Courtesies When Buying Koi
When selecting or buying Koi, there are some unwritten rules which one only learns after being in the hobby for some time. Those new to koikeeping maybe unaware of the courtesies which properly should be observed when viewing and selecting Koi. These unwritten yet expected rules of etiquette are as follows:
Once Koi are "tubbed", i.e,, placed into a tub for viewing, by the dealer for a prospective customer, no one else may select one of the "tubbed" Koi until the prospective customer releases the Koi back into the pond. The prospective buyer should not be conversed with during his perusing of the "tubbed" Koi. Nor should one question the price of the "tubbed" Koi.
Do not ask the price of the Koi except one on one with the
dealer. It is particularly impolite to loudly question the price of a Koi with a crowd standing around. It is improper to expect the dealer to blurt out the price to anyone other than the prospective buyer. If the dealer desires to tell the entire crowd the price, that's his business. But asking the dealer the price with a crowd around puts him in a sometimes uncomfortable spot.
Club's Responsibilities to Judges
Any Koi Club putting on a Koi Show needs to know the
proper etiquette and their responsibilities to the judges whom they select to judge their Koi show. Previously, many of these proper rules or expectations were merely implied or learned by experience and by questioning more experienced clubs. The following dissertation is meant to put in writing what is expected of clubs. This discussion comes from my presentation at the San Jose AKCA Seminar in June of 1995. It was presented to be a help both for the clubs and for prospective judges. These guidelines of etiquette are not confined to just the AKCA Judge Certification Program, but to all judges, whether professional dealers, breeders, hobbyists, ZNA judges or AKCA judges.
It is realized that perhaps some smaller shows do not have
the revenue to be very extravagant, and they may want to work out some special arrangements with their judges. However, the following is a guideline as to what a Koi Club's obligations are to the judges:
Koi clubs are to pay for room and board but not for travel expenses for the Head and Assistant Judges. Clubs do not
pay for the AKCA Candidate Judges. For a 2 day weekend show, the club needs to cover 2 days and 2 nights of the hotel. Friday night dinner is a courtesy and a good icebreaker when the judges arrive, but it is not mandatory or may not always work out. Breakfast both Saturday and Sunday is also a nice courtesy but it is not always possible to accompany the judges due to show responsibilities. Nevertheless, be sure that the judges get breakfast.
Lunch and refreshments during judging as well as the Saturday night dinner (usually the banquet) are arranged and paid for by the club.
Expenses incurred by the judges after the Koi show concludes are all totally the responsibility of the judge.
The show chairman is to arrange all reservations well in advance of the Koi show
Judges make their own travel arrangements, after the show chairman tells them when they are expected to be at the show and how long they need to remain.
The show chairman is to coordinate and arrange all the times and meetings with the judges.
Communicate with the judges well in advance of the Koi show, as well as right up to the show. Establish final times, flight arrivals and plans that the club has for the judge(s). Particularly clarify if the judge's spouse or anyone else is coming.
Assign a member for hospitality to take care of the judges and their spouses, including:picking them up and returning them to the airport, unless they are renting a car.
Courtesies
It's the little things that make the difference. Some things to think about:
If possible, it is nice if the show committee takes judges and spouses to dinner the night before the show (Friday night).
Try to meet judges for breakfast, or if not possible, at least arrange breakfast for them.
Reserve the main table at the banquet for judges and their spouses and arrange their transportation.
Have a typed itinerary to give to the judges when they arrive. This will include times of events, when they will be picked up, etc. Arrange any other events, such as pond visits, sightseeing etc. beforehand and coordinate with the judges' plans in advance.
Provide them with an Entry Form so that they are familiar with the sizes, prizes etc.
Leave room for options or requests by the judges.
During judging, take care of the judges' and their spouses needs. Remember to plan for drinks, breakfast and lunch for the Judges. Remember the spouses need your attention. If
they do not have plans or transportation, the club may want to assign someone to take them around or shopping during the show....inquire. Some may wish to view the judging. Others may wish to shop or see the sites. A nice touch would be to provide lunch for the spouses at some interesting local site. It is important to assign someone take care of spouses.
Gifts For the Judges
It is a tradition to present a gift from the club to the judges at the Banquet or the Award Ceremony. The value is usually in the $50 to $100 range. Perhaps some smaller gift for the ARCA Candidate Judges.
Other options a club may want to consider, but are not
mandatory, would be show pins, jackets with names and club
logo. Do not forget the judges after the show:
The Show Chairman and Club President could consider taking the judges to dinner if the judge stays Sunday night and if feasible, remember transport to the airport when needed. If the judges stay on after the show, offer to assign someone to host them. All of this needs to be arranged ahead of time.
It is a courtesy to help them with their itinerary. Most judges take care of themselves and their own plans after a show, however it is proper to inquire and offer to assist.
Judge's Etiquette
To be a professional Koi judge, one must adhere to certain
standards, expectations, formalities and responsibilities. We generally assumed that all judges are aware of these guidelines and proper behaviors. However, if they are never totally spelled out then one cannot expect to conform. In the AKCA Candidate Judge Program, as presented at the annual seminar in San Jose in June of 1995,I took great effort to outline these afore-mentioned and previously unwritten rules. The AKCA Candidate Judges are expected to know this and will be tested on it, as well as the
club's responsibilities to the judges.
Judging Etiquette--Pre-show
Communicate ahead. Discuss plans well ahead of the show with the show chairman.
Discuss the club's plans for you, and your plans for any optional itineraries.
Establish the times and locations that you are needed. Then relay your arrival and departure times.
For the head and assistant judges, the club is expected to pay for room & board (as listed in above section), the banquet, all meals during show, and optionally, breakfast.
The club is only responsible for meals during show, but
many take care of Friday night and Sunday evening also, if the judge is in town at those times.
Judges are responsible for their own airfare and any
expenses not listed above.
AKCA candidate judges will be responsible for all of their
own expenses.
Judging Etiquette--Before Judging Begins
Be prompt. Dress neatly. Men wear jacket and tie. Women dress smart. Do not wear jewelry or sunglasses. A wedding ring is OK if it is a band with no sharp protrusions.