bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Poll: What type of contest should we have?

copied from the other thread:

I would like to see a constant running contest, perhaps on a semi-annual basis. Like May-Oct, and Nov-Apr (submissions accepted anytime during the contest open period), with the contest judging to be at the last week of the last month. Because you run them semi-annually, both halves of the hemisphere can be involved. It would just be Spring entries for one, and Fall entries for the other, but the mix, if we get enough entrants can make it quite interesting. Contestants could enter as many as they would like. The major guideline is that the entry would be styled by the contestant. It would have to be an honor system, as there would be no way to verify this. You could have two levels of experience ( 0-3 years, and 4+ years). This way you can have two winners. The competition ( after all it is a contest), would have no real prize, just peer recognition. Maybe a section on the forum main page with the contest winners for the particular season's contest are displayed.
The reason I like this, is it gives both the novice, and the more advanced among us a contest, with a goal to shoot for. It would also promote artisitc bonsai, maybe with a little luck we could get some of the more notable names to compete? Still the novice's (myself included) can compete as well. Obviously the novice winner's bonsai won't look nearly as good as the more experienced entrants, but it still gives us something to strive for. But if you are a novice, and you win based on a judging from your peers, this is certainly something to be considered noteworthy.
The entry would be based on design and presentation. Which means you have to create a good bonsai, and take a good picture of it in order to have a chance to win.
Well, just a thought anyway.

5-Oct-2005	#5
Ralph BonsaiTalk Master B.S.er Join Date: Jun-2002 Location: Richardson, Texas Country: God Bless America USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 9 Posts: 1,285	copied from the other thread: I would like to see a constant running contest, perhaps on a semi-annual basis. Like May-Oct, and Nov-Apr (submissions accepted anytime during the contest open period), with the contest judging to be at the last week of the last month. Because you run them semi-annually, both halves of the hemisphere can be involved. It would just be Spring entries for one, and Fall entries for the other, but the mix, if we get enough entrants can make it quite interesting. Contestants could enter as many as they would like. The major guideline is that the entry would be styled by the contestant. It would have to be an honor system, as there would be no way to verify this. You could have two levels of experience ( 0-3 years, and 4+ years). This way you can have two winners. The competition ( after all it is a contest), would have no real prize, just peer recognition. Maybe a section on the forum main page with the contest winners for the particular season's contest are displayed. The reason I like this, is it gives both the novice, and the more advanced among us a contest, with a goal to shoot for. It would also promote artisitc bonsai, maybe with a little luck we could get some of the more notable names to compete? Still the novice's (myself included) can compete as well. Obviously the novice winner's bonsai won't look nearly as good as the more experienced entrants, but it still gives us something to strive for. But if you are a novice, and you win based on a judging from your peers, this is certainly something to be considered noteworthy. The entry would be based on design and presentation. Which means you have to create a good bonsai, and take a good picture of it in order to have a chance to win. Well, just a thought anyway. __________________ Emerging from winter slumber Bonsai trees burst buds anew Spring is upon us! -Paul S.