A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 04:21 AM

in depth presentation

And how would you fund this?

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 04:35 AM

You may be right Captain, but how to achieve this - that's the question.

You see broadcast scheduling is a dark art, and one in which the senior members of the BBC are deeply steeped.

They are subject to all sorts of scrutiny and pressures from all sorts of places, and their pay depends on their ability to hack a way through the jungle and deliver what they understand that 'society,' i.e. the licence-fee payer, wants.

At the moment they don't think the kind of programming you advocate is wanted.

So if I, or any of the many better-placed folk-enthusiast broadcasters, submitted programme proposals along the lines you suggest they'd be told a polite 'no thanks,' on the basis that the interest would be too small. I know because I've tried many times and still occasionally do.

In order to get those kind of programmes on air two things have to happen simultaneously. The public has to decide it likes and wants that sort of thing, and the BBC editors have to decide the public wants it.

This is of course the proverbial 'hen/omlette 22 syndrome' because the audience won't know they like that sort of thing till they get it, but they won't get it because they don't like it. Yet.

So where do we start?

We start with the kind of programming that the BBC thinks the audience does like. IE The MH show and the R2FAs - and, now the BBC4 folk programmes (which as I explained above are a direct result, I believe, of the awards night parties).

Then, gradually over time, the suits notice how good and cheap folk music is, and what great telly it makes - close-ups of fingers, lovely shiny carved instruments, passionate faces, and gradually the media pundits and audience also start to notice the beauty and power of the music, and slowly there is a shift in public consciousness, until one day my phone rings... Hi Tom, you know that programme idea you sent in ten years ago....?

Scrapping the awards would just put that process back by ten years. And making Mike play 'proper' folk music would just loose Smoops the Wednesday contract.

If you really want to influence this process, I suggest you write frequently to the BBC (pretend you live in the UK though - they won't take so much notice of a non-licence-fee payer) and get your friends and fans to do so too.

But nicely. Or the letters will only wind up in the round file.

Tom

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 04:44 AM

"This is of course the proverbial 'hen/omlette 22 syndrome' because the audience won't know they like that sort of thing till they get it, but they won't get it because they don't like it."

Careful, Tom! This is one of the principles upon which our whole society is based ... perhaps it's one of the reasons why our whole society is in deep doo doo ... ?

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 04:48 AM

Tom's way of putting it is the long way, but quite right nonetheless. I was simply describing the scenario when Dick went to pitch his idea:

First question: Who's your audience
2nd (as stated) How would this be paid for?
3rd: You remember where the door is, Mr Miles?

(This is, of course, presupposing that an invitation to a pitch meeting was forthcoming in the first place).

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 04:49 AM

Tom's point about radio scheduling is interesting because, on television (BBC4) we have had, over the last year, great televisual folk music. The Transatlantic Sessions 3 (this time last year) were a feast of just the things he quotes: "close-ups of fingers, lovely shiny carved instruments, passionate faces" - plus arty shots of Scottish lanscapes in the snow...

At the moment we've been simultaneously getting the Transatlantic Sessions from 1995 and the Folk America series. All good stuff on a large chuck of Friday evening's BBC4 output.

So it's possible - but perhaps the visual aspect of it all just makes better broadcast material than mere audio (!) :-)

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 05:10 AM

"perhaps the visual aspect of it all just makes better broadcast material than mere audio"

I think this is a good point. TV is firstly an audio medium (unlike film which is visual), and the pictures are better in radio, but hands and faces can make all the difference in explaining how folk music works.

The BBC is ruthlessly bi-media these days, but I think the main reasons for the BB4 flood are financial (most of the programmes are archive, therefore cheap) and niche. There is no equivalent to BBC4 in Radio. But I do hope that the success of the BBC4 programmes (I've not seen the figures, they might not have been as good as we hope) will influence decisions re folk material in the national shows that already broadcast some, Woman's Hour, Late Junction, Bob Harris etc, and discourage the axing of any more local folk shows. If we're lucky we might even get a few new ones - like the Durbs on Radio Leeds who have bucked the trend by going down the 'posse' route - all power to them.

It's a complex situation requiring good ideas and above all good networking.

The best networking opportunity by FAR is the awards night. Wine, laughter, suits aplenty including the DG and Arts ministers, with ears softened by alcohol, a small army of attractive (?) folk enthusiasts, all sorts of slebs coming out of the woodwork as closet folkies, and above all brilliant performances by some of our most talented artists.

We'd be barking to do anything other than give it our wholehearted support.

