BBQ Competition Etiquette for the Public

beardjp · 10-06-2009, 07:55 PM

I am working on an imformation sheet on BBQ Competition Etiquette for the Public visiting our competitions. I have listed what I have so far and would love input from the brethren. We hope to post these on oue website and hand them out at the Nelsonville, Ohio competition.

BBQ Competition Etiquette

Samples and meeting the teams

1. BBQ teams love to talk about their cooking and there cookers. Remember this is a professional competition. Between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm BBQ teams are preparing their entries for judging and may not be very talkative. Please take this into consideration, remember these teams have invested a lot of hours and money to compete.

2. Do not enter BBQ team cooking areas unless you are invited to do so. Teams are very busy and have routines that must be completed.

3. Food Samples – BBQ teams are not required to make food samples available to the public. Public food samples are entirely at the discretion of the BBQ team.

If a team does not have samples available please respect their wishes. Do not take anything from any teams cooking area; this may be their BBQ entry you just destroyed!!

Yakfishingfool · 10-06-2009, 08:27 PM

I believe it is "their cookers". Scott

BBQchef33 · 10-06-2009, 08:31 PM

maybe mention that many board of health departments do NOT allow teams to give out food.

Buster Dog BBQ · 10-06-2009, 08:44 PM

If you have vendors, I would say something about no samples and see the vendors (using better wording).

Podge · 10-06-2009, 08:45 PM

"Public food samples are entirely at the discretion of the BBQ team"... the Health Dept. is o.k. with this statement ???.. i do like the intent of this etiquette sheet though !!!

The Virginian · 10-06-2009, 08:53 PM

I would not do it. I have rarely found the public to be more than a temporary problem, and usually they are pretty delightful. These rules will only keep them away from the teams.

Brett

Dale P · 10-06-2009, 10:51 PM

Most people are OK but I have had a person take food while I was boxing. Temporary maybe, but I wasnt delighted. lol.

Sidw · 10-07-2009, 06:11 AM

I think the sheet is a good idea - while most people are polite and considerate by nature, sometimes they really do not realize that during turn-in times they can be visiting and asking questions at a bad time.

Food samples - I think the public believes it is a part of the whole event -We don't mind sharing some with public every now and then, but I think it can be unfair to vendors who paid to vend the event.

bbq ron · 10-07-2009, 06:30 AM

i disagree, i would think common sense would prevail almost always IMO

watg? · 10-07-2009, 07:32 AM

This is a good idea, I have often thought of suggesting something along these lines to contest organizers. The information could de disseminated either by flyers or posters around the contest grounds or both.

I think it would be very helpful to also include a brief explanation as to how the contest actually works. I find that many attendees don’t have a clue as to what is really going on. A short, complete synopsis would go along way toward educating the public. Another benefit to providing an explanation to folks would be to stimulate interest in competition cooking. You could also include some info as to how one could become involved in the following years contest.

A well informed public is much more likely to behave and use common sense, although not a guarantee, it would help. The information would also serve to stimulate interest in BBQ in general, along with the local contest.

Maybe, as an added bonus, include a BBQ recipe from one of the attending teams at the bottom of the sheet for the folks to take back home and try.

Alexa RnQ · 10-07-2009, 07:42 AM

Honestly, a lot of the potential misunderstanding by the public that we've seen has been engendered by the event promoters. The practice of running local ads that proclaim "Come and taste championship barbecue!" clearly lead the public to believe they're going to eat, and most of them further assume they'll eat FREE from competitors, not paying vendors for what is clearly not competition food.

Then there is the practice of charging at the gate, on top of having to buy food. We've had members of the public huffily and loudly insist we stop work to explain to them exactly what their gate fee was for. And I can see their point, if they didn't particularly want to purchase a t-shirt or admission to a car show.

These marketing and organization practices are often undertaken by the venue's publicists and clearly not by the BBQ contest's organizer, so it's kind of unfair to lay it at the BBQ contest's doorstep to deal with/reeducate/straighten out.

pat · 10-07-2009, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DivaHerself

Honestly, a lot of the potential misunderstanding by the public that we've seen has been engendered by the event promoters. The practice of running local ads that proclaim "Come and taste championship barbecue!" clearly lead the public to believe they're going to eat, and most of them further assume they'll eat FREE from competitors, not paying vendors for what is clearly not competition food.

Then there is the practice of charging at the gate, on top of having to buy food. We've had members of the public huffily and loudly insist we stop work to explain to them exactly what their gate fee was for. And I can see their point, if they didn't particularly want to purchase a t-shirt or admission to a car show.

