ENnies V - and beyond...
- Thread starter Michael Morris
- Start date
I was not going to post until later... once I had recovered from the long drive back from Indianapolis, but due to some of the ranting in this thread I thought I'd remind a few people of one of my mother's rules:
If you don't have something good to say about someone keep it to yourself. Constructive criticism is fine and necessary for us all to be able to give and take, but demeaning others solves nothing.
Spoony (or anyone else) if you felt treated poorly by the Origins folk or have ideas to help Origins then it would be best to send an email to them and not air it here in the ENnies thread.
It is fine to compare and contrast the awards, it is only natural to do so, but I would prefer it that it be done in a constructive fashion. This is meant to be an ENnies thread open to all from general members to publishers to other awards ceremonies... I am quite certain we could learn a thing or two from the folks at Origins. They have done this a bit longer than us and as with all businesses it is better to learn from those in your same field than to alienate them.
Nicole,
As business manager for the ENnies I would like to apologize for the Origin's bashing in this thread... I have a great appreciation for what you do (As I have experienced it personally over the past few months leading up to the ENnies) and would be highly offended if a thread was started on the ENnies that demeaned us in contrast to Origins. I hope you will provide us with some of your expertise in the manner of running awards ceremonies (I know I could use it
I hope you will help us out and I look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions.
Thanks.
If you don't have something good to say about someone keep it to yourself. Constructive criticism is fine and necessary for us all to be able to give and take, but demeaning others solves nothing.
Spoony (or anyone else) if you felt treated poorly by the Origins folk or have ideas to help Origins then it would be best to send an email to them and not air it here in the ENnies thread.
It is fine to compare and contrast the awards, it is only natural to do so, but I would prefer it that it be done in a constructive fashion. This is meant to be an ENnies thread open to all from general members to publishers to other awards ceremonies... I am quite certain we could learn a thing or two from the folks at Origins. They have done this a bit longer than us and as with all businesses it is better to learn from those in your same field than to alienate them.
Nicole,
As business manager for the ENnies I would like to apologize for the Origin's bashing in this thread... I have a great appreciation for what you do (As I have experienced it personally over the past few months leading up to the ENnies) and would be highly offended if a thread was started on the ENnies that demeaned us in contrast to Origins. I hope you will provide us with some of your expertise in the manner of running awards ceremonies (I know I could use it
I hope you will help us out and I look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions.Thanks.
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Dextra
Social Justice Wizard
My Thoughts on the ENnies (1/3)- overall & funding
Last years' were great, but there was room for improvement. This years' were even better, and there's still room for improvement. To start things off, I must say that considering that this was all run by a krewe of volunteers with zero budget, there was a bang-up job done, and congratulations all around are in order. The awards went smoothly, and the MC was perfect, and we had a good time.
Alrighty. Now for my opinions. If I seem critical, and it was touching upon an area in which you were involved, please forgive me. Honestly, I was impressed this year, but I'm also a micromanaging chronic nitpicker who can't leave well enough alone (and who also has some experience with event planning and marketing). Also, please be advised that these reflect my opinions alone, and are not necessarily shared by the rest of the ENP ownership.
As someone involved in ENP, and a proud ENWorlder, I have to say something. The ENnies are attached to ENWorld. ENPublishing is the publishing branch of ENWorld. Thus, what ENWorld and ENnies do reflect upon ENP. So it really hurt me to see the apathetic booth display and someone in bluejeans handing out the awards and a couple of other factors that made me feel as though the ENnies were a rinkydink, unprofessional award not-to-be-taken seriously.
Once again, what was done was done with no money and a staff of volunteers. But if we want to be taken seriously, we have to take things seriously ourselves. I've split this post up into different sections, cuz it was getting big.So here are some of my suggestions:
Overall
-the ENnies needs a mission statement (and that the role between it and ENWorld be clarified). This is the most important factor. Once there's a mission statement, everything else has to toe that line, and decisions will be easier.
Funding
-GenCon LLC already supports the ENnies financially. The ENnies gain legitimacy and attention because they are also the GenCon awards (nobody had heard of them before, really), and the ENnies give GenCon an award system already set up with voting mechanics. It's a fairly balanced give-take. Thus, insisting that GC bankroll the whole thing is unrealistic. GC and the ENnies should share in expenses.
