What's different about running a live-scored event — and why it makes your day easier, not harder.
New to running an event with software? The worried question is always the same: will this make things more complicated, or less? Less — because you're not learning a new way to judge. You're just trading clipboards and end-of-day math for something faster and harder to get wrong.
What stays the same
Your judges and their expertise.
Your standards — you define the criteria and what earns each score.
Your rules — who enters, how they're grouped, how a winner is chosen.
What gets easier
The math disappears — totals and weighting are calculated the instant scores land.
You see the event live — who's scored, who hasn't, where it stands.
The result is defensible — a clean record, not a shoebox of paper.
Next year is faster — reuse your whole setup.
The three roles
You, the host. You run the event and the day. This guide is for you.
Judges. Score from their own phone or tablet — no passwords, nothing to install.
Contestants & fans. Contestants compete; fans follow along and, if you enable it, vote (Section 7).
Before you go further
You've seen the app at least once — book a demo if not.
You know your date and roughly how many entries and judges to expect.
You know which role each person will play.
2
Plan First
Design Your Scoring on Paper First
The one planning task worth doing before the day: decide how judging works, on paper, before anyone scores anything.
Fifteen minutes with a pen before the event saves hours later — and spares you the awkward mid-event discovery that your rubric doesn't quite work. Every scoring model is built from three pieces:
Criteria — the handful of things judges rate. Pick the fewest that still capture a winner; if two always move together, they're really one.
Weights — how much each criterion counts. Usually adds to 100%, and deciding it forces you to be honest about what your event rewards.
Scale — how judges score: 1–10, 100 points, or deductions. Coarse enough that two fair judges land close together.
A worked example
A cooking contest, three criteria on a 1–10 scale:
Taste — 50%. Matters most, weighted most.
Presentation — 30%. How it looks and is plated.
Creativity — 20%. Originality and use of the theme.
A dish scoring 9 / 7 / 8 earns (9×0.5) + (7×0.3) + (8×0.2) = 8.2 — and LiveJudge does that for every entry the moment scores land. Your rubric will use your criteria, but the shape holds: few criteria, clear weights, simple scale.
Before event day
Criteria are final, each with a one-line 'what great looks like' note.
Weights add to 100% (or your point total is clearly defined).
Scale is simple enough that two fair judges land close together.
Every judge has seen the rubric before scoring anything that counts.
3
The Venue
Venue & Connectivity
Good news first: the app is light on data, so normal wifi or 5G is usually all you need. Here's how to be sure — plus a great backup if you're remote.
LiveJudge is a lightweight mobile app that passes low volumes of data, so your experience should be fine on normal 5G or wifi at your venue. Connectivity is rarely the thing that goes wrong — but if you want to be sure, a couple of quick checks and one excellent backup option have you covered.
QHow do I know the venue's connection is good enough?
Because the app sends so little data, even a modest signal usually does the job. The one thing worth doing: a week before, walk the room with your phone and check that you have signal where judges will actually stand — not just at the front door. If the venue offers a dedicated network rather than the public guest wifi, ask for the name and password.
QIf a judge briefly loses signal, do their scores get lost?Needs your input
Anything a judge has already committed is safely stored, so past entries are never at risk. The one thing to confirm: what happens if a judge taps commit at the exact moment their signal is down — whether the app queues it and sends when signal returns, or asks them to try again.
TipSeat judges where the signal is strongest, and have them commit each entry before moving on — then a momentary blip almost never matters.
QWe're outdoors or remote — a field or a parking lot (RC flying, car shows).
Test the signal in advance at the exact judging spot, since coverage on an open field varies by carrier. Bring a battery pack — outdoor events drain phones faster in sun and cold — and if you're truly off the grid, a Starlink hotspot turns “no signal” into gig speed.
TipIf one carrier is weak at your site, judges on a different carrier make great backup devices.
Before event day
You've confirmed signal where judges will stand, not just the entrance.
If needed: the dedicated-network name and password, or a hotspot / Starlink as backup.
For outdoor or remote events: coverage tested on-site, battery packs packed.
