Editor: In response to Schabow's post yesterday where he reflects on the 2008 Madison Area Music Awards, Rick Tvedt had some comments of his of his own. In the Dane101 spirit of encouraging community dialogue we have provided his response.

Thanks for this feedback. I do value and respect all the feedback we get but really, did you have to steal my Tim Allen line? I’ve been wanting to drop that for years.

Seriously, though, the most valuable feedback we get is like this; from people who have become members and been through the process. You’d be surprised at how many times a journalist or poster has made comments without ever having become a member, voting, or being familiar with the process, much less the organization, its goals and objectives.

I promise you we will have an open board meeting where you and others can make recommendations. I look forward to that. We have had forums before but they’ve been sparsely attended. Admittedly, the closer we do this to the completion of the event, the more valuable it is.

I just want to address two things right now, while people are reading your contribution. I believe that what you have written here is a very accurate reflection.

Firstly, artists have never nominated themselves. They do, however, have to register materials if they wish to be considered for nomination. Every award show I know of is like this. Roy can tell stories about the Academy of Country Music and how the big names get in just under the wire. One year, an artist favored for Entertainer of the Year failed to make the submission deadline. Oops. Anyhow, it’s the first round of MAMA voting that determines the nominees, from those registered.

Secondly is the paper ballot thing. We’ve been there with that and it creates two problems. First is the time and effort required to collect and tally the ballots. Secondly here is what happens: people write one name on one line, or one name on every line. They photocopy this 50 times and send it in. (Madison Magazine poll, anyone?) This does us very little good in exposing local music to more people. In our first round, voters have to listen to the music and rate it. I am a big fan of this, although I’m not sure this needs to be blind. There should be a way to know who the artist is. I have had many comments about “What was that song and how can I find out who that was?” I am also surprised at the number of musicians who make similar comments. I know working musicians have little opportunity to check each other out because, well, they’re working! But musicians getting to know each other has been a very rewarding aspect of the MAMAs for me to witness.

I want to thank you for your time and effort in submitting this article. And I look forward to the board meeting with you in attendance and trust that you will bring the “refreshments!” And it’s you, the Treats and the Motorz and the countless other artists who have done us proud, not the other way around.

Keep rockin',

Rick