-as I see it, the main expenses are the trophy creation & shipping, shipping of the products to the judges, the awards ceremony itsself, and promotion/advertising (including booth hardware). Not counting the awards ceremony, right there that's at least a $1K investment.
-non-profit status: just means a lot of pain in the ass paperwork, accounting, and legal fees. You don't have to be a not-for-profit group to accept donations. In Canada, if the ENnies were a non-profit group, I could point to some funding/grant possibilities, but I have zero clue about US regs. Then again, there's nothing saying that the ENnies would have to be registered in the US of A. But honestly, I don't see the expense time, money, and energy-wise to be worth it.
-my suggestion is, let ENP take over the management of the awards. We could come up with the money to split costs with GenCon. We have the staff and experience to plan and execute events. We can't participate in the ENnies, anyhow (/me pouts), so why not let us get involved elsewhere? Or do the publishers think that there might be some weird bias?
-other funding ideas:
--an entry fee: $10-$20/publisher, plus an additional $2-$5/additional product submitted- that'd defray the shipping & award costs
--an ENnies mingler/gala fundraiser just before the ceremony: collect event tickets for a cocktail reception with food (keep the ceremony free, but this way people can get in early and secure good seats and hang out with the nominees)
--event tickets charity: have a drop-box for unused event tickets, and be able to refund them at the end of the weekend. It would look kindof like begging, though, so I'm not so keen on that one.
--shipping the products directly to the judges. This helps keep costs down, although I don't know if it is appropriate for the publishers to be contacting the judges directly. Questions of propriety are raised- did a publisher slip in some money or other bribery?
--having 7 copies of each product (5 for the judges, 1 for Russ as is already, plus 1 extra copy). The extra copies could be bundled and auctioned off.
--other fundraisers: bakesale!
PS- SpoonyBard: please, stop shouting. It makes your posts really hard on the eyes with all those bigger fonts. We get the point.
Last years' were great, but there was room for improvement. This years' were even better, and there's still room for improvement. To start things off, I must say that considering that this was all run by a krewe of volunteers with zero budget, there was a bang-up job done, and congratulations all around are in order. The awards went smoothly, and the MC was perfect, and we had a good time.
Alrighty. Now for my opinions. If I seem critical, and it was touching upon an area in which you were involved, please forgive me. Honestly, I was impressed this year, but I'm also a micromanaging chronic nitpicker who can't leave well enough alone (and who also has some experience with event planning and marketing). Also, please be advised that these reflect my opinions alone, and are not necessarily shared by the rest of the ENP ownership.
As someone involved in ENP, and a proud ENWorlder, I have to say something. The ENnies are attached to ENWorld. ENPublishing is the publishing branch of ENWorld. Thus, what ENWorld and ENnies do reflect upon ENP. So it really hurt me to see the apathetic booth display and someone in bluejeans handing out the awards and a couple of other factors that made me feel as though the ENnies were a rinkydink, unprofessional award not-to-be-taken seriously.
Once again, what was done was done with no money and a staff of volunteers. But if we want to be taken seriously, we have to take things seriously ourselves. I've split this post up into different sections, cuz it was getting big.So here are some of my suggestions:
Overall
-the ENnies needs a mission statement (and that the role between it and ENWorld be clarified). This is the most important factor. Once there's a mission statement, everything else has to toe that line, and decisions will be easier.
Funding
-GenCon LLC already supports the ENnies financially. The ENnies gain legitimacy and attention because they are also the GenCon awards (nobody had heard of them before, really), and the ENnies give GenCon an award system already set up with voting mechanics. It's a fairly balanced give-take. Thus, insisting that GC bankroll the whole thing is unrealistic. GC and the ENnies should share in expenses.
-as I see it, the main expenses are the trophy creation & shipping, shipping of the products to the judges, the awards ceremony itsself, and promotion/advertising (including booth hardware). Not counting the awards ceremony, right there that's at least a $1K investment.