These marketing and organization practices are often undertaken by the venue's publicists and clearly not by the BBQ contest's organizer, so it's kind of unfair to lay it at the BBQ contest's doorstep to deal with/reeducate/straighten out.

Ding Ding DIng!!

Divemaster · 10-07-2009, 08:07 AM

When you do finish your Etiquette Statement, I would love to have it to pass on to a couple of events that I think would actually use it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by DivaHerself

Honestly, a lot of the potential misunderstanding by the public that we've seen has been engendered by the event promoters. The practice of running local ads that proclaim "Come and taste championship barbecue!" clearly lead the public to believe they're going to eat, and most of them further assume they'll eat FREE from competitors, not paying vendors for what is clearly not competition food.

Then there is the practice of charging at the gate, on top of having to buy food. We've had members of the public huffily and loudly insist we stop work to explain to them exactly what their gate fee was for. And I can see their point, if they didn't particularly want to purchase a t-shirt or admission to a car show.

These marketing and organization practices are often undertaken by the venue's publicists and clearly not by the BBQ contest's organizer, so it's kind of unfair to lay it at the BBQ contest's doorstep to deal with/reeducate/straighten out.

I couldn't agree more...

ique · 10-07-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DivaHerself

The practice of running local ads that proclaim "Come and taste championship barbecue!" clearly lead the public to believe they're going to eat, and most of them further assume they'll eat FREE from competitors, not paying vendors for what is clearly not competition food.

Why else would someone attend a BBQ contest?

See Jeffs thread about Comp BBQ being under-reported. I believe we need to figure out a way to get the public more involved at contests if we want to the sport to grow beyond the competition community.

Most teams I see are perfectly capable of passing a health inspection in order to hand out at samples or sell leftover comp bbq.

timzcardz · 10-07-2009, 08:34 AM

There are safety issued involved.

I would add a 2.a.

2.a. Do not enter BBQ team cooking areas unless you are invited to do so. Within the cooking areas are fire, hot items, and very sharp implements, that have the potential to cause severe injuries, especially when people become distracted and/or startled.

10-06-2009, 07:55 PM	#1
beardjp On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-29-08 Location: Nelsonville, Ohio	BBQ Competition Etiquette for the Public I am working on an imformation sheet on BBQ Competition Etiquette for the Public visiting our competitions. I have listed what I have so far and would love input from the brethren. We hope to post these on oue website and hand them out at the Nelsonville, Ohio competition. BBQ Competition Etiquette Samples and meeting the teams 1. BBQ teams love to talk about their cooking and there cookers. Remember this is a professional competition. Between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm BBQ teams are preparing their entries for judging and may not be very talkative. Please take this into consideration, remember these teams have invested a lot of hours and money to compete. 2. Do not enter BBQ team cooking areas unless you are invited to do so. Teams are very busy and have routines that must be completed. 3. Food Samples – BBQ teams are not required to make food samples available to the public. Public food samples are entirely at the discretion of the BBQ team. If a team does not have samples available please respect their wishes. Do not take anything from any teams cooking area; this may be their BBQ entry you just destroyed!! __________________ KCBS Member - Lang Model 60 - Brinkman Bullet - [email protected]

10-06-2009, 08:27 PM	#2
Yakfishingfool Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-01-05 Location: Shokan, New York	I believe it is "their cookers". Scott __________________ Oh It'z BBQ! 1 Weber Gold Series Grill 1 WSM 18,1 WSM 22 1 Weber performer, 1 Smokey Joe Platinum 1 XL Big Green Egg 1 FEC 100 Team BBQ-Brethren.com KCBS Certified Judge #9079

10-06-2009, 08:31 PM	#3
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Name/Nickname : Phil	maybe mention that many board of health departments do NOT allow teams to give out food. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Built Shirley built to feed our Veterans(A.K.A "Abrams"), 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 2 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 2 Pit Barrel Cookers, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a Blackstone 36 and 17, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

10-06-2009, 08:44 PM	#4
Buster Dog BBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-20-08 Location: Clive, IA	If you have vendors, I would say something about no samples and see the vendors (using better wording). __________________ FEC-100 Right Handed, FEC-100 Left Handed, Large BGE x2, Mini BGE Buster Dog BBQ - [url]http://www.busterdogbbq.com[/url]

10-06-2009, 08:53 PM	#6
The Virginian On the road to being a farker Join Date: 11-27-07 Location: Arlington, VA	Not sure this is the right thing I would not do it. I have rarely found the public to be more than a temporary problem, and usually they are pretty delightful. These rules will only keep them away from the teams. Brett

10-06-2009, 08:45 PM	#5
Podge is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-25-06 Location: Elk Creek, Ky.	"Public food samples are entirely at the discretion of the BBQ team"... the Health Dept. is o.k. with this statement ???.. i do like the intent of this etiquette sheet though !!!

