What does it take to start a team?

[Ford]

I'll be in Eagle MI on April 24-25. Take Friday off and drive over and cook with me. You won't learn much from me but you can watch others while pretending to help me.

Serious offer. PM me if interested. I'll also be doing Auburn Hills MI June 26 - 27 but I'll be a lot more serious there and have a couple of helpers signed up so it will be a group thing.

I Agree with Todd. Understand Bull's story. I've mentored one or two people and most went off to form their own teams. Wanted to get away from the bossy control freak. And be careful. It's starts as let's cook a contest and see what happens and ends up touring the country cooking wherever you can.

[jbrink01]

True Story;
5 years ago, I cooked a pork butt on my Brinkman Cimmaron for a buddy. I now have a wall with a bunch of ribbons, couple of big trophys, roughly $50,000 in BBQ related stuff including 2 trailers and all kinds of small items. Not to mention a $30,000 truck to pull the trailer and a $35,000 shop addition. Oh yea, a catering license, business license, LLC and a big insurance bill every spring......did someone say money.....................come on in, the water's fine!!

[jbrink01]

BTW - The tenor of my post is not to say "Look at all my stuff", but to illustrate what can happen to a guy who starts with a contest and works constantly to get bigger and better. BBQ has been very good to us. We saved our money from catering jobs which came more readily after a few contest successes.

We do contests wth 2 or 4 people. 2 is plenty.

[bbqbull]

I forgot to mention that our team will be mentoring a new fellow but your welcome to come and hang with us and Ford if you wish.

Glad you changed your mind Ford and going to make the fun cook.

[Spydermike72]

Eagle would be a great place to see if what you need to get started. It is very relaxed but it is a simulated event so the teams will have all of their gear there and setup like an actual comp.

I cant think of a better person than Ford to show you the ropes (I am being serious here). You will learn lots and if you play your cards right you will eat like a king at Saturday Breakfast!!!

I know it is a bit of a drive but it is worth it and there are Hotels nearby if you dont like sleeping in your truck!!

[KC_Bobby]

Originally Posted by Plowboy

- Disposable income
- Strong need for affirmation from others
- Detachment from common sense
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Funny, last weekend Don (my brother/teammate) asked me if civilians (non-bbqers) thought of us (meaning all competition cookers) in the same way the general public thinks about Trekies. I wasn't sure what to say and I'm still wondering about it.

I have to admit, over the past 2 years I probably talk about BBQ everyday. Do we have a thread on this site that we can openly discuss our possible BBQ discussion need?

[Coz]

Maybe I will have to have a practice here in the yard on the 24th and 25th.I would have to phone my entries to Eagle....I have spent a comp with Ford and its well worth the price of admission.Still tryin to figure what to bring to Fort so I dont have to spend 5 hours driving around looking for those damn Krispy Kremes

[Plowboy]

Originally Posted by KC_Bobby

Funny, last weekend Don (my brother/teammate) asked me if civilians (non-bbqers) thought of us (meaning all competition cookers) in the same way the general public thinks about Trekies. I didn't have an answer and I'm still wondering.

I have to admit, over the past 2 years I probably talk about BBQ everyday. Do we have a thread on this site that we can openly discuss our possible BBQ discussion need?

You want a thread on a BBQ forum to talk about the need to talk about BBQ? Huh?

[Coz]

I guess its not been that long since we started the addiction.Last year we started competing.It started the year before when a friend says there is a bqq comp about 20 miles away we should go check it out.Now at the time we were both cooking a few butts and thought we were good at it.So off we go.Looked around ,met some great people.We say well lets try it.So we went to 2 more and were fortunate enough to spend turn day with a team and got to see whatits about first hand.So we started practicing and collecting gear(seems like a miilion$ ago)Compared to some of the other teams there we were the beverly hillbillies for sure.2 WSMs and a homemade cooker.We ended up doing 3 regular contests last year and had somewhat respectable results.I think the biggest thing is you have to decide if you want to do it solo and there are some folks who do that damn well.Or you have to find some one that you enjoy the time spent with and who is willing to do what it takes to compete.There are teams that compete and win with just UDSs for cookers.If you have some basic skills to make those you shouldnt have a lack of cooking space.Our team consists of my wife and the friend I mentioned,and myself.The wife and I have done it on our own when Jack couldnt make it.If you could spend one comp with a team you would have a much better understanding then all of us exsplaining.It can be done a lot cheaper then most do it by cooking minimal amounts of meat and not entertaining a bunch of your friends (Takes money to buy whiskey).Try it ....worse thing happens is you end up in a 7 step program...Hi My name Is Coz and I have a problem...

[Ron_L]

Oh yeah... I forgot... You also have to enjoy sleeping in a lawn chair or in a truck

Also, you should be prepared to meet a bunch of great people and make new friends! Even though we are all competing for the same prizes, a lot of us are friends and look forward to seeing each other at the competitions.

[Podge]

all you need is yourself. You don't need a "team"..

[Scottie]

I agree Podge.... I've won them going solo or with just my girls... Too many people get in the way is my feelings...

[Bentley]

A pit and a desire to cook in a competition.

[Greg60525]

Originally Posted by Ron_L

Oh yeah... I forgot... You also have to enjoy sleeping in a lawn chair or in a truck

Originally Posted by Podge

all you need is yourself. You don't need a "team"..

After much internet research and talking to the people at Uncle Bub's I entered my first 2 comps last year. I basically went in cold turkey! My wife "accompanied" me on my first one.............basically, I did most of the work, but it was nice to have her there anyway. Some of you guys remember how cold it was in Westmont last May............I caught cat naps in my reclining lawn chair right next to the firebox with covers pulled over my head. My wife found shelter in the heated Uncle Bub's tent.

I got creamed in my first comp, but I learned a lot and had a great time. I did much better the second time around.

So, do you need a team...........I think you can do it by yourself, but it's nice to have someone to help out, if not to just chat with. My brother is helping out now. The first year cost can be a little on the steep side if you don't have much. I had to get a tent, load up on some foil, utensils, etc.. I made a spreadsheet of all of the stuff you need to bring.........most of the stuff I had, but the list is staggering. You must be organized.

I found that taking a notebook to keep track of the things that have to happen for each turn-in was very helpful. Basically, schedule all of the details that must happen. I start at the turn-in time and write down the process in reverse with times for each.

Go for it and have fun!

[CajunSmoker]

Originally Posted by Plowboy

- Disposable income
- Strong need for affirmation from others
- Detachment from common sense
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

That pretty much sums it up bro