If you were organising a contest...

[Pythagoras]

What format would a contest take if you were in charge?

I would go for a set test piece, with no more than 10 bands in each section, a pre-draw, open adjudication by 2 adjudicators, no soloist prizes, each section announced after it has finished, a minimum of local dignitaries - the adjudicators can do their own announcing. I would also have all of the results announced. I know this would be a bit harsh on the band that came last, but it would stop all the confusion and rumours that happens at most contests when nobody knows where anybody else came apart from the top few.

And no National Anthem!

 

[Chimp-man]

Agree about open adjudication, and all results annouced, it's a pain in the but not knowing if you just missed out or were total crap!!!!

 

[ScrapingtheBottom]

I think I'd still have soloist and sectional prizes, adds to the fun a bit - also makes players concentrate on their individual performance as well as the band as a whole.

 

[hunting_high]

If I run a contest I would be sure to ask any band (that could be a possible partisipant) how they wanted the contest organised.

Then I would come up with a contest that everybodey was happy about.
(All the time, every year, for decades...) :wink:

No, seriousely, http://www.grenlandbrass.com/festival/ is one of the best contests around and I would proberbly do what they are doing with just slightly longer timings for the two ownchoice programs.

Championsection

Church concert Friday night: A church programme of your own choice.
(Limited to 25 minutes)

Test piece Saturday morning: The testpiece is always from the traditional repetoire: ex they've used Pageantry, Epic.

Programme contest Saturday afternoon: An entertainmentprogramme of your own choice
(Limited to 25 minutes)



Frode

 

[ted]

If I was running a contest...

Who's invited?
I'd announce a date when invitations will be sent out to the top 50 bands on the 4BR rankings. This way if bands outside of the top 50 wants an invite, they have to enter other contests to boost their rankings.

Who's actually playing?
There will be a second date when the top 20 bands to accept the invites are accepted. (Say if you were no.20 when the invites came out, but fell to no.22 on the second date, then you're out)

What will be played?
A testpiece plus an own choice from a list of 6.

Draw?
Takes place a week before the contest, with bands being told only their own number.

Adjudication?
Closed adjudication with 2 adjudicators assigning placings to each band. If there is a tie, then the lowest total for the testpiece will decide the championship. If that is also tied then it will go down to the appointed chief adjudicator's decision.

Other rules
* Bands must oblige by the standard brass band instrumentation as required by the music if they can. E.g. Bands will be penalised if they take 3 Bb Bass on stage, but they won't be penalised if they only take one.

* 3 deps, no questions asked. Emergency players are allowed but must be approved by the contest office, and the player must be from another band who is also in the contest.

* Bands found breaching those rules will be penalised by 6 placings in the final results.

* No solo awards.

Ted

 

[Okiedokie of Oz]

What format would a contest take if you were in charge?

I would go for a set test piece, with no more than 10 bands in each section, a pre-draw, open adjudication by 2 adjudicators, no soloist prizes,

We do

...each section announced after it has finished, a minimum of local dignitaries - the adjudicators can do their own announcing.

they do

.....I would also have all of the results announced. I know this would be a bit harsh on the band that came last, but it would stop all the confusion and rumours that happens at most contests when nobody knows where anybody else came apart from the top few.

done

And no National Anthem!

threw it away ages ago!

 

[Pythagoras]

I must emigrate then!

 

[tsawyer]

Being a percussionist, I'd make it percussion friendly.

When we played at the Swiss Open back in 2000, there was no pressure to get on stage and get set up. The percussionists were invited on stage, given plenty of help to set up, no pressure at all. When we were happy, we left the stage, collected the rest of the band and walked on in formation. None of this "you have four minutes to set up, and the band will be sat on stage with the conductor staring at you whilst you're doing it."

A much more enjoyable experience!

Tim.

 

[louise0502]

I'd have a choice of test pieces, of about four. And an own-choice hymn tune that would not be marked, but just to settle the players down

There would be three adjudicators in separate boxes, who give points, then they'd get together after the section, to argue the placings.

All the results would be announced.

There would be sectional prizes, but with one award for every section in each section, e.g. front row, back row, horns (inc flugel), euph/baris, troms, basses, percussion

There would be no limit for set up times

The standard brass band set-up would set the maximum number of players

i think that's about it!

 

[ScrapingtheBottom]

There would be no limit for set up times

Dangerous, I would increase the set-up time, but still limit it as it stops bands messing about and wasting time.

I'd like to run an invitational lower section contest (!) I think it would be quite interesting and would give lower section bands a kind of 'masters' to have a crack at.

1st to 4th section (well 2nd, 3rd and 4th at least). Sectional prizes in each section. Test piece from selection of 5 per section. Seperate solo/small group contest or entertainments with prizes accordingly (if entertainments, prizes for entertainment value and musical ability will be on offer).

Player numbers would be set by the standard brass band formation.

3 adjudicators (1 Chief) in boxes for test piece, 2 adjudicators for entertainments (they can just argue it out for the entertainments). All results announced.

Keep the Queen!!!

 

[Lauradoll]

A massive bar with loads of bar staff, quality drinks and no plastic glasses.

 

[drummerboy]

A massive bar with loads of bar staff, quality drinks and no plastic glasses.

And free drinks to the winning band! What better incentive do you need to win?

 

[flugelgal]

A massive bar with loads of bar staff, quality drinks and no plastic glasses.

And where they serve good food too. We often have to go into the town to source a decent bite to eat.. :wink:

 

[Lauradoll]

Who needs food!!!! Drink through the hunger!! :guiness :guiness :guiness :guiness

 

[PeterBale]

I wouuld insist that the bands' representatives were on stage for the presentation within 5 minutes of the end of the section; failure to appear leading to demotion, if not disqualification :wink:

 

[Dave Payn]

I also advocate bands being allowed to have a quick general warm up on stage! This topic was discussed before here

http://themouthpiece.com/phpbb/view...s=0&postorder=asc&highlight=*germany*&start=0

I also made reference to a contest Fulham played at in Germany, where you were not only allowed to warm up and even rehearse bits of your test pieces (all own choice) if you wished (!) but that an exceedingly nice touch was that after your performance, one of the adjudicators took the conductors in to a private room to go over the various merits (or otherwise) of their performance. So much more comprehensible than a few scribbled notes on a piece of paper.... we could learn a lot from other types of music competition abroad.

 

[jambo]

As the advert says, If Carlsberg did.. Brass Band Contests...

Venue... a Vagas style casino with more entertainment than you can shake a stick at

Complimentary 5 star rooms for all competitiors, day before and after

Days off work either side of the contest sorted out for all

No need for deps...why would you miss?

Free entrance fee for all bands and spectators but Huge prize money for the victors. (Why not, its sponsored)

Music to please everyone (hmm)

A full hall for each band

Adjudicators whos' decision is applauded by all

Waitresses/waiters floating around a vast bar area handing you ice cold booze as your frosted glass empties.

Food hall consisting of every concievable contest munchies served as and when the hunger strikes, (if your not drinking through it)

No hangover in the morning and a free invite to the next contest 8)