-non-profit status: just means a lot of pain in the ass paperwork, accounting, and legal fees. You don't have to be a not-for-profit group to accept donations. In Canada, if the ENnies were a non-profit group, I could point to some funding/grant possibilities, but I have zero clue about US regs. Then again, there's nothing saying that the ENnies would have to be registered in the US of A. But honestly, I don't see the expense time, money, and energy-wise to be worth it.
-my suggestion is, let ENP take over the management of the awards. We could come up with the money to split costs with GenCon. We have the staff and experience to plan and execute events. We can't participate in the ENnies, anyhow (/me pouts), so why not let us get involved elsewhere? Or do the publishers think that there might be some weird bias?
-other funding ideas:
--an entry fee: $10-$20/publisher, plus an additional $2-$5/additional product submitted- that'd defray the shipping & award costs
--an ENnies mingler/gala fundraiser just before the ceremony: collect event tickets for a cocktail reception with food (keep the ceremony free, but this way people can get in early and secure good seats and hang out with the nominees)
--event tickets charity: have a drop-box for unused event tickets, and be able to refund them at the end of the weekend. It would look kindof like begging, though, so I'm not so keen on that one.
--shipping the products directly to the judges. This helps keep costs down, although I don't know if it is appropriate for the publishers to be contacting the judges directly. Questions of propriety are raised- did a publisher slip in some money or other bribery?
--having 7 copies of each product (5 for the judges, 1 for Russ as is already, plus 1 extra copy). The extra copies could be bundled and auctioned off.
--other fundraisers: bakesale!
PS- SpoonyBard: please, stop shouting. It makes your posts really hard on the eyes with all those bigger fonts. We get the point.
Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
I'll echo what Jaldaen said; Spoony Bard did a great job organizing the ENnies this year, but his comments about the Origins Awards are his own. They do not represent the opinion of EN World, Morrus, myself, or the ENnies as a whole. For crying out loud, I feel like a TV talk show for having to say this, but there you have it. Voicing this sort of opinion in a thread discussing the ENnies is regrettable, because it's easy for readers to think that those opinions are shared by everyone.
Whatever the advantages and disadvantages are that the Origin Awards possess (and they do a lot of things very well indeed), us bashing them is counter-productive and self destructive. It's not like we're competing for customers here; we're trying to do something cool for the industry, they are as well, and neither of us gains from rivalry.
From this point forward, I'll ask that this thread stay focused on the ENnies and not the Origins Awards. My apologies for the digression that already occurred. Feel free to start another thread if you wish to pursue this further.
Whatever the advantages and disadvantages are that the Origin Awards possess (and they do a lot of things very well indeed), us bashing them is counter-productive and self destructive. It's not like we're competing for customers here; we're trying to do something cool for the industry, they are as well, and neither of us gains from rivalry.
From this point forward, I'll ask that this thread stay focused on the ENnies and not the Origins Awards. My apologies for the digression that already occurred. Feel free to start another thread if you wish to pursue this further.
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Dextra
Social Justice Wizard
Nikchick said:
You want to talk about feeling "slapped in the face" here, SpoonyBard? I'll give you a run for your money.
Oh, dearest Nicole, don't be cross! Some of us (shoots glares at anyone who dares contradict me) really value your opinion, and cherish your experience. I'd love to see your suggestions!
Dextra
Social Justice Wizard
My Thoughts on the ENnies (2/3)- Process, Categories
The Process
-I like the current method of selecting judges, and the fact that they are selected by ENWorlders. I think that a judge can stay on as long as he/she gets votes. I like the nominations process, the works.
-Seeing as how we now have the mechanic to cast your vote for only the products with which you are familiar, and seeing as how there seem to be a gazillion entrants now, howsabout opening up the nominations to 10 products? It might make things easier on the judges in the narrowing-down process, and let the fan votes decide...
-after a product is nominated, a written letter as well as email should be sent to the publisher/individual in question stating congratulations, what the voting process entails and when it will be begin, the date of the awards ceremony, requesting 25-50 words describing the product & company and 1-3 images (company logo, product shot, one other photo) to be used in a slideshow and/or other promotional material, and an rsvp of approximately how many attendees are expected for the ceremony (so there can be reserved seating up front for the nominees), etc. Be certain to include contact information for the ceremony
Categories
-I don't like the idea of distinguishing between sizes of companies. It's too arbitrary, and then takes away the satisfaction of a little guy trouncing the big boys.
