I’m a sore winner
I’m a sore winner
Yup, I was most relieved to find I could hang onto my Best Design Blog laurels at last night’s SA Blog Awards ceremony. Thanks so much to everyone who voted for Skinny laMinx!
But now, much like this less hairy but more tacky pic below, this post is going to turn tasteless. So as my microcelebrity goes to my head and I believe that people care about my opinion, please bear with me while I waste some of my 15 minutes of fame.
This year’s awards were startlingly different from last year’s, in a couple of ways. Certainly, this year scored highly on the glamour stakes, with CheVelle nightclub throwing last year’s UCT tennis club venue sharply into the shade. Last year it was all jeans and Laugh It Off t-shirts, whereas this year sculpted hair and biceps, high heels and cleavage abounded.
So unsurprisingly, when I heard I won my category, I was convinced that last year’s prize of a tree, a widescreen monitor and a bottle of Vin de Constance would be topped in no uncertain terms. But alas, an oversized t-shirt, a couple of button badges, two coffee vouchers, a free entry to CheVelle’s birthday celebration, a bottle of whisky, oh, and an entire box of branded hacky sacks, left me feeling I’d picked up a conference goodybag rather than a prize.
Oh yes, and my goodybag included a book on e-marketing too. I haven’t read it (yet?), but I think that giving a blogger this kind of prize kind of sums up what was so different about this year’s awards:
You see, the marketing people are suddenly aware that, much like fixed-gear bikes, blogs are waaay cool and so naturally they want to cosy up. And cosy up they did, providing sponsorship in every way that would allow them to affix their logos to anything that moved, but I don’t think they’re entirely sure yet how blogs can actually make them money. So when it came to stumping up for the loot, they shuffled their feet, not wanting to overinvest, and just chucked more branded stuff into a bag.
I know, I know. Churlish is the word that must be applied to these musings. I’m a sore winner, it would seem, and for that I do apologise. Nonetheless, in retrospect, that shabby tennis club and the funny prize of a tree kind of encapsulates what I like so much about blogging: People spend time on it just because they like it, and not because of what it can get them. The world of marketing and branded sponsorships doesn’t seem a good fit with the generous, friendly and enthusiastic spirit I see fuelling the blogs I read. So please forgive my retro-grouch ramblings, which are more about coming to terms with my disappointment at the ways of the world than a lack of gratitude for my prize.
Anyone want a hacky sack?
Candied Fabrics
So, along with “it’s an honor just to be nominated”….now “it’s an honor to win”! You ARE a winner in my (and surely your other readers’) book!
Hyena In Petticoats
Hacky sacks?
Now that’s just damn weird.
Surely it should be a crime to deliver such tacky crap to a ‘Best Design Blog’ winner?
hmph.
Leah xx
Pattern and Perspective
That’s tacky tacky. Oh, well. Least you won, but maybe after all that it would be better not to. Maybe an award would have been just fine, minus all the crap-ola. Oh, well, be thankful for the honor I guess. Love the hairy chest (not really)
Bronson
I just dropped by to say congatulations and big up to you for winning South African Design Blog of the Year and wish you all the very best for the year ahead.
Thumbs up, way to go.
Buzz's Food Lady
Oh man, I hate it when I get freebies that I just know are destined for the landfill. I usually try to give them back right then and there…no YOU pollute, I don’t want to!!!!
Anyway, don’t let it overshadow the awesomeness of your award. woo hoo!
Shelley Noble
ew, how awful! That’s why I banned all festivals, contests, awards, all of it chucked! They all struck me as ridiculous several years ago in a flash of realization that I wasn’t interested in spending my time and money on pursuing cheap meaningless manipulative crap!
You are a brilliant illustrator and textile designer. Anyone who cares about your list of awards in order to give you a position or an order isn’t worth your time in my opinion.
Anonymous
I’m so pleased your blog won in this category – you deserve it, and I am pleased to see that my vote for you counted for something.
Congratulations on your win, and especially because your winning this category means that all is not lost: quality, consistency and good, original content still stand for something.
Sorry for posting anonymously but as a finalist I think it’s better to keep a paper bag on my head.
kris
Oh Heather ,I’m so sorry for your disappointment.How could they even thought that the winner of Best Design Blog category would appreciate that t-shirt…Someday I Will Rock… almost humiliating.Any way I’m so happy you won,throw away the gifts and think how sincerely we love your blog!
Shannon
Hahaha, you are hilarious Heather, I love it.
Congrats on the win and *&#@ the prizes. That is too funny.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
mizu designs
Congrats Heather! Your blog is beautiful and deserves to win.
As for your comments about marketing folk only really now figuring out blogs are cool etc etc, that is just so true. Took them long enough, don’t you think? I thought they were supposed to be on the pulse of stuff like this.
Cicada Studio
Ahhh. This was so refreshing and educational. I wonder how many winners from last year are feeling your exact discomfort and disillusion.
(Really? Was it necessary to give you an ENTIRE box of hacky sacks? Maybe next year they need to add some categories in order to spread the love).
Congrats anyway. At least the right person won!
