I have been thinking about participating in my first competition but don't know whether to enter amature or professional? I don't want to go into the professional division and have the judges rip me apart but at the same time I don't want to go into the amature class and have the judges say this guys got some time in this mount along with the diorama why is he in the amature class. I really don't know what to do? I have been doing game heads for almost 5 years now.
Thanks
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if you know what a diarama is, then you need to go pro. Or if you've done commercial mounts go pro. They don't rip you up, you'll be surprised the help they give.
pro catagory is where you learn the most. the judges dont "rip" you appart, they help you learn how to do it right. they tell you what you need to work on and make you a better taxidermist, which will show in your work, and make your customers all the more happy. i debated about this issue too. i chose pro and i am so glad i did. some things i thought were great were really wrong, but now i know for sure. its all about learning. if you just want a ribbon, plan on this as a lesson and go next year for a ribbon. hope this helps
bob
I agree, The judge isn't there to "rip" anyone apart. At the Amatuer and Prof. Divisons you are there to learn and the judge will help you more ways then one. The score sheet is set up so you will see you faults and weakness and your strong points and the judge help point them out and will help you improve.
Good luck at the show you plan on going to and remember to have FUN and LEARN,listen and go to the seminars.
Everyone needs to go to a competition once to have their work evaluated to see where they stand, then go again the next year to see if they have improved. Then go ever year for the continuous improvement. If you do not go because of fear, you will be talking yourself out of the best information available that will help you improve the quality of the work that you do. If you are taking money from customers, you had better go into the pro division just for the customer's sake. If you blue in the pro, maybe you could raise up the price of the work that you do.
Thanks to all that replyed, Pro it is!