Spot Checks

[ndnMSW]

Hey this is my first post on here!

I've been on both sides of the spot-check issue as a dancer and committee and I don't really care for them. It's too hard to monitor or enforce a spotcheck because you can't catch everyone that sneaks in. That's not fair to the dancers that have been out there the whole time. I would feel bad for dancers during the powwows I worked where it was blistering hot. I didn't think it was good for the golden age dancers who had to stay out there too. It's nice to catch extra points if you're out there, but too tough to see dancers sneaking in and getting the same points. I was the type of dancer that was out dancing every intertribal so being out there all the time wasn't an issue for me. But now that I have a baby I'm sure it will be alot different this summer. The powwows I go to, I've been attending for a long time so I pretty much know what to expect. Back home you never know if they're going to call for an exhibition before excusing you for the afternoon, or if they're going to do a spotcheck and use those for your participation points, so you gotta stay on your toes.

The only complaint I have is for those small powwows that intertribal you to death with boring singing, then they call for a spotcheck and don't even try to keep people out that come right out of their chairs or out of the stands to go line up for their points. That just seems like a useless spotcheck because it's not making people get out in the arena and dance like it's supposed to.

[WhoMe]

I think spot checks are completely ridiculous and just another thing to add to the already over-burdened head judges and tabulators. I agree with kneegrow native - it's a dance contest, not a "who dances the most?" contest. . . .
. . . some people like to dance some, then sit and visit awhile and just watch. What's wrong with that? ...it's supposed to be fun. Spot checks cut into that fun, and always seems to have negative results because you always here of people jumping in at the last minute just to get points or whatever.

__

SingerD,

I have to agree with you and Hewovy in many of your points. I also agree with woggs and Dancing_Plumes that the point system puts a burden on mothers with small children. It also puts burdens on those who have to attend to an emergency, get a bite to eat or relieve themselves (some powwows have what seems like - a mile long line *L)!

Maybe an alternative to the low participation during intertribals would be to have a designated time for spot checks?

To keep a contest powwow from becoming dull or static, maybe some regional tribal dancing or specialty dancing could be integrated into the powwow agenda? This is especially appealing to the audience.

To WhoMe, the whole point of spotchecks is to keep dancers in the arena.

Whatcha' think?

[Hewovy]

When I had my baby and was nursing and dancing, spot checks sucked!! becuase they'd always happen when I was off nursing (in my mind LOL) or changing the baby or putting the baby to sleep...Also, sometimes my children SUDDENLY have to use the potty or they get hurt, or I gotta go feed them or change their clothes...and it is really hard because spotchecks make it hard for Parents..so I don't really like spot checks..I like to enjoy myself and enjoy my family!

That's a really good point.

[Hewovy]

"I think spot checks are completely ridiculous and just another thing to add to the already over-burdened head judges and tabulators. I agree with kneegrow native - it's a dance contest, not a "who dances the most?" contest. I'm like bushy braids in that I am out there for just about every song. But, I don't care if there are those who want to sit and watch. I came to dance, but some people like to dance some, then sit and visit awhile and just watch. What's wrong with that?"

I agree. It's also a tad unfair to people with disabilities, like myself, who simply can't dance every single time. I have to take time out to rest and sit a few out, and I know I'm not the only one.

[Eastern Cree]

Good,Bad,Ugly

it's all in the title, what I would say able a spot check souix...

[chazziff]

I really thought N.Battleford's spot checks were the best--outta no-where (ok maybe not completely outta no-where) but the MC would announce a catagory (example: grass) and the grass catagory would stay out there for one song and the committe would pick 2 dancers and they'd get $200.00 and $100.00 chip!!!!!!!!!! no one complained about those spot checks!!!!!!

kewl! the infamous black chip special!! i guess it was the only way to "ensure" of full crowd participation - don't know exactly when your category will be called soo you have to be out there dancin'! guess it wasn't exactly a spot check.

but i've seen where committees use a sc to break a tie-breaker. so there won't be tie breaker songs slowin things down. if both dancers show up then they went for a song....

[JWELL]

spot checks

did some here lose because they might have missed a spot check? if you did then check ur slef.

long live the times of contemp traditions or is it?.

