Re: SHOW: Judging Shows

	Jeanne Holley wrote:


> I may be beaten up for this post, but I feel it just
> has to be said.  We just had our Bench Show judged
> yesterday.  We are a very small club, with perhaps 8
> members who regularly participate in our events,
> particularly our show.  The purpose of the show is
> twofold.  First it is to make the community aware of
> us and find new members, secondly it is to give
> rewards to those active members who work so hard
> keeping us going.  
> 
	No, I won't beat you up because  I sympathize with you.  The
very same thing happened at our show two weeks ago.  We had 
181 entries and the judges dropped a total of 11 blue ribbons.  
Needless to say, in spite of the wind and rain we had just two days 
before the show, the judges expected every entry to be 'a 
sculptured work of art.'  I kept hearing this expression mentioned 
several times. When you are dealing with outside plants subjected 
to the elements and all sorts of critters, one shouldn't expect each 
stalk to be a 'sculptured work of art.'

	Just for the heck of it, I took some of the same entries that 
didn't get any ribbons at our show to another show the next day 
and got blue ribbons on them!  The flowers were in the same 
condition - nor more open..nor more closed.  A different set of 
judges judged the other show.

	I have been a judge for more than twenty years, and I have met 
all kinds.  Sometimes, I think it is judges who have just gotten their 
'credentials' that want to strut their stuff and be critical.  I think 
judges who have been at it for a long time are more lenient.  I have 
been on panels with critical judges, and some times you get 
outvoted.  But, this in no way keeps me from being outspoken in 
my opinions about their decisions.

 
> Two of the judges were extremely tough on everything. 
> One of the other judges who frequently serves as a
> judge for our shows said, "I try to remember that
> these people work very hard putting a show together". 
> That to me is the sign of a judge who is well rounded.
> 
> You are so right.  Don't invite those two critical ones ever again.
They may get the message if nobody invites them to judge for 
several years.  Try to find judges that you know enter other shows.  
They will be more sympathetic over those judges who just judge 
shows and never enter.  This type of judge should be barred...just 
like those who, when voting their ballots, use the picture catalogs.
> 
> 
>  If the
> "letter of the law" without any allowance for the
> problems encountered by iris fanciers is the only way,
> then I ask why should people bother. 

   Yes, being too critical does not help novice exhibitors who 
become so discouraged by judges' decisions after the exhibitor has 
stayed up all night getting his flowers together and in risking all the 
hazards of getting them to the show.


	I do not think every entry is a blue ribbon winner, but at our show we had so many
entries that were 'just punched' showing that the judges saw it.  
What does it hurt to give a 3rd place or an HM for effort?  That 
encourages, not discourages the exhibitor.

	Critically judged shows don't encourage the general public to 
become members of an iris society either.  The public is not easily 
fooled.

	Irising is supposed to be fun and shows are our basic tool for 
recruitment, but when a panel of judges decides to be overly 
critical, I wonder if they think how they have affected the exhibitors 
and influenced the public.

	
	
 	Walter Moores
	Enid Lake, MS 7/8 USA




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