A lot of you have been asking why I didn’t stay for the Doves this year.
I usually cover the event, but this year they moved the show from Wednesday to Thursday, which meant two extra days in Nashville. Since my roommate leaves on Wednesday afternoon, that would mean about $400 in hotel costs. I could have tried to move to another cheaper hotel, but then I’m scrambling for a ride to the event and then back to the hotel. Logistically, it’s a nightmare. (Trust me, I’ve done it for years just trying to go back to my regular hotel.) This year, I decided that I just couldn’t afford it.
The irony is that although GMA announced that the show on Thursday this year, it didn’t click with a lot of media folks, who booked flights home Thursday morning just like normal. So I don’t know who all is going to actually be there. There are a lot of major media outlets who come in just for the Doves. But the normal GMA media outlets? We’ll see who makes it.
Why the change in dates?
The off the record answer: they didn’t want to go head to head with the American Idol live results show. It’s a smart move, especially since so many Christians are watching the show to root for Danny Gokey and Kris Allen.
And let’s be honest: media at the Doves is backstage, stuck in a cramped press room. We don’t get to actually see the show; there is a TV that is on at the beginning, but the focus is on photo opps and quick Q&A time with the presenters and performers. In the past, I’ve pretty much come home with a cool list of “heard backstage” quotes, but when I factored in two more days away from work and the cost of staying, I just couldn’t do it.
I do wish I was there. The list of presenters is really good and I know it would be a good event to cover. But sometimes we just have to make choices. So rather than being away from my family for two more days, and spending more money on those two nights than I did on GMA week, I’m sitting at my computer with my cat on my lap and my dogs at my feet. I hope you can forgive me.
But you can catch the show live tonight on the Gospel Music Channel. If you’re watching, definitely chime in and share your thoughts!
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posted April 23, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Wouldn’t that be funny if NO media showed up to the Dove Awards…or is it Christian Music Awards…or whatev?
…cricket…cricket…cricket…
It could happen.
posted April 23, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Kevin, there is media going. I know the major media comes in just for the Doves. But more than a few of the regular GMAers didn’t even catch it was Thursday till a week before GMA. Everyone I talked to said it caught them by surprise. Oh well. You’ll have to watch it for me and report, since I don’t have cable! You can be my Dove Awards correspondent, seeing as how you’re all caught up on your sleep – hahaha!
Joanne
host of the GS blog
posted April 24, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I’m starting to wonder about the feasability of being a non-payrolled music ‘correspondent’ paying his own way to the GMA…. I came this close (my thumb and forefinger are a sixteenth of an inch apart) this year, but my finances said, “uh-uh.” Having never been there, it’s hard to weigh the options properly, I guess.
posted April 24, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Bert, I write for a variety of publications throughout the year, and the event really is helpful for me. I get to do a bunch of interviews, see some new artists I might otherwise ignore, and really build relationships. That’s really where the benefit comes. Since I’m media, I don’t pay for the tracks – my only costs are travel and hotel and meals.
If you write for the music industry, you really need to go. Although I’ve heard rumblings that there were some unhappy GMA members who have branched off to do their own event in the fall for radio. I heard that there was even talk about canceling this year’s event due to lack of registrations in the tracks.
But if you really want to know what’s going on in the industry, you need to meet people face to face – radio promoters, other journalists, publicists, etc. Assuming it happens next year! If so, catch up with me in maybe February and I can answer any questions you might have.
Joanne
host of the GS blog