When it comes to competitions, the fate of contestants lies in the hands of the judges. And when it comes to judging, few are as experienced and qualified as Gary Jobst. In the first of this two-part episode, we sat down with Gary to discuss his own background and how he got started as a judge and chief judge. We asked him what he thinks makes for a good West Coast Swing judge and what the role of a chief judge is. He talked about how he works with event directors as a chief judge and how he likes to put together a judging panel. We then asked him about different competition formats, which ones he prefers, and how they can affect the outcomes of the competition. Take a listen and learn more from this knowledgable, experienced, and down-to-earth guy!

footnotesGary Jobst