Contest load out question (long)

It was just pointed out to me that a contest I signed up for in Frederick, Maryland in June is requiring the teams to remain on site until 8 PM on Saturday or whenever the last band stops playing and the crowd thins out. Awards are scheduled now for 5:30-6:30 PM. The load out rules were not anywhere in the application.(if they were, I didnt see them) This is a first year event, the mention of the time was in the information packet I just received but I didn't read the fine print (I seldom do) and the load out time was pointed out to me by another competitor. I called the organizer and was told there is no flexibility here, everyone must remain in place due to concerns about public safety. I was told my only option was a refund and that other teams wanted my spot. (I'll bet those other teams don't know about the late load out:twisted I have heard of other contests having strict load in times (the contests in DC due to security around the Capital and White House etc), but my question is, forcing teams to remain after awards, is this a common practice in other areas? I have never seen it around these parts. By 8:00 PM on Saturday night I like to be home, showered, shaved and parked on the deck with a glass of wine and a fine cigar listening to the birds sing, not sitting in my truck in the same clothes I have had on since Friday morning watching some local band try and cover "I shot the Sheriff". I exaggerate here, but you get the point.

Dan - 3eyzbbq said:

George-

Better to ask for foregiveness than permission. Follow us after the awards :icon_blush:

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Somehow I don't think we will be alone.

The folks at Frederick did say they would offer a refund. I am all in favor of public safety and would never do anything to endanger a contest patron or even a stubborn contest organizer. But I am somewhat confused by all of this. Lets see, I take a day off work, send in a couple of hundred of my hard earned dollars, drag my gear 2 hours one way just to get to the contest. I am then put on display to assist the contest organizers in drawing a crowd and raising money for their particular interest. This is after I have forked out some major greckles for meats, charcoal, sauces, etc, and now I am told that I will be held captive for several hours Saturday afternoon after not getting a decent nights sleep or taken a shower for two days. :crazy:

The way I see it, I have a few options:

1) Ask for a refund and cook somewhere else that weekend.

2) Not sign up for this contest again unless the POW rule is waved

3) Ask any contest I am cooking for the first time if they have any special load in and load out rules in place before sending in my application.

4) Completely read the contestant package each and every time to be sure I don’t miss anything.

5) Find the contest organizer and go over to sit next to him during my period in captivity, the thinking here is once he gets a whiff, he's sure to not only ask me to leave, but chances are he will get Moose and Rocco to escort me out of the joint!

6) Get in my truck, hook up and drive off after awards. I can see it now, helicopter circling overhead, cops dragging me out of the truck, the cops looking at each other making faces and exclaiming, "man, this guy really stinks", before pounding me to within an inch of my life then dragging me off to the pokey, where at least I will get a shower and a solid nights sleep. (this is my least desirable option)

7) Ask for a refund, sit home all weekend with the wife forgoing the back ache, lack of sleep, disappointment, sore knees/ankles, and saving money to boot! On second thought, another weekend home with the wife, I am thinking not.:-D (This is my second least desirable choice)

8) 8) Set up my site outside the Fairgrounds, possibly renting a small space from a local merchant, carry my meat into my assigned sight for inspection, cook and prep my boxes from my satellite spot, pack up and leave after awards like usual. Of course, the way I have been cooking lately, I might as well just pack up and leave after last turn in, skipping the awards all together. I would need to check the KCBS rules to see if there is any mention that the food must be prepared in your assigned spot, probably is, knowing my luck.

9) Make a mental note to myself not to rush a contest entry in just to save a couple of bucks with an early bird entry fee, see what happens when I try to pinch a penny.

I realize that we as competitors pay our entry fees as part of the freight for being able to compete, and I accept that. We pay a lot of hard earned dough to win a plastic pig or two, again, no complaint. I also realize that we are also a part of the draw for the contest organizers, used to entice folks to come out, especially for event venues that charge folks an entry fee. They pay their bucks, come in and walk around looking at the crazy BBQ people like we are in the zoo, which, by the way, may be where some of us belong, particular yours truly. (in the monkey house for sure)

For the life of me, I do not understand the thinking in making the teams sit and stay, after the awards, all in the name of public safety. I guess I just have to git my mind right and pick something off my list, I am really leaning towards # 5, whatdaya think?:laugh:

Red Valley BBQ said:

While this sounds like a great idea, the KCBS does have something to say about it...

3) Each team will be assigned a cooking space. Pits, cookers,
props, trailers, motor homes, vehicles, tents or any other
equipment (including generators) shall not exceed the
boundaries of the team’s assigned cooking space. All
seasoning and cooking of product shall be done within the
assigned cooking space. Teams shall not share an assigned​

cooking space or cooking device.

7) All competition meats shall be inspected by the Official
Meat Inspector during the times established by the contest
organizer but not prior to the day before judging. Once the
competition meat has been inspected, it shall not leave the​

contest site.

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curses....foiled again!