Friday at DragonCon is one of my busy days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have a couple of panels and then in the evening is devoted to the Friday Night Workmanship Costume contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a number of years I have been the head judge for this contest and proud to be a part it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am blessed to have fellow judges who I have been come friends with and that have a lot of experience professionally along with a diverse skill set. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crew from the costuming track are always great to work with and do go the extra mile to make sure we can pull off the best contest we can every year. I could not do it without them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I started as a judge after Marty Gear recommended me to the powers that be as someone with a skill set that would be useful to the judging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortly after that I was promoted to head judge which really meant that they needed a stage manager to keep things move along so we can get to a decision. I am more than willing to be the gorilla in the room keeping things moving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part of the fun of judging this contest is that I learn a lot from the contestants. There are new techniques and new materials that I find out about. And new takes on old materials that are quite amazing. And these people know how to use what they have or can get to make amazing things. Some of the recycling I have seen is worthy the title of art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it is cool to see the work put into each piece of the costume up close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We say that each year it gets harder to judge and we are not kidding. Every year people up their game and come in with their best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year was no different even with the restrictions we were laboring under.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a marathon to get to the end and we do our best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I would like to thank my fellow judges Cheralyn Lambeth (https:\/\/cheralynlambeth.webs.com<\/a>), Travis Scott Merrill (https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm8293657\/<\/a>), Freddy Clements (https:\/\/www.ehc.edu\/live\/news\/1081-freddy-clements-honored-with-legacy-award<\/a>), and Rob Allsopp (http:\/\/www.raprops.com\/home\/splash01.htm<\/a>) for their hard work this year and all the years we worked together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are all amazing artists and lovely people that I am proud to call friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lee Cox and his amazing crew always have what we need or get it for us in short order. They organize this monster so we can judge it and make sure that the contestants know what is going on and are taken care of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n