2018 BOA San Antonio?

[Bandwoww]

After looking closer, I think that the finalists are fairly well spread between the blocks. I do agree that block two has more of the bubble bands that could surprise someone. However, I dont see them placing in the top 5 of the day, so it doesnt really matter what judging panel those groups get.

I agree. Panel 2 is deeper but there aren’t any bands on either panel who will make top 5 that don’t necessarily deserve it.

[Bandwoww]

 

The intention was to balance the last three years worth of finalists across the panels.

Which I think they did successfully, but doesn’t necessarily balance out skill level as there have obviously been major changes in 3 years.

[Nny14]

 

I agree. Panel 2 is deeper but there aren’t any bands on either panel who will make top 5 that don’t necessarily deserve it.

Agreed, the scheduling seems fine. Any real shake ups will come from different views from the respective panels, which isn't that different from normal. Prelim captions ought to be interesting!

[Crown2018]

 

Agreed, the scheduling seems fine. Any real shake ups will come from different views from the respective panels, which isn't that different from normal. Prelim captions ought to be interesting!

They should be interesting and I’m surprised some of the bands perform as late as they are like Haltom, Prosper, Coppell

[Samuel Culper]

So how will they slot the finalists? Still first seven / last seven? If so, based on score regardless of Panel 1/2? Something else?

[principalagent]

I think Panel 2 has a deeper bench overall by about 5 or so bands. All it would take is a scoring irregularity that favors Panel 1 to have a band you couldn't imagine missing finals, in fact missing finals.

[principalagent]

So how will they slot the finalists? Still first seven / last seven? If so, based on score regardless of Panel 1/2? Something else?

First 5 from each panel, then next 4 overall.

[Samuel Culper]

First 5 from each panel, then next 4 overall.

I understand that is how the finalists are picked. I'm asking how they will be slotted for finals.

[principalagent]

I understand that is how the finalists are picked. I'm asking how they will be slotted for finals.

My apologies! 7 and 7, as normal. Which... is interesting considering the almost inevitable inconsistencies between panels.

[Samuel Culper]

My apologies! 7 and 7, as normal. Which... is interesting considering the almost inevitable inconsistencies between panels.

Which is what I was getting at. Yeah, makes you wonder if there will be any adjusting of scores in committee.

[Nny14]

My apologies! 7 and 7, as normal. Which... is interesting considering the almost inevitable inconsistencies between panels.

Yup! Prelims results are going to be even more useless than before for determining finals results.

[MadisonBandMan1]

So anyone want to take a shot in the dark for 20 in each panel? This contest just got even more insane. This is a must watch now if it weren’t before. Wow.

[1998-2018]

Finals could easily have more movement then we have seen in recent years. The Top 5/P1, Top 5/P2, Next 4 overall format could potentially put bands into 11th and 12th that might otherwise have been in the Top half (6th & 7th) with a single judging panel. It probably won't be quite that volatile but just in case strap in tightly, this could be an emotional rollercoaster.

[A Testing Trumpet]

So with the next 4 outside the top 5 from each panel, are they comparing bands from both panel one and panel two in the same scoring? if so that's comparing two different competitions. One panel might say some band has a 90 while a similarly skilled band might get an 87 just because of how the judges judge, like how many BOA events have "Score Inflation". Not sure If I am completely understanding that. 

[natertater21000]

While I do think it's possible that the judging for each panel could differ I doubt it will be by an extreme amount. This format may be new to SA but a similar version takes place at grand nationals every year with pre lims day one and day two. Comparing the two pre lims days combined to that of semi finals usually only results in bands placing plus or minus one or two spots from where they ended up after semis. I have a feeling we'll see more movement than normal in finals but probably not something as drastic as a band falling or rising 5+ places. Only time will tell though.

[JeremiahW]

So with the next 4 outside the top 5 from each panel, are they comparing bands from both panel one and panel two in the same scoring? if so that's comparing two different competitions. One panel might say some band has a 90 while a similarly skilled band might get an 87 just because of how the judges judge, like how many BOA events have "Score Inflation". Not sure If I am completely understanding that. 

 

That's why they have a chief judge, to walk around and ask Tim Ochran questions like "don't you think they were a little better than a 16.50?"

[Samuel Culper]

While I do think it's possible that the judging for each panel could differ I doubt it will be by an extreme amount. This format may be new to SA but a similar version takes place at grand nationals every year with pre lims day one and day two. Comparing the two pre lims days combined to that of semi finals usually only results in bands placing plus or minus one or two spots from where they ended up after semis. I have a feeling we'll see more movement than normal in finals but probably not something as drastic as a band falling or rising 5+ places. Only time will tell though.

The format seems a lot more risky without the semifinals in between to smooth things out.