[kneegrow_native]

My grandma was telling us that contest dancing on our rez evolved from dudes doin it for bragging rights, or one dude would throw down a dollar and challenge someone else one on one and let the crowd decide.

[ndnnorthstar]

I get the whole concept behind spotchecks, really I do. I mean how times has the round of inter-tribals have been dwindled to tiny tot dancers and a smattering of hard-core dancers?? really-it's been a long, hot weekend THEN...outta no-where the MC "hints" at a spot check and whooooosh--all of a sudden everyone's out there tryin to look all casual and cool!!!!
BUT...on the flip side-yeah, it's sometimes a hassle-like for parents (those kids just keep runnin away! and they get hungry-we get hungry-ohhh ohhh...i see someone i havn't seen in ages and we just wanna sit and have a nice visit!) ya get my drift eh????

I really thought N.Battleford's spot checks were the best--outta no-where (ok maybe not completely outta no-where) but the MC would announce a catagory (example: grass) and the grass catagory would stay out there for one song and the committe would pick 2 dancers and they'd get $200.00 and $100.00 chip!!!!!!!!!! no one complained about those spot checks!!!!!!

[woggs]

All I gotta say, is ..it is so funny..LOL we are discussing spotchecks..LOL..anyway, if a powwow has spotchecks, than thats their way of doing it, so we can't complain, not all powwows are run EXACTLY the same..as powwow people, we all get used to going to different places and seeing new and different styles of powwows..I dont mind spot checks, they are there for a reason.

[skinjun]

spot cheat

spot checks are put in place so that the head judge isn't caught cheating. If someone they know is behind on points, they get tabulators to add spot check points, so that their buddies are in the winners line.

[T. Jude Fox]

It is a ceremony, the giftbaskets to particpants became money and money became greed, so they created a dance off and the top 4 got paid and the others gifts, but suddenly the ceremony became the contest, then it became the only reason they showed up, to gamble their dancing talent to win some money and not dance to give thanks or partake in your tribal ceremonies.

Committee's can do what they want and in the touri$m side, a drum singing with a few dancers dancing all day through-out the intertribals is boring, so get'em all out there and make'em dance. The better the show the better the NEXT YEAR'S PAYOUTS WILL BE. You know the crowds quit shopping when the contests start.

I personally don't mind it, cause it's always a contest on every song, not just the contest songs. So I'd opt to make 3-5 contest songs per category, that'd be eye-catching spectacular, unless everyone's outta shape.

If you're counting on winning to get home and lose out cause of a spot check, you shouldn't be traveling. Committee's and communities are smarter than the average dancer, and the rules they lay out are for good reason.

It's a buncha tribes and traditions still mashing together, eventually it'll all be the same like whities & blacks and then we'll be saying, "We should mix it up, change something, hey let's have a spot check to get'em all riled up! *laughs*."

So yeah if you're a smart dancer you'll only attend the powwows that you know don't have spot checks, then you'll be happy.

The should have singer spot checks to, I imagine, they say you should always be at your drum, but for powwows like denver when you only sing once or twice in a day, no way. So yeah every powwow is different and we should accept it and play along, cause I know one good thing is bound to be taken over, commercialized (pimped) and taxed. Be happy to win when you do, it's tax free (for now).

Yeah you should wear your outfit till the end, it makes'em remember you next time. Besides you wear it to contest for the money, wear it to receive the money, it's an honoring.

[woggs]

When I had my baby and was nursing and dancing, spot checks sucked!! becuase they'd always happen when I was off nursing (in my mind LOL) or changing the baby or putting the baby to sleep...Also, sometimes my children SUDDENLY have to use the potty or they get hurt, or I gotta go feed them or change their clothes...and it is really hard because spotchecks make it hard for Parents..so I don't really like spot checks..I like to enjoy myself and enjoy my family!

[pumped_up]

not knowing

so,why didn't you just answer the reply, because you didn't know how!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dancing_plumes]

I don't really care about spot checks!

I usally don't care if they are having spot checks, but if they are and I'm out there, forsure I am going to flash my number.
Powwows ain't that easy anymore especially if you have children.

The rule staying in your outfit till you recieve your prize money, just kills me.
I know this rule is to showcase the winners, but by the time the powwow committee is done dragging the powwow on, spectators are already gone
Has anybody heard of this rule.