Guys,.. would this idea have any legs in it ... ? ?

[Jenx]

Forgive me is this is a stupid question or idea ok ... and shoot holes in it if its a complete non-starter :

This was an idea my missus planted the seeds of: -

Has there ever been a turning competition among the turners here , for a bit of fun ?

After I'd heard her ask, .. I began to wonder if it could work ...

you know the kind of idea ...
categories of (something like,) :

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Pro' & perhaps a seperate one for the Pens ...

Pieces made specifically for entering - not anything already done and finished..
Perhaps even a little trophy or prize to go to the winners -- who knows, without wanting to sound too presumptuous, maybe even some of the 'really talented guys' could be co-ersced into making one trophy each, to be re-competed for, annually ? Winner of each category automatically advances into the next, each year .. you never know, it may even be possible to get the main suppliers to perhaps put something up by way of a little prize, like 'sponsoring the comp' ... not totally impossible to imagine happening !
Even without any 'end prize', even just the 'thrill of winning' something is fun sometimes... and none of us are the kind of fellows to get all huffy if we didn't hit top-spot.. ......

Is the 'concept' just daft, or would it possibly have some mileage in it ?

I really like the idea -- something to really push me into applying myself into doing the best that I could possibly could.. with just that wee tiny bit of 'nice pressure' behind it !

What would you reckon ?
I'm sure we'd all be 'straight enough' to know where we should be in respect of entering the correct category..

It'd be a bit of fun, & something to maybe 'aim for' in the coming months... could it work ?

 

[Blister]

Jenx

Good idea , but I cant see it working

I did a Make it and pass it on Just for fun , so far not much has happened with it , and I suggested a 4 week time scale

1 item made several sets of plans sent out not much feedback , still it was just for fun

To get enough people to commit to the idea , I think you would struggle :?

I would be up for it if it does get off the ground :lol:

 

[Bodrighy]

The main flatworld section has competitions as do other forums. As suggested novice intemediate and expert. Only snag is whom is to judge who is what? Some of us have only been turning for a year or two, some for a long time, some are producing really excellent work some are still finding it hard. General idea is good but we need to have someone who will be an impartial judge and decide whether someone can rightly be classed in an appropriate section. Don't dismiss the idea but we need to think it through.

Pete

 

[johnny.t.]

Sounds fun . As for categories how about, Absolute beginners(say under 6 months turning), Improvers(6 months-2 years)and experienced.
The best part of it would be it would get people to post the things they are most proud of, so we all get to have a look.
I think you need at least a couple of judges, say one of our pros(if they're up for it) and a non turner(most impartial eye) from out there on the board.
Prizes aren't important, 'just for fun' is fine and we could have a 'sticky' gallery at the top with all the past winners.
I think it is a fine idea Jenx

JT

 

[maltrout512]

Does sound like fun. Like said prize not really required, just to have your name mentioned would do me.

 

[cornucopia]

the awgb competion doesnt get a allot of entries nor did the one on the gmc forum and they had a £200 prize and no limitations on experince. maybe this forum would be diffrent?

 

[johnny.t.]

We won't know if we don't try

 

[big soft moose]

Jenx

Good idea , but I cant see it working

I did a Make it and pass it on Just for fun , so far not much has happened with it , and I suggested a 4 week time scale

:

problem is that people have allsorts of other pressures in their lives - i have the make it and pass it on plans but i'm no where near finished (the "dead line" was saturday) on account of having started a new job, getting maried at the end of next month, trying to sort the allotment and house out , and having the shop full of allsorts of other gear that used to be stored at my old dears.

I've photocopied the plans and posted them on this morning , but expecting everyone to stick to a four week timescale is unrealistic

that said with jenx's idea people could enter stuff they'd already made so that kind of presure neednt be a show stopper.

 

[John. B]

Could be interesting,,,, :-k :-k :-k 8-[ 8-[ 8-[

 

[duncanh]

Not a bad idea.

My club has an annual competition - anything goes, and the last one was on Friday. Any member who is there on the night gets to vote so the preferences/ego/grudges of a single judge don't come into play!
Each member has 2 votes (worth 1 and 2 points) and these are anonymous.
There's no prize other than pride.
At the end of the night everyone who entered stands and describes how they made their piece and answers any questions.
There's a trophy for the highest placed beginner and this covers anyone who's been turning less than 5 years (possibly too long you may think, but this year no beginners entered). Once you've won it you're no longer a beginner and move into the general category with everyone else.

In the past I've entered online photography competitions and these were very short duration - 2 weeks. The winner was voted for by anyone who wanted to and the topic of the subsequent competition was chosen by the winner.

