The Grand Prix in Richmond looms large in my mind and the minds of many Judges this week. Its scale as a single event will probably eclipse any in the history of our game or any game like it. Comparisons to Grand Prix Las Vegas last summer (where I served as Staff Manager) abound.
That’s pretty daunting, so much so that a few judges have found it necessary to take a break from social media just to avoid the collective roar of updates and clamor of excitement. In that vein, I’d like to take this opportunity as your soon-to-be Head Judge (one of potentially several) and lay out some ideas on how to deal with this. My hope is this can go beyond the typical “stay hydrated, get sleep” pre-event message (but that’s in here too), and that’s why I’m posting here instead of just the event’s forum.
24 hours prior to the event:
1. Hone your expertise. Review policy documents, especially recent changes. The MIPG has a handy changelog for this purpose especially. Read the latest article from Toby, too. For bonus points (and a more relaxing, fun time) read Nick Fang’s scorekeeping blog here, especially his post on the pulse of a tournament.
2. Hydrate and prepare physically. Really. The water your body is using at the start of the event on Day 1 was put in there on Day 0. If you’re waiting until you feel thirsty or tired or until your team lead reminds you to take a sit-break halfway through the day Saturday, you’re doing it wrong.
Sleeping pre-event is also critical. Daylight savings time is already going to kick everyone’s butt betweeen Saturday and Sunday, but it’s a known hazard and we can prepare for it. Preparing for the known hazards will give you the bandwidth to deal with the problems that you haven’t anticipated.
3. Have a goal. For every Judge at GP Richmond, there are several who wish they could be there, who would relish this opportunity to be a part of Magic’s history. Make the most of this opportunity, out of respect for them, for yourself, and for your colleagues in black (and red and sometimes blue).
This event will take a lot out of you and everyone else on staff. It will be physically demanding and mentally challenging, and at the end of it you should have something more to show for it than some foils, a couple booster boxes, and a pretty playmat. Your goal doesn’t have to be a life-altering, world-saving thing. Just make it something specific, measurable, and within your reach. “Interact and connect with a new-to-me Judge so I can write a review that matters” is an awesome goal. “Approach calls with the right mix of ease and confidence so I don’t get appealed so often” is another fine one. Find something that matters to you and make it a goal. To borrow a phrase from Jeff Morrow, the Judge Program is a giant self-improvement cult running Magic events on the side.
4. Plan your day. Know when your call time is (probably 9:00 am for GP Richmond folks). Know how you’re getting from your hotel to the venue and how long it will take. Figure out where you’re getting breakfast and how long that will take, too.
At the event:
1. Watch Magic. Don’t just wander the rows waiting for a call. Get a sense of the pace of a game, look at the decision trees as they develop and shift. If you’re watching a match as it’s played, you’re more likely to catch a problem and help some players, and that’s what you’re really here to do.
2. Smile. This sometimes requires conscious effort, but it’s worth it. In a leadership role especially, you set the tone for your players and your team. To paraphrase an idea from the illustrious Billy San Juan, I could spend three paragraphs on the psychosocial benefits of smiling, but it would be boring. Smile.
3. Do not run. Hustle is fine, even good, but an airborne Judge inspires fear and chaos. You’re the control mechanism for the event. If something is so important that you need to run to accomplish it, it had better involve the life safety of someone in the event hall.
4. Make your internal dialogue a positive one. When you think about the event, think about your pending success there. Visualize what that success will look like. A round finishing with time left on the clock. A team that feels cohesive, engaged, and accomplished. A player who takes the organizer aside to expound on the virtues of his staff.
If a positively visualized outlook is too “hippy-dippy” for your tastes, I’d invite you to instead consider that the end of the day is inevitable, so you might as well make the most of it. In the (fixed) words of Toby Elliott, “Time is linear. No matter what happens, remember that we’ll reach the end of this day.” Your journey within that window of time is what’s at stake here, and it’s the one thing over which you have the greatest control.
5. Schedule your recovery. Identify a place where you can kick off your shoes and lean back in solitude and regroup. Make the time. This isn’t just meal breaks, it’s throughout the day and at the end of it to recover from the hectic times.
Like me, many Judges are introverts, who need a break from social interactions to recharge. With 5,000 players and hundreds more at sides and on staff, the convention center itself may not have what you’re looking for, but if you have a plan and commit to sticking with it, your chances of finding that happy place are greatly improved. If that space is outdoors (weather permitting), so much the better.
Whether or not GP Richmond breaks the record from GP Vegas really isn’t important at this point. It will be a challenge, but it’s a known quantity. We’ve been here before and we know that together we’re capable of rising to meet this challenge. This event is going to be an amazing and memorable experience for all of us, but it’s not about the numbers. It’s about the journey and the people with whom we share it, and I look forward to joining you on it.