4
Doors Open
Getting Everyone In
How contestants and judges actually get signed in on the day — without a bottleneck at the door.
Sign-in is refreshingly simple: no passwords, no accounts to create. But a little planning keeps a crowd from bunching up while people figure it out.
QHow does someone sign in — do they need an account or password?
No passwords. People sign in with their mobile number and a security code that's texted to them. Your Event Basics screen has a QR code that opens the event page — scan it, enter your number, type the texted code, you're in.
TipPrint the QR code big and post it at the entrance and the check-in table. Most people can sign themselves in before they reach the front of the line.
QSomeone shows up who never registered — a walk-up.
You can add them on the spot. Enter them individually with the Add button, or leave self-registration open for the relevant class so they can add themselves. Either way, no one is turned away for not signing up in advance.
TipDecide beforehand whether walk-ups are allowed, and if so, who at the table has the access to add them.
QA contestant or judge didn't get their texted code.Needs your input
The exact recovery path — how a host resends a code or helps someone who's not receiving the text (wrong number, no signal, carrier delay).
TipHave one helper at check-in with a charged phone whose only job is sorting out the few people who get stuck.
QHow do I keep a line from forming at the door?
Sign-in is self-serve, so the bottleneck is almost never the app — it's people not knowing what to do. Signage with the QR code and a one-line instruction ("Scan → enter your phone → enter the code") does most of the work. One roaming helper handles the rest.
Before event day
The QR code is printed large for the entrance and the check-in table.
Someone is staffing check-in with a charged phone.
You've decided your walk-up policy and who can add people.
5
Your Judges
Your Judges' Experience
What judging actually feels like from a judge's phone — and the real-world hiccups that rattle them if you haven't prepared.
Your judges are experts at judging, not at software. A ten-minute huddle before doors and a few small preparations turn a nervous judge into a confident one — and this is the section hosts underestimate most.
QA judge's phone rings — or locks — in the middle of scoring. Do they lose their place?
Here's the one fact worth teaching every judge: LiveJudge saves a scoresheet only when the judge commits it — there's no auto-save partway through. So the habit is simple: finish an entry and commit it before setting the phone down. Once committed, that scoresheet is safely stored and a call, a screen lock, or a dying battery can't touch it. The only thing ever at risk is a single scoresheet still open and uncommitted.
TipSay this out loud in your judge huddle: "Score one entry, commit it, then move on." Ten seconds of instruction that prevents the one situation that loses work.
QSo when exactly is a score saved?
The moment the judge commits the scoresheet for that entry — and only then. There's no partial or background save, which is exactly why committing each entry promptly, instead of leaving several open at once, is the safe habit.
QWhat if a judge's battery dies?
This one's pure logistics, and it's on you to prevent. Ask judges to arrive fully charged, put a power strip and a couple of chargers at the judges' table, and keep one spare phone on hand. A dead phone mid-round is far more disruptive than a weak signal.
TipLong event? A cheap battery pack per judge is the simplest fix.
QJudges can't see the screen outdoors in bright sun.
Glare is a real problem at outdoor events. Position judges with the sun behind them or under shade, and tell them to turn screen brightness all the way up. A small canopy over the judging spot pays for itself.
QDo judges need to install anything or learn the software?
No — they judge from their own phone through the event link, and there's nothing to install or remember. A five-minute walkthrough before the event is more than enough for anyone.
Before event day
Judges know to arrive charged; chargers and a spare phone are at the table.
You've planned the judge huddle and a practice entry to score.
For outdoor events: judging positioned for shade and glare.
6
During the Event
Keeping the Event Moving
On the day you're a conductor, not a builder. Mostly that means watching the dashboard and keeping judges in rhythm.
If the prep was solid, event day is calm. Your job is to keep an eye on the flow and nudge things along — not to fight the software.
QWhat should I actually be watching during the event?
Your live dashboard. At a glance you can see who has scored, who hasn't, and whether judges are roughly keeping pace with each other. Anyone stuck, way behind, or scoring far off the others is who needs a quiet check-in.
