Who says Americans don't vote in mid-term elections? They certainly vote when it comes to the Preliminary Ballot for 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards. During the first three weeks of voting which began on Tuesday, November 4 (ironically, Election Day), there were more than 5,300 votes cast in the 17 categories. The polls close at noon on November 30. If you have not yet cast your ballots for which cabaret performers should be on the final nominations ballot, now's the time. You'll will find the 17 voting categories here: Voting link here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/PHXSCWM Your job, cabaret fans and lovers, is to select three to six choices (depending on the category) among the performers and shows you believe deserving of a designation as a final Awards ballot nominee. There can be only one ballot cast per computer. One note to all preliminary ballot nominees: While this voting process is open to anyone, we would appreciate you promoting votes to people who have at least seen your show or other cabaret shows in New York in the past year. Also, we strongly urge all voters to cast ballots for the maximum number of nominees specified in each category for this reason: BWW does not want "ballot stuffing" to influence the final vote. If the vote for a leading candidate or candidates in any category appears appears disproportionately much higher then for the rest of the candidates in that category--or over the total vote in general--it means that high numbers of voters are casting ballots for just one candidate in order to skew the vote. If BWW staff feels this is happening we will consider eliminatiing that candidate from final ballot consideration. At the end of this voting period on November 30, BWW staff will tabulate the votes and the highest preliminary ballot vote getters--anywhere from five to 15 depending the size of the category and the spread of the votes--will be considered official 2014 BWW New York Cabaret Award Nominees. With the exception of the categories for "One Show/One Night Special Event" and "Best Duo Show" (two shows, minimum), all "Show" category preliminary ballot names were based on a minimum of three performances. As opposed to the "Best Show" categories, performer names in the "Best Vocalist" categories did not have to perform a three-show run during the November 2013-October 2014 calendar year, but frequently performed at various venues and in variety shows during the year: Voting link here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/PHXSCWM To be clear: This preliminary ballot is NOT a list of nominees. We ask you not to promote or declare them as such in press releases and/or social media posts. When the official nominations list is announced at the beginning of December, there will be a month-long Awards voting period and votes will be tabulated in percentages in real time in the BroadwayWorld Cabaret section. In mid-February (date to be announced soon), the Award winners (as many as are available) will perform at the third annual BWW Cabaret Awards show, again this year at Joe's Pub and again hosted by BWW's main cabaret reviewer and columnist Stephen Hanks. In addition to the winners of these 17 categories, at the end of the Awards voting period in January, special "Editor's Awards" will be announced for: Best CD Recording (Studio or Live); Excellence in Songwriting (with emphasis on work produced in the last two years); and Dedication and Devotion to the Art of Cabaret (last year's award went to Don't Tell Mama Manager and Cabaret Performer Sidney Myer). Ready, Set, VOTE! Voting link here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/PHXSCWM
