Standing on ceremony

For awards like the Oscars or the Emmys there is a huge function at crack of dawn prior to the awards so all the stars can find out if they have been nominated.

Usually the world’s press is squeezed into a room as each category and the nominees are announced. Quite a hullabaloo is made of the whole affair. Champagne flows as soon as your name has been announced, and you hear from every side, I’m just happy to be nominated.

So what do we do here in Sydney for our very own big awards ceremony? This week the nominations for this year’s DIVAs will be released and I can assure you that you will not hear too many saying I’m just happy to be nominated.

More likely I want it! There won’t be the grand ceremony we are all used to on television, and showgirls will have to settle for the nominations to be released through our very own Sydney Star Observer . For all those who can’t wait -“ yes, I’m sure that will be me -“ the Star can be found at most venues by Thursday.

Last year we found nominations created quite a stir with showgirls around town pushing for the DIVA board to seriously reconsider how they would be organised for 2006.

Printing nominations for committee-voted awards shone a huge spotlight on those shows that had been chosen but in turn also shone an even brighter light on those forgotten.

When you work your arse off for a year, it is easy to forget it’s not just about an award. If your public loves you and comes and sees you (or reads you), then that should be enough.

We don’t do all this for awards, though god dammit it feels great to win one. (Hopefully the Media Award will be reinstated for this year’s awards -“ god knows I whinged enough for it to be.)

Nominations for all the awards that our DIVA committee will be voting on should be released this week. But when do you have your say? Public voting will take place 26 August at the Colombian Hotel from noon to 5pm. This is for the awards that the public is able to decide.

EYESPY Last Saturday Stonewall and the Saturday Night DIVAs opened the brand new 80s Show starring Vanity Faire, new girl Beyonce G Spot and me.

The show went well though I did end up with a bucket on my head, and felt a little bit strange being the only one in the room who actually had the singles of all the tracks performed. Show times are 11pm, midnight and 1am.