[1998-2018]

The rankings and predictions to tend to diverge, and sometimes dramatically. While the rankings are more bounded by previous placements and actual scores, predictions have much more freedom to include how we think the judges should have scored a group. Now, we tend to be wrong a lot, but what fun are predictions if you aren't wrong?

Thank you! You shed some additional light on principleagent's explanation and clarified the distinction for me. It sounds like the Top 30 is intended to be traditional reporting with good old fashioned journalistic integrity. Facts (what happened), a bit of analysis to account for bands that haven't gone head-to-head, which might require a hint of opinion. Then the Event Predictions become more like an Op-ed piece from an informed fan. Lots of analysis, loaded with opinion, maybe even a hint of speculation, on a foundation of past results that a fan might find debatable. That difference easily resolves any perception of contradiction. Awesome!

[jmj]

Here we go!

 

Panel 1:

-Reagan

-Hebron

-Keller

-Cedar Park

-Leander

 

Panel 2:

-The Woodlands

-Flower Mound

-Vandegrift

-CTJ

-Vista Ridge

 

Next 4:

-Marcus

-Cedar Ridge

-Seven Lakes

-Prosper

[A Testing Trumpet]

That's why they have a chief judge, to walk around and ask Tim Ochran questions like "don't you think they were a little better than a 16.50?"

Ahh, so that is a function that the Chief Judge executes. Cool. 

[natertater21000]

 

The format seems a lot more risky without the semifinals in between to smooth things out.

Fair point, that's just another reason why I wish SA could have a semi finals. I highly doubt it will ever happen but I feel like it would be an overall positive change. It would give a lot of the bands in the 15-35 range some extra recognition and of course another performance but there are just too many issues(logistics, cost of renting the Alamo dome an extra day, availability of the Alamo dome, interfering with the tradition and finality of grand nationals ect.) for it to happen.

[FaultLineBlues]

Just to see how things would've gone last year with this system, I decided to check for myself. (Disclaimer: I couldn't find the actual BoA SA 2017 Schedule with blocks, so I divided the bands in performance order by 14.)

 

Even Blocks

Vandegrift 95.675

Cedar Park 92.900

Reagan 92.375

James Bowie 90.675

Cedar Ridge 90.550

 

Odd Blocks

Hebron 95.975

Claudia Taylor Johnson 95.675

Flower Mound 95.050

Avon 94.700

Marcus 93.025

 

Next Four

(Odd Block) The Woodlands 92.175

(Odd Block) Leander 91.32

(Even Block) Hendrickson 90.450

(Even Block) Keller 90.400

 

Looks like finalists would've been the exact same.

 

Let me know if I made any mistakes, after all I'm just a guy looking at numbers on a computer. (And this took much longer than I expected)

[BandFriendzz]

 

Just to see how things would've gone last year with this system, I decided to check for myself. (Disclaimer: I couldn't find the actual BoA SA 2017 Schedule with blocks, so I divided the bands in performance order by 14.)

 

Even Blocks

Vandegrift 95.675

Cedar Park 92.900

Reagan 92.375

James Bowie 90.675

Cedar Ridge 90.550

 

Odd Blocks

Hebron 95.975

Claudia Taylor Johnson 95.675

Flower Mound 95.050

Avon 94.700

Marcus 93.025

 

Next Four

(Odd Block) The Woodlands 92.175

(Odd Block) Leander 91.32

(Even Block) Hendrickson 90.450

(Even Block) Keller 90.400

 

Looks like finalists would've been the exact same.

 

Let me know if I made any mistakes, after all I'm just a guy looking at numbers on a computer. (And this took much longer than I expected)

Also was the same judges

[FaultLineBlues]

Also was the same judges

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll have a way to go back and change that haha

[landofwake]

 

Just to see how things would've gone last year with this system, I decided to check for myself. (Disclaimer: I couldn't find the actual BoA SA 2017 Schedule with blocks, so I divided the bands in performance order by 14.)

 

Even Blocks

Vandegrift 95.675

Cedar Park 92.900

Reagan 92.375

James Bowie 90.675

Cedar Ridge 90.550

 

Odd Blocks

Hebron 95.975

Claudia Taylor Johnson 95.675

Flower Mound 95.050

Avon 94.700

Marcus 93.025

 

Next Four

(Odd Block) The Woodlands 92.175

(Odd Block) Leander 91.32

(Even Block) Hendrickson 90.450

(Even Block) Keller 90.400

 

Looks like finalists would've been the exact same.

 

Let me know if I made any mistakes, after all I'm just a guy looking at numbers on a computer. (And this took much longer than I expected)

Thanks for doing this. Very interesting. The only point I would make is that these bands were scored by one panel so there is no inflation/deflation between panels to consider. So while this tells us that the bands are more or less evenly divided, the 11-14 bands could be affected by inconsistencies between panels