Another Fandom Idea: Fandom Idol
Jul. 28th, 2004 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
slumberI didn't get any sleep last night, so blame that.
Anyway, I'm not sure if you know of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hp_survivor, but, well, bloody brilliant RPG, right? And then there were other suggestions for adaptations of reality-based shows, too, and it got me thinking of what other possibilities there are.
I've only really watched Survivor, and then a bit of American Idol, so I thought of that. American Idol, Harry Potter style. Except, I'm sure you realize by now too, how will Draco showcase his singing capabilities on LJ?
The best thing would be to judge writing. And this is where Fandom Idol comes in. Which is, basically, working under the same notion as American Idol does, in that it's primarily a talent search, but this time, for writing. And for people in the fandom who are still relatively unknown but are incredibly good writers.
Mechanics:
So far, here's how I plan the timeline to go:
First, there will be a week of general try-outs, where people will post drabbles in the comments section of one post, and a group of extra judges will screen these drabbles. If they're good enough, they get to posting access to the community for the eliminations rounds.
Then there will be the first round of eliminations, which will take around a week or so. Drabbles are to be posted again, and extra judges will either say yes or no. Those who pass will go into the second round, where the number of people in has to be cut down to 32.
This is where the three judges come in. They will have to rank whoever's left and pick out the top 32 writers from the pile of double drabbles. This, I imagine, will take 2-3 weeks.
Once the top 32 have been chosen, there will be five weeks of writing challenges. Each week will have eight writers, and after they've posted their fics the judges will have their say on it, and then there will be a poll. The top two writers will move on to the next round. On the fifth week, the judges will choose eight of the past writers who didn't make it to the top two and give them a second chance (really much like American Idol) with another challenge. This time, the top four writers will move on to the final twelve.
This is actually where the real competition begins. I'm still deciding on the time frame, but the idea is that for every round, writers are given a certain genre/style/theme to incorporate in a fic with a minimum of 500 words. They put the fics up, the three judges scrutinize and give their comments, and time is set aside for voting. At the beginning of the next challenge, the writer with the least number of votes is eliminated, and the next week's challenge is given, and this goes on until there is only one writer left, and he/she will be the Fandom Idol.
So I've got the flow pretty much worked out. But I have a couple of problems, and I really will appreciate it if you all tell me what you think. (And yes, please do pimp this to whoever you can pimp this to.)
Problems:
1. Who will the judges be? Here I was thinking I'd either hold an application for the positions of Simon, Randy and Paula, but then where would the credibility of judges lie on? My own judgment? So I was thinking maybe reccers. Reccers are good, but which ones? And who would be inclined to accept this kind of job?
I realize that in the end, the judges will only really matter in that they're the ones who give out concrit (well, that matters a lot), but they're also the ones in charge of weeding out the competition, and that's really quite important.
2. Who qualifies for contestants? Naturally, in American Idol, established people don't join, but what quantifies being an "established member of the fandom" anyway? BNF-ness is a pretty sensitive subject, and frankly, I have little to no idea as to who BNFs are in each area of the fandom. How could contestants be qualified?
3. And this one really concerns me. Do you honestly think there will be people out there who will want to try out and join? I mean, is there a market in the fandom for this sort of thing? It's really just an idea, but I'd like to see it happen. (Like that other idea I had before. Wah.) Because, well, this thing would take plenty of effort. The winner would be writing a different fic per week for more than three months, see.
I really need to know what everyone thinks, because I want to do this, but if it is in any way infeasible, I guess I'd rather just not. And ask your flist to tell me what they think, too.
Anyway, I'm not sure if you know of
hp_survivor, but, well, bloody brilliant RPG, right? And then there were other suggestions for adaptations of reality-based shows, too, and it got me thinking of what other possibilities there are.I've only really watched Survivor, and then a bit of American Idol, so I thought of that. American Idol, Harry Potter style. Except, I'm sure you realize by now too, how will Draco showcase his singing capabilities on LJ?
The best thing would be to judge writing. And this is where Fandom Idol comes in. Which is, basically, working under the same notion as American Idol does, in that it's primarily a talent search, but this time, for writing. And for people in the fandom who are still relatively unknown but are incredibly good writers.
Mechanics:
So far, here's how I plan the timeline to go:
First, there will be a week of general try-outs, where people will post drabbles in the comments section of one post, and a group of extra judges will screen these drabbles. If they're good enough, they get to posting access to the community for the eliminations rounds.
Then there will be the first round of eliminations, which will take around a week or so. Drabbles are to be posted again, and extra judges will either say yes or no. Those who pass will go into the second round, where the number of people in has to be cut down to 32.
This is where the three judges come in. They will have to rank whoever's left and pick out the top 32 writers from the pile of double drabbles. This, I imagine, will take 2-3 weeks.
