Hi everyone. Why not have everyone build the same cue, and not real fancy. That will allow more cue makers to become involved, you wouldn't have to be rich, and loaded with machines, just a good craftsman to be invloved in the charity, and have a chance to win this build off. That would also avoid someone putting a 150 hours into a cue without benifitting the charity equally. Deciding what that design may be tough to agree on. An idea might be to at the same time choose a cue maker from the past, and honor by making a similar designed cue. The cue should have each makers initials in the butt cap to avoid exact copy.
Have every one make the exact same cue including joint, joint rings, forearm, veneer colors, blockwork, butt cap, wrap, and with same simple inlays. Simple inlays will keep the guys without cnc machines in the contest.
Then cover each makers ID, and put a number on each cue, display all the cues at a big show like the Hopkin's show. I don't think anyone would argue that the Hopkins show is the biggest show for the custom cue maker, with the most custom cue buyers in attendence. Make a big sign for the booth that has the name of every cue maker that has a cue entered, and participated in the charity. let anyone and everyone who wants to vote "not cue makers" look over every cue and pick first, second, and third place. They would make there choices based on quality of workmanship, fit, finish, etc. Then write their choices on a form and put in a box. The last day of the show, open the box count the votes, and the numbered cues that get the most votes wins. There are several ways you can profit for the charity. At the same time people vote, they could also put a bid on a cue number if they choose, and the winning bidder for each cue gets that cue. Then uncover ID's and announce who won, and at the same time the winning bidder will see who's cue they bought. All the money goes to charity, or you could charge a nice entry fee to each cue maker who wants a shot at the build off title. Another or additional way, charge a small donation fee to participate in the vote that goes to the charity too. I would have to believe all the publications would love to print the results, there for, great press to the winners. I can't speak for them, but I think that there's a chance Allen, and Dawn may give a space for it, just to be part of the charity and good press for them too. I'm sure every aspect of this idea could be tweaked in a lot of ways. The main thing is to make everything fair for every cue maker. You also would want to take steps to avoid vote cheating, but if your going to do a build off were you choose a winner, then lets try one were we compare the same apples to apples. Never been done in the past.
Only my idea of a build off, maybe a wrench in the soup, but just an idea.
If it's only build a cue for charity, I'll do that too.
Dennis Searing
PS;My first post on AZ Hope I don't regret it..
Have every one make the exact same cue including joint, joint rings, forearm, veneer colors, blockwork, butt cap, wrap, and with same simple inlays. Simple inlays will keep the guys without cnc machines in the contest.
Then cover each makers ID, and put a number on each cue, display all the cues at a big show like the Hopkin's show. I don't think anyone would argue that the Hopkins show is the biggest show for the custom cue maker, with the most custom cue buyers in attendence. Make a big sign for the booth that has the name of every cue maker that has a cue entered, and participated in the charity. let anyone and everyone who wants to vote "not cue makers" look over every cue and pick first, second, and third place. They would make there choices based on quality of workmanship, fit, finish, etc. Then write their choices on a form and put in a box. The last day of the show, open the box count the votes, and the numbered cues that get the most votes wins. There are several ways you can profit for the charity. At the same time people vote, they could also put a bid on a cue number if they choose, and the winning bidder for each cue gets that cue. Then uncover ID's and announce who won, and at the same time the winning bidder will see who's cue they bought. All the money goes to charity, or you could charge a nice entry fee to each cue maker who wants a shot at the build off title. Another or additional way, charge a small donation fee to participate in the vote that goes to the charity too. I would have to believe all the publications would love to print the results, there for, great press to the winners. I can't speak for them, but I think that there's a chance Allen, and Dawn may give a space for it, just to be part of the charity and good press for them too. I'm sure every aspect of this idea could be tweaked in a lot of ways. The main thing is to make everything fair for every cue maker. You also would want to take steps to avoid vote cheating, but if your going to do a build off were you choose a winner, then lets try one were we compare the same apples to apples. Never been done in the past.
Only my idea of a build off, maybe a wrench in the soup, but just an idea.
If it's only build a cue for charity, I'll do that too.
Dennis Searing
PS;My first post on AZ Hope I don't regret it..
