaps you could comment on the Grammy Awards. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: 2009 WPM Awards Author: eeeewwwwww! [Edit] Date Posted: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 "Stinky and the Fudgepackers" Eeeewwwwwww---whatever possessed them to name their band that name? [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: 2009 WPM Awards Author: Accordion Dave [Edit] Date Posted: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 The names are all fictitious. The lack of information on the polka shows is all too real. It's reminds me of people who tack "you know" onto every sentence. No, I don't know, please tell me. The disc jockeys might know where "Our Lady of Perpetual Polka Dancing Picnic Grounds" is located, but I the radio listener may not. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: 2009 WPM Awards Author: eeeewwwwww! [Edit] Date Posted: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 Liked your post and elation but you needed make up a supercalifagilisticexpeeealidoshus name of a band to draw attention. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]