Once the top 32 have been chosen, there will be five weeks of writing challenges. Each week will have eight writers, and after they've posted their fics the judges will have their say on it, and then there will be a poll. The top two writers will move on to the next round. On the fifth week, the judges will choose eight of the past writers who didn't make it to the top two and give them a second chance (really much like American Idol) with another challenge. This time, the top four writers will move on to the final twelve.
This is actually where the real competition begins. I'm still deciding on the time frame, but the idea is that for every round, writers are given a certain genre/style/theme to incorporate in a fic with a minimum of 500 words. They put the fics up, the three judges scrutinize and give their comments, and time is set aside for voting. At the beginning of the next challenge, the writer with the least number of votes is eliminated, and the next week's challenge is given, and this goes on until there is only one writer left, and he/she will be the Fandom Idol.
So I've got the flow pretty much worked out. But I have a couple of problems, and I really will appreciate it if you all tell me what you think. (And yes, please do pimp this to whoever you can pimp this to.)
Problems:
1. Who will the judges be? Here I was thinking I'd either hold an application for the positions of Simon, Randy and Paula, but then where would the credibility of judges lie on? My own judgment? So I was thinking maybe reccers. Reccers are good, but which ones? And who would be inclined to accept this kind of job?
I realize that in the end, the judges will only really matter in that they're the ones who give out concrit (well, that matters a lot), but they're also the ones in charge of weeding out the competition, and that's really quite important.
2. Who qualifies for contestants? Naturally, in American Idol, established people don't join, but what quantifies being an "established member of the fandom" anyway? BNF-ness is a pretty sensitive subject, and frankly, I have little to no idea as to who BNFs are in each area of the fandom. How could contestants be qualified?
3. And this one really concerns me. Do you honestly think there will be people out there who will want to try out and join? I mean, is there a market in the fandom for this sort of thing? It's really just an idea, but I'd like to see it happen. (Like that other idea I had before. Wah.) Because, well, this thing would take plenty of effort. The winner would be writing a different fic per week for more than three months, see.
I really need to know what everyone thinks, because I want to do this, but if it is in any way infeasible, I guess I'd rather just not. And ask your flist to tell me what they think, too.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 07:39 am (UTC)*wondering why you haven't pimped my survey* ;)
no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 08:25 am (UTC)Anyway, I'll help out any way you want. It would be really cool too, because once you have the finalists, you can have weekly challenges or something where you make them write really obscure ships or something. :D Stuff like that anyway. So, anyway, if you want me to do anything, send me stuff at my gmail addy.
whispers: you are still interested in the big brother thing though, yeah?
Love GF.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 09:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 11:33 am (UTC)jointhink about it. Depending on when it starts, and on work/school when it starts up again. Not that I'd expect to win but it might be good for a laugh.And will pimp. *adds to 'to pimp' list*
no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 12:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 01:56 pm (UTC)As to judges, I think the reccers idea is a good one, or maybe you could get the people who seem too well known to acually be contestants. You'd figure if they write that well, they should be able to tell what good writing is..
no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 04:01 pm (UTC)And the judges definitely should be reccers or nifflers. And I agree with what was said above. Defnitely be careful with the judges. ^_^
GENIUS!
Ace
no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 06:08 pm (UTC)Also, I agree that the "judges" should be people that either are really good writers who don't feel like writing (but can spot the good writing), nifflers, or reccers.
You need to make sure that the people who judge don't are open to all ships (because a contestant could write something they really don't like). And there should be different categories for every week.
I'd DEFINITELY love to do this. Be a contestant, I mean. And I shall pimp on my journal.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 04:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 04:54 am (UTC)*meeps* I can't pimp it anymore now, can I? I'm sorry...
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 04:55 am (UTC)whispers: Yes, of course. Can hardly wait, actually. :D
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 04:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 04:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 04:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 04:58 am (UTC)Tell me what you think would be the best way to get judges? :P
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 05:00 am (UTC)If reccers would be interested in it, though. I don't think that the popular ones should be the contestants, though, as that would leave too much room for wanking. Unless you meant make them judges?
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 05:01 am (UTC)Reccers, eh? How do I pick them? How do they even get interested? I never really thought picking the judges would be the toughest kink to iron out, but now it seems to be the case. Oh, woe, how can this be dealt with?
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 05:04 am (UTC)Of course, lack of bias is the number one criterion. And yeah, there will be different categories, and I'm guessing there might be a week for obscure ships, another for popular ones that should be non-cliche, etc. I'm getting so many ideas for what goes on each week, actually, except I'm not telling, because you'll be joining! :P (And for that, I shall *schnoogle* you! :D)
Aw, thanks for the pimping! :D
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 05:08 am (UTC)whispers: I am glad. I'll keep you posted.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 10:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 12:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 02:34 pm (UTC)Hm... You could go find the Nifflers at FA and ask some of them, or you could post an Ad at [Unknown site tag].
Ace
Did that link work?
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 02:34 pm (UTC)Ace
no subject
Date: 2004-07-31 06:09 am (UTC)