CrowNology
Blegh! Hmmm…maybe a contest for something fabulous made from crappy hacky sacks?
Congrats on your win.
Andrea
Still think you could’ve won the humourous title too.
CrowNology
Blegh! Hmmm…maybe a contest for something fabulous made from crappy hacky sacks?
Congrats on your win.
Andrea
Still think you could’ve won the humourous title too.
Chakra Pennywhistle
I agree tacky and a bit mixed up. You hit the nail on the head….”The world of marketing and branded sponsorships doesn’t seem a good fit with the generous, friendly and enthusiastic spirit I see fuelling the blogs I read.”
That is exactly why I read yours. It is refreshing and a true inspiration. Perhaps the tree was the best award?
Congrats to you! Keep on doing what you are doing:)
Chakra Pennywhistle
I agree tacky and a bit mixed up. You hit the nail on the head….”The world of marketing and branded sponsorships doesn’t seem a good fit with the generous, friendly and enthusiastic spirit I see fuelling the blogs I read.”
That is exactly why I read yours. It is refreshing and a true inspiration. Perhaps the tree was the best award?
Congrats to you! Keep on doing what you are doing:)
Lara
Congratulations Heather! You don’t come across as a sore winner at all. A bunch of mass produced, earth polluting marketing crap goes completely against what blogging is all about!!!
A tree on the other hand is just about perfect 😉
Lara
Congratulations Heather! You don’t come across as a sore winner at all. A bunch of mass produced, earth polluting marketing crap goes completely against what blogging is all about!!!
A tree on the other hand is just about perfect 😉
Francesca
heather i totally agree. i’m always a bit disappointed when i see random ads appearing on the blogs i love. not that i don’t understand people wanting to make a bit of cash out of something they spend a lot of time doing, but it doesn’t quite sit right with me either.
well done on your award, well deserved. x
p.s. i thought you’d like to know that the word verification today is brests.
Heather Moore
Guys, your generous congrats and bloggy friendship are all the prize I need. You’re the best!
Masha
What comes to mind is…arb.
Its a bit like those christmas presents you get from relatives who really dont know you, and actually couldnt be bothered to get to know you better.
And maybe that is exactly what you are reacting to.
You know – “its the thought that counts” – exactly. Its the lack of thought that counts.
And good for you for writing about it too.
clare's craftroom
I understand how you must feel but I laughed anyway .
Kim Gray
Oh that’s hilarious! That was my first Blog awards and so didn’t know what to expect, the tennis club sounded sweet and more to the point!! Congrats again!parolk
Janne
That’s so funny! And a bit sad, of course…. Oh well, congratulations all the same!
Bob
Well done at being top design-blogger once mo(o)re Heather. The trinkets are nasty, unfortunately there is a pervasive thinking amongst those in marketing that these represent some value where-as in truth they are merely arterial plaque within an already congested consumptive system.
Kind of goes rather hard against the pervasive currents in creative blogging and to top it all the Whisky is pretty so-so too. However the hairy chest is just fab – go Paul – real top shelf stuff.
X Bob
kendalee
Congratulations and commiseration! They definitely missed the point and the prizes are awful (I think you were being quite kind). But I still think it’s very cool that you won. Well deserved!
kendalee
Congratulations and commiseration! They definitely missed the point and the prizes are awful (I think you were being quite kind). But I still think it’s very cool that you won. Well deserved!
Jesse
Hee hee! It looks like you spent the weekend at an IT conference – you should see the stash of rubbish gifts we have at home.
But congratulations anyway!!
Jesse
Hee hee! It looks like you spent the weekend at an IT conference – you should see the stash of rubbish gifts we have at home.
But congratulations anyway!!
Anonymous
Well as one of the prize sponsors, that’s the last time I pull a favour for a friend (the organiser) who really wanted to fill up your goody bags with whatever her could get to say “WELL DONE”. I guess if I was offering something along the designing world my sponsorship would be more appreciated. Next time I shall just give to a select few and then you’ll be moaning you didn’t get anything. Then again, at least I don’t work for Kick a sack who must be feeling the pinch of your sore winner behaviour. But I guess I do understand where you are coming from, marketers have started to notice the power of the blogger and you should be feeling really chuffed that you have that power too, so congratulations! Regarding your box of hacky sacks.. how about donating them to a township, a whole box of hacky sacks would be greatly appreciated by some under privileged kids and you might get some sort of gratitude and happiness by the feeling of giving to someone less fortunate than you… the greatest gift is giving is it not?
Karin
Congratulations on your win Heather!
ShiriMe!
you should give your logo’ed crap to an artist who will manipulate the heck out of that hackysack into something totally cooler and unrecognizable. i’m sure there must be some artist looking to rip into a yucky t-shirt and stuff. 🙂
congrats on winning!
Cecilia
Heather! You’re amazing!Such a light touch in getting you point across without offense! Thanks for a funny read. And eek! I forgot to vote…!(blush)so now I am exceptionally glad you won!Woohooo!
alex sunday
congratulations!
yes, a whole box of hacky sacks seems excessive (gifting them is a good idea) but i do like the look of that t-shirt! why the need for a prize anyway? surely winning is the prize?
