The Pole Comedian performs at PoleCon 2019

The Judge’s Commandments: A Guide to Fair and Thoughtful Judging

February 28, 2025
Amy Rosvally
General

Maybe you’re an ancient crypt keeper of the judging world, or maybe this is your first time wielding the mighty clipboard of power.

Either way, one thing is undeniable: Judging is hard work!

Competitors put their hearts on the line, showcasing pieces they’ve labored over for months, investing time, money, and emotion into making them perfect. They stand before you, hoping to hear how much you love what they’ve done. But your job isn’t just to shower them with praise—it’s to provide constructive feedback and fairly determine a winner based on the criteria at hand.

So, how do you do that while maintaining fairness, integrity, and a touch of humanity? Follow these commandments:

Thou Shalt Be Kind

With great power comes great responsibility—and that includes not letting your ego run wild. I’ve sat on judging panels and witnessed the horrors of “petty judging,” where comments like “Ew, her hair, gross” were uttered. Yikes. As a judge, you’re on display just as much as the competitors. People assume you’re an expert, and your words carry weight. Be kind. To the competitors. To the staff. To everyone. Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s the ethical way to be.

Thou Shalt Be Fair and Unbiased

Ever walked away from a competition muttering, “They only won because they’re besties with the judges”? Yeah, me too. It stinks. Bias—whether subconscious or blatant—can creep in if you’re not careful. Maybe you’re judging a student you’ve watched grow or an instructor you’ve clashed with. Either way, personal history has no place at the judging table. One trick I use? Start everyone at the halfway point in scoring. If a category is out of 10 points, you begin at 5, adjusting up or down based on performance. This levels the playing field and forces you to justify every point awarded (or deducted).

Thou Shalt Give Constructive Feedback

Nothing is more frustrating than receiving vague or unhelpful feedback. “You need more makeup” or “What an ugly costume”? Absolutely useless. On the flip side, “Wow! That was amazing!!” with an 8/10 score? Also not helpful. If a competitor doesn’t know why they got the score they did, how can they improve? Enter: The Sh*t Sandwich Method—praise, critique, praise. If you deduct points, explain why and offer actionable advice. Feedback should empower competitors to grow, win or lose. Most importantly, let them walk away knowing you saw their hard work and respected their effort.

Thou Shalt Not Declare a Winner Too Soon

It’s halftime, and someone has just slayed their performance. You’re ready to crown them the champion. Pump the brakes! Until all competitors have performed and all scores are tallied, no winner exists. Declaring one prematurely (even in your mind) does a disservice to the remaining competitors and can cloud your judgment. Stay objective. Let the scores do the talking.

Thou Shalt Not Change the Winner Once the Scores Are Tallied

As a head judge, I let my panel score freely. At the end, we add everything up, and the highest scorer wins. Period. There’s no “deliberation” beyond that. Why? Because if everyone scores properly, the system works. If there’s a tie, we talk. Otherwise, if your personal favorite didn’t win, double-check the math and move on. Your pick isn’t always the pick, and that’s okay.

Thou Shalt Use the Judging Criteria in Front of Thee

Everyone has personal preferences—some love high-level tricks, others appreciate strong costuming. But as a judge, your role isn’t to award based on what you like—it’s to score based on the criteria provided. If stage presence isn’t in the rubric, don’t add points for it. That said, if a routine is phenomenal but doesn’t align with the competition’s theme, note it in your feedback. Acknowledge brilliance, but judge by the book.

Thou Shalt Write Notes But Also Stay Attentive

During my judges’ training with POSA, I had an examiner deduct points from my score for looking down too often while judging. Their reasoning? “You might miss the moment.” And they were right. I’ve since trained myself to write without breaking eye contact with the competitor, and I highly recommend it. A great exercise? Watch pole routines on YouTube while taking notes without looking down. It’s a skill that will make you a more effective judge and help you provide detailed, real-time feedback.

Thou Shalt Congratulate All Participants—Not Just the Winners

Win or lose, every competitor has put their heart into their performance. When the competition ends, take a moment to high-five, fist bump, or nod in acknowledgment to everyone you pass. They walked on stage, bared their soul, and—importantly—didn’t die! That alone is worth celebrating.

Judging isn’t just about picking a winner. It’s about fostering a community where competitors feel valued, challenged, and eager to return better than before. Follow these commandments, and you’ll not only be a great judge—you’ll be a great human in the process.

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Amy Rosvally

Performing under the stage name The Pole Comedian, this international showgirl has made a name for herself as a trailblazer in the world of Pole Comedy. Since beginning her journey in 2013, she’s racked up an impressive collection of accolades, including Playboy New Zealand Feature Model, North American Showgirl Grand Champion & Stage Rockstar, and Pole Inferno Mx Theatrical. She’s also a curator for the International Pole Convention Pole Comedy Showcase and even took her talents to the stage of America’s Got Talent.

Beyond performing, she’s judged, produced, taught, and competed across four different countries—spreading laughter, sparkle, and just the right amount of controlled chaos wherever she goes. And if there's one thing she believes in, it's that aggressive jazz hands make everything better.