What got you into catering?

CUTigerQ · 11-19-2010, 09:24 AM

I am wanting to cater my BBQ as well as compete and do festivals in the fall. What got you guys into it? Would you just cater or would you do festivals as well? I really want to make a career out of my Q, but have decided that a restaurant is just too risky at the moment but catering could be just what I wanted to do. Not looking to get rich, just want to do what i love to do.

Any thoughts?

Dr_KY · 11-20-2010, 10:52 AM

What got you into catering?

The love of food and the loss of an income got me started. I started out doing weekends at the local pub then when I was made redundant the only way to make any cash was with BBQ so we started looking at festivals, weddings and other special events. It's not a full time gig and I'm back in a job but I don't think I will ever give up the Q.

Brauma · 11-20-2010, 11:46 AM

We've now catered just enough to know it's not for us. Our intention is, as it has always been, to earn enough $ to pay for our competition habit. I have never felt that we can charge enough to cover all the time that goes into catering. So, we have been working the drop-off or pick-up orders and it's doing fairly well for us.

Dr_KY · 11-20-2010, 12:42 PM

True I have a drop off tonight and man it feels good to let the cooker do the work while sleeping all day then getting up in time to pack and deliver three miles away and returning home.

JD McGee · 11-20-2010, 12:54 PM

What got you into catering?

Everyone that has tasted our BBQ at competitions asking if we cater...

txschutte · 11-20-2010, 02:53 PM

Because chicks dig a fat middle aged man with a badarse smoker...

PorkQPine · 11-21-2010, 01:11 PM

I love BBQ, love to smoke BBQ and I lost my mind.

Meadmaker · 12-03-2010, 12:21 PM

I worked in food service, since I was a teenager. Did the culinary school thing, and worked as an executive chef for a couple of years, which included some catering.

I had 2 heart attacks several years back, and had to quit the high pressure of the chefs job, due to doctors orders. After six months of trying to figure out what to do with my life, I opened a roadside BBQ stand. A logical offspring from that, and much more lucrative, was the catering. I have been doing both now, for 4+ years, and love it.

Wouldn't change a thing.

Dave (A.K.A. Meadmaker)
P.S. My doctor, says that I am back in 100% form.

jbrink01 · 12-04-2010, 07:31 AM

5 years ago we were selling BBQ roadside at my recently departed Dad's vending spot (he sold vegetables and pumpkins from our farm). People kept asking if we catered. We do now!

HBMTN · 12-04-2010, 04:42 PM

We built a large BBQ smoker after years of Chargrillers and cheapo's. In the process we decided to enter a BBQ competition and loved it. After a few years competing all the locals would always ask if we would cater for them and not being legal we always said no. After putting a lot of thought into it and looking for extra ways to make income we decided to take the plunge. Best thing I ever did, I love it and can't wait for spring!

Mister Bob · 12-10-2010, 10:04 AM

Hoping to make enough money to support my Competition BBQ addiction!

grillfella · 12-21-2010, 05:26 PM

love of the game. I am lucky to have a flexable job with the city which allows me to do both.

C Rocke · 12-21-2010, 07:42 PM

Still trying to figure out why and how i did it...

armor · 12-22-2010, 07:08 AM

Just asked myself that question before I took this break to sit down. It's 8am and I have been cooking since 4am after all day yesterday as well. Just finished the 6th gal of baked beans. We have PP, brisket, ribs, slaw, Psalad,
and coconut flavored rum cake. Three parties to deliver to today. This is a part time gig. It sure is a lot of work. Sometimes there is no joy and other times I love it. Not loving it today.
YOU GUYS HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Rodsboots · 12-30-2010, 10:48 AM

This is great! I've been sitting behind a computer for 11 years now. I cook on the weekends and Love cooking for people. my ribs are fantastic (toot toot), I did one Highschool Party for about 70 people and fell in love with it.
I'm on my way to catering and looking to do roadside for a while. it's just so dang hard to give up a good job....

11-19-2010, 09:24 AM	#1
CUTigerQ is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-16-10 Location: Marietta, Ga	What got you into catering? I am wanting to cater my BBQ as well as compete and do festivals in the fall. What got you guys into it? Would you just cater or would you do festivals as well? I really want to make a career out of my Q, but have decided that a restaurant is just too risky at the moment but catering could be just what I wanted to do. Not looking to get rich, just want to do what i love to do. Any thoughts? __________________ Allen - Marietta Swine District - Competition BBQ Team Stumps Smokers Stretch Gateway Drum ORANGE Thermapen Flame Boss 500

11-20-2010, 10:52 AM	#2
Dr_KY Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-15-07 Location: England	What got you into catering? The love of food and the loss of an income got me started. I started out doing weekends at the local pub then when I was made redundant the only way to make any cash was with BBQ so we started looking at festivals, weddings and other special events. It's not a full time gig and I'm back in a job but I don't think I will ever give up the Q. __________________ www.drsweetsmoke.com Slappin that bass like some delerious funky preist!!! UDS, Half Pint (Mini UDS), Weber, ProQ 20, Kegrilla 250 gallon cooker- 'The Meat Beast!!' British BBQ Championships Grand Champion 2008 ~~~~ British BBQ Society - Southern Championship Grand Champions 2009

