Matt, haven't you thought about the distances in the US? How many times is it bigger than Europe? And for me travelling eg. to Spain to participate in a Spanish GD seems to be a far travel (sure, there are planes and such, but I am talking only about distances), so please think - there have to be several GDs in the US... That's what I think, and what I heard from several Americans.-MattCexwish- wrote:Why is that...?... Well, some reasons... There are 4 GD in America and this is due to it´s size... BUT the problem is, that there are three at the eastern part (Chicago, Baltimore, Atlanta...) and only one on the westcoast (LA...)... Eventhough there are GREAT painters this is just too much GD... they have to divide (maybe they should meet at just one GD... the competition would definetly be higher...)...
(...)
Another reason for the US Standard... European painters can hardly participate, because the USA are darn far away... (and thus they can´t share their skill with American Painters as good as it should be... live......)...
Golden Daemons and countries.
-- Mahoń
Back in the garage with my bullshit detector
Back in the garage with my bullshit detector
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-MattCexwish-
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KingUlrikFlamebeard
Well this is one of the nicest versions of the thread yet (yes, posted all over the place 
). I will state this was never intented to be a US vs the World type affair, I honest wondered why people thought. I have seen many negative comments towards those entires on the states compared with those in say the UK, Germany, France etc. I wanted to know just what peoples views on the differences in skill level is.
What most have commented on is the fact that the European painters are close by and can attend almost every one of them in the area compared to the States where many are localised to one part of the country and that makes it unlikely for travel.
That and the US photographers have been blamed alot, oh and their judges (apparently they have one single judge compared to everyone elses group with the previous Slayer Sword winner).
So thank you for keeping it civil. ^_^
KU
). I will state this was never intented to be a US vs the World type affair, I honest wondered why people thought. I have seen many negative comments towards those entires on the states compared with those in say the UK, Germany, France etc. I wanted to know just what peoples views on the differences in skill level is.What most have commented on is the fact that the European painters are close by and can attend almost every one of them in the area compared to the States where many are localised to one part of the country and that makes it unlikely for travel.
That and the US photographers have been blamed alot, oh and their judges (apparently they have one single judge compared to everyone elses group with the previous Slayer Sword winner).
So thank you for keeping it civil. ^_^
KU
I hope you don't wanna drive from one end to the other in a country which lays across three timezones? 
Ok, in the US inland flights are cheaper and a lot of people fly. I think, as we, europeans, also don't mix (don't go to foreign GDs), apart from a hard core group, they also won't attend all, but the closest GD only. I would say, two things have to come together for someone to visit also other GDs than the closest: you have to be damned good, and you have to have enough money that you can afford flying. If you work, you will also need off days, which you might not get. I can imagine a lot of factors, several have been already told here, which may prevent someone to attend several GDs
Ok, in the US inland flights are cheaper and a lot of people fly. I think, as we, europeans, also don't mix (don't go to foreign GDs), apart from a hard core group, they also won't attend all, but the closest GD only. I would say, two things have to come together for someone to visit also other GDs than the closest: you have to be damned good, and you have to have enough money that you can afford flying. If you work, you will also need off days, which you might not get. I can imagine a lot of factors, several have been already told here, which may prevent someone to attend several GDs
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tkkultist
hmmm
I can speak to this from the perspective of a Canadian who has successfully competed a couple of times now in the states as well as at home. It may come off a bit slanted but this is my perspective.
Canada is geographically MUCH larger than the US. We have only 1 golden demon competition each year. People travel from both coasts to Toronto to compete. Entries over the past few years have been of great quality. Our Slayer sword winners have been IMHO worthy pieces (Dragomir's huge Khorne Berzerker 2001 and Vince Hudon's Magmatrax both spring to mind). Great US painters have also come to compete in our demons - Jen Haley took a silver, Ben Bishop got a gold, Chris Borer and Angela Imirie have both picked up a few - etc.
I personally believe that the state of the US competitions has a great deal to do with the Number of them. With their immense population I agree there needs to be multiple events - but If the goal were to create events which really show off the best of the best then I really think that they have overstretched themselves. But the truth is that the golden demon doesnt drive Games Day in the US. - Sales and hype do. Demons are just one part of that. As such I dont forsee any changes to either the overall quality of the US GD or the overall number unless fiscal projections suddenly show that they are somehow losing money on these events (which they most certainly are not).
On an additional note - It is true that there is no special qualification for being GD judge in the US - but the judges AFAICT are usually personally chosen by the head judge. As such they are usually people who have some modicum of interest and whatnot but are not always the most educated for the job. In Canada the Games Day special guest(s) are called upon for their input - thus the Perry's, Jes Goodwin, Phil Kelly etc. have all been asked during their respective stays to add to the Panel of Canadian judges who have always included former 'eavy metal artists, the top painters on the Canadian staff, etc. (Generally people in the know)
The thing that I do believe the US does better is networking artists. Having gone to Chicago I became fast friends with Joe Orteza and Jen Haley - they have in turn introduced me to a huge variety of other artists from around the US - Dave Pauwels, Borer, Adam Catt, Anne Forreter, Sue W, Ben Bishop, Etc. Etc. Etc. The network of the usual list of "top" artists in the US is very active though very much driven on a personal level (rather than Forum meetings, online discussion etc.) So I really think that there may be something to the comments about Europeans networking as being a reason for quality entries may very well be valid. I know my work has improved enormously since I started discussing it with other people of similar (or higher) calibre than myself.
tkkultist
Canada is geographically MUCH larger than the US. We have only 1 golden demon competition each year. People travel from both coasts to Toronto to compete. Entries over the past few years have been of great quality. Our Slayer sword winners have been IMHO worthy pieces (Dragomir's huge Khorne Berzerker 2001 and Vince Hudon's Magmatrax both spring to mind). Great US painters have also come to compete in our demons - Jen Haley took a silver, Ben Bishop got a gold, Chris Borer and Angela Imirie have both picked up a few - etc.
I personally believe that the state of the US competitions has a great deal to do with the Number of them. With their immense population I agree there needs to be multiple events - but If the goal were to create events which really show off the best of the best then I really think that they have overstretched themselves. But the truth is that the golden demon doesnt drive Games Day in the US. - Sales and hype do. Demons are just one part of that. As such I dont forsee any changes to either the overall quality of the US GD or the overall number unless fiscal projections suddenly show that they are somehow losing money on these events (which they most certainly are not).
On an additional note - It is true that there is no special qualification for being GD judge in the US - but the judges AFAICT are usually personally chosen by the head judge. As such they are usually people who have some modicum of interest and whatnot but are not always the most educated for the job. In Canada the Games Day special guest(s) are called upon for their input - thus the Perry's, Jes Goodwin, Phil Kelly etc. have all been asked during their respective stays to add to the Panel of Canadian judges who have always included former 'eavy metal artists, the top painters on the Canadian staff, etc. (Generally people in the know)
The thing that I do believe the US does better is networking artists. Having gone to Chicago I became fast friends with Joe Orteza and Jen Haley - they have in turn introduced me to a huge variety of other artists from around the US - Dave Pauwels, Borer, Adam Catt, Anne Forreter, Sue W, Ben Bishop, Etc. Etc. Etc. The network of the usual list of "top" artists in the US is very active though very much driven on a personal level (rather than Forum meetings, online discussion etc.) So I really think that there may be something to the comments about Europeans networking as being a reason for quality entries may very well be valid. I know my work has improved enormously since I started discussing it with other people of similar (or higher) calibre than myself.
tkkultist