I have to say I feel altogether pretty disappointed with having gone to Kingdom A&S. I just don’t like it … I walked away feeling like I had really just wasted my time.
I think the problem is that I like to *teach* people. To help people improve.
I do not like to simply critique. And think that is what the faire is about.
I try to be objective and not stick to “the way I always did it”. I try. Maybe I am missing something? But in all the time I have been here no one has been able to “sell” the system as it is now so that I can get behind it.
If you are unfamiliar with is all, check it out here:
Try not to be overwhelmed. I know there is a lot there.
Issues:
Anonymous judging – I want to be able to talk to the entrant if I want to. I want to be able to follow up later with more information.
Anonymous judging – How can a non-judge learn who to talk to for more information and use the entry as a teaching tool to others?
Anonymous judging – How can an entrant get comments from a non-judge if the person can not identify them?
Anonymous judging – How can an entrant gain word fame if know one knows who made the work?
(Do you catch a theme here)
Regional to Kingdom Entries – Not being allowed to improve entries – I don’t know why we would want to judge something and then not let someone correct their mistakes. We just want to tell them their faults twice over?
Easy judging – It is amazing how many entries are scored well because someone is afraid to judge honestly. They give allowances all the time. And it is prevalent.
Multiple entries – I’m not a fan of ‘enter as many as you can’ since I value my time and would rather focus on your best work…
Black-balling judges anonymously – If your score is not acceptable – then it gets thrown out and you are not told. And, if they really don’t like you, then you are no longer allowed to be judged – but you never get told. You’re just added to a list and then ignored when you volunteer. Nice, eh?
There are others … it just all feels so convoluted and trapped by the past. A whole system built up to fight against “what-ifs” or one person’s poor acts.
I do like the criteria – they are a good tool and really help people to be better judges and they give an entrant a guideline to work off of. But the rest of it is just so frustrating to me.
Resolutions:
Be willing to judge, but only accept “face-to-face” judging assignments
Continue grass-roots effort to find better solutions for A&S activities
Continue to encourage alternative venues for A&S competitions and displays
