IDEA: Thematic Contest. Thoughts?

[cent4ur]

I thought of an idea for a new contest, a thematic one so laying the ideas here to see if it'd stick or not.

Basic concept:
- compose a track based o given theme/genre like: compose a summer funky house tune, or make a tune that resembles to burial etc...
- so far like the other contests: in a given period of time, tracks must be kept secret, no copywright infringements blablabla
- main added ingredients are: Judges and Feedback. I'm thinking bout a number of max 3 judges, selected from this forum by their own free will, that will analyse the tracks: arrangement, composition, melody, FX etc, basically anything that they think it sounds good and not and also score them from 1 to 10. The track with highest score wins the compo.
- judges are not allowed to submit tracks and compete.
- last edition winner will decide the next edition theme and will also be part of the jury. This way creates a rotational effect so everybody gets to judge.
- thinking about allowing outside voting in case of equal scores.

So what do you think? Will it blend?

[alphacat]

I like it. I think the voting system that's come to be around here (like for the Samplepack contests) has serious issues IMO (voter fraud, etc. )

On the themes though, one thing: maybe a little looser, more conceptual/free association type themes - instead of trying to sound just like someone else or whatever, have an abstract theme as the common departure point. It doesn't even have to be a musical topic either.

[nowaysj]

Legend4ry used to do something like this, no?

We should be careful not to blow our contest load. Seems like a lot lately.

[wub]

Maybe less of a contest and more of a "Dubstep Forum's Got Talent" style feedback thread. I know we have a feedback thread and all, but it's very back slappy and you be nice to me and I'll be nice to you at times.

So maybe having a bank of three/four 'judges' who know their shizzle and don't mind giving their time to give constructive feedback on tunes?

[cent4ur]

Thank you for feedback. Much appreciated.

Legend4ry used to do something like this, no?

We should be careful not to blow our contest load. Seems like a lot lately.

Sorry, no to be understanded as a steal.
What contest load? we have 2 contests atm with 5 entries each. Few I say.

I like it. I think the voting system that's come to be around here (like for the Samplepack contests) has serious issues IMO (voter fraud, etc. )
On the themes though, one thing: maybe a little looser, more conceptual/free association type themes - instead of trying to sound just like someone else or whatever, have an abstract theme as the common departure point. It doesn't even have to be a musical topic either.

I just gave examples about the thematic thing, to get an image about what it could mean. Any ideas are welcome.

Maybe less of a contest and more of a "Dubstep Forum's Got Talent" style feedback thread. I know we have a feedback thread and all, but it's very back slappy and you be nice to me and I'll be nice to you at times.

So maybe having a bank of three/four 'judges' who know their shizzle and don't mind giving their time to give constructive feedback on tunes?

First of all a contest has flavor. When you know you have to deliver your shit before x-th of the month ideas start to flow, adrenaline starts to pump, brain starts to work. Basically I think, in a contest, ppl deliver a finished tune rather than a WIP.
Having a bank with nice judges that write half a page for each submitted tune might get everyone to move the wip thread to the "judging page" thread. OR might not.
Also people tend to criticise with so much ease and when it comes to get criticised things go 180 around. That's why I thought that each user could be a judge so that they will know how it feels to judge and say something competent, but also accept the critics.
Exactly wub, not knowning who you're judging is the key.

I read threads bout users frustrated not having ideas to compose. Maybe dubstep is not their thing and a thematic contest might reveal their talent at a certain genre. Who knows... many good things might pop along the way.

[nowaysj]

Thank you for feedback. Much appreciated.

Legend4ry used to do something like this, no?

We should be careful not to blow our contest load. Seems like a lot lately.

Sorry, no to be understanded as a steal.
What contest load? we have 2 contests atm with 5 entries each. Few I say.

(not saying it is stealing, but knowledge of the past can inform the present and future)

Just think for a moment. This forum is very inactive. Few people come here. Most of the people who come here on a regular basis are the people who participate in the contests. Those same 5 people submit tunes to the contests. Those same 5 people don't want to be constantly just doing songs for contests. So if you start to lose those 5 participants, how many participants is the next contest going to have, 3? That is not a contest. That is like a couple of dudes getting together to work on an idea. I mean there is like AIM and other chatting apps that would allow two or three people to share concepts or tracks.

I worked very hard on the 41 sample contest, and then the 48 hour started immediately after that, I really did want to participate in the 48, but was physically, artistically wasted from the 41. I know of someone else who dropped out of the 48 because of the 41. I really couldn't do another contest right after the 48 hour, so you'd be losing even more of only a handful of participants.

