KNOW YOU
This simple phrase trumps each specific detail that others may suggest. You are the expert on you. You know yourself better than everyone else, so you know how to apply the well-intentioned advice in a way that serves your personal needs.
Self Care - This is one of the first things new judges should understand. Quite simply: If you are too tired, sore, sick, or otherwise non-functional to do your job, you hurt the entire event. Yes, judges have passed out, vomited, and fallen asleep on the floor. Please don't be one of them. Get enough rest. Drink enough water. Eat healthy food including breakfast. Don't stay out too late partying with your roommates the night before. You've heard all those things. However, rather than saying 'you need to drink 8 glasses of water,' I'll say, "you need to understand your body's needs." Personally, I have a type of migraines caused by dehydration. To avoid them I need to drink 1-2 bottles of Gatorade per day to maintain my electrolyte balance. I also carry some trail mix in my bag for when I need a salty snack. Think about your personal preferences as far as eating, drinking, snacking, rest, and medications, then understand how those things affect your work as a judge. Make decisions that will have you feeling your best not just on Friday, but all weekend.
Dress Well - We'll start with the basics: your uniform. Please show up with clean, well fitting clothing in good repair. You make us all look bad when your BO precedes you to a table or your shirt looks like you slept in it (even if you did, iron it). If you need a judge shirt, be sure to let the TO know or borrow one from another judge. As far as shoes, wear comfortable ones that you can stand/walk all day it. Sitting down because your feet hurt provides bad customer service and makes you look lazy to your team lead. Best advice someone gave me: choose the kind of shoes that you normally wear every day, and buy them in black. Other tricks: wear comfortable undergarments that don't rub or chafe, yes I mean a 'judge bra' or 'judge underwear.' Also, since you won't be wearing your judge shirt unless you are on the floor working, you will want to wear an undershirt so that you can take it off. Some people put on a different shirt, commonly a regional polo over the undershirt. I've also seen just a jacket or vest worn over it, especially in colder climates. Whatever you choose is fine, remember this is about what makes you most comfortable.
Come Prepared - Bring at minimum some colored pens and a notepad. Better preparation includes sharpies, sticky notes, tape, scissors, and a highlighter. Again, this is personal preference here. I like to bring pens with multiple colors instead of multiple pens. I also like to bring a clipboard, but hate having a water bottle. Make sure that whatever you want to carry with you fits comfortably in your pockets.
Know Your Stuff - Make sure you have read/studied relevant information and the IPG. If it's sealed, read the release notes; it it's Legacy, be ready for Oracle text requests. If you you are Head Judging a 2HG side event, look over the 2HG stuff. You can almost always look up a ruling or ask another judge if you need to, so know the basics, but don't stress out over this one. Also, know when and how to get help. Ask your Team Lead or another judge if you need to. Being right is always better than being fast. Also, know when to say, "I'm pretty sure I know this, but I want to double check one detail." Then come back and say, "I was right, it's . . . ." There is no shame in consulting another judge, you will learn stuff and they will like helping you. Generally, judges worry about this one a lot, and really it's not that big of a deal.
Be There - Show up early. Listen well. Do the things you are supposed to do. Nothing is more frustrating than a judge who is MIA. Don't make your Team Lead have to wait on you, look for you, or wonder why your work is not done. If you have a problem, need to go to the bathroom, or don't know how to do a task - ASK. Communication is key here. For example, if the Head Judge asks you to go get him coffee, don't wander off to do it without telling your Team Lead who will be expecting you to hang pairings in 3 minutes. The Head Judge will be ok with you hanging pairings and then getting the coffee. There are a lot of people doing a lot of things. To make the event smooth, all of those things have to be coordinated. Be a team player here and pay attention to what's going on around you; it will help you, your team, and the event.
Learn Something - While this may go without saying, your goal should always be to improve yourself and your craft. Meet some new people. Try a new skill. Maybe you have never done a Polish method deck check. Maybe you have never been on the pairings team. Perhaps you can work a shift at registration or help breakdown afterwards. It could be a trick to remember people's names or asking about someone's cool shoes. If you think you have nothing left to improve upon, you should probably consider being done judging. Most judges love to help, teach, and mentor, so don't be shy. Ask about what you want to know. Observe carefully. Think critically. Make sure that when you leave, you are a better judge than when you arrived.
Write It Down - No matter how sure you are that you won't forget, write it down. Take notes about cool interactions. Jot down that player's name and table number. Scrawl a note so you don't forget. You'll be surprised how much information will come at you and how fast. With so much going on, don't risk it - write it. It also helps you appear collected and competent to have good notes when talking to a HJ or Team Lead. Notes make writing reviews and tournament reports later much easier too. Writing doesn't end when the event does. Committing your thoughts to paper makes them shareable so others can learn from you too.
Have Fun - Trite, maybe, but true. If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong. Enjoy the energy, the camaraderie, the challenges, and the triumphs. It'll fly by, so be prepared to apply to your next GP soon!
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