-I don't like the idea of the categories being carved in stone. Yes, it would be nice to have some consistency from year to year, but I like fluidity and adaptability.
My suggestions:
-lose the best official web site category. It's just another form of advertising- do we award commercials, or magazine ads? If there's lots of cool material on the site, then submit the site for the best freebie category.
-lose the licensed product category, Best Non-d20 Adventure, Best Non-d20 Supplement, Best Non-d20 Game and Best Non-d20 Setting or Setting Sourcebook (in other words, let them be judged in the same vein as everybody else).
-I don't like the Best Revision/Update/Compilation category. Lose it, and shuffle the products into the appropriate other categories.
-to keep with the feeling that this started off as a d20 awards ceremony, and thanks to the online community, I think that the fan site, best d20, and electronic product categories should remain sacrosanct.
-Personally, I'd almost consider best Fantasy, Modern, and Future/Sci-Fi categories. But it seems like a big administrative nightmare. Discuss.
-I would also like to see the return of the Peer's Choice Award: let each publisher, ENnies judge, Russ, Eric Noah, and Peter Adkison have a vote.
1. Best Aid or Accessory
2. Best Cartography
3. Best Art (Cover)
4. Best Art (Interior)
5. Best Graphic Design & Layout
6. Best Adventure
7. Best Setting Supplement
8. Best Campaign Setting
9. Best Rules Supplement
10. Best Monster Supplement
11. Best Free Product or Web Enhancement
12. Best Electronic Product (not free)
13. Best Fan Site
14. Best d20 Game
15. Best Publisher (Overall)
16. Peer Award
The Process
-I like the current method of selecting judges, and the fact that they are selected by ENWorlders. I think that a judge can stay on as long as he/she gets votes. I like the nominations process, the works.
-Seeing as how we now have the mechanic to cast your vote for only the products with which you are familiar, and seeing as how there seem to be a gazillion entrants now, howsabout opening up the nominations to 10 products? It might make things easier on the judges in the narrowing-down process, and let the fan votes decide...
-after a product is nominated, a written letter as well as email should be sent to the publisher/individual in question stating congratulations, what the voting process entails and when it will be begin, the date of the awards ceremony, requesting 25-50 words describing the product & company and 1-3 images (company logo, product shot, one other photo) to be used in a slideshow and/or other promotional material, and an rsvp of approximately how many attendees are expected for the ceremony (so there can be reserved seating up front for the nominees), etc. Be certain to include contact information for the ceremony
Categories
-I don't like the idea of distinguishing between sizes of companies. It's too arbitrary, and then takes away the satisfaction of a little guy trouncing the big boys.
-I don't like the idea of the categories being carved in stone. Yes, it would be nice to have some consistency from year to year, but I like fluidity and adaptability.
My suggestions:
-lose the best official web site category. It's just another form of advertising- do we award commercials, or magazine ads? If there's lots of cool material on the site, then submit the site for the best freebie category.
-lose the licensed product category, Best Non-d20 Adventure, Best Non-d20 Supplement, Best Non-d20 Game and Best Non-d20 Setting or Setting Sourcebook (in other words, let them be judged in the same vein as everybody else).
-I don't like the Best Revision/Update/Compilation category. Lose it, and shuffle the products into the appropriate other categories.
-to keep with the feeling that this started off as a d20 awards ceremony, and thanks to the online community, I think that the fan site, best d20, and electronic product categories should remain sacrosanct.
-Personally, I'd almost consider best Fantasy, Modern, and Future/Sci-Fi categories. But it seems like a big administrative nightmare. Discuss.
-I would also like to see the return of the Peer's Choice Award: let each publisher, ENnies judge, Russ, Eric Noah, and Peter Adkison have a vote.
1. Best Aid or Accessory
2. Best Cartography
3. Best Art (Cover)
4. Best Art (Interior)
5. Best Graphic Design & Layout
6. Best Adventure
7. Best Setting Supplement
8. Best Campaign Setting
9. Best Rules Supplement
10. Best Monster Supplement
11. Best Free Product or Web Enhancement
12. Best Electronic Product (not free)
13. Best Fan Site
14. Best d20 Game
15. Best Publisher (Overall)
16. Peer Award
Michael Morris
First Post
Nicole, I'm sorry for what I said and implied. I will not make any excuses - it was wrong.
