Re: This Tournament Goes to Eleven 2006 to be held the weekend of October 21.

djtannir <*djtannir_at_djtannir.yahoo.invalid*> · Fri, 16 Jun 2006 20:42:19 -0000

--- In quizbowl_at_yahoogroups.com, suds1000 <no_reply_at_...> wrote:
>
> Will TTGT11 2006 once again feature a disproportionate amount of
> trash, namely a percentage in each packet much higher than promised by
> the tournament director?
>
> Will there again be an audio non-popular-country-music round in which
> each of the audio clips contains the answer to the question, resulting
> in teams buzzing off of no knowledge with random words in the song as
> their guess?
>
> 'Cuz if so...man, I am so there.  *thumbs-up*

___________________________________________________________

Speaking as another recent TD of TTGT11 (last year) and not representing
the group as a whole, I can tell you what this tournament will contain
and what it has contained in the past.  You can see Andy's numbers above
to see the exact math if that is what you are in to.  Like all
tournaments, we struggle with some logistics.  These logistics never
seem to be whether we are going to have enough acceptable moderators or
whether people are going to have a good time.  Typically, the logistics
are for the little extras.  And they always work out to (most) people's
satisfaction.

As a newer member of Iowa, I was impressed with how much effort is put
in to a unique idea for a tournament.  All of the rules and numbers are
laid out ahead of time and people can take that for what it is worth.  I
know the main goal with the rules and format is to have fun and try
something different.  Every year, we try to come up with some new ideas
while keeping some of the old.  We like variety and we are open to
submitters as well as mirrors.  Lots of time is spent getting this
variety without following some sort of formula for how many social
science questions per packet are allowed (sometimes a packet could be
based on one social science entirely; the name of the game is Theme and
Subject packets).  And lots of time is spent editing and making sure we
have a good layout where people, like yourself, who might get offended
for having to know something about Waylon Jennings can walk across the
hall and sit in on an Art visual packet.  Both packets I stand by.

I play tested all the packets and I can tell you 50% of them I probably
sat there with a blank look on my face.  Probably more, considering I'm
a TRASH guy.  But I can also tell you that lots of people sat there in
the Country packet (wouldn't call it Non-Popular because at the time of
their release the songs were quite popular) and rattled off the name of
the song after Patsy Cline took her first breath.

So yes, if you chose a Country Music packet over a Visual Arts packet,
you are probably going to hear "a disproportionate amount of trashhigher
than promised by the tournament director"  I urge you to try the other
room next time.  Think of how many tournaments you can go to though
where you can walk in to a room and say, "Man I can't wait to hear only
questions about my favorite topic ever."

Now that Andy and I have responded to someone that probably wouldn't
have had fun if God hosted the tournament, I want to urge everyone else
to join us and keep us up to date on your plans to attend, contribute,
both or neither.  We have a lot planned for TTGT11.  Also, if you do
have some legitimate complaints, compliments or suggestions, feel free
to address them.  Just find a better method than being a total d-bag
(and a wrong one at that).

Thanks
Zach