Contest Admins Entering Their Own Contest(s)

I think if FAA ran the contests - you might have a point - but leaving contests to the artists and photographers - what incentive is there to run a contest - other than to show off your own work - while getting others to participate so they can show theirs off - and someone MIGHT, just might - see yours. How one acquires more votes than the others - I've not bothered my head about it - I don't troll for votes when I enter a contest - nor do I worry about how the winners got to be winners. None of them are honest contests - many times the best of the lot that enter don't even vote for their own work and so don't even get one vote.

Totally agree with Roy. It's not like they're winning gobs of cash or something. Now, if it was a judged contest, then, no they should not "compete".

I think it's fine for them to enter...but when I ran contests I mentioned I was just entering mine for exposure, and not for votes....and if I was near winning one I'd delete mine first.

I have to agree with you, CJ. I frequently see contest admins entering their own contests. Something about that smacks of impropriety to me even though there may not be any money/prizes on the line. At the very least, if an admin enters his own contest, he/she should be willing to disqualify the image if it ends up in the top vote-getters of the contest. It seems so wrong when you receive an email from the admin announcing the contest winners and the admin is basically saying, "I won." Just my two cents.

Speaking personally, I don't take the contests too seriously. IMO, they are a way to get work viewed a bit more and that's about it. Winning/Loosing doesn't mean much. I often enter and never look again. When I host them, I generally do some facebook promotion.

What's the big deal re hosts entering their own contests, I'm wondering? They are members, just like you, who are choosing, voluntarily, to take the time & make the effort to run a contest on FAA! Simple as that. Surely, if members, then, take the time to vote for their entry, or any entry, whether it's the host's or not, their votes should be honored. Perhaps, the host's entry is the best & deserves to win? Some offer contests geared only to images they posses in their own gallery...and why not?

I've hosted over a 100 contest in this past year, so I speak from experience. Personally, I don't like my images to win my own contests and will remove them if they come in 1st, as a rule. Placing on the leaderboard is fine with me, or not! Sometimes I enter; sometimes I don't. When a member chooses to host a contest, btw, they are helping YOU, by offering a platform where you can share your work and possibly claim a win. It's supposed to be fun, which means it's not all about winning. Members enjoy my contests as I actually tend them & follow through at the end, which can be quite a task. So, why should you even care if the host has an image that places? After all, it's up to the members to vote for the ones they like. We are all adults here, right!

I do find it somewhat odd that you bring this up since you did just place 1st in one of my contests...and at the very last minute, I might add! Hmm, I would be more concerned with things like voter solicitation than if a host enters their own contest. Btw, we hosts also vote for our favorites in our own contests! There, that should cause a reaction. Lol. I also take the time to send out a group email voting-link, as well as a results-link at the end of a contest, which allows the winners an extra perk & show of support. Nine times out of ten, folks will email back with a big 'thank you', but there was no response from you, CJ. Coming from a place of gratitude & inclusiveness, rather than negativity, is something to aspire to.

I see nothing wrong with it. I enter a lot of contests that the administrator enters. If I like their image...I vote for it. The fact they are the administrator of the contest doesn't enter into my decision to vote for the image. I am just grateful they took the time to run the contest that may garner more views for my own work. I have more of an issue with people who don't follow the rules of the contest and toss in any old image not relevant to the contest.

We are all in this to get exposure for our art and hopefully a sale. A contest may or may not help achieve that goal. If it does, a big thanks to the adminstrator! If it doesn't, a big thanks to the administrator who still took on the task (voluntarily I might add) to run the contest and give me a chance to see art of other members I may otherwise have missed.

Its just marketing, thats why you see the admin make the contest about the image they want to market. If you really want to see if your work is good enough, enter a professional international contest to see how your work does.

I've been thinking of starting a contest, that allows only Vulture Sculptures made with mussel shells and crab claws.

10 images accepted

Have it run for 6 months.

Of course, I'll enter my own work

Very well-said, Brooks, and I agree with you 100%. I just hosted a contest, but didn't enter it because I didn't have any qualifying photos. Had I had any qualifying photos, I likely would have entered one of them. Contests are, for the most part, about exposure, and I see nothing wrong with the contest administrator throwing their hat into the ring.

I also agree with Brooks that the real issue is voter solicitation. I didn't appreciate this until I hosted my first contest and saw it occurring (insofar as I could tell, anyway). That's the real tragedy/dishonesty in these otherwise harmless contests.

How is it in your mind that the admin is getting more votes? Do you think they have some magical system to create votes for themselves, or do you think they might have art that people think are good.

