Butterfly Wins Golden Hat

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Edmonton, 2004. Last night at the closing gala, the honorable Dick Finkle presented Robert Nelson the "Finklini" Golden Hat award for lifetime contribution to street performing. Dick then accepted the award for Robert, who is too busy getting an award in Buffalo to be here.

Congratulations, you old codger, you got a heartfelt, sustained standing ovation. Well earned.

[Tyler]

Are you talking about the Edmonton Streetfest? It was a good festival. I've never actually seen Robert Nelson, but his reputation says a lot. I worked at the Streetfest in the workshop tent thursday and friday. Congrats Robert Nelson.

-Tyler
P.S. I like your show! I watched it more then once on my breaks

[Jim]

Wow... It only took 7 years for Robert to win the award HE created!

For those of you who don't know, "The Golden Finkelini" award was originally called "The Buttercup" and it was given by Robert to a person or act that had made valuable contributions to the street performing community. When the award was presented to Dick Finkel at his retirement... the name of the award was changed to The Golden Finkelini and since then it's been presented by Dick to a new person each year. It's turning into a really nice tradition.

Congratulations Robert!

Jim

[Butterfly Man]

Golden Hat Award

Well, gee thanks ... uh ... howz'cum nobody notified me?

So I gotta learn about these things on a public forum?

People cheering thousands of miles away ...

wow ...

I thought I was feeling something but I thought it might have been the shellfish ...

thanks, uh , whoever ...

P.S. The Buttercup is not the same thing as the Golden Hat ... the Buttercup winner for 2004
was Sean McKinney

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

I did notice one name on that cup... Our own Jim, from awhile ago. Congrats, hottie.

[Jim]

Robert,

Is there another hat? I thought that hat was the Buttercup for the first couple years... then the name was changed for Dick. Did you get a new award to call the Buttercup?

Jim

P.S. Taxi, Yup. I won it in 2002, but I didn't actually see the award until the following year when I was at Edmonton in 2003... just in time to see the award given to Al Kraizer. I know there is a photo somewhere of me holding the hat, but I never got a copy. Oh well, the hat was in my hands for a few short minutes... even though it was technically mine for a whole year!

[Butterfly Man]

Buttercup = Golden Hat =

The "Buttercup" ... was given to me in '95 in Halifax by the performers (along with a huge signature plaque) ... it was so big I couldn't carry it home (along with all my props) so I gave it to a local woman (my #1 fan) who kept it for a year in NS ... in '96 I awarded to another act (in hopes that he would take it home ... he didn't) eventually it shows up on my doorstep and for a coupla years I awarded it to acts I felt deserved some sort of recognition for their service to the street community ...

In '99 (when Dick passed the scepter to Shel in Edmonton) ... I "stole" a planter out of Dick's apartment (it looked like a golden hat) and we all presented it to him @ closing ceremonies calling it the "Golden Finkillini" (stuffed with $ by the way) ... for several years he and I discussed recipients and he kinda took over the award ...

During this time I kept awarding the "Buttercup" (adding a name a year) ... so, up until a coupla years ago ... the Buttercup and the Golden Finkillini have the same recipients ... now, well, I've decided to do my own award ... and this year it goes to Sean McKinney.

...too bad Butterfly Man ... next time try harder.