Editorial ~ 2006 April
1-Apr-2006Tribute to the upcoming Australian Nationals - Viva Brisvegas! Downunder Rankings. What is A Grade?
Viva Brisvegas!
We're off to Brisvegas this month, so let's get in the mood!
(To be sung to the tune Viva Les Vegas - as performed by Elvis)
Bright light city gonna set my goal
Gonna set my goal up higher
Lift the Fireman's Helmet - it's surely my turn,
Gotta do it before I retire
There's adjudicators plenty listenin' out there
And they're all experts - what do I care?
'cause I'm the conductor with talent to spare
Viva Brisvegas, viva Brisvegas
How I wish that there were more
Than seventeen bands in A Grade
'cause even if there were forty-four
They wouldn't get too near me if they prayed
Oh, there's Taylor, Strykowski and Okamoto
And Fordy, Snell and Weeks - what do they know?
All I need's a stick and a metronome
Viva Brisvegas, viva Brisvegas
(Duck your head - here comes the bridge!)
Viva Brisvegas with your pretty marchin'
And your bandsmen all aparchin'
Oh, all their hopes down the drain
Viva Brisvegas turnin' contests into parties
Turnin' stress time into funtime
If you've been to Gilhooley's
You'll never want to drink again
I'm gonna have me some more
I'm gonna sleep on the floor
I'm gonna have me the very best time
If I wake up hungover well
It really won't matter, that I can't find a clever rhyme
I know I gave it ev'rything I've got
Can't wait 'til next year - I know it's a lot
The Nationals is the greatest show the banding world's got, so
Viva Brisvegas, viva Brisvegas, viva Brisvegas,
Viva, viva Brisvegas!
(With apologies to Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman and The King!)
Downunder Rankings
Our downunder ranking model rewards top section bands for supporting their state or district contest, together with significant recognition for attendance at Australian and New Zealand National Championships and major overseas events.
The first two qualifying events of the 2006 year occur during April - the Otago Southland Regional contest and the Australian Nationals. The Nationals are a valuable contest in particular, as the greater the number of bands, the bigger pool of points available.
As occurred in 2005, bands not attending their State/District or National contests are definitely at a disadvantage in the rankings.
Points are also awarded to bands who compete in qualifying events outside their home state/district/country. Bands travelling from New Zealand to Brisbane earn points, as do Australian bands attending the Dunedin contest. (Bands from outside our region, eg Osaka Harmony Brass, do not receive points).
Rankings are a good assessment of the contest health of bands, in that they reflect a band's strength or weakness, but without unduly penalising for a blip. The more consistent bands fair well in the rankings, indicating their ongoing stability.
Do you think rankings are a motivator for bands? Is a good ranking an important marketing tool? Who cares?
Send us your comments: downunder@4barsrest.com
What is A Grade?
Are the Australian and New Zealand Nationals separating the cream from the milk?
As mentioned above, the 2006 Australian Nationals contest has attracted a field of 17 bands in A Grade - but are they all truly A Grade? There is no doubt that there will be a handful of outstanding bands at the top of the field - but how large will be the points spread? Someone has to be in 17th place - is a field of 17 too large? What is the impact to morale on the bands in the lower range of results, particularly if they travelled vast distances at enormous cost?
These questions give rise to many more questions, but the one that clearly needs to be asked is: what is A Grade? Those who listened to A Grade at the Australian Nationals in Adelaide last year would no doubt have been aware of a distinct difference between the top bands and the rest. So, are the top bands A Grade, or are they at a higher level? Should the lower bands in A Grade be relegated - maybe they are only B Grade at best? What determines a band's escalation from B Grade to A Grade, and is this done consistently around the region?
Tell us what you think. Send us an email: downunder@4barsrest.com
