L&C adds audience interaction to indoor contest
Even though the upcoming Invitational Indoor Pipe Band Competition in Glasgow on March 20th will abide by RSPBA rules, the sponsoring Grade 2 Lomond & Clyde Pipe Band has decided to add a new dimension that allows for audience participation.
In the final event, the ticket-buying public will get to cast their vote and make their opinion known as to which bands they preferred. The audience vote, however, will have no bearing on the final result and which of the competitors wins the £2,500 first-prize.
“This vote will give the audience the opportunity to give their opinion on the performances and gauge any similarities to the adjudication of the RSPBA judges,” said event spokesman Scott Smart. “This audience vote will not influence the overall judging or the final results but will allow for discussion and potential comparison.”
Smart said that they discussed amalgamating the audience vote with the RSPBA results, but “it was an avenue that the RSPBA were not keen to develop. However, they were very supportive of the audience vote as a separate voting entity and have fully supported this venture.”
Smart said that voting slips and prize draw tickets will be included in the program for the event that can be purchased only at the competition.
Confirmed competitors are Ballycoan, Cullybackey, Fife Constabulary, House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead, Inveraray & District, Robert Wiseman Dairies-Vale of Atholl, Tayside Police and Torphichen & Bathgate. Torphichen was a replacement for Boghall & Bathgate, which pulled out of the event earlier this month.
Judges for the event are Alistair Aitken, Jim Campbell, Gordon Craig, Malcolm MacKenzie, Joe Noble, Bob Shepherd, James Wark and John Wilson.
The competition has been put together by Lomond & Clyde to mark the band’s tenth anniversary, with the event being held at the Glasgow Radisson Hotel. Smart said that ticket sales are going strong and the band encourages the public to buy soon to avoid disappointment.
The RSPBA allegedly holds legal jurisdiction over any pipe band competition held in Great Britain.
The draw for the competition was made publicly by the organizers, with video available on YouTube.
I’m glad that the organizers decided to allow the audience to participate via voting. Even though the overall results are not affected, it will have the double impoact of providing feedback to the bands concerning their overall presentation in addition to comparing opinions with the judges. Good luck to all involved.
Looks like the band has changed its kilt – was it Loch Lomond tartan before – what is it now??
The RSPBA rules must be followed for contests when registered bands (i.e. members) take part, unless approval is obtained via the National Council. There are a couple of examples I think I know of where non-registered bands compete in band contest, and as such is outwith the responsibility of the Association.