Allan Slaight Awards
Frequently Asked Questions
IV. Does it matter how many nominations an individual receives?
V. How many nominations can I make?
VI. Will the person know who nominated them?
VII. What do “Sharing Wonder” and “Sharing Secrets” mean?
VIII. Can I nominate individuals that work as part of a group?
IX. How much supporting documentation should I provide?
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We cast a wide net for nominations, and have attempted to make the process as open and inclusive as possible. There is a short list of Eligibility Criteria here.
It all starts with your nomination. Once you have a particular magician in mind, visit the Nomination page and provide us with the information requested, including why you think this person would be a worthy recipient of one of the awards: Sharing Wonder, Shared Secrets, Rising Star or Lifetime Achievement.
Please note that the Nomination page is only accessible when the nomination period is open.
You can nominate yourself and/or others. Regardless of where the nomination comes from all applications will be considered equally.
IV. Does it matter how many nominations an individual receives?
Judging criteria does not consider the number of nominations an individual or organization receives. Rather, judging is based on the merits based on the nomination itself. Once nominated, all submissions are treated equally.
V. How many nominations can I make?
Each person can make one nomination per year per category. If you happen to send in multiple nominations for the same category we will consider the first nomination received.
VI. Will the person know who nominated them?
As part of the nominations process, you decide whether or not your name can be mentioned.
VII. What do “Sharing Wonder” and “Sharing Secrets” mean?
Sharing Wonder is directed to outstanding performances geared toward a broad and public audience. These performances might be live—in theatres or elsewhere—televised or shared on video. The goal is to recognize great performers who share great magic with the world at large.
Sharing Secrets is directed to material released within the magic community that advances magic as a performing art. These secrets can be shared live (in a lecture), published in print or electronically or released on video.
For both categories, the work needs to have been produced between January 1 and December 31 of the awarding year.
VIII. Can I nominate individuals that work as part of a group?
The first recipients for Sharing Wonder were Penn & Teller. Duos or groups that regularly collaborate can be submitted as a single nomination. For Sharing Secrets, you may also nominate a project that is a collaboration between multiple artists. For example, David Sandy and Lance Rich were awarded the Sharing Secrets award for their joint efforts in producing the Magic Collectors Corner, in 2020.
IX. How much supporting documentation should I provide?
Given the amount of material that the judges will have to review, more is not always better. We suggest focusing in on the material that will have the most impact.
For specific works under Sharing Wonder or Sharing Secrets, that might constitute the work as a whole (e.g. the book or a video of the full performance), or a selection of highlights (e.g. a pre-selected episode from a television series). We would also like to consider material that demonstrates the impact the work has had such as, published reviews, additional awards, or accolades.
Links to material that is already present online are much easier to handle than material uploaded directly through the nomination form, but you’ll see options for both as part of the nominations process.