[NSRCA-discussion] FW: Winfield, The Contest Pt1(long)

[DwayneNancy]

It's amazing how much guitar winning is similar to winning in FAI.  Dwayne

-----Original Message-----
From: Guitar Flatpicking [mailto:FLATPICK-L at LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU] On Behalf Of
allen shadd
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 7:35 PM
To: FLATPICK-L at LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
Subject: Winfield, The Contest Pt1(long)

   This post is as much of a short story maybe as anything. It's also a 
preface to a post about this year's contest, but setting up a few things 
first. I've won Winfield, placed there, and lost there. I know some of 
the guys on this list have done it all as well, but the majority of you 
just love guitar as much as we all do, just maybe don't have quite as 
much ability as others, and that's ok too. But I'd like to make this 
post, and be frank about my experiences, opinions, and thoughts, and 
maybe someone will appreciate a look into it all from this side. Others 
may not wish to, so don't read any further. <g>


In 1997, I remember walking into the room behind the stage at Winfield 
with 4 other contestants after the final round to find out who had won. 
As we walked, Ed Foster, the emcee and friend to a lot of us guys, 
placed his hand on my shoulder and said in a low volume- " You lucky 
son-of-a-gun!" A few minutes later I was told that I had won. It hadn't 
registered up until then that Ed had pretty much told me so. But those 
words have come to mean so much over time. I've had a good year in the 
contest run, winning my last 4 prior to Winfield. Even over the last 10 
years, when I've competed, I've done better than most I'd say. When 
people ask about it or compliment me, I will almost always reply, "I got 
lucky!". I think most people think that I'm just putting them off, or 
attempting to pass myself off as humble. The truth is, I mean it every 
time I say it. I'm not trying to imply that it's all luck. No doubt, 
there is a degree of ability involved, how much can actually vary from 
one contest to the next. But let me explain what I mean by it.

  In 2005, I competed at Winfield and thought that it was the toughest 
year I had seen there. Usually there are 4 or 5 standout guys in the 
contest, and a couple usually get nervous and make mistakes, leaving 
maybe one or two guys that play cleaner and make less mistakes than 
anyone else. It makes it easier to judge, I think, regardless of the 
different styles played. But in 2005, there were at least 8 or 10 guys 
that played really well, and not one that just stood out so far above 
anybody else that it was an obvious choice. At least, that's the way I 
saw it, just my opinion. Myself, I thought I played decently compared to 
my usual performance there. When the top 5 were announced, I missed the 
cut. So did 4 or 5 others that I thought played as well. I went back in 
2006, and again it was a loaded field. And again, I thought everyone 
played really well. I remember asking several of the guys after their 
first round how they felt about it, and every person that I asked said 
they felt like they had played pretty well. I too felt that I had played 
pretty well. When the top 5 finalists were announced, I made the cut and 
finished in 2nd place. There were another 4 or 5 people that could have 
easily made the cut but didn't.

 I never once thought I was better than any of the rest. Even the year 
that I won. I felt like I had played well, always room for improvement. 
Did I deserve to win though? Sure. It was my time. I played ok, as few 
mistakes as possible. Was I better than Cody Kilby (who placed 2nd), or 
anybody else in particular that year? Nope. I just played, and the 
judges liked what I played a little better that day. I got lucky. In 
2005, I fell on the unlucky side of the top 5. In 2006, I fell on the 
good side. Not long after winning Winfield in 97, I competed at 
Merlefest and won, again beating Cody. There's not a doubt in my mind 
that Cody played  better than I did that day, but the judges liked what 
I played better I guess. Again, I got lucky.

 As anyone else that competes regularly will tell you, you'll win some 
you might should have lost, and lose some that you might should have 
won. It all averages out in the end. When I think of all the competitors 
out there these days, I feel totally privileged to be able to bring 
myself up on occasion to a level even remotely competitive, and am 
honored to know a number of these guys well enough to say they're a 
friend. And, if they play well and I don't, I hope they are rewarded for 
their performance. I never expect to win or place in a contest, and know 
so well how subjective they can be as I go into them. I like what Roy 
Curry stated on another forum-  Quote-" I know I had some luck this time 
around, too. My particular style hasn't changed a whole lot, but judges 
lean in different directions from year to year, so I try to enjoy it 
when it leans my way and not take it personally when it doesn't."

  Truer words have never been spoken about Winfield. Pistolero.

 

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