11-20-2010, 11:46 AM	#3
Brauma somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-04-05 Location: Coral Bay, USVI	We've now catered just enough to know it's not for us. Our intention is, as it has always been, to earn enough $ to pay for our competition habit. I have never felt that we can charge enough to cover all the time that goes into catering. So, we have been working the drop-off or pick-up orders and it's doing fairly well for us. __________________ Cat Sass BBQ - Competition BBQ Team Community Development VP - Secret Squirrel Society (but we don't exist) Member: KCBS. CBJ New Braunfels Bandera - refurbished; Two Big Green Eggs; 6' fire pit; Weber Kettles; Superfast Blue Thermepan

11-20-2010, 12:42 PM	#4
Dr_KY Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-15-07 Location: England	True I have a drop off tonight and man it feels good to let the cooker do the work while sleeping all day then getting up in time to pack and deliver three miles away and returning home. __________________ www.drsweetsmoke.com Slappin that bass like some delerious funky preist!!! UDS, Half Pint (Mini UDS), Weber, ProQ 20, Kegrilla 250 gallon cooker- 'The Meat Beast!!' British BBQ Championships Grand Champion 2008 ~~~~ British BBQ Society - Southern Championship Grand Champions 2009

11-20-2010, 12:54 PM	#5
JD McGee somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-28-07 Location: Duvall, WA	What got you into catering? Everyone that has tasted our BBQ at competitions asking if we cater... __________________ "The team formerly known as "Wine Country "Q"... PNWBA "Team of the Year" 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017... We cook on MAK Grills and Bullets...

11-20-2010, 02:53 PM	#6
txschutte Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-02-07 Location: Cozad, Nebraska	Because chicks dig a fat middle aged man with a badarse smoker... __________________ "Bring it on, you bananna thong wearing killer of brisket!"-Chambers If you really care about this place, you'll show some respect for it. Your beard is so stupid, it took two hours to watch 60 Minutes.

11-21-2010, 01:11 PM	#7
PorkQPine Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-10-07 Location: Roseville, CA	I love BBQ, love to smoke BBQ and I lost my mind. __________________ PorkQPine

12-03-2010, 12:21 PM	#8
Meadmaker Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 08-01-10 Location: Clarksville, AR	I worked in food service, since I was a teenager. Did the culinary school thing, and worked as an executive chef for a couple of years, which included some catering. I had 2 heart attacks several years back, and had to quit the high pressure of the chefs job, due to doctors orders. After six months of trying to figure out what to do with my life, I opened a roadside BBQ stand. A logical offspring from that, and much more lucrative, was the catering. I have been doing both now, for 4+ years, and love it. Wouldn't change a thing. Dave (A.K.A. Meadmaker) P.S. My doctor, says that I am back in 100% form. __________________ Lang Model 84 Brinkman Outlaw Weber Kettle

12-04-2010, 07:31 AM	#9
jbrink01 is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 08-17-06 Location: Washington, Missouri	5 years ago we were selling BBQ roadside at my recently departed Dad's vending spot (he sold vegetables and pumpkins from our farm). People kept asking if we catered. We do now! __________________ [CENTER][B][/B] [/CENTER] [CENTER][B][I][B]KCBS #13207[/B][/I][/B][/CENTER] [CENTER][B][I]2013 Insane Can Posse [/I][I]Tour [/I][/B][/CENTER] [CENTER][I]Sponsored By: [/I][/CENTER] [CENTER][B][I]Gateway BBQ Store[/I][/B][/CENTER] [CENTER][B][I]Blues Hog BBQ Company[/I][/B][/CENTER] [CENTER][B][I]Plowboys BBQ Company[/I][/B][/CENTER]

12-04-2010, 04:42 PM	#10
HBMTN is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 10-16-08 Location: Virginia	We built a large BBQ smoker after years of Chargrillers and cheapo's. In the process we decided to enter a BBQ competition and loved it. After a few years competing all the locals would always ask if we would cater for them and not being legal we always said no. After putting a lot of thought into it and looking for extra ways to make income we decided to take the plunge. Best thing I ever did, I love it and can't wait for spring! __________________ Ole Hickory EL-EW, FEC 120, Lang 84, Custom Off Set

12-10-2010, 10:04 AM	#11
Mister Bob Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-15-09 Location: Scituate, RI	Hoping to make enough money to support my Competition BBQ addiction! __________________ Mister Bob, Pitmaster - Smokestack Lightning, Bad Ass Barbecue. KCBS CBJ #31759 - IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller

12-21-2010, 05:26 PM	#12
grillfella is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-13-07 Location: Best BBQ in south whittier los angeles	love of the game. I am lucky to have a flexable job with the city which allows me to do both.

12-21-2010, 07:42 PM	#13
C Rocke is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-29-07 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ	Still trying to figure out why and how i did it... __________________ *Just me, the Wife, and the Dogs*

12-22-2010, 07:08 AM	#14
armor is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-26-08 Location: Virginia	Just asked myself that question before I took this break to sit down. It's 8am and I have been cooking since 4am after all day yesterday as well. Just finished the 6th gal of baked beans. We have PP, brisket, ribs, slaw, Psalad, and coconut flavored rum cake. Three parties to deliver to today. This is a part time gig. It sure is a lot of work. Sometimes there is no joy and other times I love it. Not loving it today. YOU GUYS HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS! __________________ Mike Risk is the price you pay for opportunity. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

12-30-2010, 10:48 AM	#15
Rodsboots On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-10-09 Location: Albuquerque NM	This is great! I've been sitting behind a computer for 11 years now. I cook on the weekends and Love cooking for people. my ribs are fantastic (toot toot), I did one Highschool Party for about 70 people and fell in love with it. I'm on my way to catering and looking to do roadside for a while. it's just so dang hard to give up a good job.... __________________ If God didn't want us to eat meat.. he wouldn't have made cows taste like steak!

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