Hello, in my city we have a thriving magic community. However, it recently came down that only level 2 judges can judge PPTQ's. We only have 2 level 2 judges in the area. Since level 1's can no longer judge PPTQ's, the 2 lvl. 2 judges have colluded together and have decreed that they will not judge any PPTQ events unless they are paid 200 bucks in cash upfront. This as a result has greatly diminished the number of PPTQ's in the area (as many stores simply cannot afford to payout such a large amount to judges) and those that do, have a MINISCULE payout for players.
Furthermore, I have learned that these judges are purposefully suppressing aspiring level 1 judges from reaching level 2 so they can have a choke-hold on the market. So now, we have very few PPTQs and less qualified judges because of these few greedy level 2 judges. I'm told wizards wont care because judges are independent entity and not employees. But these judges are really hurting the magic community. What can I/we do?
First, your stores should be using the JudgeApps system over at http://apps.magicjudges.org/ to schedule Judges for their PPTQs. Depending on your area, it's very likely that out-of-towm/state Judges would be more than willing to fill in and help judge these events, provided they are compensated appropriately. Now, if what you're saying about the L2s in your area is true, you can report them to their Regional Coordinator and file a complaint.
1. $200 for a full day of judging doesn't sound unreasonable at all.
2. OTOH actively suppressing the advancement of other judges is toxic behavior that WOTC would definitely frown upon. The L1's involved should be approaching it from that angle in terms of any complaints.
1. $200 for a full day of judging doesn't sound unreasonable at all.
Depends on the number of players and how long the tournament is scheduled to run for. Also that $200 just for judging is going to have to come from somewhere and the 2 most likely places a store will be able to find it is by raising in the price of entry or by reducing the size of the prize pool.
Neither of which will be popular with the players. Whilst I agree that judges need and deserve to be fairly compensated it just feels these two are going about it the wrong way and are going to end up doing far more harm than good.
Especially if stores are begining to stop running the tournaments. AS then it doesn't matter what the judges have agreed between themselves they still won't be getting that $200 and what might have been a thriving community withers and dies.
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Yeah, I'm assuming PPTQ = all day. You are usually going to have at least 5 rounds then a top 8, making for 9+ hours of work for a judge and it'll easily be 10+ sometimes. So you are talking 20-ish dollars an hour...not nearly enough that I'd call someone "greedy" for wanting to make it.
For comparison's sake, one of my hobbies is basketball officiating, which I think is comparable to Magic judging. I normally make ~20/hr for rec league and ~30/hr for high school. So these numbers that the judges are asking for are right in line with what I'm getting as an official at the local level. A couple of things to keep in mind:
Officiating/judging is not comparable to your typical 10/hr job. It requires far more expertise to be done well and that expertise is typically developed off of the clock, so to speak. The official/judge isn't getting paid for all of the time they have to put in behind the scenes in order to be effective. I know as an official I have to go to ~15 meetings/clinics/scrimmages before each season and pass a test. I'm encouraged to go beyond and put in extra hours if I want to move up. I don't get paid for any of that, in fact it is the opposite, I have to pay. So my 20-30/hr really is an illusion in the sense that I'm working more than just those hours out on the court. I'd imagine it is similar for judges.
None of that excuses them being bad mentors if that is the case though.
Furthermore, I have learned that these judges are purposefully suppressing aspiring level 1 judges from reaching level 2 so they can have a choke-hold on the market. So now, we have very few PPTQs and less qualified judges because of these few greedy level 2 judges. I'm told wizards wont care because judges are independent entity and not employees. But these judges are really hurting the magic community. What can I/we do?
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2. OTOH actively suppressing the advancement of other judges is toxic behavior that WOTC would definitely frown upon. The L1's involved should be approaching it from that angle in terms of any complaints.
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Depends on the number of players and how long the tournament is scheduled to run for. Also that $200 just for judging is going to have to come from somewhere and the 2 most likely places a store will be able to find it is by raising in the price of entry or by reducing the size of the prize pool.
Neither of which will be popular with the players. Whilst I agree that judges need and deserve to be fairly compensated it just feels these two are going about it the wrong way and are going to end up doing far more harm than good.
Especially if stores are begining to stop running the tournaments. AS then it doesn't matter what the judges have agreed between themselves they still won't be getting that $200 and what might have been a thriving community withers and dies.
- H.L Mencken
I Became insane with long Intervals of horrible Sanity
All Religion, my friend is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination and poetry.
- Edgar Allan Poe
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For comparison's sake, one of my hobbies is basketball officiating, which I think is comparable to Magic judging. I normally make ~20/hr for rec league and ~30/hr for high school. So these numbers that the judges are asking for are right in line with what I'm getting as an official at the local level. A couple of things to keep in mind:
Officiating/judging is not comparable to your typical 10/hr job. It requires far more expertise to be done well and that expertise is typically developed off of the clock, so to speak. The official/judge isn't getting paid for all of the time they have to put in behind the scenes in order to be effective. I know as an official I have to go to ~15 meetings/clinics/scrimmages before each season and pass a test. I'm encouraged to go beyond and put in extra hours if I want to move up. I don't get paid for any of that, in fact it is the opposite, I have to pay. So my 20-30/hr really is an illusion in the sense that I'm working more than just those hours out on the court. I'd imagine it is similar for judges.
None of that excuses them being bad mentors if that is the case though.