From The CC Vault: Creating a Positive Atmosphere

By Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq./Mediator
Hamilton Law and Mediation

Originally published: June 2015

While flying to an event in Dallas, I read an article in the Delta Sky magazine about Mr. James Corden. I hardly ever read anything in a ‘Sky’-type magazine but I love James Corden so I dove right into the article. It talked about his explosive start on late night TV and how he didn’t re-invent the genre as much as created an atmosphere. He allowed his guests to trust him. I started thinking and realized that this would make a great topic for an article in The Canine Chronicle.

I don’t think anyone has exploded on to late-night talk show hosting with such aplomb. Corden is fresh, funny and self-effacing. He has great fun with his audience and the people he interviews, but never at their expense.

What has this got to do with dog shows?

Well, it’s all about atmosphere.

When asked about his formula for success James Corden said, “We are never going to try and do you over in any way. If anybody is going to look silly on our show, it’s going to be me.” He prides himself on protecting his guests and audience from embarrassment thereby establishing trust. They are genuinely game to do or try anything. Now, how can we create an atmosphere in our sport where people trust us and choose to attend our show over another?

In our beloved world of dog shows the atmosphere that surrounds you at a show often dictates its popularity? If it’s one of trust and respect, like at the Late Late Show, you will be genuinely game to try anything. If trust is low or missing and people feel unappreciated or disrespected the atmosphere is anything but fun and welcoming. The difference lies between always choosing to attend a show or choosing to avoid a show at all costs [even with great judges] based on how we feel while at the show.

It starts with the show chairs and club committees deciding to make the atmosphere of their shows pleasant for everyone in attendance. The atmosphere starts at the parking lot, food tents, grooming tents and, finally, the ring. All of them need to be welcoming and supportive to all competitors, workers and spectators. This is a difficult task to achieve if everyone involved is not in the mood to create a positive atmosphere.

How did James Corden set up his surroundings to assure he created the atmosphere he wanted? He said, “We would talk much more about the atmosphere than we would ever talk about a comedy bit.” Their [guests and audience] experience was key. How the guests felt impacted how the audience perceived the program, and so it rolled.

It was never about the brilliance of James Corden, per sé, but his ability to focus on what was the most important part of the show, the atmosphere he wanted to create for everyone in attendance. Without this dedication to providing the best atmosphere he may have slogged through the growing pains of a new late night program, as others had, until he found a responsive schtick. Instead, James Corden chose to recognize that it was the atmosphere he could create at Late Late Night, not what he himself did, that would bring everyone along for the ride. They needed to feel safe in order to become a part of the magic. After all, it’s his show but should not be about him.

In the dog show world, atmosphere starts from the time the show is planned by the committee. It is then handed off to the superintendent and the premium is received by the perspective participant. Dog shows live or die by the ambiance they create. Their atmosphere will either encourage people to travel to the show no matter what or skip it and go to another show. The judging panel may also play into someone’s decision. However, let’s leave that for another article. This article is focusing on the atmosphere you bring to the show as the host of the dog show fancy, participants and spectators at the event.

When choosing which dog shows we attend, we tend to gravitate toward the shows that provide the best atmosphere; they are inclusive and helpful. Some we attend less for the positive atmosphere and more for their iconic nature. Iconic shows may be seen as less inclusive or helpful. This lack of care is often accepted because it is always this way at —- show, so get used to it if you want to participate. This adage can only ring true if the people running the iconic show:

a. Are not asked for better in a nice way.

b. Are given suggestions they can review and possibly implement with the complaint.

c. Choose to retain the status quo over responsiveness to constructive suggestions.

Some iconic shows may, for reasons we do not know or understand, choose to remain in status quo and not respond to participant pressure. Looking beyond these iconic shows, at shows we choose to attend each weekend, we can measure the impact of atmosphere through attendance statistics, by the numbers showing up at a show year after year. We have had great turnout for the long, multi-day dog show weekends and specialty events. This may be because they are efficient or less expensive. With regard to individual breed club specialties, we are among our peers, in the breed we love, and they treat us [participants and spectators] like valued family members.

Feeling special and valued for being in attendance and participating in an event creates an atmosphere that encourages people to save their money, block out that particular weekend and splurge on attending the show that entices them. They need to enjoy an event not only by showing their dog but by engaging with others who attend. Show committees, exhibitors and spectators all need to feel appreciated and supported by the club hosting the event and the people who came to participate. It’s all about the atmosphere. You will find people gravitate to iconic shows because they are, well, iconic. However, there are those shows you would never miss because the club/committees are inclusive and kind to their exhibitors. These shows tend to attract competitors and spectators who are good to one another. It’s all about the atmosphere.

For example, if the drop-off and unloading is easy and supported, spectators and participants will return year after year. That show committee has recognized what kind of atmosphere creates repeat attendance. Ironically, it is not the winning that brings us back, since we all attend/intend to win. It is the dog show atmosphere, where people participate in a social event, not just competition, that has them choose to come back again next year. These responsive show committees recognize that only a few people win the breed, group or Best in Show. If the atmosphere is not conducive to the enjoyment of all, their repeat numbers will be slimmer. Competitors and spectators usually return to certain venues for a show, year after year, not because they always have great judging panels or because they win all the time [although that can be part of the reason they return]. It is often because of the people, place and fun that venue affords.

Exploring the show committee’s response to competitors’ needs and wants is one way to help shift how competitors treat one another. Whether it’s your national or it’s a three day event that showcases your dog, being a good competitor in a supportive environment makes the atmosphere more tolerable. If you’ve been stuck in traffic on the way to the show and arrive to compete all pinched off because of anger and frustration, if the atmosphere at the show is one of ease and commiseration and conducive to slowing down and recognizing the reason you’re here, you recuperate more quickly. If you arrive at a show and everything continues to be difficult, that creates an atmosphere that perpetuates being pinched off. As a competitor, if you come to a show simply thinking about yourself, your dog and your win, the atmosphere you create is unwelcome to those around you.

Think about the atmosphere you like at a dog show. Most of the shows you look forward to attending create themselves with more of an eye on “the atmosphere.” If the committees and competitors decide to have/attend a show that is supportive and appreciative of your participation in all its moving parts then the prevailing atmosphere will be positive. As Corden said, talk about the atmosphere is more important than talk “about a comedy bit.” Creating an atmosphere that fosters pleasant experiences and camaraderie will bring out the best in all. Those are the shows we love to attend and replicate because of that good feeling.

If we take a minute and focus on atmosphere, great things will transpire.

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Posted by Liz on Nov 20 2022. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.