So, I’m addicted to Project Runway. I love that show to pieces, to the point where when I was sick this weekend I sat under a blanket on the couch and watched the entire eleven hours of Season Two of Project Runway Australia. (I also will watch Project Runway Canada, and Project Catwalk (UK). I am not limited by nationality!) I could go on at length about why I enjoy the show so much, but the short version is that I am utterly mystified by a contestant’s ability to take a seemingly impossible task and create fashion art in a few hours. I don’t understand how their creative processes work, and nothing entrances me quite like a process I don’t understand.
While watching hours of fashion-based TV has not made me any more chic, it has actually taught me a few things about life. It is with that in mind that I give to you:
Raid Leading, Project Runway Style
Make it work!
Okay, okay, you probably saw that one coming a mile away, but it’s true. Sometimes despite everyone’s best intentions you end up with 24 people online, one raid tank, and 9 healers. Or maybe you’re just having one of those nights where everyone has a case of The Dumb. What do you do? Pull up your bootstraps, and just make it work. Kill what you can and try to not get too bogged down in negative vibes. Do the weekly raid quest, or Sarth-3D for mounts, or break into 10s groups. Take a 5m break and give people an opportunity to shake out the sillies. Just.. make it work!
Use your mentors
The contestants on Project Runway are usually very focused designers who are confident in their vision. However, the best of them will still stand back and really consider the feedback from their Mentor. Accepting the wisdom and experience of someone else doesn’t lessen their strong approach or skills. When you feel your raid strategy is getting stuck in a rut, solicit feedback from your “mentors” in the guild. Ask your fellow officers, ask any class/role leads, ask your tanks.. sometimes when I am just not sure what is blocking us I’ll ask the whole raid on Vent for their feedback. A fresh perspective often helps, and asking for feedback doesn’t diminish your confidence as raid leader.
Don’t be afraid to be unique
If there is one single piece of advice that I think the Mentors give more than anything else, it’s that a design is too safe. Contestants are encouraged to be unique, be creative, and be true to themselves. The same can be said for your raid team! Don’t get hung up on what The Joneses are doing. Unless you are in a guild with a mandate of being Top 100 or whatever (in which case good on ya!), your world ranking doesn’t really matter. Let your raid be true to itself — how is it doing in comparison to how it did last week? Or last month? Or last expansion? It’s okay — actually, no, it’s GREAT — to expect improvement and progression, but it should be within the scope of your guild and its stregnths and weaknesses, not what Premonition is doing this week. I have a tough time with this one myself, for what it’s worth.
Look at your strategy with an editing eye
The second most frequent critique I hear on Project Runway is that an outfit is too overworked. It has sequins and flowers and lace and cutouts and shoulder pads and a giant bustle and and and and… resulting in a big ol’ mess. The same can be said for picking a raid strategy. I admit this one could be chalked up to personal preference, but I am huge on simplifying boss strategies as much as possible. Don’t assign everyone their own unique spot to run to after BQL fears — just emphasize spatial awareness and spreading out. A more simple strategy will be easier to translate to different raid groups and different raiders. Of course, adopting strategies like this one require more practice, which is the other half of this concept. Don’t be fussy and change things on every pull. Sometimes you just have to decide on a strategy and give it a good number of tries for people to master the bare bones.
Use the accessories wall thoughtfully and strategically
No, wait — scratch this one.
In short, Tim Gunn can lead my raid anyday. Call me!
I really liked what you said. I wish my guild read what you wrote. Sometimes I feel like my words don't seem to reach the guild officers' ears and I'm one of the best healers in the guild. I figured that having my perspective would help in our fights but they don't listen and we end up continuing wiping for hours on end. It came to the point where I don't even care and just let them do their thing while I alt tab at times and half-heartedly heal.
Thanks, Stickers!
Just to play devil's advocate, sometimes it's tough to integrate advice on the fly. Sometimes there are related concerns that you might not even know about! It sounds like you need to either talk to your guild officers outside of a raid and talk to them about strategy, or find another guild. Sitting around not caring and alt-tabbing sounds not fun.
My recent post Raid Leading, Project Runway Style: Make It Work!
I love you. For the project runway references. I laughed so hard, and I loved every bit of it.
DAMN this comment system screwed my comment halfway to sunday. I had a much more lengthy one written, but it lost it when I tried to log in.
Anyways…. thanks for the concise, meaningful advice expressed in such a cute and memorable way.
I will definitely remember to "edit" my strategies and keep them simple! That's exactly what my guild's RL told me the other day – except since he's a 40 year old sports loving guy's guy, he didn't exactly phrase it in the project runway way. 
another blog for my blog reader…. excellenttttt
Thanks, Anafielle! Glad I'm not the only PR fan out in the WoW circuit.
I am a total ditherer IRL, so "keep it simple" is good advice for me in-game and out. As my guild likes to say, all boss strategies really boil down to the same concept: "Kill things. Don't die."
“solicit feedback from your “mentors” in the guild”
Didn’t you read the sign? No soliciting.
always listen to sema.
http://www.doihatesema.com
<3