@Justpetro are you still looking for feedback? If so, here's mine:
1. 10 images seems really limited, imo. Is it 10 plus the required shots, or 10 including the required lots? Because yes, the lots are small, but with limited pictures, you'll end up taking more wide shots. But it's my understanding that for judging you'd want closer pictures, so you can see what's in the lot and as a contestant, closer, angled shots show off building character a bit more. I'd be more comfortable with at least 12. Can contestants combine two of the requirements--the front shot and the pricing/lot size shot?

2. I think the money limits are too low. I guess that's where the challenge would come in, but idk; I don't even think there's too many premade lots that are around 45K. Going off of memory here from when I played a real estate business but most commercial lots are easily over 50K. I think 60K or somewhere else within the 50-75K range would be better because it would allow simmers to not only do their building flourishes but also fully furnish their lots to give them distinctive character. With 45K, my mind is thinking you'd get more sparse looking lots. Maybe I just have a different build style and I'm not saying it'd be completely impossible to build these with 45K. Just thinking it's very limiting for design and there wouldn't be a lot of money left over after requirements to use building elements like walls and foundations for extra style and deco. ...But maybe that's the point? Idk.

3. Some of the building restrictions seem highly specific/arbitrary for a particular neighborhood or building style. Not necessarily a bad thing, but wanted to point it out in case this was not intentional because I think it could potentially hinder creativity and contestants' own personal build styles and tastes. For example:
-Round 1 rule #9, "No entertainment for customers is allowed; this is a shop, not an entertainment venue." First, does a stereo count as entertainment here? Second, just why? I guess this might make sense because the lot is supposed to focus on shops using a craft station, but I could see a toy store with a kids play area or a pottery shop with a classroom area with art stuff. Just sayin'.
-Round 2 rule # 4, you mandate using the swing door--this just seems a bit odd because any door or even an arch would do wouldn't it? Wouldn't you want the contestant to pick something that best matches their building aesthetic? Not sure what's the most important thing this rule is trying to achieve--using the swing door or having a separate kitchen. And then, while the rest of the Round 2 rules are pretty specific, you don't say anything about including a sink and trash can in the kitchen--either sink or dishwasher should definitely be a must here since this is supposed to be a functional restaurant. And while all lots do have an outdoor trash can sims can use, considering you have requirements like waiting areas (which are purely visual and don't have anything to do with a functional restaurant), I think requiring a trash can or compactor in the kitchen makes practical and visual sense as well, imo.
-For Round 3--you say "You can any of the following lots;" does that mean the contestant must pick one of those options, or are they just suggestions?
-Speaking of options vs suggestions, your Round 4 seems a bit out of nowhere for me--the rest of the rounds contestants have pretty much full choice in deciding the type of business they want to build but then Round 4 comes in with three highly specific types of home businesses they must build. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but seems odd especially for a final round. As a contestant, I know I'd prefer the option of building a different type of home business, but if you're going to keep all the restrictions, I think making Round 4 number 1 instead makes for a better logical flow. Especially since the requirements of Round 4 don't seem all that hard to meet. So yeah, I'd considering rearranging your rounds or making Round 4 more of a challenge:
--For the Fruit and Veggies business, 2 fruit trees and 3 garden plots and no greenhouse whatsoever is kinda laughable as a farm business. So for this I'm considering the specific functionality rules of the rest of the rounds, where it seems like the rules are really trying to make the lot feel like a real business. But then here, the requirements are so little. Idk if 2 trees and 3 plots would feed a family of three-four without mods. So I don't see how those requirements would make a functional business. Maybe a single sim could make this a business, but then why the 2 bedroom restriction? Seems like this is supposed to be a small family farm startup type lot but low money allotment is preventing you from requiring more things on the lot. But perhaps the money allotment should be increased here because the contestant is doing more things--landscaping, building a fully furnished 2 bedroom house, and making an area to run a home business. Consider Leod's lot in Riverblossom--dude's got at least 6 trees on it! I feel like 4-6 trees and 6 garden plots would be a more realistic number to run a business, and be more in line with your functional business theme.
--Freshly Caught Fish--for this one, I'm a bit out of my element as I never actually sell the fish my sims catch. But I am wondering if fish can be placed on OFB shelves and if the decra chill shelf is available on home business lots. But I'm mostly concerned about the requirement for the "protection for sims having to fish in the rain." This is purely visual, right? There's no way sims would ever use this. And it seems very limiting for the type of lot contestants are envisioning for themselves. Like what if they want to build a shed instead? What if their sim kids would like a fort next to the pond? What if they envision a lot with a bunch of trees surrounding the water? Oh, or what if they want to do a covered dock? That might meet the requirement, but be pretty difficult to achieve with the money limit and the rest of the building requirements. Idk. I'd think about loosening up the rules here, to allow for more creativity.
--For the Nursery, again the requirements seem way too little (what kind of money is this family making, with only a minimum of 5 plants on display? ). I could see if this restriction was five per category--at least 5 potted plants/indoor plants, 5 flowers, 5 shrubs, 5 trees. But just only 5 total seems not only too easy but not as realistic as the other rules you set.