Trying to figure out why anyone would care about this?

i don't see how it's wrong - unless it's a juried contest and they are the only juror. i would rather then enter so i can get some kind of clue what they want for their silly contest. some people don't explain things at all. its really only wrong if they remove everyone but themselves so they can win.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I have lost to a couple administrators and many other artists as well, and my own vote for them oftentimes caused that loss. I was thrilled for them as I was for any vote I received. The administrators work hard to give us all a chance and one administrator I even emailed to asking him to put his works in. He refused saying it was about us. I admired his view, but suggested that his works were as valid as ours. Still he didn't. His choice, but as far as my thoughts are they work to help us out and some of their works are very inspiring and we all learn much from those that inspire us. I hope they continue to enter and thank all of them for their support. We might have not always have the winning entree, but if we study them we can learn what we are up against and hopefully improve ourselves. I feel I've been continually learning from the administrators and the many other artists as well, and my votes will continue to support the art wherever it comes from.

Me too, Mike B. I am constantly inspired by my fellow artists.

I sometimes host contest on various painted birds because that is what I love. I always enter my own work and all but one or two times removed it if it was in the top places. I think that I may have won one by accident because of missing the deadline due to a family crisis. I have even placed a request in the discussions once because my work was in first and second place asking people to vote on others so I would not win. Even though it truly would have been nice to win, I just did not want anyone to be upset.
I do not see what the big issue about it is though. I am a painter of birds and that is why I host contests geared toward just that,. I am also a paid member of FAA just like everyone else.
http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=2094463

OOps, sorry. Again, if you are interested, here is the link to one of those discussions that I mentioned in the above post.
http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=2094463

Sometimes you have to hold a contest in your own style just so you can join one, simply because there aren't any contests currently running that fit your work. For example, I like aircraft, but there aren't many contests for aircraft. So I have no problem hosting my own, and yes I will join.

Well said Mike Breau!

I will almost always enter my own contests. Not sure why to start one I'm not going to enter. An exception what a Group Logo contest I just held for one of my groups. It's like starting a discussion thread... and then not joining in *because* you started it.

It's their contest to run the way they feel and are pretty meaningless other than a way to get views which do little also if most views are from other artists. Too much worry and fretting over something like this. Ever look at the Graphs? They are just about as meaningful and should also be removed as they are completely inaccurate and appear to be manipulated somehow.

How I feel can be answered by this contest and the first 4 entries.

http://fineartamerica.com/contests/shrimp-boats.html?tab=overview

Oh man JC, you missed it yesterday, came out of the HEB and got smacked right in the face with the smell of crawfish boiling. It's that time of year again!

Two of my favorite things, the HEB and crawfish.

Edit. Surprised yall have either in NY

Thanks for the kind words, Rahdne! Good luck with hosting duties, btw!
Mike, you always are entering my 'silly' contests! Lol.
David, some folks just care more about 'things', even FAA contests, more than others! Makes the world go 'round, caring or not. There are the doers & the viewers.

i try to enter them all, i see them as potential buyers wanting weird things.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I'm OK with the contest administrator entering, for reasons Brooks and others have laid out well. But I do have a problem with entries that have nothing to do with the contest subject matter.

It's true the contests are really only about exposure, but even that will be meaningless, and harm everyone, when a visitor to the site views entries in a contest on place X and finds several (or more) entries that are not from place X. They lose interest and trust in contests, and that drops viewership for everyone.

Plus it's just rude.

I don't have a problem with admins entering their own contest. If the amins jury the contest, then I don't think they should enter the contest.

Let's face it, the contests are kinda bogus on FAA.

I'm not in New York, but every time I try and change the location it doesn't stick.

I'm in Houston where it's 75 and sunny for the moment.

Jane, why then do you enter them if you think they are 'bogus'? Lol. Not sure what you mean by that. But, FAA contests are really just for fun, entertainment, sharing and exposure, though I know Mike hates that word, 'exposure'. Some members take them VERY seriously, though, thus the 'vote solicitation' issue. Personally, I would never enter a juried contest since the host or their jury always win. Too funny. I know one woman who only hosted juried contests & won them all. Thanks for the shout-out, btw, Cristolin!

As I said above, contests are merely for sharing your work, enjoying other member's and maybe feeling a little happy if you win. Not a bad thing, really. Sometimes, there will actually be a prize other than a simple congratulations & some member support. As for running them, in EVERY contest I've ever hosted folks enter things that have nothing to do with the description-rules at all. That's why a host needs to tend a contest from beginning to end. 99% of those participating appreciate the effort, but there's always the persnickety 1% who can't help but be petty & negative, probably about most any & everything in life. It actually takes a bit of creativity & intelligence when you host a contest, I mean, IF you're offering something interesting & have a brain!

It's so 'silly' to me that those complaining & whining about contests have never taken the time to actually host one! They participate, yes, but are usually the ones who only check-in to vote for their own entries, if at all, never lifting a finger to support anyone else, even if the other images are more worthy! Oy. Some folks are just never happy or satisfied, even when it comes to the little things, like FAA contests! Btw, I just posted a new one titled 'Poppy Lovers - Color photography', if anyone is interested.

Btw, where is CJ? Don't see a response from her anywhere. It's standard practice to have the 'post host' check in periodically w/their own comments and/or replies. But, I understand, seeing most everyone disagrees with her take on the topic!