The keen bands that have Areas later on have the advantage of being able to analyse the earlier Area results and get some idea of what the Judges are looking for - plus - they can attend the other contests and listen for interesting interpretations, or "Tweaks" that may have found favour with the Judge.
We, in Yorkshire, have to walk out on stage and "Chance our arm " !!!!
If you recall Passacaglia, there were two ways of performing this - heavy and majestic, or light and flowing.
ALL the judges (inc. 4barsr) went for light and flowing. If you played the majestic version you came nowhere and were slagged off as "Unmusical".
If my band had known this, by having the opportunity to attend a few earlier Areas, I'm sure we would have reconsidered our approach to the music before our own Area date.
Hindsight is a perfect science eh what ??