Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Big Changes to the Nominee Notification Process



The IT Awards Update went out yesterday and included news about some significant changes in the way that the 2011 nominees will be notified.

Doug Strassler interviewed Executive Director, Nick Micozzi (see the full interview here):

DS: There are going to be some significant changes to nominee announcement this year.

NM: It's pretty exciting - there are two big changes: 1) Nobody will know who the nominees are until they are announced at the party on the 18th, and 2) we're cutting the admission price in half – down to only $10. Since we’re not informing the nominees in advance, we’re not giving out any comps to the nom party this year.* But to off-set that, admission will only be $10.

What do you think?  Do you like nominees knowing in advance of the public announcement or do you favor the surprise.

We want to hear your opinion.

22 comments:

  1. How will people know to make it a priority to come?

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  2. This seems a bit silly. I can't imagine how sad and embarrassed people will be if they show up for the nominations and find that their show was overlooked.

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  3. Hard to say as I agree with the above comment of how will people know it is a priority to come. And, although $10 is a steal, I know with all the shows going on this summer, the average Independent theater goer will be dropping $100+ weekly to go see just a few shows in the IT world. And there are a lot of options out there right now. $10 may be breaking the budget for some.

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  4. I think it will make the moment of the actual announcement very exciting! Can you explain in more details how the process will work? In terms of Producers being notified that they have a show that is nominated?

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  5. or how about you don't show up and get nominated? then you look weird as if you didn't care..........hmmm, seems weird.

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  6. I think $10 for open bar is a GREAT deal when most Off-Off-Broadway actors I know will often pay $10 for one drink after a show. Not to mention that it is a great way to show support to your community - we ask people to pay more than that to see our shows, the IT Awards asks for no money from any of it's members.

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  7. I understand the reasons behind the change, but it's rough on people who go out of town. I'm usually out of town that weekend and if I know in advance a show I've worked on has been nominated I usually come back early enough to attend. Now I have two choices: 1) come back early every year or 2) find out later. Kind of a bummer either way.
    Not to mention the fact that not everyone is able to be gracious if they aren't nominated, or able to control their excitement when they are. Makes for potential disruptions.

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  8. Isn't this how every other award does it? Keeps it a surprise until the big announcement? There is no way to mitigate the "sour grapes" people, there will be sore losers no mater what

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  9. I don't see the point in attending a nomination party if I didn't know that my show was nominated.

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  10. oh, yeah, i'm not a fan of the new way.

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  11. I always thought the point of the nominee announcement party was to show support to the community and to have a party. I didn't know so many people were just there to pat themselves on the back and show off to their grandmas. I would go and be supportive no matter what. I am amazed how quickly indie artists become petty. They are lucky anyone recognizes their shows in this venue.

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  12. I go every year no matter if I am nominated or not. I always have friends who are nominated or shows that I have seen and liked. Will everyone get some kind of email invitation? How will the word spread if not through the nominees?

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  13. I will go with the knowledge that I COULD be a nominee...and if I'm not, I'll just have a refreshing beverage.

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  14. I am SO excited about this change! This sounds like what a real award show should be about. and $10 for an open bar? Sign me up. Bravo IT!

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  15. Does there really need to be a reason to party? Off-Off Bway peeps aught not forget that although their particular effort may not be awarded squat, they should be proud of their community and the recognition it is garnering. Then they'll show their support of it simply by appearing. Reason enough to have a beverage.

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  16. Hey OOB, just wanted to let you know that we are reading your feedback to this with great interest. We will respond to your comments and answer questions either this evening or tomorrow morning.

    Thank you.

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  17. I think it sounds great. It could be a new re-set to the reason the community comes together. Rather than just to show off their nominations, its to support the nominees. I just want to know - will producers be notified if their individual shows have a nomination?

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  18. Well, it's hard to make a judgment call on the new way until we try it, right? I think it is a great idea. Let's see how it works. If anything, it will be more exciting because all of the nominations will be a surprise.

    I think $10 is a great deal!

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  19. Anonymous above said "Isn't this how every other award does it? Keeps it a surprise until the big announcement?"

    Yeah but Julia Roberts isn't attending the ANNOUNCEMENT of the nominees. She attends the ceremony after she already knows that she is a nominee.

    None of the nominees attend the actual announcement.

    I'm a little baffled by the change (the surprise part, not the $10 part. I get the $10 part).

    One of the things I loved about the nominee announcement was that it was different from the way all the other awards do it.

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  20. To the commenter who said "I didn't know so many people were just there to pat themselves on the back and show off to their grandmas." It's the Innovative Theatre AWARD. Of course people are there to celebrate being noticed for their hard work. It's an AWARD. Of course part of the joy of an award or nomination is to share the moment with those who have supported and encouraged you, grandmas or whomever. No one goes to the Oscars because they want to support everyone else's projects. I totally understand your plea for gratitude, but preferring to know you're nominated before you attend a nomination event where hundreds of other artists are contending isn't necessarily ungrateful, nor is it evidence of a lack of support for other artists. There's a lot of rejection in this business. Going to an event like that only to leave unrecognized may not be the easiest thing for some. Everyone handles things differently. We need not judge. But, then again, there is that open bar...

    I would definitely make it a priority to attend if I knew my show was nominated, or at least a close contender, but not so sure with the new format.

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  21. Will be awkward within the same cast if some are nominated and others are not. And if a production receives no nominations the disappointment will be palpable.

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  22. I thought this was a celebration of Indie Theatre. We go to support our fellow artists, to network and to hope our work gets nominated. It's an award. If people feel depressed about not being nominated, well, I don't know what to say other than "you can't win them all".

    The night should be a celebration and an opportunity to support the IT Award staff who work so hard to put Indie theatre in the spotlight. We should be grateful for the hard work these guys do. Showing up only because of a nomination is simply counterproductive to the Indie Theatre movement.

    Let's try the new way! Let's come out and support our friends and the IT Award staff who make this whole thing possible.

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