To you serious comp Q'ers

[Rightstuff]

My wife and I have already scheduled our second and third comp (yes we've been bitten by the bug). Since this is all we talk about; lots of family, friends and co-workers have asked to help us at the next comp. This is the entire reason I got involved with comp Q-ing to have fun with family and friends and to meet new friends. My question is: How do you entertain friends and family by letting them help at comps without giving away all your techniques and "SECRETS"? My wife and I have spent THOUSANDS of dollars buying stuff. We've spent countless days practicing and honing our sauces, rubs, and marinades. FIRST of all...I'm a big mouth; I normally tell everything! But in this case, I feel like I've got a lot of time, effort and money involved. I don't thinks its right to just give everything away. Don't get me wrong, I help people all the time with Q-ing and I'm more than happy to give anyone basic starting points to build their OWN products and techniques. Secondly, tell me if I'm wrong and being too serious about this whole thing! What would you do? Thanks!

[Podge]

First off, i think your line of thinking is on the right track. Secondly, I've come to learn that 95% of family and freinds are all talk and no action. Personally, I think all you need is you and another set of hands and that's it really. If your wife helps a lot with the prep, etc.. well, lucky you !!!... if you still have freinds that want to come and help, have them come around 12:30 or so and after it's over, they can help clean up.

If too many chefs spoil the broth, then too many drunk freinds spoil your chances of winning. So, which is more important ? If you want to win, minimize the people, if you want to party, invite everyone that wants to come. But please park away from me, i want to sleep.

[Jacked UP BBQ]

Its nice to have people around to help out and party with, but it can get annoying when it comes time to cook. We usually tell everyone they can come hang out and when its time to rock they can sit on the outside of the tent. If you are not comfortable with telling them you do not want them there, tell them that they are not listed on the team and you are worried about getting dq'ed. I know its a lie but it works. Let them run your boxes for you also, it gives you more time to work on your next turn in. As far as your recipes go, you dont have to give them to them in writing, they can watch, but as long as they don't write down everything they will never remember. Good luck!

[Alexa RnQ]

What's "too serious"?

You need to decide why you're there. In the early days, it might be more about socializing. But if you continue competing, you're pretty much going to come to the conclusion that since it costs about a thousand dollars to roll out, you'd better stay focused on what you're doing. We took a decision that we're there to win, and that comes first. Vending, playing with groupies -- all that comes after the main objective.

Unless you've got some wacky proprietary technique, I wouldn't worry much about people seeing what you're doing. I've seen people watch a step-by-step demo and not be able to replicate the process, even when taking notes. And nobody is going to have your flavor package -- even if they taste the goods, very few people can accurately reverse-engineer flavor.

Podge has got the best point of all, though -- once F&F find out that "helping" means exactly that, including panwashing, packing and hauling, you'll find the interest drops off sharply. Most of our groupies now like to cameo just after turn-ins, to help by disposing of leftovers.

[Dale P]

The last comp we did turned out to be a pain. We had 2 guys come who were friends of my nephew. It is fair to say I like them both but too much drinking and not giving a damn gets in the way. Made me want to quit.

One guy was fine, and now he is going to start a team. Thats great, good luck to him because he is OK, even when drunk. I really dont think they paid attention, so not many secrets were given. The other guy is really a good guy when sober. Nuff said. Anyhow we had trouble on Friday night due to them drinking a half gallon of vodka in 30 minutes and they were already drunk before that.. Matt & I tried to get them to behave and I was threatened. I am the party pooper. If it wasnt for the chance of getting DQed, it would have been a war. Never again. I know that these guys are going to read this but I havent typed anything that wasnt true. I was there to win, they were there to party. 10 different brands of beer, and a huge bottle of booze can make the best of people act like fools. Am I perfect? Not a chance but I have more money and time invested than anyone on the team, and now I am going to either have fun again or quit.


Keep that in mind when you invite friends.
Rant over......

[Rightstuff]

Originally Posted by DivaHerself

What's "too serious"?

You need to decide why you're there. In the early days, it might be more about socializing. But if you continue competing, you're pretty much going to come to the conclusion that since it costs about a thousand dollars to roll out, you'd better stay focused on what you're doing. We took a decision that we're there to win, and that comes first. Vending, playing with groupies -- all that comes after the main objective.
Unless you've got some wacky proprietary technique, I wouldn't worry much about people seeing what you're doing. I've seen people watch a step-by-step demo and not be able to replicate the process, even when taking notes. And nobody is going to have your flavor package -- even if they taste the goods, very few people can accurately reverse-engineer flavor.
Podge has got the best point of all, though -- once F&F find out that "helping" means exactly that, including panwashing, packing and hauling, you'll find the interest drops off sharply. Most of our groupies now like to cameo just after turn-ins, to help by disposing of leftovers.

