One week we're on top, the next week on the bottom. That is what happens with the subjectivity of judging. OK, this week we didn't compete, and the shows upstate had very few national class bands in them, which tend to keep the scores down in the other classes. But, as you can see, all of the upstate bands this weekend went over the Roslyn and Mineola scores. Check out the nysfbc.org website.
With this activity, the judges decide absolutely everything, based on a rubric. It is very much like figure skating or judged olympic events.
Here is the writeup about judging that I put on the show sheets every year, it explains in detail how subjectivity works with marching bands.
Competing Marching Bands- How We get Judged
There are approximately fifteen bands that compete on Long Island. Roslyn is the most recent addition to this group (it’s our 6th season). The other fourteen have been in this competition circuit for 20 to 40 years. Competitive bands can perform 30 to 50 forms (this year we have 43, up from 25 last year), are constantly moving, with memorized music (no lyres), and march in synchronized perfection (or as close as is possible). Non competition bands perform their shows during halftime at home football games and at the Newsday Festival. They tend to perform between 3 and 15 pictures (abstract forms).
Bands are adjudicated by four to six judges on musical performance, visual performance (flags & marching), drilldesign (abstract forms fitting the music), music arrangements, and most importantly, “general effect”.
What the audience usually responds to is “general effect”. It only accounts for about 40% of the score and that is why people don’t always agree with the judges’ results. Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the judging, you will find that marching is an intense activity that you will love!
Each set of judges give totally different scores, be ready for anything!
A band’s score can fluctuate by as much as ten points at each show, and each year is completely independent of prior years. Judges are all different. Each set has different tastes in music, and different ideas about the concept and quality of each show. A band can be in the top spot one week and then place in the middle to lower end of the competition the next. Keep it all in perspective. If we win,"Great". If we don't, there is always next week. Aim high, be patient. We will become one of the top bands on the Island. Remember, don't complain about the system of judging, in a few years these same judges will crown us champions.
Many marching band people say that the only way you can tell who is the best is to wait until the dome. Anything can happen at championships. Our band is doing great and we know it. We must realize that at all times and feel great from within, regardless of what the judges think. However, it is still "fun to win."