Tom

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 05:27 AM

Who are the people who are reviving folk? Who do people flock to see at Folk festivals? Now look at the list of people nominated for best band, best duo, best live act etc.

I happen to think, that BBC Folk Awards is reflecting what the folk revival is all about. OK so quite a few bands etc didn't make the nomination list, which is understandable. If the nominated people were the only ones people went to see, then the folk scene would be in a bad state.

The folk revival is not about traditional, stick your finger in your ear, a capella singers, reciting 40 verses. Its about new acts and bands providing a lively and refreshing approach to folk music, mixed with performers who have been treading the scene for many years. Thats whats bringing the folks in these days.

However, there is a cracking grass roots base that is thriving due to this revival, which covers all aspects of folk. That is whats good about it.

There is a thriving younger generation of folk performers in this country who are pulling the younger generation into the scene. Things have moved on, and its time us older grumpy old folkies gave way to their hopes and desires, otherwise folk music as was, will die like the dodo.

Here is to the brilliant younger generation of young musicians who are working so hard and with such vigour and enthusiasm to keep folk on the scene, together with the well established acts that people enjoy seeing.

I am not out to offend anybody, I am trying to give my honest opinion of how I see it. At 63 I could be moaning and groaning about the scene, but IMHO it is very healthy and will stay that way.

Do your thing and enjoy. Stop knocking the shows and awards. Leave them to people who are doing their best to bring folk the way they see it best. The two should work hand in hand.

Why do I run a Folk Concert Venue? becuase I don't want folk to die. Not everybody agrees with my selection of acts that I put on, or like my approach, and that is understandable. However I do it with passion and a belief that what I do is for the good of folk music, just like the MH, Folkwaves shows.

If people see all the hard working folkies enjoying and showing an enthusiasm for folk music, it rubs off.

There is room for everybody. If you don't like what is happening, go and do it yourself in your own way.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 05:27 AM

It's been a good quarter of a century since Frances line took on board any of my ideas and (strange to relate {not!])the Smoothies have never sought my views) so what do I know?

However, to add to the handful of OK things BBC4 has transmitted, there's also C5. Their series was rather grossly sleb-led and didn't interest me greatly, but it wasn't exactly aimed at me, was it, but at potential newcomers. As Tom remarks, the ratings need to be examined but if they stand up, the door's open for more and better. Though I can't really see Son Of Hold Down A Chord getting made, though there was an absolutely fantastic programme about the Handanger fiddle some time ago.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Captain Jack Sparrow
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 05:30 AM

I keep reading this as "A Rockery". I'd sooner have a shrubbery myself, like in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Cuttlefish… eh… let us not, dear friends, forget our dear friends the cuttlefish… bind them up together and they'll devour themselves without a single thought… Human nature, in'it? Ooor… rather fish nature… So yes… we could hold up here well-provisioned and well-armed… and half of us would be dead within the month! Which seems grim to me no matter how you slice it! Or as my colleague so naively suggested, we can release Calypso, and God-willing, she will show us mercy… I rather doubt it. Can we just ignore that she is a woman scorned, the fury the likes of which Hell hath no? We cannot. And so, we are left with but one option. I agree with, and I cannot believe the words that are coming out of me mouth…

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 05:33 AM

Erratum:

Don't quite know how the Handingsfele became a Handanger. It's a "Hardanger".

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 06:02 AM

I think it's time you started cutting back on those tablest, Cap'n Sparrow!

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Stu
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 06:34 AM

"The best networking opportunity by FAR is the awards night. Wine, laughter, suits aplenty including the DG and Arts ministers, with ears softened by alcohol, a small army of attractive (?) folk enthusiasts, all sorts of slebs coming out of the woodwork as closet folkies, and above all brilliant performances by some of our most talented artists."

Despite this though, it's just another awards ceremony. People in London clapping themselves on the back, drinking posh jollop and congratulating themselves on the fact they're hobnobbing with celebs. Which is fine, and raises the profile of the music (all of which I agree with utterly) etc . . . but is totally inauthentic. I'm not belittling the artists in the slightest - these are people I admire and I spend my hard-earned on their CD's and gigs, and I enjoy the awards as a show (and some of the performances have been memorable) but I'd rather watch Ceird an Cheiol and see the instruments involved, the people playing them and why they are important.

Show the music in it's natural environment, pubs, house etc. Follow the lead of The Transatlantic Sessions and show our musicians playing together and exchanging ideas in an less formal setting - along with artists from all over the Isles. Show pub sessions and folk club performances (the good thing about folk music is away from the rarefied atmosphere of London most of the musicians are in touch with the grass roots, and world class players are as frequent session players as the rest of us).

