Judging-seminar in Gothenburg, Sweden

This weekend I have been in Githenburg, Sweden, to take part in their judging-conference. I entered because I wanted to learn more about what the judges are looking for/after and also because I may want to become a judge one day.

We were 7, me included (I have a picture, but it is at my camera, will upload it later). We went through the Dusseldorf-rules, point by point. Rules that looks so easy at the paper were in fact very difficult to understand. We discussed every step and made sure nothing got judged twice. THAT was difficult! We also discussed how we WISHED it to be.

What really makes me wonder is... Why on earth do we have different rules in different championships/competitions/countries?Seriously, this field is so very small, why not make international rules and score-sheets? That would make the job a lot easier for both the judges and the competitors. And in my opinion, it would be more fare an less confusing. Like it is today you have to not only read the rules, but also speak to somebody who has done the competition before to ask what the COMMON rule is. For example a salon-nail competition is NOT the same everywhere. Of course the standard for a salon nail vary from place to place and from country to country, but that's why we have rules that should be clear enough that it should not be required to ask somebody what they REALLY mean.

In my dreams we should have an international judging-conference once a year, international judges that had to meet certain criterias and of course, they should be payed. Ok, I do have a lot of controversial thoughts and ideas about this issue, I think I will write about it later. But be prepared... :-)

Back to the conference. I learned a lot, both from a judges perspective, but also for my coming competitions. In fact it inspired me so much that all I want to do now is to go back home and practice. I might try to judge myself after! :-)

It was a pleasure to meet Maria and her team in Sweden and I wish we can continue to cooperate. I can see a Scandinavian cooperation
coming!