The Vancouver Island Music Awards, which ran from 2002 to 2007, will come out of retirement in 2011! And the event will be bigger & better than ever!
The 2011 Event
The 2011 ceremony will take place in June 2011 in Courtenay BC and will feature performances by Vancouver Island’s hottest acts in a wide range of genres, high-profile presenters, and of course the presentation of the coveted awards. And, as always, the event is open to the public!
History
The VIMAs were held in Victoria from 2002 to 2006, then in Nanaimo in 2007. The event has involved such high-profile Canadians as Neil Osbourne of 54/40, Will Millar of the Irish Rovers, Vince Ditrich of Spirit of the West, TV icon Terry David Mulligan, country recording artist Sean Hogan, and Nanaimo blues rocker David Gogo, to name a few. VIMA performers also include Armchair Cynics, Christine Evans, and Jets Overhead. Every year, the event has been a packed house, filled with island musicians, media, presenters, sponsors, promoters, label reps, artist managers, venue managers, and music fans! And there is always a wonderful exciting energy that fills the room, as moment after moment of anticipation and celebration builds to an emotionally-charged grand finale.
The Mission Statement
The goal of the VIMAs is to (1) CELEBRATE the Vancouver Island music scene, (2) Build AWARENESS of this scene among the general public on the island and across Canada, (3) Provide a NETWORKING opportunity between artists and music industry representatives, (4) Acknowledge & Reward EXCELLENCE in the artistry and work ethic of Island artists, (5) EMPOWER & ENCOURAGE Island Artists to pursue their musical dreams, (6) Set a positive and professional example for YOUTH (and the young at heart!) who are pursuing a career in music.
VIMA Jury
Every year, music industry representatives are carefully selected so that the jury is comprised of a fair cross-section of knowledgeable and accredited professionals from all corners of the Island’s music business. 2011 Jurors will be announced closer to the event.
Submissions
The submission period for Island artists wanting the VIMA Jury to hear their music is September 1 to December 31, 2010. Artists must have had residency for a minimum of 6 months on the island, have released their album between January 1st 2009 and December 31st 2010, must be in CD Format, and must be a minimum of 30 minutes in length.
Categories
* Artist of the Year * Album of the Year * Song of the Year * Female Vocalist of the Year * Male Vocalist of the Year * Female Songwriter of the Year * Male Songwriter of the Year * Producer of the Year * Best Live Act * Youth Artist of the Year * Youth Album of the Year * Youth Song of the Year
* If you operate a Vancouver Island business and would like to sponsor one of these awards, call James Kasper at (250) 885-5988 or e-mail info@jameskasper.com for information. Benefits of sponsorship: High-visibility exposure before, during, and after the event, as well as free tickets to the ceremony and the opportunity to play an important role in supporting island arts & culture.
What to Include in your Submission
* CD (30 mins +) * Bio (1 page) * Contact Info (Name of Act, Contact Name, Website address, e-mail address, Phone number, Mailing address) * Proof of Vancouver Island Residency (e.g. photocopy of phone bill with Artist’s name and current address on it) * DVD of live performance (If you would like to be considered in the Best Live Act category) * Photocopy of Birth Certificate (If you would like to be considered in any of the Youth categories. Youth Artists must be between the ages of 6 and 18, inclusively). * Indication of any award categories you would like to Opt-Out of / not be considered in. * Processing Fee of $30 (non-refundable) per Artist/Act (Note: Regardless of whether or not your act is nominated for an award, each applicant will receive 2 tickets to the VIMA ceremony…This pair of tickets is valued at $40…a $10 value). Please make cheque or money order payable to Vancouver Island Music Awards).
Where to Send Your Submission
Vancouver Island Music Awards, P.O. Box 8252, Victoria BC V8W 3R9
Volunteers
Volunteering is a great way to get involved in your local community initiatives, make new friends with similar interests, get complimentary passes, and be a part of the wonderful VIMA Team! If you are available to distribute posters & flyers i advance of the event or with a variety of things on the days leading up to the event and on the day of the event, e-mail James at info@jameskasper.com
Follow VIMA on Twitter! @vimusicawards ….. The Vancouver Island Music Awards are a proud presentation of James Kasper Productions. For more information on this exciting, community-minded organization, visit:
http://jameskasperproductions.wordpress.com
…Check back often, as more details will be posted here regularly!
James Kasper, Producer, Vancouver Island Music Awards – “Making Beautiful Music Together on Vancouver Island”
info@jameskasper.com or Ph: (250) 885-5988.
