What’s It All About ?     Being a performing artist in Cincinnati is no easy task. Outlets and venues are limited, government and private funding is tight, schools have scaled back arts education. It's not that hard to spot local musicians, actors and artists. They're usually working two jobs to support themselves, keeping odd hours, lugging their own gear to anywhere an audience gathers. You'll find them in the clubs in Clifton, Over-the-Rhine, Newport and elsewhere. You'll see them on stages at ETC, Carnegie and in church basements. You'll notice them backstage sewing costumes and building sets at the Playhouse, the Showboat and in community theater groups. You'll hear them on the few radio stations that feature local bands. Why do they work so hard to entertain us? The reasons really aren't that important in the end. The important thing, the crucial thing, is that they do it. Cincinnati is a better place to live, work and play in because musicians, actors and others make the effort to produce their art. The Cincinnati Entertainment Awards were created in 1997 to give back to these artists a small portion of what they give us. It's an attempt to recognize, celebrate and reward the artists who are on the cutting edge of Cincinnati's performing arts community, the ones who stick out their necks to create truly original work. The awards also were created to raise funds for LINKS (Lonely Instruments for Needy Kids), which collects and repairs musical instruments that are distributed free of charge to student musicians throughout Greater Cincinnati. Cincinnati's performing artists make us proud to call this city home, and we're proud to shine the spotlight on their achievements over the past year.