Drum judging

[WhoMe]

Powwow season is in full swing now.

I get to judge a lot now. One of my pet peeves is southern drums switching leads with each start. To me, this is not a part of "Southern Singing." I can see one lead switch being tolerated, but not four. In my opinion, four lead changes in contest singing is more "northern contemporary."


What do you think?

[badmaninc]

I have only judged Northern. My pet peeve is you have three good leads and a really weak lead. To me it sort of defeats the group. One guy told me that you shouldn't hold that against a group if they have one lead doesn't sound as powerful as the rest. What is the point of having the individual lead if its weak then.

[misterE]

I can see where you are coming from, however I feel that there has been a type of “southern contemporary” style of singing that has emerged over the past 10-15 years or more.

The switching of leads, the style of songs being composed, and even different ways to accent or bling out the “drumming style”. I do enjoy some of these drums that I see as being more of a “contemporary southern style”, but I do see a clear difference between them and the older singers and groups.

Your thoughts and comments?

[WhoMe]

I can see where you are coming from, however I feel that there has been a type of “southern contemporary” style of singing that has emerged over the past 10-15 years or more.

The switching of leads, the style of songs being composed, and even different ways to accent or bling out the “drumming style”. I do enjoy some of these drums that I see as being more of a “contemporary southern style”, but I do see a clear difference between them and the older singers and groups.

Your thoughts and comments?

Maybe it's time that some contemporary Southern drums start competing in the contemporary singing category with the Northern drums?

[SmokeEater]

I still don't see why there would be any need (want) to pass the leads. After the third start, is when you really get warmed up!

There've been times I've been "forced" to lead a song 8 times through... So I could have passed those leads, all along? JK.

[jed]

If passing leads is to be judged it should be on the ballot.

If it ain't on the ballot, no worries!

I agree though, for Southern style there is the history behind having one lead for all of the starts of the song.

[SmokeEater]

So Whome, when you encounter this situation as judge do you give points for or against? And lets say that its for southern singing contest and not combined.

[Southern Comfort]

Maybe it's time that some contemporary Southern drums start competing in the contemporary singing category with the Northern drums?

That would be something to see..
im guna be honest the best way i can be and say that southern drums always end up gettin the crappy end of the stick...if u know what i mean..
my self as a back-up singer for a southern drum have seen it many times that a southern drum will sound better then most drums who place but we always get crappy scores..and end up not placing at all..when in reality everyone knows they should have.
so havin a southern drum enter in a Contemp. cat. with northern will not be worth it..in most cases where northern is pref. over southern

i say judge it the way u want...everyone will have there own opinion..just make it fair..

[Paul G]

Powwow season is in full swing now.

I get to judge a lot now. One of my pet peeves is southern drums switching leads with each start. To me, this is not a part of "Southern Singing." I can see one lead switch being tolerated, but not four. In my opinion, four lead changes in contest singing is more "northern contemporary."


What do you think?

Has this grown out of some of the Pow Wows that lump Southern and Northern together? And the Southern guys feel they need to do this to compete with the Northern drums?

[Da' Messenger]

Changing leads!

Well I think it's because their trying to show their singing abilities, talents, and skill. Just my own opinion! Hi-gyah?!

[LSS]

From my experiences...it has a lot to do with trying to show versatility. However, there are some instances where guys are in fact trying to "compete" with northern drums.

The bottom line is that people who organize these dances are limited in funds and knowledge. The funds part is something that reflects on the committee. I am not "bickering" about/towards the committee because an honest committee will do what they can and I'm not doing it for the money! BUT, there is no excuse for not making the time to learn something when it is right there under your nose. If you don't know what you're looking for in your judging then you should be man/woman enough to admit to it. It burns my a$$ worse than a flame 3 foot tall to have someone who has little to no experience around good old southern singing come judge us <southern singers>.

ADMIT TO NOT KNOWING SOMETHING! Wait a minute...that would suggest I'm not a true Native!

WHATEVER!

Stop and think about it! No matter which style of singing it is, you are still responsible for knowing one another, their strengths & their weaknesses. Whenever one of the guys go to crank out a lead, they must be mindful of their brothers around the drum so that they do not put it in a range that no one can follow...and certainly don't start out with a 4th push lead as your first.

I'm done with this for the moment! My blood pressure is boiling!