Arena directors and head contest judges

WhoMe · 04-12-2005, 05:15 PM

Anybody have any idea why some powwows have multiple arena directors sometimes as many as five?

Are head contest judges absolutely necessary? Or can the arena director(s) be responsible for picking qualified judges and lining the contestants up?

Are head contest judges a luxury in today's powwows?

CHEROSAGE · 04-13-2005, 01:16 AM

I myself don't see the need for more than 2 ADs. I'm not sure about the Head judges either.

I believe that the ADs can pick judges on their own. I think that the head contest judge is a lux that money can buy.

**badmaninc** · 04-13-2005, 10:02 PM

I've been to powwows where the AD and whipman weren't getting along and had argument over the selection of judges. I believe if the powwow committee has faith in the person they select, then that person would do an honourable job. I believe that a good AD is somebody whose character or word should be viewed as above rapproach. Sometimes, naive people hire snakecharmers who believe they have the godgiven right to provide direction to the committee rather than offer their opinion. When hired to be an Arena Director, you don't make the rules, you are supposed to offer the best advice you can to the people who trusted you enough to work for them. I have seen Arena Directors who have entered contests in both drumming and singing contests. He tells the committee that it is alright and nobody would complain. It was the last time I went to that powwow. Many ADs see this is as a profession and to me that is wrong. But who am I to judge, I guess.

lbgood · 04-14-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoMe

Anybody have any idea why some powwows have multiple arena directors sometimes as many as five?

Are head contest judges absolutely necessary? Or can the arena director(s) be responsible for picking qualified judges and lining the contestants up?

Are head contest judges a luxury in today's powwows?

I think if you have a small powwow its okay to have just one arena director on your headstaff and they can pick the Contest Judges.

If you have a medium sized powwow it would be good to have a Northern Arena Director and Southern Arena Director and they could pick the judges for example Northern Arena Director picks judges for Nothern Contests etc...

If you have a large powwow then I think it would be good to have both Arena Directors as well as Head Contest Judges so the head staff and committee doesn't get too stressed out lol.

In either case, the committee should be aware of whose judging for what contest to see if there are any conflicts of interest and if so disqualify that judge and have them pick another one. It is a group effort to insure that you try to have the fairest powwow as possible. In any case, you can't catch everything but you sure can try and we can all learn from our mistakes.

You can always put in their contracts that they must work cooperatively with the committee and other headstaff, and if they don't fire them, don't pay them and pick someone else at the powwow. LMAO! Oyeah and kick them outta da room LMAO! Geeez jus rugged!

**kiyaanii mom** · 04-14-2005, 04:30 PM

It seems that a smaller powwow, meaning fewer contest categories, fewer sessions, and no drum contest is manageable for one A.D.

But if you are going to have more sessions, all contest categories, and drum contest. It might be easier to have 2 ADs or 1 AD and 1 Head Judge.

It doesn't matter if you select people you feel are above reproach and you make sure your procedures are what you feel are above reproach, the loosers will still complain and the winners will be glad.

So the committees I've worked with try to pick headstaff that are fun and easy to work with. Easy to work with means, they do what you ask and make suggestions when they need to but don't take over and do other things. LOL

**kiyaanii mom** · 04-27-2005, 03:58 PM

I was recently talking to a well known A.D about this very issue. He felt it is easier to have one AD and one Head judge if you must have 2 people. Because 2 ADs is confusing for the AD's. They always have to ask each other who is doing what, so they don't step on each others toes. He said usually at a smaller powwow one AD can handle the judge and AD duties alone.

FYI...........

**SingingDeer** · 07-08-2005, 11:35 PM

After reading this thread it brings to mind a comment on another thread
Arena assistant

Even though that thread is about women in head staff roles, it would seem to me that having multiple ADs could get rather confusing. But having assistants for a single AD would make a lot of sense in a larger pow wow where it takes more effort to keep things in order.

just my random 2-cents worth...

ma-heench · 03-18-2006, 08:58 PM

If you have only one Arena Director, when does he go to the bathroom? Supper Break. That's a long time to wait.

musicedu77 · 11-27-2006, 03:01 PM

How many head judges are common to have?
We are looking for one judge for mens dancing, one for females and one for drum contest. Can we get away with that or is it a must to have a head judge?

WhoMe · 11-30-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicedu77

How many head judges are common to have?
We are looking for one judge for mens dancing, one for females and one for drum contest. Can we get away with that or is it a must to have a head judge?

Music,

I think that is a good idea! A head male and female judge.

I am currently planning a MEGA powwow.

I am using northern and southern arena directors, northern and southern head dance judges and one head drum judge who knows northern and southern styles of singing.

musicedu77 · 11-30-2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoMe

Music,

I think that is a good idea! A head male and female judge.

I am currently planning a MEGA powwow.