10-06-2009, 10:51 PM	#7
Dale P is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-28-06 Location: Porkbutt Ky	Most people are OK but I have had a person take food while I was boxing. Temporary maybe, but I wasnt delighted. lol. __________________ Spicewine Turbo 2007 model Perry Brothers & Sons Bar-B-Q

10-07-2009, 06:11 AM	#8
Sidw On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-09-08 Location: Fisherville, Ky	I think the sheet is a good idea - while most people are polite and considerate by nature, sometimes they really do not realize that during turn-in times they can be visiting and asking questions at a bad time. Food samples - I think the public believes it is a part of the whole event -We don't mind sharing some with public every now and then, but I think it can be unfair to vendors who paid to vend the event. __________________ Monty Pigthon & the Holy Grill - Austin National

10-07-2009, 06:30 AM	#9
bbq ron is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-11-09 Location: saint peters, mo	i disagree, i would think common sense would prevail almost always IMO __________________ kcbs (CBJ) lang 60 mobile chargriller duo gosm

10-07-2009, 07:32 AM	#10
watg? is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-04-07 Location: Street, MD	This is a good idea, I have often thought of suggesting something along these lines to contest organizers. The information could de disseminated either by flyers or posters around the contest grounds or both. I think it would be very helpful to also include a brief explanation as to how the contest actually works. I find that many attendees don’t have a clue as to what is really going on. A short, complete synopsis would go along way toward educating the public. Another benefit to providing an explanation to folks would be to stimulate interest in competition cooking. You could also include some info as to how one could become involved in the following years contest. A well informed public is much more likely to behave and use common sense, although not a guarantee, it would help. The information would also serve to stimulate interest in BBQ in general, along with the local contest. Maybe, as an added bonus, include a BBQ recipe from one of the attending teams at the bottom of the sheet for the folks to take back home and try. __________________ george who are those guys? BBQ Team www.watgbbq.com Startin the Fire-(a book) Everything you need to know about starting a competition BBQ team. (except the recipes) www.startinthefire.com "Let me have a diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper, make it fast, I'm in a ---damn hurry". Sheriff Buford T.Justice

10-07-2009, 07:42 AM	#11
Alexa RnQ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 09-12-07 Location: the Ninth Ring of Hell, cleverly disguised as Phoenix	Honestly, a lot of the potential misunderstanding by the public that we've seen has been engendered by the event promoters. The practice of running local ads that proclaim "Come and taste championship barbecue!" clearly lead the public to believe they're going to eat, and most of them further assume they'll eat FREE from competitors, not paying vendors for what is clearly not competition food. Then there is the practice of charging at the gate, on top of having to buy food. We've had members of the public huffily and loudly insist we stop work to explain to them exactly what their gate fee was for. And I can see their point, if they didn't particularly want to purchase a t-shirt or admission to a car show. These marketing and organization practices are often undertaken by the venue's publicists and clearly not by the BBQ contest's organizer, so it's kind of unfair to lay it at the BBQ contest's doorstep to deal with/reeducate/straighten out. __________________ . Don't practice until you get it right; practice until you can't get it wrong. Don't overthink or undercook. [url=http://www.rhythmnque.com]Rhythm 'n QUE[/url]

10-07-2009, 08:34 AM	#15
timzcardz Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-22-05 Location: Long Island, NY	There are safety issued involved. I would add a 2.a. 2.a. Do not enter BBQ team cooking areas unless you are invited to do so. Within the cooking areas are fire, hot items, and very sharp implements, that have the potential to cause severe injuries, especially when people become distracted and/or startled. __________________ GRIM REAPER SMOKERS - "BBQ To Die For" ™ "Founders Club" Operation BBQ Relief Weber Smokey Mountain x 3 Weber Genesis Silver x 2 Weber One Touch Gold Weber Performer x 2 Weber Smokey Joe Bottle of Absolut Bottle of Beer Everything Ripken, "Cards and Que. One tastes of cardboard, the other sweet blue." ©

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