AZ: Best Band Contest-Mike Smith

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 27 Oct 2010 5:32 am

Doesn't seem to work that way. They must be capturing your IP address, because if you've voted on any one browser, and you try on another browser, you get the message that you've already voted today. I think the Walkens have found a way to hide their IP addressess and vote multiple times.

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 27 Oct 2010 6:29 am

We seem to be goin' in the wrong direction??? $:\$

Damn them "WALKENS"!! Grrrrrrrrr

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 28 Oct 2010 6:42 pm

So, I leave town for several days and we've lost ground

You know, there is a lot left in this race and we're coming up on the half-way point in a few days...LOTS of things can happen in the next month so don't get discouraged. Remember that last year we didn't even get started until about 20-days into the voting and look what happened...wow.

No matter what, I so appreciate each and everyone of you and I am giving thought to some ideas for a special song of thanks.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Oct 2010 8:53 am

Hey, we're gainin' on them! As of just now, we've just narrowed the gap to about 10% (39.74% vs 29.11%). Let's keep it UP! Everybody, please go there now and vote again. Here's the address for your convenience: http://arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/bes ... g/146.html

And, if you have a Facebook account, please put up the link and ask your friends to do our buddy Mike a favor and go vote for him too. Only takes a few seconds to help someone out.

Thanks!

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 29 Oct 2010 9:58 am

Jim.....
Good idea with the Facebook thing... the Weezul Brothers are happy to be supporting Mike's band.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 29 Oct 2010 12:39 pm

Jim Cohen wrote:Hey, we're gainin' on them! ...

And, if you have a Facebook account, please put up the link and ask your friends to do our buddy Mike a favor and go vote for him too. Only takes a few seconds to help someone out.

Thanks!

Hi, Jim ... I've sent messages to my Facebook friends as well as a general "News Feed" on my Facebook account for everyone that reads, "Hi, Everyone ... A friend of mine, Mike Smith (one of the great steel guitarists of our day) has a band called the Mike & T band out in Arizona. They are fantastic and a totally awesome group. Currently, they're in a sort of contest for "The Best In The Valley" out there in Arizona. There's a web site at http://arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/bes ... g/146.html where you can vote for them. You can vote once each day in each browser that you have on your computer, so if you have three browsers, for example, you could vote three times for that day. I would ask a favor of you that we each get behind the Mike & T band and vote for them daily. It would do my heart good to see them win it again this year ... they're richly deserving of the win and, if you ever get a chance to hear them live, you'd never be disappointed. Thanks and a great day to each and every one of you.

Jim"

Hope this will help to pull in more votes.

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 31 Oct 2010 2:34 pm

You guys are getting slack. Lets give Mike and the band a vote for Halloween.

and he has promised not to throw eggs or tomatoes at you the next time he sees you playing live.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 1 Nov 2010 4:19 pm

OK, guyz. We gotta get on the stick here. We can pull this bunny out of the hat, if we all pull together. Let's all go there right now and VOTE for Mike & T!

http://arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/bes ... g/146.html

Thanks in advance!

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 1 Nov 2010 4:32 pm

Right there with you, Jim ... still doing my voting every day and already have mine in for today.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 1 Nov 2010 8:47 pm

36.88% to 30.16%! We're comin' on STRONG now! Keep those votes comin' in. And keep an eye on The Walkens. They gaining fast and will be nipping at our heels soon, so let's keep the MOMENTUM going!

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 2 Nov 2010 5:25 am

Movin' on up. I guess Pheed just wasn't as good this year as they were last year!

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 2 Nov 2010 6:06 am

We're a gittin' closer!!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 2 Nov 2010 4:52 pm

We have now reduced their lead to less than 3.5%!!
(34.88% to 31.41% !!) Don't stop now, we can overtake them soon! And keep an eye on those Walkens; they've got some kind of machine workin' this thing...