Explain why the music matters, and the people will embrace it as their own again. Ditch the Americana etc - let's see Kirkpatrick playing for his side at the weekend, McGoldrick in a Manchester pub setting the place alight or any one of the thousands of excellent singers, dancers or players doing their thing for the sheer pleasure of it.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: NormanD
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 06:40 AM

Just ploughed through this lengthy thread and found no mention of the category award of "Lifetime Achievement". This year, the joint winners were both North American, Judy Collins and James Taylor.

The presence of one of them (Judy Collins) coincided with her presence on some of the BBC's "Folk America" series, and a showcase concert, televised this week. The presence of James Taylor coincided with his near-continual presence on BBC Radio2 daytime playlists.

How were they nominated / chosen? Was the Award given for their significant and enduring influence on UK folk music (which is, at best, arguable).

Could we have some comment on this, preferably without resorting to any nationalism?

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 06:47 AM

Err, I agree with all of that, Jack

You're telling us 'What.' But I think we all already know that.

It's the 'How' that's the challenge.

If I stood in front of a commissioning editor and read your post I'd be politely patronised and posted through the portal.

They hold the purse strings and the key to the transmitter shed, and it's staggeringly difficult to get programmes of any kind through the system. I have more rejection letters from TV stations than I have from record companies and book publishers put together. Trust me on this one.

We have to build bridges, drive wedges, kiss frogs - but above all show a navigable road between were UK broadcasting is today and where we'd like it to be - or they just wont understand.

They don't do seismic, only incremental - watching those audience figures like a hedgehog in the headlights.

It's a drip drip process - one that the existing incumbents, with their regular friendly contact with beeb minders, are in the best place to pursue - Massively supported by the unique networking and showcasing event that is the awards.

If you want to get there you have to start from here. Not somewhere else.

Tom

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 06:49 AM

"We'd be barking to do anything other than give it our wholehearted support."

Another nail-on-head moment from Mr Bliss. And a smashing post from Les the Villan. I think we are almost heading to a consensus that these awards are good for the music...

Meanwhile, shooting ourselves grumpily in the foot because we don't like the colour of our shoes will do nothing to help.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 06:59 AM

NormanD, this has already been addressed elsewhere.

The Lifetime awards are allocated by the committee, not voted by the panel. Their agenda is to recognise someone deserving, who will be recognised by the general public - because without that recognition the media won't show up, or report, and not many will tune in or read, and the whole exercise will have been a damp squib in a dark silo.

There are very few UK acts who are well known outside the folk world, but lots of US ones. So, as the national element is defined as 'awards voted by people who live in Britain,' and so may and does include voted winners from beyond these shores, there is no problem awarding awards to well-known, and of course also well-deserving US artists.

Hope that clears it up for you

Tom

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Stu
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 07:26 AM

"You're telling us 'What.' But I think we all already know that.

It's the 'How' that's the challenge.

If I stood in front of a commissioning editor and read your post I'd be politely patronised and posted through the portal."

Well my 'How' was show the music 'in the raw' as it were. Link the professional artists with the people out there doing it and show the regional differences, how the home nations influence each other etc. Place the awards ceremony itself in a wider context.

But look, I have no idea how you'd go about this (I have pitched to the BBC myself, but motion graphics rather than whole programmes!) so very much trust your opinion, or whether a commissioning editor would even go for it or their reasons for not doing so but there must be a market as other countries have these programmes . . .

. . . or is there? Perhaps there isn't, and all people want to watch is Monkey Tennis and Big Brother. Perhaps one awards show a year is all there is demand for.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Folknacious
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 07:38 AM

NormanD - It seems an odd coincidence that the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards were, apart from both being American, a) both already in the country for other reasons, and b) both represented by the same PR company who handle the PR for the Folk Awards. This in a year when they did a "tribute" to the great British guitarist Davey Graham who never received such an Award in the ten years of the event when he was still alive. In a year that they seemed to do rather well by the British folk scene on the nominations and winners in general, those Awards stuck out like a sore thumb, as did the quiet dropping of the "Good Tradition" award - I'm sure we can all think of many organisations etc still well overdue for the latter.

It rather looks like the two Lifetime Achievement Awards were just convenient add-ons to get the MOR media interested, which, to be fair, they did. Pretty meaningless otherwise though, and a bit of an insult to many from here who have had deserving lifetimes but the wrong passports.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 08:21 AM

Just ploughed through this lengthy thread and found no mention of the category award of "Lifetime Achievement". This year, the joint winners were both North American, Judy Collins and James Taylor.


