In some years, there have been more fingerpicking entrants than flatpicking, but on the average, the two contests have run fairly evenly. Forty contestants are really all we've got time for, and it's about all the judges can reasonably handle. Finding qualified judges is, of course, one of the keys to the competition. What makes a good judge is the willingness to share. But, good judges can be hard to come by.
Many great players are reluctant to judge, or to place one player higher than another.
They appreciate the fact that everybody has their good attributes and qualities, and they're not comfortable ranking them. When you find someone who likes to do workshops, though, you generally find yourself a good judge. He likes to share, and to judge, and see how that person comes back and improves. If there is one recurring criticism of the competition, it's that it encompasses such a wide variety of musical styles. In the fingerpicking competition, it's likely that you'll hear a classical piece followed by some country blues, and maybe some jazz.