[MR] Judging formats and challenges thereof

[Nancy Hulan]

I would love to see a wider variety of A&S competition formats at
events, so that those who are unhappy with the standard format of the
1-6 scale in six different categories with the teeny space for
comments can both give and receive feedback in a different setting.
Implementing different formats requires a lot of effort and
creativity, but I do think it's worth the effort occasionally.

How much time and effort? Well, let me give you an idea. Twice now I
have run the St. Catherine's A&S tourney, a format Master Aldred
Blackwood and I devised and ran first at a Defending the Gate several
years ago and and once recently at the Coronation of Michael and
Seonaid. Mistress Dervila mentioned this--entrants register ahead of
time, get paired with 2 or 3 judges ahead of time, and then sit with
those judges for a half-hour at the event to critique the entry face
to face. Sounds simple, right? Publicizing, registering, securing
appropriate judges, and other logistical issues occupied me for 5-10
hours a week for two months prior to Coronation. Whew! I would *love*
to see other people coordinate more competitions using this format;
just be prepared for the time commitment. (And if you're an entrant,
thank your judges and the coordinator profusely! :-) )

If this format doesn't seem to be your bag, brainstorm to find one
that does. And then volunteer to run it at an event. A&S competitions
aren't something that other people simply provide for your use and to
which entrants are magically entitled. The A&S community, like any
other aspect of our hobby, requires people to organize things, run
things, enter things, and clean up after things, and everybody who
wants a healthy community should pitch in to help it be so. You don't
need to be a Laurel to run a competition, just as you don't need to be
a Knight to organize, MoL, or marshal tourneys.

Best wishes,
Aneira (Mistress Gwerfyl verch Aneirin, OL)

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