[paulg]

gordontd, on 2013-January-10, 07:58, said:

We should really start a group for people who over-identify with the country they move to, and forget their roots!

Maybe our resident EBU American would care to join you?

To be fair, I have refused opportunities to be an NPC for Scotland solely to play in the Premier League as an Englishman. But it is fun choosing which side of the wall to associate with

[bluejak]

barmar, on 2013-January-08, 09:44, said:

If they hold it away from where people are likely to hover, doesn't that suggest that they don't want spectators?

No, the main reason for where you hold an appeal is practicality. At the NABCs they hold appeals in an appeals room, which makes life easy: you can find it, it is quiet, and so on. I have sat on an NABC appeal in the playing area, but that was right at the end. In the British Isles, appeals are normally heard in the playing area because there is nowhere else.

My bridge partner at the last two NABCs I went to was interested in the process, so she asked if she could watch. The answer was yes.

The main thing wrong with random spectators is that they usually have an interest in the appeal: I believe such spectators should always be excluded. If a person wants to watch for interest and is not involved, then he should ask the Chairman, but I would have thought it normal to allow it.

Hovering is worse still. EBU appeals are heard seated by regulation: people hovering are as much a distraction at appeals as they are at playing tables.

[barmar]

How about holding the appeal in a room with a door? People don't generally open a closed door without knocking or getting permission.

[aguahombre]

Apparently David thinks that in the British Isles, where there is no such room available, that might not work.

[Vampyr]

gordontd, on 2013-January-10, 07:58, said:

We should really start a group for people who over-identify with the country they move to, and forget their roots!

Maybe our resident EBU American would care to join you?

Join him in the always-open bar? Totally!

[mycroft]

Well, at our sectionals (not that we have many appeals in sectionals) the only room with a door that isn't the playing room is the "smallest room in the house". At regionals there are rooms, but they usually have too much stuff in them (TD office, caddy/supply room, and such like) to effectively use. In Penticton, there is a teaching room booked that would work, provided there isn't a class in there at the time; but the appeals I have seen were still done in a distant part of the playing area; and that's only a 3000-table regional.

A room specific for appeals only makes economic sense if you expect similar appeal counts as the Nationals do or if the event is highly-rated enough that it is required (like the USBC team trials; but as they are willing to book several hotel rooms to run matches in, it's easy to take an currently unused one).

[FrancesHinden]

aguahombre, on 2013-January-14, 10:42, said:

Apparently David thinks that in the British Isles, where there is no such room available, that might not work.

I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic or not, but it's quite common at EBU events for there not to be a suitable room easily available.

[aguahombre]

FrancesHinden, on 2013-January-17, 16:59, said:

I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic or not, but it's quite common at EBU events for there not to be a suitable room easily available.

I was responding to Barry, who suggested using a room with a door, right after David said there usually wasn't one. But, thanks for confirming.

[pigpenz]

I know in Reno it used to be in the ACBL directors staff room where the computers and staff are, it was pretty
crowded and chaotic as people were always coming and going....at some sectionals I have seen them just at a table in
a corner somewhere at the playing site

[Vampyr]

bluejak, on 2013-January-14, 08:45, said:

My bridge partner at the last two NABCs I went to was interested in the process, so she asked if she could watch. The answer was yes.

Did they allow her to watch the deliberation as well?

[bluejak]

[

Vampyr, on 2013-January-18, 18:45, said:

Did they allow her to watch the deliberation as well?

Yes.