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carlharper
All-Star
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 123
Location: East Fallowfield PA
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 Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject: Competition Judging |
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I know that there are a number of us on this forum who are CBJ's. I'd like to start a thread where we can relate our experiences regarding judging at various contests.
Today I received my judges info packet from the Blue Ridge BBQ Festival that is being held in mid-June in Tryon NC. I've never visited this beautiful area before and am very excited to be able to do so. My wife and I are going to make a week long vacation out of the trip and hope to make it an annual trip.
I'll also be judging at Salisbury, Yardley, Leesport, Stevensville, Bel Air, New Holland and Dover. May try one or two others, but they are still tentative. So........What are the rest of you judges planning for this season?
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Mutha Chicken BBQ
Overpaid Broadcaster
Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 306
Location: Wilmington,DE
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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Carl,
I think that is a great Idea. In fact there should be a whole forum for judges to discuss info. The better informed judges we have the better the sport.
Although I am a CBJ I do not plan on judging any event at this point.
I am hoping to compete alot more though, But we will see.
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Big George'S BBQ
Overpaid Broadcaster
Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 393
Location: Harleysville, PA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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I like the idea. I took the class at New Holland, and I am trying to find some contest to judge. I have offered to do the Back Yard Comp. at Yardley, and E Mailed the person advertising his event @ the class in NJ. I E MAiled Tom and said I can do Salisberry. I am also cooking at some events so we will see how many judging events I can do.
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carlharper
All-Star
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 123
Location: East Fallowfield PA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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My advice to anyone looking for judging assignments is simply to do a little research and start emailing contest organizers. The KCBS website events calendar is your best source of current contest info with links to the individual contest websites and organizer email addresses.
You will find that the communication between organizers and prospective judges can vary widely. Be persistent! Send emails, make phone calls and you will get responses. The no-show rate for judges is apparently high and many do not bother to call and let the organizer know that they cannot fulfill their commitment. Don't be one of those judges.
Finally, if you don't get a seat at a contest that you want to judge, show up anyway and make yourself available to the KCBS Rep. Your likely to be seated to judge or perhaps be the Table Captain.
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Bill The Grill Guy
Overpaid Broadcaster
Joined: 27 Jan 2008
Posts: 266
Location: Central VA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:16 am Post subject: |
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I've been a CBJ for a few years. I have only had the chance to judge one contest and that was last year. Ironicly, I went back to the first contest that I had ever seen as a spectator and its where I fell in love with this crazy world of Competition Q in Shelby NC. It was diferent being there as a judge. I couldn't "hang" with my buddy's as much as I wanted to but in the long run it was worth it. I learned that there is a following of judges just like competitors. These folks run into each other and follow each other to comps like we as Q'ers do. I am judging at New Holland this year and am very excited about that. I cooked there last year and didn't do as well as I had hoped. Its going to be nice to see how the Northern Q'ers Q.
By the way, we are looking for CBJ's for Que and Cruz in July.
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smokin_joe
Benchwarmer
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Lanoka Harbor, NJ
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| Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Carl
thanks for that Frangelico BTW!
I have a busy season shaping up.
If Ed Roith ever answers my email, I hope to be taking my Master Judge Test (and passing this time). I missed it by 2 points in November. There are a lot of essay and "situational" questions asked on the test.
I hope to get some new wheels, and stainless grate retrofitted to my Tejas Smoker.
I will be involved in cooking and serving at a Beach Clean up day called Join Hands Day, on May 3rd, as well as planning and cooking at a Corporate BBQ for my company May 28th.
On the judging side, I will be at Bel Air and New Holland for sure, as well as cooking at Yardley possibly, and at Monmouth Back Yard in July.
I will miss Wildwood (my favorite) this year altogether.
I have applied for Salisbury, but am only on a waiting list at this point.
I hope to do more cooking this year as well....
I am going to be judging New Holland
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MP Phred
Minor Leaguer
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Blackiston, DE
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| Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:08 am Post subject: Competition Judging |
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I am confirmed to judge at the Salisbury, New Holland and Stevensville contest this year. I have applications at several more, but who knows. And, yes as someone pointed out; some judges will travel to judge a contest, so far this year I have traveled to Charleston, SC to judge. I probably won't be traveling that far again.
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Pig Pen BBQ
Benchwarmer
Joined: 15 Feb 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Yardville, NJ
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| Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:17 am Post subject: Judges |
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Judging:
I think a forum just for judges is overdue. The quality of the judges will make or break a competition. Although I am a certified judge for about three years I have only judged about five contests so I'm not really a veteran by any means. The assignment of judges might be a little more formal such as giving them an assignment number for an event. If a judge continually does not show without notification they should be dropped or anmonished in some way.
In my opinion Judges can have a casual relationship with a team and can still be impartial, what they can and can't do as far as fratrinazation should be spelled out more clearly. Several years ago my wife and I judged a non sanctioned event, (Ribs), in which our close friends competed. I owed it to them, myself, and all the others to be fair and impartial.....and I was and so was my wife. My only bad experience last year was when at two contests I had great scores from 4 judges and judges 5 & 6 scored exactly alike, ie. 4-5-4. Could this be an insecure Judge who is afraid of making a mistake and so copies from another? God, I hope not. Judges...keep your score sheet confidential and score with your OWN good mind......without you Judges there would be no contest.....I thank you so much for judging!
Rich at Pig Pen
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smokin_joe
Benchwarmer
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Lanoka Harbor, NJ
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| Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:04 am Post subject: |
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I think any decent Judge knows that they need to give their own honest opinion and evaluation to each entry. I judge a lot and notice most other Judges do tend to try and cover their score sheet, or slide it under the Judging plate. I think if a Judge does see another's score sheet, its not for copying purposes. The fact that each individual Judge's opinion is sought after is told and retold at each contest by the KCBS Reps playing the audio at the Judge's meeting, is a constant reiteration to give their own opinion and score.
I find that after all scoring is done, and Judges do discuss what entry was their favorite, or least favorite, that there is a definite consensus at the table.
There are almost always the same top two entries that 5 or even all 6 Judges liked with their highest scores, and usually its pretty close at the bottom, as well. If an entry stands out as being poor, 5 or even all 6 Judges will mark it so. What I do find, is differences on what Judges give numbers wise to the bottom most entry.
I like to take my time, and consider thoughtfully each entry I have before me. There are times when I am the last one still Judging. But, we are given that time window to judge entries, and I try to use it. I hate seeing someone done with all 6 entries, when I am only on my 3rd or 4th. But, all people (and Judges) are different I guess.
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Smokin Joe
Real Men, Cook With Wood
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carlharper
All-Star
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 123
Location: East Fallowfield PA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:50 am Post subject: |
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I have to agree with most everything in the previous two posts. Judges who repeatedly sign up for events and then don't show without notifying the organizer should be barred from judging. I don't think I would like to see too much regimentation regarding fraternizing with teams. Common sense should prevail. I'm sure most judges take seriously their responsibilities and would remain impartial even if they suspected that they knew whose entry they were evaluating. I know I would!
I try to get to most contests on Friday if possible, allowing plenty of time to visit old friends and to make some new ones. When this isn't possible, I try to arrive a bit early on Saturday and stop by briefly to visit those teams that I know and to wish all the best to everyone else.
I too have found that there is nearly always a consensus at the table regarding which were the favorite and least favorite entries. I have also observed most judges conciously keeping their scorecards out of view for the others at the table. I am going to make an effort this year to talk more to other judges about the whole judging experience and will relate my findings here. I hope all of you will do the same!
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