4. Lot sizes - Finally, I think the lot sizes for Rounds 2 and 4 should be tweaked a bit. Now, I don't play tiny lots (2x3 is a normal size for me), but 2x2 seems really small for the type of lot you're asking contestants to build in Round 2. It needs to have a fun activity, which probably requires some room, and the kitchen seems to need a separate room because of the swing door requirement--then you must have two bathrooms, a staff room, and oh yeah, the restaurant tables! Impossible? No. And it would be a challenge. But it does seem weird to me that we're stuffing so many things in there--and then immediately in Rounds 3 and 4 contestants do get to use a 2x3/3x2 lot! Round 4 in particular seems like the lots are much bigger than what's needed, unless the contestant is building a pond. To me, I think it makes a little more sense for Round 2 to have a 2x3/3x2 lot size restriction--or for Round 3 to also have a 2x2 lot restriction. The latter might actually be a bit more of a challenge and interesting for a contest. And then for Round 4, the lot size should be 2x2 unless the contestant is going for the Freshly Caught Fish lot, in which case they get to use a 2x3.

But those are just my two cents, take it or leave it. Hopefully it was helpful. Otherwise, I'm excited to see you go through with this. I think the business theme is cool and can be underappreciated--don't always see OFB ready lots for upload. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what contestants come up with. And I think four rounds is a good length--not super long, but not too short either. The contestants would get to build almost every type of business. Anyway, thanks again for this thread. You're really pushing me to think about my own contesting hosting goals! What always holds me back is the time commitment so if there's anything we can do to help you out, let us know!

I am indeed waiting for more feedback.

Hopefully, I will post the contest early next week.

Thank you, @Phantomknight - I appreciate yours.


I will replay to all of you before I post the contest.

I would up that to 15 shots.

You can also ping me if you need a judge.

I will tweak everything a bit before finalizing and take everything into account. More feedback will be appreciated. Still plan to post the contest on the appropriate forum early next week

(Will increase the number of screenshots too)

Responding to feedback: here and elsewhere.

1. Starting with the last round: Please note that the last round is not set out in full. The tradition in contests is that the last round always is a bit of a surprise for contestants and that most restrictions will be lifted. I plan to keep up with this tradition and there will be more choices, more money and more land to build on.

2. Creativity is not influenced by building restrictions or trade union rules - real builders and architects deal with them every day. I have built a hood where in real life all buildings have to be painted white and, well, I think it is still creative (in real life too): https://modthesims.info/d/677777/paternoster.html

3. Budget and lot size: There are quite a number of small, cheap business lots on MTS, and I believe my lot size and budget are bigger than many of them. I have personally used owned business lots that are smaller and cheaper in my own hood.

4. Note that it is very hard to judge or win a contest. The fact remains that there are often quite a number of entries that are equally brilliant. That is why there are rules, and sometimes a simple thing like a certain simsample forgetting to landscape the backyard may change the outcome of a contest.

Or a certain judge with an aversion to anything orange.

Just for you:

I hope to post the application for the contest thing tomorrow night (that is around 24 hours from now).

If there is any more feedback before then, I will take it into account.

My input on the contest is that the contests I have found most interesting in the past have been those where either the lot was built with a specific audience/visitor/sim in mind, or there was some kind of theme bringing the different rounds together.

I like the idea of "building for the builders" I'm imagining all three of the first lots could be situated in an industrial-type area, whereas the final one is a sort of paradise, "you've made it now!" retirement dream for the factory worker/business owner.

Thank you!

In the contest, there will be descriptions of the "business owners" for every round. I hope you will enjoy that There are also some surprises, I did not want to give everything away here.

Double - sorry, cannot be helped.

I have now completed and submitted the application for the contest (I hope).

No message from admin, though? How do I now know it is submitted correctly? I pressed submit and then it said "redirecting" and then it was gone?

It says at the top of the contests page:
"New contest threads are moderated - once you hit submit you will no longer be able to see the thread until a moderator approves it. "

I think you just have to wait.

I saw that, thank you, Andrew

I know, though, when I submit an upload, I have not been given a bypass for yet, I do get a message from a moderator that it is received, so I thought the system would at least acknowledge it.

It will be great if you are right, though! I typed for around 3 hours

Going to ask @joandsarah77

From memory, and my memory is like a sieve, you can't see the post. As to a message like you get on an upload I really can't remember. That would be good but I think silence was how it was. I was a moderator when I did my contests so I may have gone and asked in the staff room.

PS. I asked Lunie its still manual. So no automated message.

PPS. Lunie says you can @ ping her on MTS.

Thank you All good, then, I think.

Approved! Need judges to apply and contestants to enter

Tagging a couple of people, please help to get the word out as well.

@joandsarah77 @simsample @CatherineTCJD @Zarathustra @Charmful

It is here: https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=689383