Head Judge Responsibilities

[lumbee_warrior]

I'm wondering what all are the responsibilities that are entailed to be a Head Judge? Also, what makes a great Head Judge. Please, please, please help me out here!

[quicksilverwade]

I'm wondering what all are the responsibilities that are entailed to be a Head Judge? Also, what makes a great Head Judge. Please, please, please help me out here!

I'll start a partial list and others will add or dispute my thoughts.

Unless the powwow committee has the necessary equipment for the contest, you'll have to get these items yourself.
1. Tabulation items: pens/pads/safety pins/contestant numbers and anything that comes to your mind.
2. Registration responsibilities: you'll need help with signing up the dancers and handing out the numbers.

Before Grand Entry:
3. The tabulators will have to be ready to take the contestants' numbers.
4. Have day money ready for the tinytots.
5. Have your judges ready for each contest category.
6. Tabulate the judges score. The rule of thumb is: 15 points for each 1st place vote. 10 points for each 2nd place vote and 5 points for each 3rd place vote. Realize that you'll have to change the structure if the number of contest places is more or less.

There's a lot more and I'm sure that others can finish my list. I've got to get back to work.

[LSS]

He should be someone who knows people. He will be responsible for chosing people to judge different categories. These should be people who will be indifferent to the dancers and not related to them.

Just a few extra thoughts for ya dude....can't think too clearly w/ this medication here. Hit me up later.

[ndn_lady]

IF you are working with a good powwow committee.....
THE HEAD JUDGE should just have to make sure there are >>good Judges<< ready for each contest, and make sure the Tabulation/Judging sheets are in place.

Registration and TAbulation should be in charge of registering then tabulating the dancers/contests, not the head Judge, LOL.
Otherwise its the arena directors job to know whats going on at all times...

anywayz, what do I know! haha

[NDNQt]

I'm with NDN Lady - the head judge needs to be able to pick judges that know what to look for and neutral people. Sometimes it is really hard to pick people that aren't associated with someone in that category but if they are associated (I mean acquantances not family!)be sure that they can be impartial - lots of people say they are but they aren't. And the head judge needs to work with the tabulator/registration person. Sometimes there are questions that only the head judge can answer.

I hope some of this helps!

[quicksilverwade]

I figure that if this person is being asked to be head judge for the first time then this powwow committee is putting on a small powwow. Hence, the head judge is going to have to do everything regarding the contesting, tabulating and registration. You'll probably be seeing this head judge at the grand entry lineup taking numbers and having a great time since the pressure won't be as bad.

[lumbee_warrior]

head judge

quicksilverwade you are partially correct. the powwow is actually gonna be the first contest powwow that a university in north carolina has ever had (unc-chapel hill). :clapping: don't really know how large or small its gonna be. we do have people to work registration, a great tabulator, and a arena director already chosen. however, the powwow committee has suggested that i be the head judge since i'm a student and they wouldn't have to pay me (indians always have to be tight with money huh)? i've been around the powwow trail for almost 2 years now so i do have confidence that i am able to do the job. as anyone ever competed in a powwow were the head judge was a newbie? how'd it go? what are your thoughts/comments?

[Wojapi4Me]

Two whole years huh?

Man, you're in for a ride. Good luck dude.

Seriously though...get some help or offer to "shadow" someone as head judge this year and try it next year. It's a big job as it is, but would be a HUGE job for someone not too familiar with pow wows.

[LSS]

I don't think he'll be that bad off. I think the biggest thing will be what his "network" of people is like. If he has a pretty good representation of people he knows....it will be a cake walk.

LSS

[NDNQt]

Hey cuz! Since you have a great tabulator :blushing: I feel quite sure they will help you!!! You really don't have much to worry - they have experience doing it and will be there for ya!

[lumbee_warrior]

thanks lss and ndnqt. ya'll are the :explode: i do feel better. hopefully i'll get some stuff lined up to were i can shadow some head judges at a few powwows before march.

[Miss_Kiowa]

To my Lumbees...

Totally unrelated to the topic post:

^^^ If Lumbee Warrior is my summer friend from NY : Hugs brotha!! :)

And hugs to my adopted Kiowa cuz, NDNqt. :) You should have come to Ret Earff this year... it was fun!! WEIRD, but fun!!

[Kiwehnzii]

A head judge is firm in his/her decisions. Sometimes decisions are not favorable to the dancer involved. Go by the rules (ensure that the committee has the rules laid out in advance and enough copies for all the dancers) and be fair to all. Do not sway or people will take advantage of your weakness.

Definitely, do not accept anyones offer to help you out with judging. Sometimes their motives are not honorable.

You are not there to win a popularity contest. You are there to run a fair and equitable contest. This is what will get you respect. You might not become the most well-liked person but people will respect you.

Develop your own tabulation system/ ballots. Include criteria for contests on your ballot. If the committee has tabulators, check all the numbers/ballots before the end of the powwow. If the tabulators make a mistake, that mistake is on your reputation, not theirs because you are the head judge. Make sure they have 2 tabulators so there'll be double-checking. If they have there own system/ballots , use theirs. They are the bosses.

Be aware of potential conflicts. For instance, this person is mad at this one. Family feuds(yes there are some). Do not use these people to judge each other. Woooo, this is a toughie.
Look around at other powwows and see who is really, really chummie and do not use good buddies to judge each other. You really have to know whats going on around different powwows.

Do not use all local judges. Mix 'em up about 1/2 & 1/2.
There's nothing worse than having all local winners and all the long-distance guests getting shut out.

If you are going to be head judge at other events, make sure you study the ballots to see if the judges you selected are being fair. One way to do this is - if one ballot is waaaaayyyy off, then that person may not be judging fair or they just see something altogether different than the others.

No, it isn't easy. Some of your supporters are trying to paint such a rosey picture and this is going to be a piece of cake. Far from it. There is so much more involved. Ask other experienced people. Being head judge at one powwow is not enough experience.
I'm not going to give all my secrets away.LOL

Good luck.

[lumbee_warrior]

my kiowa friend

miss poolaw is that you?

[lumbee_warrior]

head judge

[QUOTE=Kiwehnzii]
I'm not going to give all my secrets away.LOL


thanks for your post. it was very informative. kiwehnzii pm me if you don't mind. i'd like to hear some of those secrets if you are willing to share. i want to learn as much as i can!!!! :39: