How to run a successful AMV contest?

[LeetStreetBoys]

Our band is interested in holding an AMV contest for one of our songs in the future. I am looking for recommendations on how to run a successful contest (with lots of entries, high quality entries, happy authors, etc.)

1. How do we get the song in the hands of AMV authors who are serious about participating? (We're selling the song to fans, but I don't mind giving it to serious AMV creators IF they are serious.)

2. What is a good prize to offer for the contest winner(s)?

3. How much time is needed for AMV authors to enter and produce good work?

Thanks for the feedback!

[Bauzi]

yay LeetStreetBoys are back on the forums! I like you guys.

I would like to help you with my personal opinion:

1. How do we get the song in the hands of AMV authors who are serious about participating? (We're selling the song to fans, but I don't mind giving it to serious AMV creators IF they are serious.)

Offer an mp3 version and a PCM .wav version of the song. Pass the download link to editors who registered via email or something for the contest. However I don't know how to save your work to people who are serious to enter.

2. What is a good prize to offer for the contest winner(s)?

Ah... money is a good motivator, but since you're a band I would suggest stuff like signed cds, t-shirts, ipods with your music on it... or simpel anime dvds. Feature the winning videos on your website.

3. How much time is needed for AMV authors to enter and produce good work?

I can't really judge this. Personally I need around 2-4 months for producin a video. However the editing speed can highly vary between editors. I wouldn't announce your contest to early. People might lose interesst after some time or actually forget to edit for it (because they delay the working on the amv until they forget it).

[Fall_Child42]

2. What is a good prize to offer for the contest winner(s)?

ONE...
MILLION...
DOLLARS!

Woah suddenly old pop culture references. Hundreds of them!

[BaitMaster]

2. What is a good prize to offer for the contest winner(s)?

http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv59 ... r_Evil.jpg (Converted quoted image to link)

ONE...
MILLION...
DOLLARS!

Woah suddenly old pop culture references. Hundreds of them!

X] its funny because you ask what is good prize and he says "One million dollars." its from austin power movie. oh ho ho.

[Onibakun]

Reference Galore!

[LeetStreetBoys]

HEEHEE, go Doctor Evil!


1. Doing a sign-up via email to obtain the song is a great idea. That should be enough to weed out the slackers.

2. I'm not opposed to offering a monetary prize as long as the entries are high quality. What do we do if the contest does not draw a lot of interest, and the small amount of entries are weak?

How about offering prizes for first through third place? Like $75 for first, $50 for second and $25 for 3rd. Or is it better to offer one big prize for first place and not reward anybody else? What is preferred?

3. How about if we announced a contest in the beginning of October and a deadline of the beginning of December? Is that enough time for talented AMV creators to do their best work?

[Moonlight Soldier]

While I wouldn't mind the monetary option, it's a bit sketchy to offer money given we'd be using copyrighted source (IE: the video component) to make the video. It might be safer to give a prize value, for example $75 as you suggested, and when you pick the winner have them decide their own prize up to that amount. (IE: gift card, dvds etc ...) It might be safer that way.

I also like the idea Bauzi had about featuring the winning video on your site with props/link to whoever the creator is.

[Kitsuner]

2. I'm not opposed to offering a monetary prize as long as the entries are high quality. What do we do if the contest does not draw a lot of interest, and the small amount of entries are weak?

How about offering prizes for first through third place? Like $75 for first, $50 for second and $25 for 3rd. Or is it better to offer one big prize for first place and not reward anybody else? What is preferred?

The only other AMV contest I can remember that gave out money (TRWYP) surprisingly had only one editor finish anything the first year, and the second time there were only three entries done. Most of those videos were pretty decent though, so take that as you will.

I generally like to see multiple prizes, though since you're offering only one song, a single prize would probably make more sense.

[Bakadeshi]

if you did the money option for prizes, i'd also throw in stuff that doesn't cost you too much, like a signed CD, t-shirt, etc, and the same can be offered as second/third place prizes aswell. (i'd also feature the second/third place vids on the site aswell) and just give out the big prize for first place.

1-2 months should be enough time to allow any serious editor to put out something good, so long as it doesn't conflict with another major con/contest event. I would stay away from awa, Otakon, animethon, etc type contest dates, since the good editors would be busy churning out vids for those. after awa (sep 19th) I think your good uptil the new year as far as major amv contests goes.

[LeetStreetBoys]

if you did the money option for prizes, i'd also throw in stuff that doesn't cost you too much, like a signed CD, t-shirt, etc, and the same can be offered as second/third place prizes aswell. (i'd also feature the second/third place vids on the site aswell) and just give out the big prize for first place.

1-2 months should be enough time to allow any serious editor to put out something good, so long as it doesn't conflict with another major con/contest event. I would stay away from awa, Otakon, animethon, etc type contest dates, since the good editors would be busy churning out vids for those. after awa (sep 19th) I think your good uptil the new year as far as major amv contests goes.

If we did the gift certificate option, what would be a good one to offer? Gamestop? Funimation?

Would it be too much wishful thinking to hope that people would submit an AMV with our song to the major contests?