Week 10 Voting

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

The first thing we need to deal with today is the bye-outs. Individuals who are out of byes and who missed posting a topic this week.

It's a smaller list than it has been the past couple of weeks, but no less of a sad one.

Leaving us this week are:


ageofscorpio
fleeceblankie
sherriola

Which brings us to 117 current contestants.

*smiles* Congratulations Top 117. I really hope you took my advice and *proved* that you belonged to be in the Top Half. I saw at least one person who deciphered what I was saying there - and imagine that a few others did as well. Because the answer to your next question of "Where is the poll?" is THERE ISN'T ONE THIS WEEK.

It's the GATEKEEPER ROUND

One of the things that I hear most often is "Why don't you have a panel of judges to weed through the contestants early on?" The Gatekeepers are that panel. Hand selected individuals that I trust to give me their honest opinions on what they see working, and what they don't. Every season there comes a time when I hand over things to people that I trust, to make the best possible decisions about who will be going forward.

(Note for clarification particularly for newbies: Once the Gatekeeper round is concluded I will announce, and thank, them in a public post. They will then comment as much or little, depending on their personal preference, about their decision making process. I don't even let Gatekeepers know *for sure* who the others are until I announce it to everyone.)

We don't do this early on, because no one is really ready for it early on. You are getting to know the process and each other. At Week 10? At Week 10 you should know to bring something you are happy with each and every week. You know that anything can happen and you might be going home at any time.

Compared to other eliminations, this one is going to be fairly on the brutal side.

I'm not going to lie about that. The Gatekeeper round always is. How many are going? I'll be honest- I've given them discretion. (like every other vote they vote FOR an entry, not against.)

I would say though that the chances are very, very good that at the end of this we will be at our Top 100.

I've given them until Monday evening to make their determinations. If I get in all of their votes before that point though, I will be posting them.

Good luck to all of you.

(The entries themselves - for people wanting to catch up and read for yourselves: http://www.ljidol.info/joomla15/current/topic-10-open-topic.html . Thanks to our friends at .info)

Comments

[worldofcharlie.livejournal.com]

So..err...are you going to announce who they are???

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I always do once it's over.

[sdaisyk.livejournal.com]

Glad I took a bye and didn't try to force my flu brain to write something.

[in48frames.livejournal.com]

Pretty exciting! :P

[strryeyedgrrl.livejournal.com]

Oooh, nice toss-up this week.

I'm crossing my fingers to see how I do this week. Last season, I was voted off during a travel week, so let's hope that's not the case this time around as well.

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

HOLY CRAP! *flails*

[java-fiend.livejournal.com]

Scary, ain't it?

[pricelessone.livejournal.com]

This is a nail-biter! I didn't know things like this were even a possibility! But it will definitely shake things up. And regardless of what happens, I am happy with what I did this week. I hope others are, as well!

Best of luck to everyone!

[mermaidkween.livejournal.com]

Oh, goodness. Hopefully enough people like me, then...eep.

[stormkitty.livejournal.com]

Well, my heart just dropped into my stomach. Good luck everyone!

[beloved-tree.livejournal.com]

Oh, my stars and garters. *dies of flail*

[alephz.livejournal.com]

THIS.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Good luck, everyone! I've enjoyed reading the entries this week, even though I can't vote.

[adpaz.livejournal.com]

*bites nails nervously* I'm happy with what I wrote, but that's happened before and I haven't gotten good votes so I don't always end up being a good judge of what others want.

Still, with that said, good luck to all!

[mstrobel.livejournal.com]

I'm mildly terrified right now!

[alephz.livejournal.com]

Join the club. But it certainly adds a fairly heavy layer of excitement for Monday, I daresay.

[sra33.livejournal.com]

*raises eyebrow* Wut?

[agirlnamedluna.livejournal.com]

Oh goodness, just what I needed after this week. Thwarts the purpose of my post too as I expect even less comments than usually now :P

[drjeff.livejournal.com]

Yours is very, very worth reading.

