Re: [Harp-L] Does SPAH need harmonica competition - in brief



> 
> *"Music is not a contest. As soon as we make it a contest we lose the 
> brotherhood."*

 A contest is not music. Music is not the contest. A contest is what you 
make of it. The type of contest originally being discussed is not 'life or 
death' -- there are no 'millions' to be made from it. It is a game, like 
checkers, badminton, or baseball. It is all in how it is done and the 
attitude you bring with you when you participate. That is why the organizers 
spend so much time preparing "Rules and Regs" before offering a contest -- 
so everyone will know how to play the game. A contest is a game where you 
have control over your (or your group's) performance only -- and nothing 
else (a bit like gambling, which many people find fun). The judges will rule 
however they do and the other players, hopefully, will play their best, so 
that you will have been able to play against very good competition. Win or 
lose, if you did your best and they did their best, everyone should have 
fun. 
 Brotherhood and friendship can be fostered at competitions just as easily 
as they can at any other event. Contests can be a very good opportunity to 
meet other musicians and learn about them -- maybe even pick up a new idea 
or technique, because everyone there is trying to show best what they do. It 
can be as much a social occasion as can any other game, and competitors help 
each other all the time.
 If a contestant goes into a contest to beat the pants off of everyone (no 
holds barred), then he is competing in an un-fun way and probably will jam 
that way, too. Many people consider a music circle or jam to be a contest, 
so they compete, even when everyone else is simply just enjoying themselves. 
This is usually the source of 'hard feelings' in a jam situation. They 
didn't get the recognition they expected they should, so they feel 
'cheated', as if it were a contest that they had lost unfairly. 
 Musicians compete regularly in their jams, but in fun ways -- to challenge 
themselves or each other. One may do something cute, and the next may decide 
to 'top' it. One may do something interesting, and another may try something 
similar to see what he gets out of it. None of this hurts the jam and 
usually makes it fun and creative, but it is all some form of competition, 
even if it does not seem like it. Most of us need that type of interaction 
to spur us onto becoming better than we already are or to try new things or 
to work out things we haven't quite mastered yet. Contests should always be 
approached with a similar attitude. They are all about showing who you are, 
what you can do, and helping each other. It is a shame when people approach 
a contest like it was a 'live or die' situation, but the rest of us do not 
have to be shackled by those individuals' poor attitudes.
 Contests are not for everyone, though, and must be carefully thought out 
before being organized. They can be very complicated to organize and may 
have many liabilities, depending upon their organization. A real contest may 
not be the best way to bring attention to SPAH's convention. However, a 
pseudo-contest (more showcase) may have a similar effect at garnering 
attention, and you don't have to worry about how to judge the participants 
because everyone will be a winner. It still will require PSA's on radio and 
TV and a newspaper/magazine notice (wherever music events are displayed in 
the host city) and a few personal appearances on radio shows before anyone 
will ever know about the convention, a show, or a contest.

Cara Cooke




This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and MHonArc 2.6.8.