Thats how I feel about it. Lots of time and money invested. Not too worried about the drinking and partying (most of my family and friends are pretty tame). At our first comp I felt a little awkward doing things in front of everybody (kinda like "all eyes were on me"). I felt kind of selfish about my techniques, etc.

[U2CANQUE]

Minus those Thursday evening festivals, barber shop quartet comes to mind for some reason. You have the foundation, with you wife, and after some folks see that the excitement is a lot of set up, running, need this/need that, clean up, and tear down they will come to appreciate the "sampling"....and, I always like to see the teams that have their cheering section when they have a box leave the site.

Dale, was there, and kind of saw some of the Friday evening events when hitting the porta. Sorry that you had that bad of an experience...I didnt come over to bs that night just because it did look like more of the party tent...hard lesson learned, and hope that you can find that fun again......

[Podge]

Originally Posted by Dale P

The last comp we did turned out to be a pain. We had 2 guys come who were friends of my nephew. It is fair to say I like them both but too much drinking and not giving a damn gets in the way. Made me want to quit.

One guy was fine, and now he is going to start a team. Thats great, good luck to him because he is OK, even when drunk. I really dont think they paid attention, so not many secrets were given. The other guy is really a good guy when sober. Nuff said. Anyhow we had trouble on Friday night due to them drinking a half gallon of vodka in 30 minutes and they were already drunk before that.. Matt & I tried to get them to behave and I was threatened. I am the party pooper. If it wasnt for the chance of getting DQed, it would have been a war. Never again. I know that these guys are going to read this but I havent typed anything that wasnt true. I was there to win, they were there to party. 10 different brands of beer, and a huge bottle of booze can make the best of people act like fools. Am I perfect? Not a chance but I have more money and time invested than anyone on the team, and now I am going to either have fun again or quit.


Keep that in mind when you invite friends.
Rant over......

I didn't know you had all that going on... The biggest thing i hate about people visiting that don't know what bbqqcompetition is about, is that they just think it's nothing more than a neighborhood backyard cook out party, just in a different location. They sound clueless to what bbq competition is about and totally disrespectful to you all.

We can have fun, but there is definitely a limit to it.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Podge

We can have fun, but there is definitely a limit to it.

No such thing as too much fun.... I must admit... We make nice book ends...

[BBQchef33]

as far as giving away secrets.. forget it.. Until they master the way YOU cook, they cant duplicate your product. If your worried about your ingriedents, then put them in unmarked containers with your own code on them.

As far as the guests go. IMO, a perfect count for a team is 4-5. Beyond that, they are guests. Extra hands are always good for taking out trash, running errands, etc.. but even then, guests stay on the OTHER side of the rope. If you use ez-ups.. use 2. One is for prep, one is the 'seating area'. A simple partition is usually all it takes. if you have a few extra people, tel them they are in charge of crowd control and keeping people out of the prep area(them included).

As far as boozin it up.. cant comment.. last contest.. we had 6 beers in the fridge and they werent ours. We will drink a bottle of Cabo over the course of the weekend, but its just to take the edge off things.. i dont think I ever cooked when my team was hammered. We are there to compete, and speaking only for myself.. i cant even speak when toasted.. never mind handle sharp objects.

[BBQchef33]

hot damn.. she looks like a cardboard cutout in front of that motley crew.

:)

[Sidw]

I agree with all of the above. A lot of F&Fs think a que comp is just another excuse to party all night. We spend too much time & money to let others mess things up. We for the most part do not invite people to join us, if so we ask them to come after turn-ins or explain our expectations upfront. We like to party on Thursday night & Saturday afternoons, but we know why we are there on Friday & Saturday till it is over.

I would not worry about people watching what you are doing. I have watched, taken classes and read, read read & read more. You still have to be able put the whole package together and that is not that easily learned about just watching.

[Scottie]

We just have that way with the ladies Poobah... Now if you want Motley Crew... I would submit this one. What you can't see is the line of women following us... Bad camera angle...

[Brew-B-Q]

Originally Posted by U2CANQUE

after some folks see that the excitement is a lot of set up, running, need this/need that, clean up, and tear down they will come to appreciate the "sampling"

I agree. My first comp had 4 team members. Down to me and one other right now. A full weekend of working helps determine who really wants to cook and do well. We have our share of fun, don't get me wrong. But it can't get to the point where the food suffers. If everyone wants to get hammered and eat bbq, we can do that at my house for several hundred dollars less.

[Podge]

Studly group of guys i must say. the site admin. might take it off as it is porn and eye candy for womens.