See, I'm babbling. I've got nothing left for further contests.

[nowaysj]

Well, we'd have to do the judging live, with a panel, and one guy would be douche, the other guy would be kind of nice and supportive, and the chick could be whacked out of her head.

Formula for success.

[wub]

Well, we'd have to do the judging live, with a panel, and one guy would be douche, the other guy would be kind of nice and supportive, and the chick could be whacked out of her head.

Formula for success.

I have spotted a flaw with running your plan on this board.

[nowaysj]

Bro, I could get one like THAT. I've seen them in magazines.

[hutyluty]

Sounds like the tune of the week thread.

[alphacat]

I'm still down and will volunteer for whatever's needed, fwiw. I know some of y'all think of me as the weird old guy here, but... seniors can help too you know.

[nowaysj]

You're the weird old guy? Fuck, I better work on a different shtick. Maybe I can be the grumpy old guy?

[Icetickle]

You're the weird old guy? Fuck, I better work on a different shtick. Maybe I can be the grumpy old guy?

grumpygfgrumpygrumpy ? no

[alphacat]

You're the weird old guy? Fuck, I better work on a different shtick. Maybe I can be the grumpy old guy?

I believe I have at least 2 years on you, junior.




Your new shtick can be weird hermity erratic sporadic guy. You got that down pat.

[alphacat]

Maybe less of a contest and more of a "Dubstep Forum's Got Talent" style feedback thread. I know we have a feedback thread and all, but it's very back slappy and you be nice to me and I'll be nice to you at times.

So maybe having a bank of three/four 'judges' who know their shizzle and don't mind giving their time to give constructive feedback on tunes?

OK, back on track. What's the consensus for this judging/commentary ting? Yea or nay? I'm fine w/ it.

[nowaysj]

Well I would say this: Having judges is kind of a dope idea if those judges actually dig into the work and sincerely and significantly critique the work, rather than just saying x is better than y. I'd submit myself for this purpose as I'm a right old (n-2 --> snh reference, fuck you wub, you ruined what little morning I had) codger, and I have time on my hands to get intimate with it. I can only speak to 60 maybe 50 hz though, with any confidence.

[wub]

Maybe less of a contest and more of a "Dubstep Forum's Got Talent" style feedback thread. I know we have a feedback thread and all, but it's very back slappy and you be nice to me and I'll be nice to you at times.

So maybe having a bank of three/four 'judges' who know their shizzle and don't mind giving their time to give constructive feedback on tunes?

OK, back on track. What's the consensus for this judging/commentary ting? Yea or nay? I'm fine w/ it.

I'm fine with it HOWEVER I would like to point that I do this pretty regularly in the Dubs board anyway. If we start doing it in here, my only concern is with what tunes get submitted and how we choose the ones that get judged, so to speak.

[cent4ur]

Glad that I got your interest.

Well I would say this: Having judges is kind of a dope idea if those judges actually dig into the work and sincerely and significantly critique the work, rather than just saying x is better than y. I'd submit myself for this purpose as I'm a right old (n-2 --> snh reference, fuck you wub, you ruined what little morning I had) codger, and I have time on my hands to get intimate with it. I can only speak to 60 maybe 50 hz though, with any confidence.

No, judging is not going to compare tracks but will analyse and score them separately.

OK, back on track. What's the consensus for this judging/commentary ting? Yea or nay? I'm fine w/ it.

My idea is that this judging thing will solve issues of incognito voting, that you have also spotted.... And maybe will develop some sort of interest for better productions since you'll put something in and get something back, like reviews.

I'm fine with it HOWEVER I would like to point that I do this pretty regularly in the Dubs board anyway. If we start doing it in here, my only concern is with what tunes get submitted and how we choose the ones that get judged, so to speak.

It's gonna be a thematic contest (if it'll ever gonna be) so judges will only analyse tracks that, in their opinion, fit the theme. ONLY. What else is submitted might go to the trash.
Also judges will not know who's track is since we'll have secret naming in here too.
And for more security, tracks can be made visible on the thread only after judges post their impressions and scores, so we don't have some guy contestant like nowaysj writing to a judge like alphacat "hey dude, track b is mine. give it a high score FFS!!!!!"

[wub]

But American Idol the judges know what they're judging though?


Also, what if we receive 20 tracks, all of which fit the theme...are judges obliged to rate/review all 20?

[cent4ur]

I don't know. Get an idea. Haven't though about 20 tracks. Thought instead about the average 5 we have in the current contests