The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #117528 Message #2531979
Posted By: George Papavgeris
05-Jan-09 - 09:28 AM
Thread Name: Mudcatvision Song Contest 2009
Subject: RE: Mudcatvision Song Contest 2009
My initial raction is a little bah-humbug, but there might be something in it. However:
a) I would emphasise the upload of sound-only MP3s over video, not only because decent video production is harder and less accessible to people, but mainly because I see video as distracting from the music and lyrics - and the latter deserve prominence in genres such as ours.
b) As for where to upload them to, I would suggest either MySpace, or we can make private arrangements (for example I could easily host such a competition on my "folk4all" website).
c) I would drop any links/nods towards Eurovision as inappropriate (Mudcat's appeal is much wider, for a start). So, no "xxxx-vision" name, and it should be held on some other, more appropriate, date: How about the birthday of one of the great collectors?
d) If we go with a "by country" representation, I can see the need for preliminary heats to choose the representatives; and some very decent songs may come 2nd and never be heard. I would suggest therefore some other way. Perhaps by county, or region? Or even allow all submissions to be heard in a single "heat" - we could easily accomodate 20, 30 or 40 songs. I would personally favour avoiding the use of "committees" to preview and pre-select competition entries; let's just throw it all into the pot, and people can listen to them and decide.
e) We will also need to have different categories, or we'll never stop arguing the toss about what is folk. I suggest, as a starter (based on the likely numbers of entries):
- Traditional song (judging the performance)
- Traditional tune (ditto)
- (original) Blues
- (original) Bluegrass
- (original) Contemporary folk song
- (original) Dance Tune
f) We should run this first as an internal event - i.e.entries only by Mudcat members (no GUESTs). Similarly, only member votes to be counted. If successful, we could expand later. But let's start with something manageable.
g) Note that I avoid specific country or culture references (no English Music, or Scottish, or Celtic, or World etc), first to avoid breaking this into a thousand pieces, and also to avoide further acrimony over what belongs where.
That's it so far, though we ought to consider other eligibility rules etc. Tom Bliss will have some good ideas, I am sure.