Cooking Class or Not

[cmcadams]

True, people have won before classes, and without classes.

But look at it this way... If a class gives you a 3-4 comp boost in learning things competition oriented, and it costs you $300, that's saving at least $1200 in learning at comps along the way, maybe more, by saying you'd spend $500 for 3 comps to learn as much.

Heck, it costs less than a comp, and it's fun anyway. If you can afford the class, have fun and take it.

[Podge]

Originally Posted by Double D's BBQ

We've taken classes in order from:

1. Texas Rib Rangers
2. Myron Mixon
3. Fast Eddie and Paul Shatte
4. Mike & Debbie Davis
5. Chris Lilly
6. Bart Clarke & Donny Teel
5. Rod Gray and Johnny Trigg

I can honestly tell you that we've taken something away from every class we've taken and have put little bits of it from each class into practice with our own style of Barbecue. Has it made us grand champion anywhere yet? No but we've improved from the bottom of the second half of the contests to a level of consistency that usually puts us in the top 10 consistently and gives us a shot at doing well. Last year in a two month span we had three reserves, a third, and a fourth and missed the Grand at Madison by .0006 of a point. So for us anyway it has helped and we had a wonderful time meeting these great people that teach the class and share their knowledge with us. Highly recommended!

I'd say 2009 is your year !

[LoneStarTom]

My wife and I took a class from Paul Kirk. Good class and a lot of fun. Where we really improved our skills was hanging out with a client and very seroius competitor. He posts on several forums as Gordo, a frequent GC, he's been very sharing of bbqing technique. Emulate those that are successful, find folks that are will to share their skills and talents.

[Ford]

As Podge said people win without classes. Also win with classes. I really beleive it's up to you what you get out of the classes. If you can't cook decent BBQ now then most of the classes mentioned here won't help you that much but if you can compete and get some calls now then these classes will improve your results. How much depends on how you can translate what is taught into what you do. These classes won't be something you follow step by step but rather like Dallas says it's some things you take away from each class and add to your own style.

My results improved after taking classes by DR BBQ, Mike and Debbie Davis and Rod and Johnny in one year. In 2003 I took classes by Paul Kirk and USA Smoke and while I learned a lot I didn't know enough about competition to really apply what I learned then

[Dale P]

Good post Ford. Makes sense to me.

[Podge]

I guess i should add too, that this question, and similar questions regarding cooking classes, seem to show up at least once a month. Do a search on it here, and you'll find several discussions on this topic.

[Podge]

Originally Posted by Dale P

Good post Ford. Makes sense to me.

Dale, missed you yesterday.. hooters has $1 drafts all day long. in three hours we had a good bill !

[Dale P]

Originally Posted by Podge

Dale, missed you yesterday.. hooters has $1 drafts all day long. in three hours we had a good bill !

We wound up working all day and finished a job. I wish i would have been there.

[Plowboy]

This forum is a never ending class in itself. I wish we had this place back in 2001 when we started. I've learned more here over time than any one class.

The most significant thing that we learned that changed our level of competition came from a class. You can track our shift into the next gear back to the first Lotta Bull class in Lynchburg, March 2007. What we learned is that you gotta have a plan and process that is repeatable each time. You have to minimize what you bring to what you need. Seems so simple, because it is, but we saw the step by step regiment of Mike and Debbie. It hit home in a big way that we didn't operate as a well oiled machine but rather like two monkeys humping a football.

Classes offer more than just cooking techniques.

[U2CANQUE]

but rather like two monkeys humping a football.

Dare I ask how you would know what this one looks like......
Scary thing is, I think I actually had a visual, and didnt say it was a good one.....

[G$]

Originally Posted by Big Mike

The thing the class would be good for is to maybe shorten your learning curve some.

I hear this a lot, and in fact agree with it. But ...

I think there are examples of teams that competed for many years with middle of the road results. After taking a class, the result changed over night. This does not seem to support the learnign curve theory.

[Plowboy]

Originally Posted by G$

I hear this a lot, and in fact agree with it. But ...

I think there are examples of teams that competed for many years with middle of the road results. After taking a class, the result changed over night. This does not seem to support the learnign curve theory.

Huh? Seems like that supports the theory completely.

[bam]

If you are considering classes take them could learn just what need to do better.

[G$]

Originally Posted by Plowboy

Huh? Seems like that supports the theory completely.

Well, not in my mind. Let me explain.

In other words, these teams likely would have done the same thing for many more years, with mediocre results. They were not inexperienced, and were well beyond the curve. The class was more than 'shortening the curve'. It had game changing or eye opening moments that would not have come with just "more time".

That clear it up for you?

[G$]

Originally Posted by DivaHerself

...Taking the (QN4U) class for the third time last weekend, we can honestly say we STILL learned new things....

This is pretty remarkable. A team that had an incredible year, culminating at the Jack, gets enough value out of taking a class 3 times. That speaks volumes.