Build a Quilt Show -- How to procure judges in 8 easy steps

I honestly have no idea how judging is handled for a big guild or international show. I assume there's a process and it's an enormous deal. I didn't need an enormous deal and am grateful because this deal was plenty big enough. 

I was in charge of a small, local guild show and managed to bring in some pretty awesome judges. I originally had three, but one had a family issue and couldn't come after all. We went with two. Talk about some awesome ladies. 

 It's a wonderful thing to know that there are people out there who are willing to go out of their way to help. Glen and Crissy, you rock! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Here's what I did for a our small event:
1. Determine what your needs are and put the word out. (I asked for help from quilters in other guilds that am a member of.)
2. Contract the judges for pay and mileage.  (In my case, make plans for lunch.)
3. Create a rubric or rules and email or text to judges.
4. Set up date/time for judging before show opens. Keep judges informed as the show gets closer. 
5. Inform the guild treasurer to make a receipt for judges to sign when pay/mileage is received. 
6. When judges arrive, walk them through the rules/rubric, make sure they know which quilts are to be judged. (I put a sticky dot on the numbers of the quilts.)
7. Be ready to do the math if using a rubric (get a math person!) and determine the winners.
8. Put ribbons on winning quilts, pay judges and see them off.

Build a Quilt Show Series:

Getting Started, or A Bad Monday

The People Who Make It Happen

 Build a Hanging System

Procure Your Judges

Build a Quilt Show -- Meet the people who make it happen

It takes a small army to put together a quilt show. In addition to men who are able to move heavy loads, figure out the archaic wooden system, and make the hanging system stand upright without falling on folks, there must be people to do a multitude of other things. 

Prepping boards to hang quilts include screwing cup hooks into 2x4s, sorting, labeling and putting clips on quilt bindings. Hanging quilts, keeping track of sudden changes, numbering them, creating a database, building, printing and folding a program. 

Hire judges. Arrange meeting time, lunch, and hostess gifts. Prepare rubrics, devise rules, math the scores, determine winners, pin ribbons/prizes.

Prepare for challenge blocks (which must be organized, introduced, collected, hung, tickets made, etc.) 

Sell raffle tickets for the opportunity quilt (which must be sewn and quilted; plus tickets created, passed out, sold, collected, etc.) 

Collect money at the door. 

Vendors are a whole entity of itself. Someone has create letters, forms and flyers, to send to prospective vendors. Collect, file and organize vendor information. Assign vendor areas. Check that everyone has a space, has paid for the space, and is not taking someone else's space. Collect door prizes. 

Collect door prizes, make sure everyone gets a ticket, pull numbers, announce winners, make calls to winners. Pass out prizes. Advertise vendors. 

Media people must inform the tourism commission, radio, television, newspapers. Facebook. Make and put out flyers. Build and put out signs. Get the word out by any means necessary.

Greet guests. Encourage people to "Do Not Touch the Quilts." Answer questions. Direct. 

Portapotty must be ordered, the truck must be met at delivery, a check must be available. Arrangements for pickup made.

A cake sale requires cakes and other sweets. So bake cakes, deliver, have salespersons who can cut, serve, and wrap cake. Someone who can collect money.

A treasurer must keep all monies separate, have change available, collect funds, make deposits, pay bills. 

Take down the show: remove and return quilts, break down and store quilt hanging system, collect stray items and return them, gather all the office supplies and cake items. Clean and restore room to original order. 

And there you are. People upon people who must work tirelessly for a week putting up and taking down a show so that the rest of us can enjoy the beauty of quilts.

Build a Quilt Show Series:

Getting Started, or A Bad Monday

The People Who Make It Happen

 Build a Hanging System

Procure Your Judges

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Patience Quilters

The beautiful quilts that I saw yesterday were so pretty that I thought I'd include a few more pictures today as part of our Sunday Quilt Inspiration.

Don't you agree that they are beautiful and inspiring?  I don't know if I can choose a favorite.  I do know that I could not be a judge!
Happy Quilting,
Mary

Patience Quilters Show

I went to the Patience Quilters Show this morning.  What a nice show!  There were about 60 or so quilts, I imagine, because I took over 100 pictures and I know I missed a few.  Rather than wait for others to move, I simply skip over the quilt and come back later.  Of course, doing this means that there surely are a few that I didn't get back to.  

I did walk back through the entire show to get a second look at some of my favorites.  I've found that viewing quilts is a bit like viewing fine art, it takes more than one opportunity to really appreciate the beauty and the nuances of the piece.  The little details that we tend to miss on the first viewing are much easier to notice on the second or third time.  I assume it's because we aren't focusing on the big picture or trying to figure out the artist's meaning.

 

As always, I apologize for the poor quality of my photos.  You'd think I'd get the hang of it eventually, but no, it's just not happening.  These are all mine, all enhanced, and all about the best I can do.  Sorry. 

You know what's really nice about getting to a local show?  You recognize names on some of the quilts!  Many of the Patience Quilters are Cotton Quilters and so I get to see them and their work on those rare occasions that I actually get to attend a Cotton Quilters meeting. 

So here's a shout out to Brenda, Ruby and Annette and whomever else I saw or spoke to today.  It was very enjoyable, but don't expect that I'll remember everyone....I may have spoken to too many!

Cause, ya know, I talk a little bit.  To just about anyone.  And especially to people I might know.  And about almost anything.  But especially quilting.  Imagine me at a quilt show with other quilters!  That IS fun!
Happy talking and quilting,
Mary