I am using northern and southern arena directors, northern and southern head dance judges and one head drum judge who knows northern and southern styles of singing.

Wow!!

Eventually our powwow will get there once money rolls in. I think any money we make from the powwow will be put into a seperate account that pertains only to be used for our yearly powwow. That will help us in years to come. Who knows maybe once of these years we might be able to afford more headstaff even a whipman.

musicedu77 · 11-30-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ma-heench

If you have only one Arena Director, when does he go to the bathroom? Supper Break. That's a long time to wait.

Maybe that's why it's good to have a whipman. Being AD is alot of hard work and everyone needs a helping hand every once in a while.

Coyot_In_The_House · 11-30-2006, 01:03 PM

Powwows include a number of categories....I.E. Southern, Northern, etc.....Could this spur the need for a number of AD's? GON is huge and 2 seem to be just fine....There are Head Judges as well? Oh! I almost forgot about the "Para Military" group who secure the pit during GON....Gee I wonder if they fall under the title of AD's? LOL!

I'm Kidding Folks....No need to dive off the 10 feet section with no water in the proverbial pool.....

04-12-2005, 05:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of 370 Broken Treaties Posts: 5,442	Arena directors and head contest judges Anybody have any idea why some powwows have multiple arena directors sometimes as many as five? Are head contest judges absolutely necessary? Or can the arena director(s) be responsible for picking qualified judges and lining the contestants up? Are head contest judges a luxury in today's powwows? __________________ "Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture." WhoMe

04-13-2005, 01:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
CHEROSAGE Pow Wow Committee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: , mo Posts: 1,318	I myself don't see the need for more than 2 ADs. I'm not sure about the Head judges either. I believe that the ADs can pick judges on their own. I think that the head contest judge is a lux that money can buy. __________________ BOB

04-13-2005, 10:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
badmaninc PowWows.com Addicts Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Saanich Tribes, B.C. Posts: 2,924	I've been to powwows where the AD and whipman weren't getting along and had argument over the selection of judges. I believe if the powwow committee has faith in the person they select, then that person would do an honourable job. I believe that a good AD is somebody whose character or word should be viewed as above rapproach. Sometimes, naive people hire snakecharmers who believe they have the godgiven right to provide direction to the committee rather than offer their opinion. When hired to be an Arena Director, you don't make the rules, you are supposed to offer the best advice you can to the people who trusted you enough to work for them. I have seen Arena Directors who have entered contests in both drumming and singing contests. He tells the committee that it is alright and nobody would complain. It was the last time I went to that powwow. Many ADs see this is as a profession and to me that is wrong. But who am I to judge, I guess. Last edited by badmaninc; 04-14-2005 at 02:15 AM.

07-08-2005, 11:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
SingingDeer ~~~ Jedi Color Guard ~~~ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,603	After reading this thread it brings to mind a comment on another thread Arena assistant Even though that thread is about women in head staff roles, it would seem to me that having multiple ADs could get rather confusing. But having assistants for a single AD would make a lot of sense in a larger pow wow where it takes more effort to keep things in order. just my random 2-cents worth... __________________ "Liberty is the one thing you can't have unless you give it to others." ~ Wm A White "We could learn a lot from a box of crayons: some sharp, some pretty, some dull, some have weird names, & all different colors, but they have to learn to live in the same box." ~ Anon

03-18-2006, 08:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
ma-heench Junior Dancer Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 105	Arena Director If you have only one Arena Director, when does he go to the bathroom? Supper Break. That's a long time to wait.

04-14-2005, 04:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
kiyaanii mom We'll See.... Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: 4 corners area Posts: 1,610	It seems that a smaller powwow, meaning fewer contest categories, fewer sessions, and no drum contest is manageable for one A.D. But if you are going to have more sessions, all contest categories, and drum contest. It might be easier to have 2 ADs or 1 AD and 1 Head Judge. It doesn't matter if you select people you feel are above reproach and you make sure your procedures are what you feel are above reproach, the loosers will still complain and the winners will be glad. So the committees I've worked with try to pick headstaff that are fun and easy to work with. Easy to work with means, they do what you ask and make suggestions when they need to but don't take over and do other things. LOL

04-27-2005, 03:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
kiyaanii mom We'll See.... Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: 4 corners area Posts: 1,610	I was recently talking to a well known A.D about this very issue. He felt it is easier to have one AD and one Head judge if you must have 2 people. Because 2 ADs is confusing for the AD's. They always have to ask each other who is doing what, so they don't step on each others toes. He said usually at a smaller powwow one AD can handle the judge and AD duties alone. FYI...........

11-27-2006, 03:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
musicedu77 Teen Dancer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: nwo Posts: 400	How many head judges are common to have? We are looking for one judge for mens dancing, one for females and one for drum contest. Can we get away with that or is it a must to have a head judge?