King of the Blues competition updates... (Page 2 of 4)

Thanks Ken!  Hey man you are from Orlando dude I'm competing at the Winter Park GC.  Feel free to root me on man, I need all the help I can get!  I'd like to see you out there bro if you have no plans.  Starts at 7pm I think.

thanks man you too!
I hope we are both writing about our winnings here tonight.

Judging by how crappy some of the winners have been I'm sure you'll go to the finals or win or something. If you win give me $200 since I've been supporting you since the start

I have to regretfully say that I lost tonight.  Without going into all of the details lets just say that I may have gotten robbed.  I am very disappointed because I played a flawless performance whilst the winner was not nearly as clean.  He was playing an upbeat track (same track that he played previously) and had his routine down.  I opted to play a different and more mellow track than my last one.  I guess the judges weren't on my side because the crowd gave me a huge applause and people were actually snapping photos of me (unlike any of the other contestants).  I was told that the winner was seen with his head down while I was playing mouthing, "Oh sh#t".  I am not going to showboat or dance but I guess that is what it takes to win a "blues guitar" competition.  What a jip.  I want to compete next year but I don't really agree with the judging at all.  What's the point of being a better player if the guys winning are sloppy showboaters?  If anything I didn't embarass myself, the people were very cool, and it was fun.  Just VERY disappointed but there's always next year...

Sorry man.... sounds like a bunch of bull****

From the look of it.... you rocked it.

-Eric

Yeah I remember you mentioning that you got shafted as well Ben.  It was painfully obvious in my opinion but whatever it's all good.  I'm undecided if these contests are really for me because when you know you are a better player and you "lose" to guys like I did tonight it really is a confidence downer.  Not dissing anyone's playing but it really makes you wonder what the heck is going on.  I thought it was a blues contest, not a "lets repeat the same song and dance everynight" contest.  It was funny because the guy picked the SAME song, did the SAME crowd involved hand clap thing prior to the contest, and played essentially the same (sloppy) licks.  I played a BB King/Robben Ford like track for the first go round and then a mellower sad A Minor track for tonight's.  I even played different guitars both nights (PRS first, Les Paul the next).  God I wish I would have had the judges I had the first night.  Maybe next year I'll showboat and play behind my back or over my head.  I mean isn't that what the BLUES is all about?  ROTF all the great dead bluesmen are rolling over in their graves.  Sorry for the ranting fellas!   Good luck to anyone who can get past these judges honestly!  (BTW I had a DRUMMER as one of my judges...that should say it all)

Too bad man
                    but dont beat yourself up its the competition thats flawed, you played your best , thats all you could have done but for whatever reason they picked the other guy thats the way it goes. you said the crowd were behind you that would be enough for me!!

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion.

Thanks bro and I'm sorry that you didn't make it either.  I hear you loud and clear about the judges man.  Only ONE of my 3 judges was actually a GUITARIST.  One judge was a hip hop/pop aritist/singer/producer/record company owner and the other was a local drummer.  I don't see how a guy who specializes in POP music and HIP HOP (bleghehgeh) could ever know anything about blues guitar playing.  I have a novel idea...how about some BLUES GUITARISTS for judges????  A drummer...good god I should have known I was doomed.  Maybe I should volunteer my judging services to the Guitar Center Drum Off competition, you know, me being an expert and all.  After reading my rants I know it sounds like I'm a sore loser.  I wish the guy who won the best of luck.  I learned a lot about myself and have become a better guitarist while preparing for the competitions.  It has inspired me to try and play in front of more people more often.  I have to do a lot of thinking before I decide to do this again though.  Until they recruit better judges I refuse to compete again.  I'm a regular there and will be sure to let them know about it. 

         On a side note, they had a used 100w Marshall Superlead there for sale and it sounded very cool!  I think it was the first time I got to crank one up.  I gotta have one!

BTW Thanks Ken for coming out to check everything out.  You're a cool dude and we'll have to get together and jam!  I'd love to hear your LP through your Carol Ann sometime!  Sorry you missed the all of the performances as I'd love to hear the opinion of a unbiased observer (my family and friends were very very surprised that I lost).  I'll shoot you a PM with my info!  See you at the Tampa Bonamassa show in November!