I think it is explained elsewhere - but I am delighted to spell it out again. Note I do not agree with the policy and the link if it is as you say between the publicity machines is disgraceful. Show me some proof of that and I will take it up with the BBC since it smacks of corruption.

The event, as has been pointed out is an industry bash with invited outsiders. These include Arts and Culture Minister people, others from the entertainment industry etc etc. Including Very Senior BBC people.

The names Tom McConville, Demon Barbers, and Lau may be familiar to you and I. Maybe anyone seeing these artists for the first time may be knocked out when seeing them (as we all know) - but those people above, and whether we like it or not they are influential - will say "Who?" when hearing those names.

So the Folk Awards have a "The Lifetime Achievement Award" which isn't voted for or anything, they are just given so that those with influence recognize that not all folk is performed by unknowns.

I am not agreeing with this necessarily, but just trying to explain how it is.

As for it all being London-based I am sure there is a grain of truth - but all the people I know that went were from North of the Trent.

HTH

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 08:29 AM

I am not interested in revival musicians careers being furthered,I am more concerned about the state of the revival folk scene[programmes like this do nothing to help ] and also the necessity of people to be aware of the roots of the music.

Like many I am not especially interested of the difference between who or who isn't a revival singer. I want to see folk musicians careeers furthered and in my own limited capabilities I do my best.

The music is important - that's all. People do become aware of the roots if they have anything about them.

Programmes like this do everything to help. Not many disagree with that.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: evansakes
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 08:35 AM

"This in a year when they did a "tribute" to the great British guitarist Davey Graham"

Why the inverted commas, Folknacious?

Was there anything undignified or innapprpriate in what took place on the night? Maybe my memory's playing tricks but all I can remember is a nice tribute followed by a lovely duet performance of Anji by two of Devey's great friends (Ralph McTell and Bert Jansch)

Incidentally, just for clarification purposes. Previous "lifetime achievement" winners include John Martyn, Danny Thompson, Dave Swarbrick, Ralph McTell, Richard Thompson, Bert Jansch and Fairport Convention. Plus some Irish artists like Paul Brady, Christy Moore and The Chieftains.

Just happened to be a couple of Americans this year. C'est la vie.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Folknacious
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 09:11 AM

Ref the Davey tribute (inverted commas to indicate a quote, no other sub-plot). It was perfectly good on the night and appropriate in the circumstances - but they should have given Davey a LAA while he was still alive. His records from 40 years back were at least as influential as those of the two so-honoured this year, neither of whom have really added to their significantly important catalogue since then, any more than Davey did.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Phil Beer
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 05:54 AM

Many of us have, in the past, suggested that a lifetime award for Davey would be entirely appropriate. Its a real shame they never got to it. Almost every solo show I do contains a song learnt from 'Folk Blues and Beyond'. Almost every night, someone sidles up to express the fact that they got into this music down the same avenue. Both Ralph and Bert will say more or less the same thing. One of the major problems of having a big 'Hit' song like 'Streets' is that it defines an artiste in time for most people. If you actually examine the subsequent and consistent output of Ralphs, you will find maybe as many as 20 vastly superior songs and 100 pretty damn good ones. Thats the problem with 'Hits'.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Liam
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 08:49 AM

Smooth Ops pièce de résistance (so far) has been giving Steve Earle a Lifetime Achievement at the age of 49 in 2004. Not that young Mr Earle is not a great songwriter, but given all the venerable UK folkies without the trophy it sticks out like a sore thumb. Other North Americans given the accolade have been Joan Baez, Tom Paxton and Rambling Jack Elliot (and boy did he ramble that night), after slightly longer active careers.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Folknacious
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 09:01 AM

I believe Steve Earle & Joan Baez share the same PR company as the others mentioned previously.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 12:16 PM

I have been on the panel of those who voted for the Folk Awards in the past. One of the things you get is a list of albums which is 'for guidance only' and you are perfectly entitled to vote for something else if you want. So it was a bit of a surprise a couple of years ago when a second list appeared in the post because they had 'missed off' someone's album. (there were still a number of equally worthy albums which they hadn't seen fit to add).
I suggested that this was clearly not in the spirit of 'for guidance only'. (my quotes)
I have not been asked to vote since then.