Anonymous
I commented to a friend that the sponsors seem to be coming out of the woodworks to offer prizes (or “prizes”, although the whiskey seemed like a decent inclusion…and what writer doesn’t drink 🙂 yet where are they the rest of the year when blogging actually needs support (and I don’t mean with prizes)? The branding all over the awards ceremony was unpleasant as it felt as if the awards were being overrun by a marketing exercise.
julochka
big congrats on the win, but sorry about the “prizes.” at least it was fodder for a blog. 🙂 heehee. but a tree would have been much nicer.
julochka
i always read the other comments AFTER i comment…but it kinda stinks that someone who was an actual sponsor posts their comment as “anonymous.” if you stand behind what you say, you sign it, right? silly.
Suzanne Stokes
Congratulations on winning a much deserved award. I sponsored the Whisky as I really stand behind the calibre of our proudly South African Bloggers and I thought the one and only proudly 100% South African Whisky would make a nice pairing 🙂 Sincere apologies if it’s not for you but I suggest you give it to your Grand father / boyfriend/ husband or a good mate who will receive great joy from it.
Unfortunately, with marketing and sponsorships this issue will always come up but I can honestly say if I worked for a design company and not a liquor company I would have deservedly sponsored you a relevant prize for what you do. I also hope that next year, all those other big corporate’s who don't yet recognise the power of the online medium/bloggers/social networking (which I think is the greatest thing since Google because your blogs teach others and this power of education and communication is so easily within our reach to learn and grow, THANK YOU) hopefully they will start recognising your contribution to our expanding knowledge base by sponsoring prizes that go hand in hand with the category of each award. Wouldn’t that be ideal? But baby steps, at least there were still sponsors this year.
Did Yuppie Chef sponsor a relevant prize to the best food & beverage award? If they did, then well done Yuppie Chef for recognising this relevance. (my point proven that it seems like only online companies like Yuppie Chef and blog lovers like myself, are standing behind and proudly sponsoring these online awards.) Congratulations once again to you Heather (you got my vote) and all the other deserving winners and I hope you find some small pleasure in my whisky gesture!
Heather Moore
Suzanne, many thanks for your gracious response to my moany groany post. You’re right, I wasn’t complaining about the prizes, per se, just about their appropriateness to the blogging scene. Your comment about baby steps towards that goal is a good one – thanks for that. And really, your bottle of whisky and the Yuppiechef voucher were the real prizes in the pack, and are both much appreciated.
lula cat
wow..hackey sacks, isn’t that the game teenage stoners play? Straight to the chairtybag!
So glad you won, I like it when I vote for something/someone and it wins, I feel like I win too.
They should really give out prizes made by other bloggers in your category…or find some little blogs to submit something to get exposure or just to contribute,I know I would.
xx
Congratulations!!
(Maybe a game of hackey later?)
Heather Moore
Love that idea, Lula Cat! Bloggers supporting bloggers makes sense to me. If the blog awards dudes read this, please take note: I would be more than happy to be a sponsor of prizes for next year’s awards. Serious! I’d make a limited edition blog awards tea towel for winners only. Or maybe a coffee mug. Cool idea!
Anairam
Congratulations, Heather! But I absolutely understand your issue with the prizes – they seem to be entirely irrelevant to your type of blog, and yes, I think you hit the nail on the head with the marketing guys elbowing in on what seems to be the next cool thing that can make their companies money. Sometimes no prize is better than a box of hacky sacks.
Yardwork
Let’s see….how shall I put this. I don’t like marketing people. Although, I think I need one desperately!
Anabel Fournier
Congratulations! You have a great blog and this is well deserved. Prize or no prize it takes a lot of work to keep up with the blog and I think that the comments a appreciation of others are better than any prize… but the idea of sponsoring sound great. Congrats!
picciolo
just wanted to say congratulations!!
: )
mandy
i didn’t know hacky sacks still existed – let alone that anyone still might want to use one? (insert flashback to 1992 Grade 10 grunge here). congrats though!
mandy
i didn’t know hacky sacks still existed – let alone that anyone still might want to use one? (insert flashback to 1992 Grade 10 grunge here). congrats though!
alistair
congrats, never read your blog, like your ‘acceptance speach’. Mandy, hackysacks are good fun and really work those upper thighs.
alistair
congrats, never read your blog, like your ‘acceptance speach’. Mandy, hackysacks are good fun and really work those upper thighs.
griffin
You have lots of chest hair for a chick. Sies.
Anonymous
Congratulations! I just smiled when I read your post. Over the days surrounding the blog awards I was on a course that tackled marketing online and I have the same textbook. Keep doing what you do, your blog is an inspiration.
griffin
By text book you surely mean the book I wrote “Is Dit Net Ek Of Is Als Tos?”
If you unnerstand Afrikaans stukkend, drop me a mail. I’ll send you a copy.
If not, don’t.
Heather Moore
Har de har, Griffin!
Thanks for all the other comments, chaps. I’ll be eating a bit of humble pie over this post tomorrow, I think, so watch this space…