Sunday, November 27, 2005
Speed and Showing
When I talk with some exhibitors and show sponsors, I sometimes get the feeling that speed is their most important criteria. As long as the show raps up at 3:30, they are happy. If a judge can get through 250 to 350 rabbits in six hours, they've done well.
I'm not comfortable with that approach. Speed is just not my first criteria. I come to enjoy my day and get some useful feedback on my rabbits. I don't want the evaluation of my rabbit and the comments so abbreviated that they are not helpful. I hope to do well on the table, but I will always have more rabbits that do not earn a leg than those who do. For the rest, I want to learn something in exchange for my entry fee.
What's the value of a rabbit show if the judge rushes past good rabbits, fails to find DQ's, and doesn't provide useful feedback to the exhibitors?
Having said that, I don't appreciate shows that drag on for no good reason. I hope that any show I attend will be well organized with a superintendent who keeps breeds cued up and ready to go (without forgetting to let the judge have a lunch!). I like to see exhibitors get their rabbits on and off the table in a timely manner, too.
We've all missed the mark from time to time. I get to talking and enjoying myself too much sometimes and need a little extra loud call to get my attention. And we all have to sneak off to the bathroom from time to time (okay, at least we gals do)! But I keep trying to keep my ears open and stay in the game.
I haven't yet served as a superintendent at a show. But it seems to be a pretty thankless job. If all goes well, the superintendent is fairly invisible, moving around the showroom, helping things go smoothly. Most exhibitors probably go home without much thought to all of the hard work the superintendent did to be so invisible.
If things do not go well, it is, "of course," the superintendent's fault and everything lands at his or her feet.
I was at a show this year in which a person walked up to the superintendent and said in a sarcastic voice, "I came here to show today, not spend a two-day weekend." It was 12:30 and he had only shown once of the three times he had hoped to show. He had driven five hours to the show and just wanted a refund. I thought his choice in dealing with the issue was poor. There was no need for hostility or sarcasm.
I had seen that club working their collective butts off since 6:30 that morning so that I could come and enjoy my day. They just didn't deserve to be treated like that.
My approach is somewhat different. I had driven a number of hours to the show, too (more than five). But I had cleared my schedule and was planning to take my return trip as it came. That allowed me to relax and not check the clock very often. I had a great time. I really don't think the other person did.
Of course, I love showing and visiting with bunny folks. A rabbit show is the closest thing to heaven on earth for me, so I don't need it to be over too soon (although my feet and back always appreciate the relief of going home). I know not everyone experiences shows in the same way. I have a girlfriend who can't wait to get to rabbit shows, but somewhere during the second show, her enthusiasm is gone and she can't wait to get out of there. I just shake my head! I don't get it.
So, to sum up, I'd like to see judges chosen primarily for their expertise in rabbits and for the fresh opinions they provide (meaning not the same judges every weekend), rather than for their speed in judging. Speed is a bonus only. I plan to continue to do my part in getting my bunnies on and off the table, so that shows can run smoothly. And I hope to never underestimate the hard, thankless job of the show superintendent.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 9:37 AM
I'm not comfortable with that approach. Speed is just not my first criteria. I come to enjoy my day and get some useful feedback on my rabbits. I don't want the evaluation of my rabbit and the comments so abbreviated that they are not helpful. I hope to do well on the table, but I will always have more rabbits that do not earn a leg than those who do. For the rest, I want to learn something in exchange for my entry fee.
What's the value of a rabbit show if the judge rushes past good rabbits, fails to find DQ's, and doesn't provide useful feedback to the exhibitors?
Having said that, I don't appreciate shows that drag on for no good reason. I hope that any show I attend will be well organized with a superintendent who keeps breeds cued up and ready to go (without forgetting to let the judge have a lunch!). I like to see exhibitors get their rabbits on and off the table in a timely manner, too.
We've all missed the mark from time to time. I get to talking and enjoying myself too much sometimes and need a little extra loud call to get my attention. And we all have to sneak off to the bathroom from time to time (okay, at least we gals do)! But I keep trying to keep my ears open and stay in the game.
I haven't yet served as a superintendent at a show. But it seems to be a pretty thankless job. If all goes well, the superintendent is fairly invisible, moving around the showroom, helping things go smoothly. Most exhibitors probably go home without much thought to all of the hard work the superintendent did to be so invisible.
If things do not go well, it is, "of course," the superintendent's fault and everything lands at his or her feet.
I was at a show this year in which a person walked up to the superintendent and said in a sarcastic voice, "I came here to show today, not spend a two-day weekend." It was 12:30 and he had only shown once of the three times he had hoped to show. He had driven five hours to the show and just wanted a refund. I thought his choice in dealing with the issue was poor. There was no need for hostility or sarcasm.
I had seen that club working their collective butts off since 6:30 that morning so that I could come and enjoy my day. They just didn't deserve to be treated like that.
My approach is somewhat different. I had driven a number of hours to the show, too (more than five). But I had cleared my schedule and was planning to take my return trip as it came. That allowed me to relax and not check the clock very often. I had a great time. I really don't think the other person did.
Of course, I love showing and visiting with bunny folks. A rabbit show is the closest thing to heaven on earth for me, so I don't need it to be over too soon (although my feet and back always appreciate the relief of going home). I know not everyone experiences shows in the same way. I have a girlfriend who can't wait to get to rabbit shows, but somewhere during the second show, her enthusiasm is gone and she can't wait to get out of there. I just shake my head! I don't get it.
So, to sum up, I'd like to see judges chosen primarily for their expertise in rabbits and for the fresh opinions they provide (meaning not the same judges every weekend), rather than for their speed in judging. Speed is a bonus only. I plan to continue to do my part in getting my bunnies on and off the table, so that shows can run smoothly. And I hope to never underestimate the hard, thankless job of the show superintendent.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 9:37 AM
