Awards Shows – Goal or Just Nice to Watch?

Last night was the Billboard Music Awards.  This is only May and already that was at least the fourth such major event, having been preceded by the People’s Choice Awards (January), the Grammys (February), and the iHeart Radio Music Awards (April).  (What happened, March?)  Still this year there will also be the MTV Video Music Awards, the GMA Dove Awards, the CMAs, and the American Music Awards and, heck, probably others.

So, up-and-coming performer, how do you see these shows?  Are you focused on a trail that ends at the stage of one of those shows, collecting the hardware, giving an acceptance speech, and then celebrating a pinnacle moment in your career?  Or are you putting on the brakes and sitting back and watching the broadcast the same way you’re watching other prime time shows – simply for the entertainment.

I can remember as far back as Episode 26 of “Now Hear This Entertainment,” interviewing Nashville-based singer/songwriter Rachel Pearl and her talking about the contests that she has entered.  If you’re going to do such, sure, first place is where you set your sights.  But she was talking about some of the other angles to consider.

Keep in mind that you likely are not just submitting to one person who is a gate keeper.  The judges (plural) who listen to your music might like what they hear in terms of wanting to work with you, away from the judge/entrant confines of the contest.

It should go without saying that once you are accepted into a contest and officially considered one of the nominees, this makes for great fodder for social media, your website, and your e-newsletter.

Certainly, if/when you start winning one or more of these, the bigger and better opportunities should follow.

There is, however, a decision to be made over whether you then should start marketing yourself as an “award-winning” performer (entertainer, artist, songwriter, etc.).  My opinion is that it’s as simple as deciding if you’d – without hesitation – tell someone what the award was that you won that makes you an “award-winning” performer.  If the local Rotary Club gave you a plaque for coming to sing at their event, that probably shouldn’t translate into billing yourself as an award-winning performer.

There are plenty of reputable contests out there that you can easily find online.  Start entering, continue winning, and work hard to keep that star rising.

Will you eventually end up on one of the televised awards shows?  No blog or crystal ball can give a definitive Yes or No.  So, should that be your goal, then?  I would say to use those events as a source of inspiration, but not be the be-all, end-all.