I shall now bow out of the thread before my chronic foot-in-mouth disease does any more damage.
I shall now bow out of the thread before my chronic foot-in-mouth disease does any more damage.
Psion
Adventurer
Dextra said:
As do I. I'll leave that bugbear to someone else.
I think when this came up, the thought was that's were most of the donations came from. Of course, again, being clueless on the associated tax matters, I have no clue how much that helps.
Doth mine eyes deceive me?
Is this where the disclaimer about "not representing the rest of the ENP staff cause they are gonna **** a brick" disclaimer was all about?
Actually, I beleive this was brought up, but someone thought it would not be appropriate to draw resources away from ENP to support the ennies. But hey, if you are volunteering...
Well, I can't speak for publishers, but you know I trust you (despite your sordid past
) and I think it would be great to have you on board.
Dextra
Social Justice Wizard
My Thoughts on the ENnies (3/3)- The Event, Promotion
The Ceremony
-I liked having the one MC rather than switching from group to group like last year. Sure, it was neat to see some of the peeps, but it slowed things down considerably. However, if we could get some celebrity-types, perhaps they could speak up.
-I missed the slide show. For those not in the know, SpoonyBard's laptop went foom, hence, no show. Next year, let's just bring a CD (or two) with the content so this doesn't happen again.
-Image: the presenter, MC, judges, and any other staff who will be on stage should be dressed in at least semi-formal attire. Let's show the world that they can take us seriously. Change into your party clothes after, or just go out in your suit. The ladies at the Red Garter wouldn't mind, I'm sure.
-pre-show cocktail party/gala reception. Already mentioned earlier. Nothing brings the fandom out like celebrities and free food. Let's invite some Industry Big Names to attend. Maybe WotC wouldn't mind loaning us Margaret Weis for a pre-show dinner, for example. Or we could chip in to GenCon to ask a couple of their Guests of Honour to pop by.
-Timing: Don't try to schedule the awards for the same night that White Wolf is having a huge event. *I* almost ditched the ENnies for the WW party! Let's check with WW and WotC and GenCon to try and avoid such scheduling snafus in the future. I know there are only so many evenings during the con, but let's at least try and make the effort.
-post-show party. If we keep the same space, how difficult would it be to host a dance/party for a few hours afterwards?
-entertainment: howsabout scoring some entertainment before or after? Or have a DJ? (PS- Hound was a DJ, I'm sure we have some other talented peeps).
-What do people think about the possibilities of having a mid-ceremony intermission (15-20 minutes should suffice) for the nicotine junkies and those in need of a stretch? Let everyone refresh their drinks, etc?
-Ushers/hosts/hostesses. Great idea last time, and also a nice way to verify that peeps from each publisher are there so the MC doesn't have to wait.
-Make sure that there's a contact name and means of contacting the Host the day of the awards so that publishers who can't attend can drop off or email in advance an acceptance speech. Include such information on the "Congrats" mailout/invitation.
-howsabout a programme or at least score-card type printed thang at each table? If there wasn't a party on-site, then it could also include directions and a map to the post-show party. Would publishers like to help defray the printing costs by placing ads, coupons, etc?
-Other Minutiae: ask peeps in the audience to turn their cellphones to silent mode.
The Awards Themselves
-if we're going away from d20, having a d20 as the symbol sort of messes with things. This year GenCon had a great trophy made up for its winners (the Gelflings now have one, right beside our ENnie). Perhaps we could simply use the trophy/GenCon dude- maybe we could get a bulk discount?
-I think the silver guys should get a ribbon, and offer a certificate for the bronze winners
Advertising
-let's make sure that Peter gets a snazzy-looking ad for the program, and beg for space in the SoCal program to get people excited about the prospects
-I saw one official-looking camera at the event. The costume contest had I'd say 2 dozen media types. We need to score their press-release list and generate some press out of this. Get some PR going on this.
