Awards recognize the best in suburban entertainment
For the past 17 years, NiteLife, a free monthly publication, has been showcasing the "best of the best" in local suburban entertainment.
Though affectionately termed a cleverly-disguised shopper by its publisher, Bart Loiacono of Wheaton, the West Chicago-based paper is an audited publication with a readership of 125,000 that covers all suburban Chicago areas.
Capitalizing on the paper's reach and access to the cream of local celebrity in terms of bands and entertainment, some 12 years ago Loiacono also organized an awards ceremony, complete with red carpet, floodlights and secret envelopes to honor homegrown talent.
"No one else was doing it and we thought there was a need to recognize the people in this industry," Loiacono said. While there are no gold-plated statuettes, the winner's certificate is said to be worth its weight in gold for locals, some of whom do pepper their walls with their spoils. In addition, much like the bigger ceremonies, for the participants it is an honor not only to win but simply to have been nominated.
Lake Zurich resident Hannah Ford, of the Hannah Ford Band, is a 17-year-old drummer who has been nominated in four separate categories this year including best Rock Band, Best Female Front, Best Classic Rock Band, and Best Drummer/Musician.
"Being part of this competition is really important because it is a reader's poll done by people who actually frequent the venues. And to win means you have your fans voting for you over and over and over again," said Ford's father/manager, David Ford.
The list of categories has grown from 62 in its inaugural year to 104 in 2008. Currently over 17,000 people throughout the suburbs and the country are registered to vote with daily and repeat visits numbering in several hundred thousand.
"We just started to write down things we liked and things we didn't like," Loiacono said. Now the categories range from Favorite Pizza to Favorite Bartender and only get stranger from there.
"What's your favorite jukebox," for example may sound like a joke, but it is one of the more popular categories, according to Loiacono.
One can even vicariously get a bit of friendly advice from your community at large on things like Favorite Cell Phone Service. Last year, Verizon Wireless won and when someone actually came up to accept their award, Loiacono gave them a hard time until they pulled out a business card. It turned out to be the regional vice president in charge of marketing. ""We never anticipate that anyone was going to be there," said Loiacono.
Comparable publications in New York and Los Angeles have similar awards. "Everyone has got their Top 10, their favorite list. Ours is different because we let the consumer vote."
And vote they do, in categories that include Activities, Bands Cover, Clubs, Drinks, Entertainment, Food, Personnel, Restaurant and Suburban Favorites.
The Marriott Lincolnshire is nominated for best theater nearly every year and for the past three years the Daily Herald has consistently been chosen as the Favorite Newspaper.
"The Daily Southtown covers the south side of Chicago, the Daily Herald covers the north side of Chicago, the St. Charles Chronicle covers the west side of Chicago, and I cover its dark side," said Loiacono.
This year's awards ceremony will take place March 31 at John Barleycorn's in Schaumburg with attendance expected to top 1,000 people.
"There is no other time of year when you get this many people from the hospitality and food service, bar, night club industries, and the entertainment from the Chicagoland area under one roof in one night. It's a great networking opportunity."