Calling for a boycott

[justventing]

My life is powwowing. On occasion I participate in powwows in the Lumbee/Haliwa area. Upon arrival to the Richmond, VA powwow they are only letting select people to the back. When I asked Barry he stated dancers were bringing their whole familys and not paying. They were so worried non participants were not going to pay, even tracked down a family member to see their bracelette. Maybe they should place a attendant at the back door so dancers could park and dress away from the general public.

The Arena Director had no idea what he was doing. I have to give a shout out to Kieth Colston, he did a great job in serving as the MC and arena director. There were several times the headlady or represtentative wasn't the in the arena to lead off the dances and the AD wasn't there to police anyone up.You can drop your stuff durring contest, pick it up and not disqualify yourself cause the AD isn't gonna do anything.

Dancers don't have to stop on time to place. Heck, you don't even have to dance on beat to win. I'm not saying that the Lumbee's and Haliwa's arent good dancers but I find it interesting that they place over world class dancers. Must have been a full moon.

I have finally decided to boycott these powwows. To any one that was thinking of going to this powwow i encourage you to go catch a movie. A B silly flick would be better than this powwow.

[NDNQt]

justventing - I know Barry wasn't letting everyone go in the back because yes, they weren't paying. And I know that for a fact. Also, last year there were problems in the back because of people's actions from the night before. But that really isn't why I am responding. I am responding to the winners comment and the dropping stuff. The winners are picked by the judges. There were a variety of judges and it is up to their discretion on who they pick. I know that because I am the tabulator. We may not agree with who is picked but there is nothing to be done about that.

And as for the dancer. Evidently that dancer dropped his item (I can't even remember what it was) and picked it up within an instant. So unless you were looking at that dancer you wouldn't have known it. I am not really defending the AD, because I don't know him and don't know what he knows. That was my first time meeting him. I had seen him before but still don't "know" him.

Everybody else has remarked about what a good time they had, so I don't know why you didn't. I just hope you will quit badmouthing the Richmond powwow because you are just discouraging others. Why not let them make up their own minds?

[kiyaanii mom]

Sounds like the things you are complaining about are mostly things the AD takes care of.... Therefore, I would probably not attend a pw that had this person's name as AD. (I don't know who it was. I wasn't at this pw.)

I don't think it is bad to let other people know what you didn't like about a pw. Hopefully the committee will hear what you said and decide if it has merit or not. That is the same for me. Maybe they will decide to get a better AD...

Actually my hubby has been to a pw in Richmond. And he enjoyed it. So we probably return if we ever get a chance.

[xTekno]

K-mom, it sounds like we all need to take a trip up there and straighten some stuff out, eh?

[ac_miss]

It takes one person or one action to ruin things, but I wouldn't boycott the pow wow altogether just for a previous AD's mistakes. I'm sure the committee has learned from this experience and will choose another person the next year.

BTW...I've never been to the area either and I don't know who you're talking about.

[xTekno]

At first, I thought it said "Calling for a boy scout"!!

[Luzenza]

I didn't even go, the weather was getting rough down south. Didn't feel like dodging a tornado on 64if it came to that. I think they had the same issues when they had that Jamestown Indian thing in Hampton at that funny shaped coliseum back in the summer of 2007. still enjoyed the powwow though.

[kiyaanii mom]

At first, I thought it said "Calling for a boy scout"!!

Maybe they already have toooooo many of those.... <jks>

[xTekno]

Maybe they already have toooooo many of those.... <JKS>

Order of the Arrow?

[kiyaanii mom]

Order of the Arrow?

All Eagles....

[buckskin pantyhose]

Sounds like a lot of the same issues that you hear about at other powwows....big time dancers not placing over locals, it happens a lot. Regardless of how well known the dancers are, things are different at local powwows. Thats why you should dance your booty off everywhere you go!

I've been to this powwow several times as well as the Lumbee & Hollister powwows and have always enjoyed dancing at all of them. Over the years i've been fortunate to have made some really good friends from Lumbee & Haliwa areas.

I admit, regardless of who shows up, you never know who's gonna win!

[kiyaanii mom]

Sounds like a lot of the same issues that you hear about at other powwows....big time dancers not placing over locals, it happens a lot. Regardless of how well known the dancers are, things are different at local powwows. Thats why you should dance your booty off everywhere you go!

I've been to this powwow several times as well as the Lumbee & Hollister powwows and have always enjoyed dancing at all of them. Over the years i've been fortunate to have made some really good friends from Lumbee & Haliwa areas.

I admit, regardless of who shows up, you never know who's gonna win!

[Strugganona]

I wish I had gone juss so I know what this is about.
but I agree...you never know...and sometimes local dancers never get a "fair" chance-except @ their local pow wow. Which-Im not saying is what happened here. Juss saying is all

[Joe's Dad]

I used to have fun at the Richmond powwow...especially at the Holiday Inn!!!

[hobbs49]

he picked it up within an instant...

[...snip...]And as for the dancer. Evidently that dancer dropped his item (I can't even remember what it was) and picked it up within an instant. So unless you were looking at that dancer you wouldn't have known it. [...snip...]

I always thought that if an item drops, hits the floor, is thrown down, rolls across the floor, comes undone, wiggles free, whatever, that the dancer should DQ him/her self. Which judge is in charge of deciding if it was picked up in an instant or after the 3-second rule expired? I think that the judges are there to somehow score the person's ability to dance well compared to others. The dancers should have enough dignity to walk off with their heads high if they drop and they know they've dropped.

But then again, there are a lot of folks out there who live and eat thanks to the contest so I'm sure that a self DQ can be difficult thing to do.

How do others feel about this?