[barmar]

Here's one of the opening paragraphs from last year's report:

Quote

Although I've been reporting GNT finals for several years, I haven't done a Flight B writeup lately. I thank the eight players for being good sports and letting me watch and put their bidding sequences and card plays under my magnifying glass. I will call attention to noteworthy actions and missed opportunities, which I hope won't disconcert anybody. Sorry to sound elitist, but readers won't see quite the quality of bidding and play that I reported, for example, in last year's district championship flight final. Remember, all these players had to play well just to have the opportunity to compete in this match and have their bridge reported. I hope Flight B GNT finalist teams in future years won't shy away from being subjects of one of these writeups for fear I'll be too harsh on them.

Maybe "ridiculing" was not the appropriate word, but he was definitely harsh. What a surprise, that you don't get the same quality of play in Flight B as you do in the Championship Flight. I can understand someone not wishing to be subject to it this year (my partner and I were again in the finals, but I don't remember who it was that objected to the reporting)

Notice also that he thanked us for "letting" him report on the match. There's clearly no expectation of a right.

For those of you curious, you can read the entire report at http://www.nebridge....ws/news0308.htm.

[barmar]

To get back on topic, the feelings about that match report are similar to some we've seen here regarding putting junior championships on Vugraph. No one expects even the best juniors to exhibit the same level of skill as Meckwell, Fantunes, etc. Vugraph commentators should consider the class of players when commenting on their play.

[Walddk]

barmar, on Oct 22 2009, 09:57 PM, said:

Vugraph commentators should consider the class of players when commenting on their play.

... and they usually do. They do not expect World Championship level when commenting on the 2nd division in Romania (broadcast last weekend). Furthermore, for obvious reasons some players suffer from stage fright the first time they appear on vugraph.

Knowing that hundreds of eyes watch your every move can be frightening. Nothing strange and nothing wrong about that. So our rule #1 is and will always be: treat the players with respect no matter what they do.

They don't make intentional errors.

Roland

[peachy]

I think they should either play or be penalized for refusing to play.
The Conditions of Contest should cover this. If they don't cover it, then the TD gives instructions which table is going to be on vugraph or rama or BBO, and the players are obligated by law to follow TD instructions. If the players refuse to play, that will be dealt with separately by whatever method the CoC say; handle it like any old "no-show" for a round or a board would be handled, in addition to refusing to follow TD instruction.

Seriously, if a player has that degree of stage fright, how can he/she play bridge at all. If it is a medical condition, he/she could provide doctor's note and request exception from vugraph before the event, not in the middle of it!

[ggwhiz]

I'm in favor of every player being required to take one for the team as to promoting our game and moderately disgusted that it needs regulating in the CoC.

What kind of Bridge player are you or will ever be if you are afraid of the spotlight? Phil Mickleson is doing ok after a few years of the jitters.

[suokko]

barmar, on Oct 22 2009, 09:57 PM, said:

To get back on topic, the feelings about that match report are similar to some we've seen here regarding putting junior championships on Vugraph. No one expects even the best juniors to exhibit the same level of skill as Meckwell, Fantunes, etc. Vugraph commentators should consider the class of players when commenting on their play.

Not a problem in European youth events. We have Hedy commenting for youth players!


But playing in a vugraph table is clearly problem for many (including my self). When I have been operating I would think that over half of players visiting vugraph make more simple mistakes in vugraph table (maybe trying too much and failing to see simple solutions). So for many players excepted score in vugraph table is worse than if same game would be played without operator next to the table.

I think that above problem doesn't affect me (at least less than my opponents). But another problem clearly affected me in the last May in Tallinn bridge festival. After playing all rounds except first two in vugraph in swiss pairs I was completely drained in Sunday (preliminary pairs Thu, Fri-Sat teams, Sat-Sun pairs). I was more tired than ever before from playing bridge. I felt pretty much same as after ultra long distance orienteering competition (Winner time more than 2 and half hours; and my time about 4 hours)
I made a lot of simple mistakes in Sunday. Luckily it wasn't enough to destroy our good score from Saturday.

