Jump On Board the Soul (Patch) Train

By Jacques Munkey

The soul patch is the very foundation of unshaven awesome. That’s why it’s my choice for getting the most bang for my self-expression buck.

The time has come for everyone to experience this kind of cool. WonderGroup is declaring May 29th “National Soul Patch Day.” To inaugurate this auspicious day, we’re holding a Soul Patch Contest.

Terms:

The terms of the contest are simple. Entry is open to anyone— men, women, children, whomever. Some of you may have to get more creative than others (I’m looking at you, ladies) but you can do it. National Soul Patch Day is yours, so own it!

From now until May 22nd, do whatever you need to get your soul patch in fighting shape. Fertilize it, sing to it, play it jazz, dribble over-priced coffee into it. Heck, forge it in the fires of Mt. Doom if you must. Then, take a picture, and upload it on Flickr.

For a photo to qualify, no significant facial hair, save the soul, patch can be present on the face! A full beard, by definition, contains a soul patch, but a soul patch cannot contain a beard. To qualify in the Most Dramatic Change category, before and after photos need to be included.

Upload the picture to our Flickr pool. All photos must be in by 5:00pm on May 22nd, 2009 to be eligible. Photos will be judged thusly:

1. First, all soul patch photos will be placed on a scale and weighed against a photo of a feather. Only the photos lighter than the feather photo will continue on. The rest will be devoured by Ammit, our paper shredder.

2. The photos that are left will be judged subjectively. If you don’t win, it doesn’t mean your soul patch wasn’t good. It just means it wasn’t good for us.

Prizes:

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
• Most Drastic Change (Includes clean-shaven-to-patch and full-beard-to-patch.)
• Most Creative
• Judges’ Choice

The prize in each category is a custom National Soul Patch Day T-shirt, and also the pride you’ll feel whenever someone sees you wear that T-shirt.

Ask questions or make comments using #wgsoulpatch on Twitter, and follow the updates here. All entries will be displayed on Flickr, under the group “The Soul (Patch) Train.”

Good luck to all of you. May the patch be with you!

UPDATE: A printable poster is available here. Put it up and display your support for National Soul Patch Day.