LEDGER AWARDS: help and advice needed...

[Gary Chaloner]

Okay, I'm in a situation where I need some feedback and help.

I'm currently unable to finance the purchasing of books that are required for the Judging Panel to do their thing. I thought I would be able to, but it didn't happen. I'm currently working on new John Law material and funds won't be incoming until some vague time in the future.

Working on John Law has also restricted the time I'm dedicating to the Awards. Law comes first.

So... to help me move forward one way or the other with the Ledgers, I need some feedback. Here are some options...

Option 1: Interested parties (you guys) donate money to a Ledgers cash pool (probably my Paypal account or just cash to me... and I'll keep the accounting separate etc.) so I can purchase from publishers the judging material and get moving on the results. Some publishers might 'donate' books for the judging as well, but this is a big ask for 4 copies of each title for some publishers. (Note: I tried creating a Ledgers cash fund in year one, with the creation of the Ledger Calendars, but the sales on those were very dissappointing. I also tried to start up a LitterArtsy magazine -- remember that? -- which didn't get more than 3 submissions, so...)

Option 2: Simply let what were Judging Panel categories become general voting categories and posting a voting form on the Ledgers site ASAP. (I don't like this option, as it makes the Awards a popularity contest and not 'acknowledging excellence'... but I'll do it if I have to.)

Option 3: If there's someone out there interested in taking the Awards on as a new co-ordinator, as of now, I'll pass them on lock, stock and barrel and bow out of the proceedings. The new co-ord can complete this year's event.

Option 4: We don't need no stinkin' Awards. Cancel them.

Comments and thoughts welcome...

[Tom]

I've thought of some possible alternatives.

How about getting the judges to perchase their own copies or are the judges not necessarily comic fans?

Or getting the publishers to sell wholesale? It would cut the cost in half at least.

Getting sponsorship from retail outlets in exchange for add space? I know retailers are relunctant to ever part with anything.

I don't know if you've thought of these possiblities but I wasn't really keen on any of the choices in the poll. Sorry.
Anyway I hope you'll excuse my impertinence.

[Dean Rankine]

I just don't think asking for 4 copies of the nominated material from the publishers is too much to ask for. I'd imagine most creators would be happy to donate a hand-full of books for the exposure they'd receive.

[matt g]

I don't know how you're planning on doing the judging, will the judges be conferring via phone / skype or similar to come to a decision?

My suggestion if finances are tight, buy (or have donated) 1 copy of each nominated work, and have the judges mail it to each other to get a feel for the production of the physical product, then get .pdf versions of the book from publishers that the judges can read onscreen long enough to have a considered opinion.

I'm uneasy with the idea of asking publishers to "donate" books for all judges to participate in a competition. It moves things into "who can afford it" rather than "who deserves it" territory.

What happens then if someone simply doesn't have the funds to give books away? The whole point of the POD revolution is that it allows people to produce and sell professionally produced material without the expense of a print run.

Cheers,
matt g.

[Tom]

Thinking about it a bit more, I agree with Dean.
This is Australia, there isn't much money but it's kind of in a creator's/publisher's interest to perhaps donate work and the ledger awards pay for postage. The loss of a couple of bucks could mean an award.
Maybe the donated work could go into an archive/library? I don't know how it would work but...

[Gary Chaloner]

[Gary Chaloner]

[Gary Chaloner]

[matt g]

[Gary Chaloner]

Matt,

Probably for next year.

G.

[ChrisSequeira]

Gaz,

If the resources (time and financial) are not there for this year's awards to roll out smoothly, don't agonise over it - just suspend the awards.

I'd suggest you approach soem backers (like Supanova or Armageddon, or both) and open up soem relaxed idea-generation sessions with them or people like them.

Better to run a smooth, professional Ledger with a catch-up round (ie two years worth of results in 1 year) than struggle with limited resources to pull something off.

You've been very good to do what you've done already for the local scene.

Now, move back, concentrate on your own good stuff and see who else is willing to support this fine idea of yours. If no one is, well, that will tell us something, I guess.

Best,

Chris

[Philip Bentley]

I guess I agree with a lot of the points Matt makes. And given that we're two of those most directly affected by this, maybe that's not surprising. But I am well aware that there is a potential gain for the (financial) pain. If this round robin suggestion has legs I'd be prepared to stump up one or two copies. The latter quantity would hopefully reduce the transit time between judges. Having come this far I think it would be a shame to shelve it. It seems to me that we're more than halfway there.

PHIL

[Daren White]

Gary

Are people really charging you for copies? I know you've always offered payment in the past but do people actually take you up on it? If that's the level of our "industry" I don't think we're ready for an awards program.

We either run a wholly public voting series and be realistic as to the number of people who vote for themselves or their mates, probably without seeing the other (self) nominated books. Or select an independent panel of judges where nominted books are sent directly to the judges by the publishers.

I also agree that the announcement of the winners should ideally be at one of the cons.

The bottom line is that its bad enough spending your own time on these awards (I suspect with little thanks) without having to fund raise or take a hit to your own pocket.

[mark selan]

i think its pathetic if "publishers" can't pony up for 4 copies of their book plus a bit of postage. Especially if there is some sort of reward at the end of it "Award winning" "Nominated" should surely sell a couple of extra copies down the line.

I'm warming to the idea of a wholly judged event and I think the simplest thing to do is to forget the whole nomination business as well. If you have a book and want to be considered for the award mail 4 copies to Gary. The judges then go through the whole lot and decide nominees and winners.

[Li'l Sketchy]

Hear hear, Mark!