TipGlance at the dashboard between entries, not constantly. If something needs attention, it'll be obvious.
QOne judge is falling behind the others.
Usually it's a small thing — a distraction, a question about the rubric, or a phone issue. A quiet word is all it takes. Because you can see it live, you catch it early instead of discovering a gap at the end.
QThe running order changed — a contestant swapped or dropped.
Live events shuffle constantly, and that's fine. Make sure what's happening on the floor matches what judges see, so no one scores the wrong entry. A quick announcement of the change keeps everyone aligned.
QShould scores show live, or stay hidden until the end?
Your call, and there's no wrong answer — just make it a choice. A live leaderboard builds excitement but can rattle contestants and judges. Decide in advance whether scores are visible as you go or revealed at the finish.
Before event day
You know where the live dashboard is and what a healthy event looks like on it.
You've decided whether scores/leaderboards are visible during the event.
Someone besides you can read the dashboard if you're pulled away.
7
Audience Engagement
Fan Voting
When the crowd's vote is part of the fun — and how to run it fairly and get real turnout.
For many events — car shows and cheer especially — a People's Choice vote turns spectators into participants. It's optional, and worth it when audience energy is part of your event's identity.
QShould my event even use fan voting?
Use it when a crowd favorite adds something — a People's Choice award alongside your judges, or an event where audience energy is the point. Skip it if it would distract from a purely expert-judged result.
QHow do I keep fan voting fair, so it doesn't override the judges?
Decide up front how much the fan vote counts — a separate standalone award, or blended into the total at a set weight — and say so publicly. The fastest way to sour a crowd is a vote that turns out not to matter, or one that quietly overrules the experts.
QHow do I actually get people to vote?
Make it effortless. The same QR-and-phone flow contestants use gets fans to the ballot. Put the link or QR code everywhere — signage, programs, the stage, the PA — and announce when voting opens and closes more than once.
TipAt a car show, put a QR on every entry's placard. The easier it is to vote while standing at the car, the higher your turnout.
QHow exactly does a fan get from a QR code to a submitted vote?Needs your input
The real fan-voting flow end to end — scanning in, browsing entries, and casting a vote — plus a screenshot of the ballot screen.
Before event day
Fan-vote weight is set (or it's a standalone award), and it's public.
The voting link / QR code is on all signage and programs.
Open and close times are decided and will be announced.
8
Troubleshooting
When Something Goes Wrong
The handful of things that actually go sideways on event day, and the calm fix for each.
Most event-day problems are small and quick to solve. Here are the ones hosts hit most — knowing the fix in advance is the difference between a shrug and a scramble.
QA judge dropped offline in the middle of the event.
Every entry they've already committed is stored and safe. Get them onto a stronger signal or your backup hotspot so they can commit the entry they're on — since scores save only on commit, the whole goal is to have connection back before they finish that scoresheet. Meanwhile, the other judges keep going, so the event never stalls.
TipKeep a hotspot within reach of the judges' table so a fix is a ten-second walk, not a scramble.
QA contestant is a no-show.
It doesn't block anyone else — leave them unscored or remove them, and the event carries on. Decide your policy in advance so it's not a live decision (some events hold the slot briefly, others move straight on).
QA judge entered the wrong score.Needs your input
Whether a judge can adjust a score before submitting, and whether a host can correct a submitted score after the fact.
TipThe judge huddle and a clear scale prevent most fat-finger errors before they happen.
QA contestant disputes their score.
You have a clean, consistent record and a rubric to point to — far more defensible than paper. Walk them through the criteria calmly. Because scoring is even-handed across judges, disputes are rarer than with paper judging in the first place.
QI'm stuck on event day and need a person — who do I contact?Needs your input
Your real support contact and hours during events — email, in-app, or a phone number — so a host in a jam knows exactly where to turn.
Before event day
You know how to reach support, and their hours during your event.
You've decided your no-show policy in advance.
Judges know to flag a problem to you early, not silently push through.
9
Wrap Up
Wrapping Up
Finishing clean — announcing with confidence, saving your records, and setting up next year to be easy.
