Join the 2027 National Picker’s Championships Circuit

Welcome to

the Judges Court Room

Judges, we aren't just asking you to listen to music — we’re asking you to act as a brand ambassador for the National Picker’s Championships. Feel the weight of the position while understanding the logistics, is a critical piece to this puzzle.

Here is a breakdown of what is included in the Judge’s Onboarding Packet

The Mission & Authority

Understand that your decision is final and directly impacts a musician’s career path to Nashville.

The Goal: To find "Stage-Ready" talent. We aren't just looking for the fastest fingers; we are looking for the picker most prepared to represent this festival in the National Finals.
National Alignment: You are part of a national circuit, and your scoring will be compared against other sanctioned hosts across the country.

Mastery of the

Scoring System

You must agree to use our specific 100-point scale.

Categories: 40/25/20/15 breakdown: Technical Ability (40pnts), Tone and Intonation (25 pnts), Stage Presence (20 pnts), and Originality (15 pnts)
The "No-Tie" Policy: Strictly stating, judges cannot give a tie. If two pickers are close, the judge must use the "Technical Ability" or "Tone" categories as the tie-breaker.
Digital Proficiency: Must be comfort using a tablet or smartphone to enter scores via the Digital Score Card.

Code of Ethics & Conduct

This is the most important "fine print" in order to protect the integrity of The Picker's Circuit.

Impartiality: You must disclose if you have a student, family member, or business partner competing. (A judge should recuse themselves from scoring that specific individual).
No Interaction: Judges will not discuss scores with competitors or the audience until after the winners are announced.
Consistency: A judge must commit to being present for the entire duration of the contest. Scoring "fatigue" is real—judges need to promise the same focus for the last picker as they gave the first.

Technical Logistics

Device Requirements: Please login and create a free member account so you can access the score card on your mobile device, laptop, or tablet.
Arrival Time: Judges should arrive at least 30–60 minutes before the first note to test the digital login and calibrate their ears during the soundcheck.
The "Judge's Circle": Please check in with your Sanctioned Host to assure your area is a suitable judging environment.