 

[Argee]

For a "competition" you would need a common starting point, otherwise it would be a "free-for-all." It would be difficult to judge (or vote) between a lace bobbin and a large-diameter bowl, but if all entries started off with a set resource, that would be a true competition of both style and execution.

As an example, start with, say, a 50mm x 50mm x 300mm piece of spalted birch and see what people could turn from that. The "beginners" and other categories could still play a part, I think. WIP pictures might eliminate the use of old (or other people's!) pieces.

Just an idea on an idea.

Ray.

 

[Paul.J]

Great idea Alun.
What if we have the competition split over the year,say quarterly,each quarter having a differnet catagory,first one bowls,second hollow forms,third one,vases,and fourth one pens.These are just examples.
Then we can all vote via a POLL.
Or get a group of Pros that are on here to judge.If they have the time of course.
Then the winner from each catagory can go into the grande finale at the end of the year for one overall winner.
The prize could be for the winner to select another one of the finalists entrants pieces.
Or perhaps Terry(Chestnut) could put some of his finishes up for prizes :wink:
This way i think there would be no pressure to get one piece made at a set time.Just enter once if you like.

 

[wizer]

I like Ray's idea. Each entrant starts with the same size piece of wood and is given a 'topic', say Hollow Form or Carved Turning.

Running it over a year (or at least for the rest of the year) is a good idea. Start 4 categories at once. Tap up some local friendly turning supply stores for sponsorship.

As I'm not likely to be up to standard this year, I don't mind taking this on also.

 

[Jenx]

Great feedback so far ... there may be some mileage in it yet then !

We'll keep it floating here a while, get some more ideas and input.. and then lets see how we could go about making something work.

Excellent stuff Folks.. Was a bit nervous about pitching the idea initially, in case it was 'dopey beyond belief' ... obviously it's not the case.

The 'taking part' would be 'reward aplenty' in many instances, I'm sure.. never thought a year and a bit ago, I'd be contemplating entering a turning competition, albeit a very informal one !

Keep the ideas coming, and I'm certain that between us, we could make a reasonable fist of it. and the 'fun' aspect would be teriffic.

( hopefully .. ) "To Be continued" ........ :wink:

 

[Paul.J]

My thinking for the quarterly time period was so that you could turn a few pieces in that time period,even practice at something you might not have tried before,than submit the piece you like the best.
This would also be good practice if you are a newbie,perhaps getting advice from the more experienced as you go along.
Starting the four subjects at once would just make things more hectic,i think.
My way i think would give you time to just concentrate on that particular item,if you see what i mean :?
Obviuosly there would have to be start and closing dates for each catagory,so it would give members time to vote,or the judges.

 

[wizer]

It depends. If the category was just 'Bowl' then most of you guys can do that in an hour. So it'd have to be stuff that taxes you. But it might not be something your interested in. Having more than one category means more people can enter. Not everyone has to enter every category.

 

[Paul.J]

That's the idea Tom.
You would have to than do an item you might not have tried before,or have and did't like doing it.
My favourites are bowls and hollow forms,so if there was some spindle work to be done,which i don't like i would have a go at it still,just for the fun of it,and as i say the practice.
Just a way of learing the different aspects of turning.But with a competition in mind
Again there would have to be the beginner,etc catagories.

 

[Bodrighy]

It depends. If the category was just 'Bowl' then most of you guys can do that in an hour.

Not if you want a decent one. The only bowls that I can make in an hour are about 2" or less in diameter. It also depends whether you are starting with a lump of wood or a ready made blank.

I personally reckon that the best idea is the one of being given a fairly specific criteria whether it is a specific item such as a bowl, specific size of wood or perhaps something like spindle work or faceplate work. Some things such as hollow forms would be very difficult to judge just from photos so it would need to be something that can be seen easily by the judges.

Only other problem is someone to organise it. Jenx springs to mind as he is the genius behind the idea :lol:

One of the american forums is having a 'scrap competition' at the moment. Pictures of scrap wood with WIP and a result. Should be interesting


Pete

 

[Jenx]

Jenx springs to mind as he is the genius behind the idea :lol:

be happy to put the time and effort into that, if people would be happy to entrust it to me. " Genius" ??? ??? ??? , no wonder you put a laughing face after that Pete !

Will leave the thread 'running' a wee while yet.
The response isn't "vast", and by saying nothing, -- that would probably indicate a 'thanks but no thanks' type response, and thats fair enough too.
Lets let it run a day or two yet.. and then make an informed 'gauge' of the depth of interest, if that sounds ok !

 

[miles_hot]

to be honest i'd be interested however as my lathe isn.t up and running yet my contributions would be limmited!