The Booth (which is also Image, and Advertising)
-the ENnies & ENWorld need some nicer booth decorations. I've got some suggestions, and can design & have printed some nice stuff (did y'all see our stuff at Origins and GenCon last year for ENP?). But that comes down to funding.
-great job, volunteers! Next year, though, I think that if you're working the booth, you should wear your ENWorld T-shirt (and perhaps we'll get some more printed and donate them to the volunteers)
-we should've had a computer onsite to show off ENWorld and let people post. Poor Crothian was suffering from withdrawal. Should we seek sponsors, ask for the WiFi company to donate some password, could we piggyback on the GenCon connection?
Alrighty then, that's it from me. For now
The Ceremony
-I liked having the one MC rather than switching from group to group like last year. Sure, it was neat to see some of the peeps, but it slowed things down considerably. However, if we could get some celebrity-types, perhaps they could speak up.
-I missed the slide show. For those not in the know, SpoonyBard's laptop went foom, hence, no show. Next year, let's just bring a CD (or two) with the content so this doesn't happen again.
-Image: the presenter, MC, judges, and any other staff who will be on stage should be dressed in at least semi-formal attire. Let's show the world that they can take us seriously. Change into your party clothes after, or just go out in your suit. The ladies at the Red Garter wouldn't mind, I'm sure.
-pre-show cocktail party/gala reception. Already mentioned earlier. Nothing brings the fandom out like celebrities and free food. Let's invite some Industry Big Names to attend. Maybe WotC wouldn't mind loaning us Margaret Weis for a pre-show dinner, for example. Or we could chip in to GenCon to ask a couple of their Guests of Honour to pop by.
-Timing: Don't try to schedule the awards for the same night that White Wolf is having a huge event. *I* almost ditched the ENnies for the WW party! Let's check with WW and WotC and GenCon to try and avoid such scheduling snafus in the future. I know there are only so many evenings during the con, but let's at least try and make the effort.
-post-show party. If we keep the same space, how difficult would it be to host a dance/party for a few hours afterwards?
-entertainment: howsabout scoring some entertainment before or after? Or have a DJ? (PS- Hound was a DJ, I'm sure we have some other talented peeps).
-What do people think about the possibilities of having a mid-ceremony intermission (15-20 minutes should suffice) for the nicotine junkies and those in need of a stretch? Let everyone refresh their drinks, etc?
-Ushers/hosts/hostesses. Great idea last time, and also a nice way to verify that peeps from each publisher are there so the MC doesn't have to wait.
-Make sure that there's a contact name and means of contacting the Host the day of the awards so that publishers who can't attend can drop off or email in advance an acceptance speech. Include such information on the "Congrats" mailout/invitation.
-howsabout a programme or at least score-card type printed thang at each table? If there wasn't a party on-site, then it could also include directions and a map to the post-show party. Would publishers like to help defray the printing costs by placing ads, coupons, etc?
-Other Minutiae: ask peeps in the audience to turn their cellphones to silent mode.
The Awards Themselves
-if we're going away from d20, having a d20 as the symbol sort of messes with things. This year GenCon had a great trophy made up for its winners (the Gelflings now have one, right beside our ENnie). Perhaps we could simply use the trophy/GenCon dude- maybe we could get a bulk discount?
-I think the silver guys should get a ribbon, and offer a certificate for the bronze winners
Advertising
-let's make sure that Peter gets a snazzy-looking ad for the program, and beg for space in the SoCal program to get people excited about the prospects
-I saw one official-looking camera at the event. The costume contest had I'd say 2 dozen media types. We need to score their press-release list and generate some press out of this. Get some PR going on this.
The Booth (which is also Image, and Advertising)
-the ENnies & ENWorld need some nicer booth decorations. I've got some suggestions, and can design & have printed some nice stuff (did y'all see our stuff at Origins and GenCon last year for ENP?). But that comes down to funding.
-great job, volunteers! Next year, though, I think that if you're working the booth, you should wear your ENWorld T-shirt (and perhaps we'll get some more printed and donate them to the volunteers)
-we should've had a computer onsite to show off ENWorld and let people post. Poor Crothian was suffering from withdrawal. Should we seek sponsors, ask for the WiFi company to donate some password, could we piggyback on the GenCon connection?
Alrighty then, that's it from me. For now