The finish is the easy part — the math is already done. Focus on a clean announcement and saving your work for next time.
Confirm all judges have submitted and close scoring.
Review the final standings before you announce.
Announce winners — and share the leaderboard if you like.
Export results and records for your files.
Clone the event to reuse your setup next time.
QHow do I export my results, and what format do I get?Needs your input
The exact export path (where the button is, what file you get) and how to clone an event for next time — plus links to the matching Help Center articles.
Before you close out
Results are exported and saved somewhere you'll find them.
You've jotted anything to change for next time, while it's fresh.
★
Vertical Guide
RC Helicopters & RC Flying
Maneuver-based scoring, flight and static rounds, and the outdoor realities of a flying event.
Flying events score individual maneuvers with difficulty factors, often split across flight and static rounds — and they happen outdoors, where connectivity is your biggest wildcard.
What's different here
Scoring is maneuver-by-maneuver, each with a difficulty coefficient (K-factor).
You may run separate flight and static (model detail) rounds.
Safety lines and judge positioning matter and should be set before flying.
To writeAdd specifics: setting up maneuver scoring in LiveJudge, K-factors, and pilot's-choice voting.
Before event day
Maneuver list and K-factors are entered and match your rulebook.
You've tested connectivity at the flight line.
Judges know their positions and the safety line.
★
Vertical Guide
Business Pitch Competitions & Hackathons
Rubric-based panel scoring, tight time limits, and a demo-day audience vote.
Pitch and hackathon judging is fast and rubric-driven: a panel scores each team across a few dimensions, back-to-back, on a schedule that can't slip.
What's different here
Scoring is a rubric across dimensions like team, market, product, and delivery.
Entries run back-to-back with strict per-pitch time limits.
A demo-day audience or 'crowd favorite' vote is common.
To writeAdd a sample pitch rubric and guidance on keeping a multi-round agenda on time.
Before event day
Your rubric dimensions and weights are set and shared with judges.
The pitch schedule and time limits are locked.
If using an audience vote, the ballot and its weight are ready.
★
Vertical Guide
Dance Contests
Multiple routines per entrant, performance criteria, and large fast-moving fields.
Dance events move fast and run big: many entrants, multiple routines each, sorted into categories and divisions. Structure and speed are everything.
What's different here
Entrants often perform multiple routines across categories.
Criteria center on technique, execution, and artistry.
Large fields mean heats, divisions, and quick turnover.
To writeAdd guidance on organizing categories/divisions and scoring many routines per dancer.
Before event day
Divisions, categories, and running order are finalized.
Judges agree on what technique vs. artistry means for your scale.
You've tested how fast a judge can score one routine and clear the next.
★
Vertical Guide
Car Shows
People's Choice voting front and center, class-based judging, and long open voting windows.
Car shows are where fan voting shines. Entries are judged within classes rather than head-to-head, and voting often stays open for hours while the crowd wanders.
What's different here
People's Choice / fan voting is usually the centerpiece — see the core Fan Voting section.
Judging is class-based (by make, era, category), not one big ranking.
Voting windows are long and open while attendees browse the lot.
To writeAdd specifics on setting up classes and running a long open People's Choice window.
Before event day
Your classes/categories are set and entries are assigned to them.
Voting open and close times are decided and posted.
Every entry has its own QR code / ballot link on its placard.
★
Vertical Guide
Cheer Contests
Team scoring with deductions, difficulty vs. execution, and divisions by age and level.
Cheer scoring is team-based and structured: a difficulty-and-execution rubric with safety deductions, run across divisions by age and skill level — in a loud, high-energy room.
What's different here
Teams are scored, with difficulty and execution often split.
Safety and legality deductions apply and must be tracked.
Divisions by age and level keep matchups fair.
To writeAdd a sample cheer rubric (difficulty/execution split) and how to record deductions in LiveJudge.
Before event day
Divisions by age/level are set and teams assigned.
Difficulty, execution, and deduction handling are defined and staffed.
Judges have calibrated on the deduction rules together.