I haven't been active on the forums at all last year and as a result, I've missed that particular discussion. Thank ye' for posting it 'ere for my viewing pleasure but considering it was brought around almost a year ago, perhaps some changes have been considered or made already? I'll still help by sparing some solutions and other ideas, and see what other members and perhaps the Staff have to think of it.
I can understand how creating events and contests such as this take a lot of time and effort to make it as successful as it should be. How to "hold it, judge it, and what particular rules and themes will be set for it" can very much be an obstacle but worked through nonetheless. I've held and seen banner contests before in different communities and it truly is a hassle to maintain, but it's still fun for the members and of course for those who are judging. I'd like to suggest a few ways to hold these contests, themes, and, of course, the rules that can be set up and altered by choice.
How often these contests should be held is entirely up to the Staff but I have a feeling that it is still an issue. I had an idea that a contest was held sometime at the beginning of the year, and would repeat the next year and so on. The only issue with that is that it's such a large pause between the first contest and the next. It's possible it could be forgotten about completely and those who have entered in their banners might lose their patience or interest as they wait to see their work displayed up there. This idea could be a flop, but I thought it'd lower the chances of exhausting the Staff members if it was only focused on once a year. To bring a theme in here- seasonal banners. I saw there in that quote that there seemed to be an issue regarding seasonals, as so many other contests and events are held at around the same time frame and things can surely get confusing. Ay, and when I see "seasonal," I think of the legitimate seasons such a Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Does there really have to be a set theme for these banners such as video games, activities, music or whatnot?
Perhaps these banners can just focus on the seasons. Presets could be for those various themes, and the banner can be completely up to the creativity of the member so long as it takes place in the corresponding season. When to hold these if such is the case:
- A Summer Banner Contest can be started on the first day of Spring [ March 20th ] and ended anytime before the first day of Summer. That way, all the Spring banners from before are displayed while the Staff collect Summer banners during Spring and be ready to place them up there at the start of Summer.
- Autumn Banner contest can be held on the first day of Summer [ June 20th or 21st ] to any time before the first day of Autumn. Repeat the same as before.
- Winter Banner contest held on the first day of Autumn [ September 23rd ] to any time before the first day of Winter.
- Spring Banner contest held on the first day of Winter [ December 22nd ] and so on.
I'm not too certain if this'll work and I believe the Preset Contests follow this schedule as well, ye?
As for rules, perhaps it could go something like this:
I. One entry per member.
II. Your entry must be your work only. Any stock images used from other sources must be credited to the owner.
III. Your banner must be Feral-Heart related of course. The season is [ Summer,Winter,Spring,Autumn ].
IV. No inappropriate or questionable items in your banner. No group advertising involved, either.
V. Late entries will not be accepted. They are to be submitted before or on the day of the deadline given.
These can always be changed if needed. I'm not too certain of these either but ay.
Of course these are just ideas. Suggestions. Perhaps the issues still remain today and there is just no luck in having banner contests reappear. There's no trouble in that. I honestly don't think what I suggested would be of any use or maybe it was thought of already. If I'm repeating anyone from before, then I do apologize. Feel free to lock this topic as well if deemed pointless at the time. I want to take into consideration how much is already going on at the moment and if Banner Contests will just cause trouble for the future, then please do dismiss this thread completely. I don't want to exhaust anyone.