[hightekvagabond.livejournal.com]

DOH!

I had it in the back of my brain that this was due on Sunday, was going to write it tonight.

I guess I lucked out and get a bye on the dreaded gatekeepers.

[drjeff.livejournal.com]

Yet another reason that I'm glad that I have absolutely no idea what the hell is going on around here. :)

And, condolences to those who byed out.

And, YIKES.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

That's usually for the best, for the most part, the moment you *think* you have everything figured out, is usually the moment that rug is about to move and drop you into a pit! ;)

[worldofcharlie.livejournal.com]

So this means..probably last chance to take Byes???

I've already taken all of them anyways...so it's until I'm eliminated....

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, interesting twist! Let us (OK, let ME, at least) hope the gatekeepers are kind toward my entry and competition status, as well as toward some of the very spectacular writers that have made it to the top half of this competition!

Good luck, writers :)

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I don't think you have anything to worry about!

[lyrical-liessss.livejournal.com]

This kind of scares me because I work two jobs, and go to school full time, therefore not having a lot of time to really participate in greenrooms and everything. I really hope I make it to the next round.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

this is the round when GR activity matters the least. I know in the past, many gatekeepers have said they've deliberately avoided reading anything Idol related so that they can come to entries fresh.

I liked your entry this week. I think you'll be fine.

[creature-girl08.livejournal.com]

My, my, I knew this was coming. And how interesting that it happened the week of my next goal in staying in idol. Whatever happens I will know that I wrote something i am happy with. Wishes all the best.

[lyrical-liessss.livejournal.com]

I fully agree.

[callistahogan.livejournal.com]

Oh, God. I took a bye, and in hindsight, I'm so glad I did. I would not be too thrilled with my chances if I had tried to write an entry in the 45 minutes I had when I remembered my entry still wasn't done this afternoon. *flails*

Eeek, but this is still so terrifying. I wish everyone the best!

[talon.livejournal.com]

Mmm, I took a chance and wrote an entry even though I wasn't sure of the concept. But that's what it's all about, right? Pushing one's limits.

Best of luck to everyone, of course.

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

I did pretty much the same thing- I don't know if it came together the way I'd like, but it's too late now! :D

[norda.livejournal.com]

1] Re: those leaving us through bye-outs... you will all be missed.

2] Re: Gatekeepers...

Fascinating, Captain.

I vaguely remember the Gatekeeper rounds from prior seasons, but this will be the first time I'm experiencing it first-hand.

In my eyes, as least as far as my personal standards go, I'll still be happy even if I get voted out this week, because I managed to stay in longer this season than last [by a margin of Two! Whole! Topics!].

Last season I dropped out of the game... prematurely, as it turned out.. after Topic 8.

I've given myself some chance to flex this season, and I haven't outright *hated* anything I've submitted, although I'm always surprised at which pieces of mine spur the most positive reaction, and which have garnered apathy.

My submission for this week's topic is more reactive than introspective, and less essay-ish than is my wont. We'll see what the Gatekeepers say.

Best of luck to all still in it.

[cheshire23.livejournal.com]

I haven't outright *hated* anything I've submitted, although I'm always surprised at which pieces of mine spur the most positive reaction, and which have garnered apathy.

That's pretty much where I'm at, too.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

I came up with an idea for an open topic but didn't get time to write it in the end. And now I am SO happy I did since I have no idea whether what I was planning would go down well with the gatekeepers or not.

Is there going to be another gatekeeper round this season or is this one it?

[kittenboo.livejournal.com]

previous 2 seasons there was only one, but you never know!

[alephz.livejournal.com]

-bangs head into a wall a couple times to psych himself up-

Hurgh!
Hurgh!
Hurgh!

LET'S DO THIS!

[/Brock Samson]



Seriously, though. Best of luck all!

How bad is Brock Sampson?

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

Not Safe For Work Brock Sampson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9nE95eIwJo)