2018 Cup format and rules discussion...

[martha]

Are we definitely keeping the 10 vs 10 format? If so, I'll probably not bother. No offense intended to the organiser, who puts the hard work in, and I genuinely love the cups here. Just the track vs track format means that at least all ten tracks will get listened to. I don't mind losing, I expect to. Just that last year I put a bit of thought into 10 varied tracks and got beat by a supermarket "best driving tracks" CD, and it seemed kinda pointless, and had no horse to back after a single day.

I'll still vote, but I'll not contribute.

If you feel track vs track is too much hassle, btw, ignore me. I didn't volunteer to run the thing

Hi folks. I'm moving discussion of this over here because I don't want the sign ups thread to get cluttered up with discussions about the rules and format.

Frankly, I don't care how it's done particularly, one year (2014) we did it differently -- we did ten tracks and switched out 1-5 of them each round., but the format has traditionally been 10 tracks, followed by 5 new tracks each subsequent round.

So, I'll run it however the boards want -- track by track or whatever floats the boat of the majority -- but I'd prefer to have consensus be the decider since I don't like making arbitrary decisions much.

What would Track by Track look like logistically for a cup with say...64 or 32 participants? I am unfamiliar with that format for things.

[PENK]

When I hosted the Cup a couple of times we had an 8+3 format: eight songs in round one, with three added each round.

It worked well as the lists were more compact, less unwieldy and offputting, while still offering scope for variety and creativity and personality. I think it was better than the classic 10+5 format, which just gets ridiculously long and boring by the final rounds.

The track vs track format is best saved for the round-robin tournaments like the '60s Cup, Prog Cup etc. For the overall BCB Cup there'd be too many ties.

[martha]

Well we'd finish by November.

[Velvis]

It's a lot of listening at ten tracks, but I like it. I feel I don't expose myself to enough new music these days and appreciate the opportunity. However, I'd just like a few days longer, at least in the first round, to listen and vote. I'm in rehearsal for two plays and have less free time.

[Neige]

FWIW, I'd favour a 5+2 format.

[Samoan]

As has been mentioned elsewhere, 8+3 was a good format if I recall: very enjoyable.

[Darkness_Fish]

Not to make it all about me, but I might consider a much shorter playlist. My main point is that it's more fun to have a horse to back for longer, with the playlist vs playlist format I've normally lost within a day, so it's not as engaging from that point on.

[PENK]

I don't think your problem is the format so much as the fact that nobody else on BCB is likely to vote for a mixture of '80s ambient industrial and modern acid folk recorded in a dog kennel in Minnesota.

[Darkness_Fish]

I don't think your problem is the format so much as the fact that nobody else on BCB is likely to vote for a mixture of '80s ambient industrial and modern acid folk recorded in a dog kennel in Minnesota.

Nah, I don't mind no-one voting for it, I just like the abuse to be stretched out a bit further. I'm one of those who slowly peels off a plaster

[Loki]

8 + 3 is good. And a bit of extra time in the first round would be preferable, yeah.


But I wouldn't complain about 10 + 5.

[toomanyhatz]

Another vote for 8+3, but as I said I'm down regardless. This is like a second Christmas for me.

[The Modernist]

I'll throw in my hat for 8 + 3 as well.

[clive gash]

I’d even go 6+3

[Goat Boy]

I'm a classicist so 10+5

[Darkness_Fish]

Do we have any consensus, or is it just ignore me and stick with the usual, given that I've abandoned my principles?

[The Modernist]

Do we have any consensus, or is it just ignore me and stick with the usual, given that I've abandoned my principles?

I get the impression, from comments here but also ones over the years, that people prefer a more pared down cup.

[Loki]

I’d even go 6+3

Hmmmmm, that could be interesting. With longer lists, songs can sometimes get 'buried'. 6 might have sharper focus.

[The Modernist]

I've picked my 8 tracks so I really hope that happens.

[martha]

Looks like 8+3 at the moment. FWIW I already factored a longer voting period/listing time for the 1st two rounds.

At present the polling/vote here plays out like this.

martha 10+5
PENK - 8+3 eight songs in round one, with three added each round.
Velvis - 10+5 and longer rounds at least initially, to listen and vote.
Neige 5+2 format.
Samoan 8+3
Darkness_Fish - 1 v 1 Track by Track or at least a much shorter playlist
Loki 8 + 3 and a longer first round
toomanyhatz 8+3
The Modernist 8 + 3
nev harp 6+3
Goat Boy 10+5

[Mike Boom]

10-5