I guess it's a term issue for me. Meaning a show is just that - a showing of all quilts. A contest is different. Quilts are judged by qualified judges in a contest but not a show. Now one local guild does 2 things. They have a judged contest where technicality and scrutiny prevail. After that they have a 'show' where all quilts are displayed and all the public votes for their favorite. Not on technical or methods but just on what people like. Participants are given the choice whether or not to be part of the contest or just the show. I can honestly say that I can only remember one time in several years that the first place in the contest was the same as the public's favorite at the show. So I really like the idea if a contest AND a show.