If people don't think it affects them they should consider
a) what proportion of a festival budget a Radio 2 Folk Awards winner gets.
b) How this compares with what they got prior to winning
c) how much more they contribute to the average festival beyond their headline concert.
d) how this compares with the payment to, and the input made by a morris team booked at the same festival.
Of course it affects us all.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: Stringsinger
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 07:20 PM

We've seen this before. Art Linkletter's son was MC for the "Hootenany" show on our TV
in the Sixties. It was a whitewash and a mockery of sorts. In fact, it was a "mighty wind".
Some very talented artists did appear on that show. They were not shown up well.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 07:36 PM

"Hootenanny" has recently been re-issued on DVD-R. While it is true that it leaned to the commercial side, the artists DID show up very well - and as you note, there were some very talented artists. The show did not really "mock" their performances, and Jack Linkletter appears to be very respectful of the artists that did perform - which included people like Doc Watson, Flatt & Scruggs, Ian & Sylvia, the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, Josh White Jr, the Greenbriar Boys, Leon Bibb and many others. The Tarriers became the first inter-racial group to appear on network TV.

The boycott hurt the show, and in the end probably hurt "folk" music. While ABC did not want Pete Seeger on the show, Pete apparently tried to stop the boycott because he saw that it COULD have been an important window to bring the music into American homes. Imagine what the show could have been. I'm the first person to protest attempts to block freedom of speech, but sometimes there are greater battles to consider. Of course, no one has a crystal ball.

It seems the same thing with "awards" show. Too many people get hung up on principle and setting defintions that they forget the real reason to have these awards shows. Honoring deserving people is a secondary feature - the first reason for doing this is for self-promotion. Save the competitions for real competitions, it sounds like your BBC Awards is nothing more than a promotional tool.

Subject: RE: A Mockery (BBC Folk Awards 2009)
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 04:30 AM

I think I'd better chip in with a quick pre-emptive here.

As Paul probably knows, but has been tactful enough not to mention, the album 'missed off' the Infamous List last year was The Whisper by Tom Bliss.

I may have misunderstood his post, but Paul seems to imply that this suggests the existence of an approved list of 'worthy' artists, to which, in theory, I belonged - but from which I had been omitted in error.

In fact what happened was that The Whisper was released, after a mad scramble (I had terrifying health problems during the production) right at the end if October - JUST in time to be eligible for consideration by last year's panel. But no sooner had it hit the shops than I discovered to my dismay that the list is habitually sent out a week or so early - to give panellists some thinking time before the 31st October deadline. So The Whisper was not on it. I expressed my disappointment to Smoops (this 'black hole' has never been advertised), and to my surprise they very kindly sent out the list again with The Whisper included. Obviously this shouldn't have happened, and it does point up some problems with their system, but they are not necessarily the ones Paul suggests.

I have in fact frequently publicly and privately criticised the Infamous List. It's flawed - or has been in the past (I don't know what happened this year) - in three ways:

1) If the panel are 'experts' they perhaps shouldn't need any 'reminder' list at all.

2) If they do need such a list (and I think they do for the reason claimed), it must, to be in step with the BBC's own rules, be fair - i.e. comprehensive by some understandable, reasonable and universal criteria (I've suggested various ways in which this could be achieved, but Smoops have not responded).

3) Such criteria for inclusion that HAVE been published by Smoops have been inconsistent. The email that accompanies the list has implied that only albums featured on the MH show are eligible, whereas the Website suggests that the list is an attempt to represent all 'Folk' albums released in the qualifying period. This alone in enough to set hares running (oops - did I mention that animal again), and does nothing to reduce suspicion and confusion.

Many of the problems associated with the Awards are caused by wooly and muddled writing in emails, rules and website, which encourage people to grab the wrong end of the stick, and also lead to 'incorrect' decisions by the panellists. Most of the rest of the problems are caused by the maths. Again there are solutions which could overtly give Smoops the powers they need to deliver the necessary show on the night, while being more open, democratic and fair to the folk industry. But as long as the BBC think it ain't broke it won't get fixed.

As for Paul's numbered points - I'm not sure what you're saying here Paul.

Are you suggesting that winning an award doesn't actually make all that much difference to an artist's place in the packing order? If so - you're probably right, but as I explained in February that's not what the awards are about.

Are you suggesting that a award winner might now command a higher fee, and that this might be misplaced if they do not contribute in other ways to the festival? If so, then I'd suggest you are missing the point of headliners. The are booked purely to maximise the gate - and, in the absence of much else that can deliver increased public profile, an award should at least help with that. It's down to the likes of you and I to provide the rest, and we are/were happy to do it.

I would, however, be interested to know why you have not been included in the panel this year. My reading of the situation is that on the whole those who question the process politely and positively are welcomed, not rejected (though I never did get the invite to the show that JL promised me)!

Tom