FAQ ON SONICBIDS
Before you send in your WOMEX Showcase proposal, please read this...
Q. Why switch to an online process after so many years of using the postal?
A. In recent years, Showcase proposals have numbered over 600 applications. It was fast becoming too much for the jury to evaluate in the allotted time. By switching to Sonicbids, jury members were able to listen to proposals for weeks, not just days, and in the process give all artists the time and attention they deserve.
Q. How did it work?
A. We created a simple process. After listening to the submissions for many weeks, the jury then decided which artists they wanted to be considered for the actual jury session. These they moved into a special pre-selection folder, thereby cutting in half what would have to be listened to during the meeting itself here in Berlin. This meant more familiarity going into the meeting and then more time for discussion during it. A better, more respectful system, to be sure.
Q. Is it hard to submit via Sonicbids? What if I have problems?
A. Soncibids' Electronic Press Kit (EPK) and streamlined proposal process is rational and being improved all the time. You don't need a degree in computer science to accomplish the task, but if you do have difficulties, help is easy to find. Just contact Sonicbids' technical support [http://www.sonicbids.com/support]. Last year they were courteous, helpful and fast. If all else fails, contact us (showcase@womex.com).
Q. What about those artists in regions where internet access and bandwidth made uploading their proposals more difficult, if not impossible?
A. This was one of the most important considerations. How to go digital without leaving behind those with poor access. We instituted an easy system where anyone in such a region could contact us early (showcase@womex.com) and we would do the uploading for them. There was therefore no reason why anyone, anywhere couldn't propose to WOMEX. No one who contacted us failed to get online.
Q. What did WOMEX think of the system? How was it working with Sonicbids?
A. We were very pleased with our first use of Sonicbids, though we take note of some of our delegates' criticisms and are working closely with Sonicbids to make it work even better this year. But what we found, before, during and after the jury process, was that Sonicbids are responsive, professional, and very open to suggestion. We were also pleased to see that Sonicbids extended a 6 month subscription to all WOMEX showcase proposers. That's quite a bonus and we hope that you found the system as attractive as we did and will continue to work with them.
Q. Enough about WOMEX. What did the Jury think?
A. Glad you asked. This is what they said…
DJ Ritu: Sonicbids was a great success in a number of ways: First it saved us as a jury a major amount of time and work in being here in Berlin. I believe that previous juries have had to be working even until 4-5 in the morning over a 3-day period. In addition to that all the artists that I know that applied in this way and used the EPK method through Sonicbids - although at first many of them were a little bit daunted and scared of how to do it - every body I have spoken to was extremely happy that they had done it, because now they have an EPK and this can be used for promotional purposes […] for a good long period of time.
Giuliana Cesarini: I have been on the WOMEX Jury for the second time. This year there were more proposals than before, but more time to prepare & discuss due to the new online submission process.
Cristina King Miranda: I liked being able to pre-select, the discussion in the little time of the Jury meeting is much richer. It gives the artists more time that they deserve. Wonderful!
Maarten Rovers: In general Sonicbids gave easy access to all the necessary information. Compared to previous years it seems like a huge step forward. I think the quality of the jury debate and the final decisions wouldn't have been possible without the use of Sonicbids or an alternative but similar system. Now we at least came somewhat prepared and therefore had time left for in depth discussion.
Benjamin Minimum: I think professionals who have problems with Sonicbids will have problems at work - their entire work. If they don't go [online] now, they will never go and they will be dead in a few years, that's what I think. […] It's a way to force them to modernise their work. They need to do it because if they don't they won't succeed in living anymore in this arts field."
Tobias Maier: It's a great tool… and it is definitely helping to shorten things up and to get a better impression because you are able to listen to the entries beforehand and not just during this limited time period at the Jury meeting. So - it's great!
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