My only experience with contests is in the brass band context, which I must say leaves me pretty cold.

Not that I would disparage those that like contesting, whatever floats yer boat, hey, but what I HAVE found amongst the most serious contestants is the "office politics" that goes on behind the scenes.

This is what really destroys contesting for me. I have in mind one band that recently (last few years) had a new band master selected specifically to improve the bands performances - not a bad thing in its own right, but his method was to use contesting.

I have several personal friends who played in this band and who were driven out by the band master through abuse and public humiliation because he didn't consider them up to standard. He then introduced ringers from outside the region, mostly professional players, to take their places, all to win a couple of contests.

IMHO this is reprehensible conduct. TRAIN the players you have, DON'T just get rid of 'em - if the band is a D grade band, then it's a D grade band - who really cares as long as everyone has fun?

Of course, then there are the usually very technical "set pieces". They may be technically challengeing, but they are rarely musical or even interesting to listen to.

--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya laugh --=--
You're only paranoid if you're wrong!