Well, let me put this response in as non-coded language as I can muster. If I am not judging, I am not working. It's that simple. As Gordon has mentioned many times, beer judging is not the same thing as bikini judging. Beer judging is work. In fact, working a contest in any capacity is work. NHC is the most expensive per person vacation that I will take this year. As an East Coaster, I am spending a boat load of money to attend the event. Judges and stewards are not getting "comped" for the conference, which means that they are paying to work. Many of the judges in my area who are attending the conference have stated that they will judge if needed, but would rather not do so for the same reason. None, and I mean none have expressed interest in stewarding the contest.
Hi S.,
Thanks for sharing your reasons for not volunteering. Your argument against judging is more applicable to 8 or 9 years ago when the competition ran all day Thursday, and into Friday which really cut into the seminar tracks, and thus was a huge disincentive for people to judge.
This year, if all goes to plan, the score sheet judging and category BOS for all 28 categories will all be completed in the morning. The conference seminars don't start until 12:45, so judging doesn't even compete with the seminars. If you're already in San Diego at the hotel, and probably awake quite early, why wouldn't you volunteer to help out the competition?
Your chance of judging is drastically better if you sign up to volunteer ahead of time. Bruce is going to assign judges on Sunday, June 7, so sign up before that if you want to judge.
Also, just to let you know there are already some BJCP judges volunteering to be stewards in the competition, and for that I am very grateful. In a competition judged largely by very experienced judges, it helps to have stewards with more than a basic understanding of how a competition works.
Thanks to all of the volunteers in the First Round and in the Final Round! This competition could not happen with out your help!
Anyway, the choice is yours. See you in San Diego!
Cheers,
Janis