[MR] A&S Judging Question Part Two

[Barbara]

Quote:>
when you're one of the
very few who knows how difficult your entry is, it makes it next to
impossible for people to judge it fairly, which only makes for frustration
on your part. 
>
Another idea is this: "Difficulty" is usually a judging criteria, so put a
section in your documentation titled as Difficulty.  Educate the reader on
the topic: what is more difficult about an Old Swedish Viking Snarfleblat as
opposed to a New Danish Viking Snarfleblat? How the goal is to get the lines
evenly spaced.  Or (using my examples from music) 6 voices are harder to get
mind-melded to sing in tune than two; parts that have more interweaving
entrances are more difficult than pieces that have all parts singing the
same rhythms at the same time.  When you decided to do the piece, you
thought "this will be challenging because...!" - so write that down!

I go so far as to suggest YOU use the judging criteria, grade your own work,
and use it as a front page executive summary in your documentation.  Make it
easy on the judges!  For example: "Authentic: It is authentic based on an
extant Snarfleblat in the Snarfleblat museum in BorkSnarfBjorn...<here's how
it compares based on ..> All materials are authentic with the single
exception of using rabbit fur rather than Snarfle fur, Snarfles now being
extinct.  Difficulty: It is of moderate difficulty, since it is more
ornamented than an everyday Snarfleblat, but not as ornamented as
Snarfleblats used for special occasions, like the ones in this picture...
Workmanship: The construction of the Snarfleblat is very good, looking like
the extant examples, with the exception of the blat hemming, where the
stitches are slightly too close together."

Quoting again: > either compete or display... as long as you're sharing your
work and your documentation, you're educating us all, and that's what it's
all about... not the scores at the end of the day. :) 
<
I would also point out: do it as long as you're having fun. Do your art.
Share your art.  Find a way to educate others that works for you.  But if
you aren't having fun doing it, then stop.  Life is too short to spend this
much hobby-time, energy, and money on something you don't enjoy!  (See #10
at http://laurels.atlantia.sca.org/faq.php )

Anne