The difference there is the prize, publicity and prestige.
There is a moderate sum of prestige to being judged by professionals, and even some by phone vote. Enter American Idol, and just get to a regional final and you're on TV. And the prize far exceeds what they could otherwise earn with the time spent.
With a "commission lottery", the publicity is exceptionally limited. There is very little and probably nil prestige, and the average rate of return is normally what could have been earned from working on a paid commission.
The difference there is the prize, publicity and prestige.
There is a moderate sum of prestige to being judged by professionals, and even some by phone vote. Enter American Idol, and just get to a regional final and you're on TV. And the prize far exceeds what they could otherwise earn with the time spent.
With a "commission lottery", the publicity is exceptionally limited. There is very little and probably nil prestige, and the average rate of return is normally what could have been earned from working on a paid commission.