• Bhangra discussion is still going strong. Join us in our Facebook group!

    New user registration has been closed (as it was entirely spam). We encourage you to post in our Facebook group, even if it's a followup to an existing thread. BTF will continue to be archived and hosted here - Saleem

A Fair Registration Process

kinnell

*Account Deactivated*
Messages
2,159
What is a Fair Registration Process? I value the collective opinions of all rather than thoughts of a few, so please do post your opinions. Feel free to speak on your own behalfs and not on the behalfs of the teams and the competitions you represent.

Often times, we discuss what a fair judging process is (ie: Govind's Judging Sheet), but can we determine what a fair registration process? Is registration so subjective that there can never be such thing as a fair registration process? In light of certain things that have come up with the Desi Dhamaka line-up as well as other line-ups, let me ask you: What is Fair Registration for you?

If you ran a competition, what would you do? If you were applying to a competition, how would you want your team to be treated in registration?

1) TRYOUT VIDEO?
A 2-8 minute video with your routine, perhaps in t-shirt and pants without any logos (so that the team remains anonymous and it eliminates bias during judging of tryout videos) during a practice run. This clearly seems the fairest and puts all teams at the same level. But what if a team known for great performances submits a tryout video that doesn't do them justice?

2) PERFORMANCE VIDEO/PERFORMANCE HISTORY?
Past performance videos? You get to see what they may look like in your competition stage! But what if the performance is from years before? This may not be fair to newer teams who may not have performance videos or performance history

3) FAME
Knowing that a great team is applying to your competition is a great feeling I'm sure. But should you accept Team X because you've or know that they're great even without watching the tryout videos?

4) CONTACTS
If you "know" people on a team, is it fair for you to select them even without watching tryout videos/performance videos or even without having heard of the team? Sure, they can guarantee that their performance will be top notch, but is it fair to guarantee them a spot in the line-up before registration has even begun? Should competitions that do this be called out on it?

Those were some criteria that some competitions use to determine line-ups. Which ones are fair? Which combinations are fair? Clearly, accepting a team based on contacts alone really doesnt seem fair, but is selecting a team based on tryout video alone also fair?

Competitions have every right to select their line-up in the way they see fit, but sooner or later, the shadyness comes out. If a competition strived to create a fair registration process, how would you advise them?
 

Kanvar

Why So Jaloose?
Messages
337
kinnell you have no idea how much politics and money are involved in selecting a line-up.
 

Kanvar

Why So Jaloose?
Messages
337
money as in......selecting team X will draw in more crowd because of location, or team Y has a big name (for instance school) or comes from a certain geographical location to attract sponsors.

and we did see bruin post a non-refundable $200 registration fee last year.
 

Jeeti

New Member
Messages
974
You have to keep in mind that no matter how you look at it..throwing a competition is a business...it all comes down to money for the organizers...they obviously need to break even..even better make a profit.. and must do that by filling up seats...if that means choosing team X, so be it.

Also, remember that if the competition does not do well financially...it has no future...

As far as having contacts and such, indian organizers are often horrible at being professional and unfortunately as a result, teams get in unfairly...but this is the world we live in...i hate to be the cynic..but it is what it is...there is no such thing as a fair registration process...do whatever you gotta do to get in. Despite how fair of a registration process a competition is able to create, there are the factors previously mentioned that will forever stand in the way.
 

Desi Dhamaka

Desi Dhamaka, Bhangra Allstars, Fusion Faceoff...
Messages
233
You know this is a excellent thread. And im glad you posted this. I really want the truth from all the teams here. As a promoter I want to know the turth about the registration process. Desi Dhamaka wanted to be different and not use politics. However as promoter of my show Im even finding out things that have tarnished my show without my knowledge. I will not get into that. But I agree that there is a lot of politics and money involved. And its not fair. Not giving teams the fair chance to perform and show their abilities. That is exactly the reason why I tried to be different. But now everyone is upset that I took more less known teams. So Im a bit confused as to where the politics really is. And Im not trying to offend anyone. Im just trying to figure this out.

Anil
 

nb0913

New Member
Messages
280
I think that the selection commitee should not be allowed to know whos video they are watching. Keep it anonymous to get rid of the bias of "hey my friends on this team" or "that school is our rival" or any of that bullshit. Have ONE person keep a record of which teams video is being played, and don't let them vote. So have maybe an 8 person committee, with 7 people voting.
Just my thought to get rid of at least some of the bias.
 

Kashmoney

New Member
Messages
7
A 100% fair line-up is selected based on tryout video only. However, you gotta look at it from a competition organizers point of view. They 1) need to sell tickets to make the competition a success, and 2) make their competition well known so that it continues for years to come. With that in mind, it comes down to tryout videos AND reputation. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure if a new/small team has an amazing vid, they will get in, but im pretty sure name has influence. And before I have people bash on me for saying reputation comes into play, just know I am not a competition organizer nor have I ever organized a competition.
 

- Raja -

New Member
Messages
686
nb0913 said:
I think that the selection commitee should not be allowed to know whos video they are watching. Keep it anonymous to get rid of the bias of "hey my friends on this team" or "that school is our rival" or any of that bullshit. Have ONE person keep a record of which teams video is being played, and don't let them vote. So have maybe an 8 person committee, with 7 people voting.
Just my thought to get rid of at least some of the bias.
this is a good idea..maybe tell teams too wear ALL BLACK in the video ?
 

Temurzai

New Member
Messages
397
haha yea, all black, no talking so thers no voice recognition, and ski masks n gloves. LOL. thtd be hilarious
 

kinnell

*Account Deactivated*
Messages
2,159
nb0913 said:
I think that the selection commitee should not be allowed to know whos video they are watching. Keep it anonymous to get rid of the bias of "hey my friends on this team" or "that school is our rival" or any of that bullshit. Have ONE person keep a record of which teams video is being played, and don't let them vote. So have maybe an 8 person committee, with 7 people voting.
Just my thought to get rid of at least some of the bias.
It's easier for Raas teams than Bhangra Teams. The reason is simple. The vast vast vast vast majority of Raas teams are co-ed and more or less 8 and 8. There is so much variety in Bhangra in terms of co-ed/single-gendered, 8-10-12-14-16 dancers, live/music, traditional/modern..etc that you'd probably be even to figure out or narrow down what team is applying.

It doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to make it anonymous, but when the audition segment shown is an all guy team, 2 sexy twins, a dude standing on another dude's bicep and the mix screaming "Sher Foundation".... it's hard for the committee not to know what team it is. (I was describing Heeray Punjab De, btw if you didnt get it from the clues :p)
 
Top