[MR] A&S competitions

[Hulan family]

I'd be more than happy to stand by my work at competitions if I thought that
was encouraged--or better yet, sit down and work on something so that people
can come by with questions and so that I didn't feel quite so
self-conscious. But hall space seems to be the issue here--there's often not
the room for that kind of thing. And also, I wouldn't want to scare people
away from looking at my stuff because I was "hovering." For me, the time
commitment isn't a big issue, because generally the A&S competition is what
I've been working toward for that event.
 
Aneira

  _____  

From: Anne Ramey [mailto:annealea at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 12:42 PM
To: Hulan family; atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [MR] A&S competitions


It seems to me the problem is on several levels:

1) Judges are often pressed for time
2) Judges receive no training and not always the best at working with people
3) Sometimes it's hard to get across a comment on paper, especially in the
small sections of the judging sheets
4) Many judges have either had bad experiences upsetting folks with
well-meant comments or have heard of so many of them, they are hesitant to
comment.
5)  Many artisan say they want comments, but are upset/discouraged when they
get anything other than: "this is great"

I have asked artisans to stand with their work at competitions.  When I have
seen this happen, it resolves pretty much all of these issues.  Never have I
had the artisans do so.  They say they will try and make it back if they
can, but don't.  Perhaps if artisans would stay with their work (making
their art a proirity not only before the event, but at the event), they
would see who left the tokens and have converations about their work and how
it can be improved.  They can find what questions are being asked (that may
not be covered in their documentation), etc.

I am an artisan myself and have suffered from the dirth of comments, and
have been upset by well-meant comments that did not come across as intended,
and find that when I stay with my work, it makes a huge difference.   I also
know how difficult it can be to allot that time to that at an event.  But
honestly, someone cannot compete in a heavy or rapier tourney without being
present...why should we never have to attend our competitions?

My 2 francs,
Jehanette de Provins