Let's go vote again! http://arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/bes ... g/146.html

George Shute · Post by **George Shute** » 4 Nov 2010 8:13 am

Something very strange going on.
I have been voting every day and to day I noticed that when I checked back Mike and T had increased from 24.99% to 25.00% and the leader had decreasea from 36.67% to 36.66% and that is normal.
The strange thing is that the Walkens now in second place went from 27.83% to 27.84% on my vote which I think should have gone down instead of up.
If every time we vote it bumps the Walkens up how are we ever going to win?
Yesterday they were 10% behind us and now they are 3% ahead of us, something smells fishy to me.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 4 Nov 2010 8:18 am

Something very fishy going on there...

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 4 Nov 2010 8:54 am

Yeah, I've been getting some emails asking me what is going on with the crazy movement. Many others are voting and seeing their vote only increasing another bands vote. They are wondering if the other groups are getting our votes but...this exceeds my expertise and I don't wish to be a whinny contestant who writes the magazine and complains. Now...if any one of you wishes to raise the question with the magazine...

It's definately not sour grapes from my end but I know we're getting 200 to 400 votes per day and it seems like something is fishy.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 4 Nov 2010 12:06 pm

Mike - I voted for your band earlier today and your percentage remained untouched but The Walkens went up by 0.01% immediately. I have logged a complaint via the mag's 'contact us' link.

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 4 Nov 2010 4:09 pm

Thanks Ken. I did just try to vote myself and sure enough, we went down and The Walkens went up...kinda crazy huh? And just a heads-up, I just sent an email to the only contact I have at the marketing company for the magazine and asked if she could have someone look into the matter. I told her that this seems to be a consistent issue with votes. I'll let you know.

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 5 Nov 2010 1:11 pm

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS to all of you for supporting us in this annual "best band" contest!! We held a strong 2nd place for quite awhile and we could actually see the possibility of crossing the finish line first, but...the frontrunners are now receiving thousands of votes around the clock 24/7 as opposed to our hundreds per day. It's time for us to concede defeat this year

I did hear from the magazine and from their end of it, all the votes are legitimate. For many who have suggested the other bands are using IP address hiding software and mechanical voting measures, I can't say one way or the other...it's beyond my technology and I think it's simply time to walk away with a smile.

But, I will keep my campaign promise and provide the forum with a new instrumental as our special thanks. I just started putting together the idea and I'll post when it's ready.
Thanks again to each and every single one of you!!!

Mike & T and Band

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 5 Nov 2010 1:17 pm

Yeah, well, you're still a wiener in my book!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 6 Nov 2010 2:13 am

And you're a good campaign manager Jim.

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 6 Nov 2010 8:33 am

WOW...I voted prior to coming on the Forum and couldn't believe how bad things are going...

I can only say that we can't blame Jim...he's been a GREAT campaign manager...even though someone else has a REALLY good strategy workin' for 'em!!

Sorry Mike...you deserve better'n this!! $:\$

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 11 Nov 2010 4:59 pm

Sorry I haven't been able to keep up with this in the last few days ... I've missed a few of days voting because internet in my area was down (someone was digging somewhere and hit a cable or something), but it's back up now and what a shock I just had ... went in to do my votes awhile ago and nearly had heart failure seeing today's ratings! Here's what my screen showed ...

... I'm just dumbfounded at the ratings ... only 6.44% for Mike & T Band? Just before my internet went down some days ago it seemed we were doing so well and catching up ... then what a shock to come back online today and find that it seems to be a contest only between these Hamptons and Walkens now. Wonder what their secret is ...

I'm presuming the contest is still on because it let me vote, so regardless of the outcome, I'm still going to continue to cast my votes each day until the sweet or bitter end. However this contest turns out, though, Mike and his group a true winners in my book!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 11 Nov 2010 8:14 pm

Look on the bright side... we're still waaay ahead of Pheed!

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 11 Nov 2010 8:17 pm

Spoken like our leader!!

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AZ: Best Band Contest-Mike Smith

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