Bootblack Special Events

Bootblacking

You'll have plenty of chances during the weekend to have your boots and other leather cared for, as well as a chance to meet the bootblack contestants and vote for your favorite. The ceremonial First Shine is at 12:00pm on Friday. Bootblacking will also be available during the Pool Party and Auction. Come get your leathers and boots shined in preparation for the contest segments or just before that hot date. Your ballot helps to determine the winner of the Great Lakes Bootblack, so be sure to stop by and make your voice heard.

Bootblack Ice Cream Social

Back by overwhelming demand, our bootblacks will be scooping up some tasty treats poolside. Our cream will be whipped and you can of course opt to take our cherries!

Open Interviews

From First Shine (Friday at 12:00pm) until Saturday at 12:00pm, you will have a chance to submit questions for the open interview period. Take the opportunity to ask a question of the bootblacks competing to represent the Great Lakes region. This is a great way to learn about bootblacking as well as the bootblacks themselves. We will ask as many questions as we can within the time allotted. The interviews are open to the public, so please consider attending.

Great Lakes Bootblack Contest 2010

APPLICATION for Great Lakes Bootblack, 2010

Click here to download application

The Great Lakes Leather Alliance is proud to host our ninth annual Great Lakes Bootblack Contest. The purpose of the Great Lakes Bootblack Contest is to improve awareness of the bootblack traditions and the small but very motivated bootblack community. The winner of the contest represents the Great Lakes Region for their title year and goes on to compete for the International Mr. Bootblack, International Ms. Bootblack or International Community Bootblack title.

This contest is open to Great Lakes Region States: Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Additionally, contestants from Canada and other states surrounding the Great Lakes that do not offer a regional feeder bootblack contest are invited to petition to compete. [Note: If a regional feeder contest is offered in your area, you will not be allowed to compete for the Great Lakes Bootblack title.] Please contact Riley Johnson, Contest Coordinator at greatlakesbootblack@gmail.com with any questions or petitions for competing.

Contestants of any sexual orientation, gender identity, and personal identity are welcome and encouraged to compete.

Contest Elements and Scoring:

There are four elements to the Great Lakes Bootblack contest: Judging Categories, Ballot Voting, Open Interview, and the Technical Presentation. The scores for these elements are then totaled to determine the next Great Lakes Bootblack.

Judging Categories:

1. Physical Skills: Judges will evaluate the technique or procedure used to serve a customer's boots, leather and rubber, etc. What is physically done to create the best end product and ensure customer satisfaction?
2. Social Skills: Judges will evaluate how well each contestant interacts in the social sphere. How does the contestant interact with the customer, spectators, judges, and other contestants?
3. General Knowledge: Judges will evaluate each contestant’s demonstrated knowledge of boot and leather care, in addition to knowledge of the bootblack's role and history of bootblacking in the leather community. To what extent does the contestant demonstrate an understanding of bootblacking in historical and contemporary contexts? Does the contestant have a working knowledge of leather history, traditions, and some understanding of commonly held protocols?
4. Purpose: Judges will evaluate each contestant’s special skills or unique contribution to the art of bootblacking. Is there some flair or distinctive element to the bootblack’s presentation or skill, or does the act of blacking seem rote or mundane?

Ballot Voting:

Each Great Lakes registration package contains an official Bootblack Ballot. Attendees are encouraged to submit their ballot into the box for their preferred bootblack at the contest administration area. The ballots will counted by our tallyperson, and the total will be added in for the final combined score.

Note: Each ballot is non-transferable and must be submitted by the person to whom it is issued at the point of provision.

Attendees are not required to have their boots done in order to submit a ballot.

Open Interview:

The public is invited to take part in the open interview process. A box will be set up at the Bootblack Administration Area for the public to submit interview questions from First Shine (Friday at 12:00pm) until Saturday at 12:00pm. These questions will be reviewed by contest staff and will be drawn and read aloud by the head judge during the community interview segment. The interview itself is also open to the public.

Technical Presentation:

A timed technical presentation by each bootblack will take place during the community interview segment. Each contestant will draw a technical boot on Friday and will be expected to revamp the boot and present their process to the judges and the audience. Contestants must complete all work on their boot, but they may consult with each other. Contestants may not utilize outside individuals to wear the boot or consult on the condition of the boot.

Scoring:

The combined score including ballots determines the next Great Lakes Bootblack. If there is a tie, then the overall combined high score from the judging categories, open interview, and technical presentation (i.e. everything before ballots) will break the tie. If it remains tied, then a pre-determined category will determine the overall winner. Placement will be determined using these rules as well. [For example, in case of a tie for first runner-up, the overall high score before ballots is used, and if still tied, a pre-determined category will be used.] If only one contestant is actively competing, the contestant will need to earn 70% of overall points before ballots to win the title. Contestants will receive judges’ written feedback after the contest.