So for person who is not naturally ready to play in front of public needs a lot training before can play well in vugraph.

My option is that in "top flight" events vugraph should be mandatory for who ever is set to play there. But in lower events teams or pairs could request before competition that they don't have to play in vugraph.

[JoAnneM]

You all act like "stage fright" is something that can be turned on or off. Even Barbara Striesand suffers so much from stage fright that she can't give large concerts. People who have these issues should be accommodated, not treated with disdain. I, by the way, am not one of them.

[tbr]

The First Amendment has to do with freedom of speech, religion and the press.

The Second Amendment pertains to the right to keep and bear arms.

[peachy]

JoAnneM, on Dec 2 2009, 12:47 AM, said:

You all act like "stage fright" is something that can be turned on or off. Even Barbara Striesand suffers so much from stage fright that she can't give large concerts. People who have these issues should be accommodated, not treated with disdain. I, by the way, am not one of them.

If a stage fright affected person needs accommodation, I am certain it will be given and there would be no problem! However, that person should have the common sense to request the accommodation in advance, not in the middle of the event. TD's have other things to do than waste time in re-arranging table assignments in a significant event (significant enough to be broadcast).

[cicus]

peachy, on Dec 3 2009, 06:37 PM, said:

JoAnneM, on Dec 2 2009, 12:47 AM, said:

You all act like "stage fright" is something that can be turned on or off.    Even Barbara Striesand suffers so much from stage fright that she can't give large concerts.  People who have these issues should be accommodated, not treated with disdain.  I, by the way, am not one of them.

If a stage fright affected person needs accommodation, I am certain it will be given and there would be no problem! However, that person should have the common sense to request the accommodation in advance, not in the middle of the event. TD's have other things to do than waste time in re-arranging table assignments in a significant event (significant enough to be broadcast).

I'm glad you allow me a leeway... alas, in practice the conditions of contest always force me to agree with either playing in vugraph or not participating in that particular tournament. At least I have never seen a CoC allowing me to declare in advance that I am not wishing to play in vugraph.

[manudude03]

In both times I've played in the Junior Camrose, we've all been asked if we have any objections to being shown on vugraph. I'd imagine that if anyone had objected, either that pair wouldn't play when the team is due on vugraph or the presentation would be shifted onto the other match. Of course, we were asked before it started (either the night before or the morning). The CoC only said that there will be vugraph broadcasting.

In Romania, we weren't asked if we had any objections, though it was probably a given that there would be no problem. As it was, it wouldn't have mattered as we (as a team) were the ones to ask to be put on.

As for what my opinion of it is, I think there should be no problem with refusing to be on vugraph, as long as there is notice given (say an hour before the start of session).

[Trinidad]

JoAnneM, on Dec 2 2009, 06:47 AM, said:

You all act like "stage fright" is something that can be turned on or off. Even Barbara Striesand suffers so much from stage fright that she can't give large concerts. People who have these issues should be accommodated, not treated with disdain. I, by the way, am not one of them.

Remember that when you play bridge you already have three spectators who -after hand is over- will know exactly what you did wrong. In many cases, they will even point out to you what you did wrong this time.

If there are spectators at the table, they will know what mistakes you made. And I wouldn't want to count the number of spectator that have also voiced (rightly or wrongly) what mistakes I or an other player at the table made.

So when you play on Vuegraph, you will get some extra spectators. But at least you don't hear them. They can't distract you from the play.

Actually, the Vuegraph table is rarely on a stage. On many occasions I would say that claustrophobia would be a better excuse for refusing to play on Vuegraph than stagefright.

Rik

[gordontd]

cicus, on Dec 7 2009, 10:27 AM, said:

At least I have never seen a CoC allowing me to declare in advance that I am not wishing to play in vugraph.

Have you tried asking in advance?