This page has come about becasue of the fact that some shows have said that Lionhead breeders hate writing for their breed. I would like to help anyone who would like to learn to write at the shows they attend. You can have fellow breeders put your Lionheads on the table while you write or maybe you have a family member who would love to learn to do it. I found this article and got Amanda's permission to post it. Thank you Amanda!
Tips for Writers
Compiled by Amanda Behee
Who and what are writers?
Those geeky people with no social life that sit and write down comments all day are known as the writers! Nahh! Most writers aren’t geeky and majority of them do have social lives! In reality the writers are the volunteers that normally sit at the end of the show table with the control sheets and comment cards that are the record of the judge’s comments and the class placements. The show couldn’t go on without them as everyone wants or needs
written proof of their rabbits’ placing for the day.
What can I gain by volunteering to write besides grey hair?
Writing for a judge is a wonderful experience but can be very stressful when first starting out. After a few times doing the behind the table work you can really treasure the experience. Writers have the second best seat in the house because the judge, of course, has the best! By sitting in the writer’s seat you are able to get a good view of the animals being judged. In return you learn more about the different breeds of rabbits if you write for more then just your breed. For those still participating in county fairs writing comes in handy as a preparation for showmanship.
So I want to write but I’m afraid to…
If you know someone with experience in writing let them know you are interested to learn! The majority of current writers would be more than glad to teach you to write as in the future they would get a break from writing. If the writer’s table is big enough you may be able to ask a fellow friend/writer if you can watch them do their tasks. This way you know what’s expected and it’s possible you could chime in and help write. The best advice I can give is to start out doing control sheets for a breed that doesn’t have many exhibitors and animals. If you were to get behind then there’s not many cards to catch up on. Then once you are familiar with the writing system and how it works you can adventure into the breeds with more rabbits and varieties. But most of all if it’s your first time DON’T be afraid to make it known to the judge so they can then take into consideration you are new to writing.
General Tips for Writers:
1) If you plan to write all day have a Standard of Perfection available as it comes in handy for the unfamiliar breeds.
2) If you have never written before, go over the comment card ahead of time and familiarize yourself with the order on the card.
3) Ask the judge if they want you to call the classes or if they prefer to do it themselves.
4) Look over the comment cards and tell the judge how many rabbits that are supposed to be on the table. This will save a lot of confusion on the comment cards later if there was a no show.
5) When the judge is looking over the rabbits sort the comment cards for the class by the beginning letter of the tattoo. This makes it easier to locate the card when it’s time for placements.
6) If you have a question about placing, don't hesitate to ask the judge to repeat the placing.
7) The most important things to write down are the number in the class, number of exhibitors, placing and if they won BOV, BOSV, BOG, BOSG, BOB or BOS. If you get those, the exhibitor can listen to the comments themselves.
8) If there are two rabbits with the same tattoo in a class let the judge know. The judge should then leave the table while the writer tries to match the comment cards to the correct rabbits.
9) If a rabbit is not shown, scratched or deemed “Unworthy of an Award” the number of rabbits in the class changes. The class numbers also change if a rabbit is entered in the wrong class, by sex, age, color, etc. If a rabbit is disqualified for anything else the numbers in the class do not change.
10) The class is closed once the judge places the first place animal.
11) The judge has the right to change any placements in a breed until the breed is closed with the announcement of BOB and BOS.
12) Remember to write the judge’s name somewhere on the control sheets even if it’s just one time. It’s a great aid for the show secretary when it comes to filing the reports.
13) Do not make any comments about any of the rabbits on the table to anyone, judge or exhibitor.
In conclusion.....
It’s your job as the writer to make sure the paperwork is done correctly. When writing the paperwork comes first and secondly comes any socializing with fellow friends as too much talking can result in little attention put into the paperwork. Thus socializing should be kept at a minimum between the writers and exhibitors. Most of all keep a smile on your face and act like you are having fun even if those grey hairs are popping through as you write.
Note to exhibitors:
As the exhibitor it is not your job to call classes, leave it to the writers and judge. However, if someone is missing it’s helpful to find them so the show can continue. Also it’s not your job to check ear numbers of the rabbits on the table to see whose is whose and then point it out to the judge as it’s considered ‘attempting to influence a judge’ which is strictly prohibited. Please try to restrain yourself from having conversations with the writers as this is when mistakes happen. However, it is okay to ask a brief question now and then.