When asked about some recent event's J&J contests, he answered, "They would have been OK except for all the "field promotions". I knew what he meant; Event Promoters and even WCS Clubs moving contestants to any level needed to fill their competitions regardless of the WSDC's Points Registry, or even a contestant's ability. I just hadn't realized that both contestants and spectators were so tired of having it happen that someone gave it a name. That's what was meant by "Field Promotions".

It's bad enough at the Club level where it usually entails moving Intermediate contestants up to fill an Advanced contest, especially if the Advanced people have been 'field promoted' to fill a "higher level" contest.. This, of course, drains the Intermediate ranks of its better competitors and waters down the Advanced group enough to often make any results meaningless. At the Convention level, it can cause problems that roll out from the source like rows of dominos falling. The usual sequence is that a promoter needs contestants in All Star or even Invitational or Champion to avoid having to cancel that competition so, 'field promote' some Advanced people. Now the Advanced competition is missing its top competitors so the better Intermediate competitors are "promoted" to Advanced... the domino effect...and it continues. Often some of those who were "field promoted" in spite of their lack of qualifications will go to other events or back to their club contests saying, "I danced at 'whatever' level at the last convention", or they just sign up at the inflated level and never get questioned.

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We've all been told that the promoter can set up the contests as he pleases. However, most of the events and even most of the clubs here say they support and are a member of the World Swing Dance Council. Yet, as I mentioned above, the WSDC's suggestions for points required to compete at different levels are ignored, as is the Points Registry. In fact, I doubt that most of those I'm discussing bother to order the WSDC Points Registry books or, if they do, never check them when signing up competitors. One promoter of a popular new convention has been known to say, many times, that 'rules are made to be broken' and 'we just want everyone to have fun'. Of course fun is important, but often big prize money is at stake and I've heard many complaints that losing because a partner was drawn who didn't belong in that category in the first place took the fun out of it. Also, when I see a new event advertising unchallenged on RAD that theirs is a "World Swing Dance Council Event", I know that things have gotten a little out of hand. To the best of my knowledge, the World Swing Dance Council never sponsors events.

Yes, the WSDC has a provision for contestants to petition to be allowed to compete at a higher lever than their Points indicate. But that was designed to help those who were unable to attend enough Conventions to accumulate the points to match their ability, or who had been allowed to dance only in Juniors and so could accumulate no real points at all. No amount of petitioning or evaluation can turn a mediocre Advanced competitor into a Champion or even an All Star, no matter how much some promoter wants to fill a competition.

If those bragging about WSDC membership really want to support the Council rather than just paying lip service, I hope they will pay attention the to Council's new Fairness Doctrine. ".... Only by continuously striving to create a level competitive playing field can we expect to maintain the integrity of competitions and assure fairness for all."

JT ed.

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