Pre contest Jitters

txschutte · 04-30-2012, 08:18 PM

I'm sure you all have them, or have had them.

Getting ready for my first KCBS contest this weekend as the Head Cook. I have been going crazy with list, more lists, journals, then checking my list of lists.

Done KCBS before, but just as a lackey. Nervous, hoping for a walk, but just don't wanna be DAL.

Vince RnQ · 04-30-2012, 08:24 PM

We've done nearly 100 events and we still get the jitters. I think it is perfectly natural and part of the excitement of competing.

MattyB · 04-30-2012, 08:24 PM

Good luck! Take notes on things you forgot and didn't expect so you know next time. Don't stress out too much....enjoy yourself (but not too much). Make some friends and some memories and let us know how you did.

K-Train · 04-30-2012, 08:25 PM

I think that's pretty normal. Make a check list of all your cooking steps so you won't forget anything during the event. We had our first cook of the season two weeks ago. The guy on our team that I put in charge of timing wasn't there. That messed me all up. I got all nervous trying to do too much. I missed several small steps for each meat which added up to a snafu. As soon as we got home I made a check list. Make that list so even when nervous your good to go.

Big_AL · 04-30-2012, 09:01 PM

We competed in our first KCBS event a couple weeks ago and we were pretty nervous going in. How were a couple of newbies cooking on WSM's, sleeping outside in camp chairs under an EZ-Up who didn't even know how to set up camp going to compete with teams sleeping in motor homes and cooking on several thousand dollar cookers?

A couple of thoughts calmed us down...
1. The pressure was on THEM not us. The experienced teams were supposed to win.
2. Instead of getting upset if something didn't go right, we looked this first time out as a learning experience, making note of both our errors and successes.
3. We set a realistic goal...just turn everything in on time.

Especially after we realized the first point, we calmed down, cooked with confidence and surprised ourselves at how well we did.

SDAR · 04-30-2012, 09:12 PM

Motor home or not, high dollar cooker or not...it doesn't get much easier. It's stressful and exciting. Cook your cook. Be proud and learn from what was right and what was wrong. Listen to the guys that are successful and you will learn the subtleties of a successful contest.

Geez. Just won my first grand and now I think I know it all. Seriously though there is A LOT of great information on here.

boogiesnap · 04-30-2012, 09:17 PM

you're a good cook right(i know ya'ar)! that's 99% of the battle. don't sweat, you'll be just fine.

enjoy the jitters, get them juices flowin and go cook!!!

Rub · 04-30-2012, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txschutte

I'm sure you all have them, or have had them.

Always have. I think the day I don't is probably the day I'll quit.

JD McGee · 04-30-2012, 09:44 PM

Yep...still get 'em...when I stop...I'll quit!

Good luck brother! Better yet...have fun!

Diva · 04-30-2012, 09:48 PM

Where are you cooking??

Harbormaster · 04-30-2012, 10:24 PM

Shane,
You're gonna do well.
I'm still really a greenhorn at this comp thing. I've only done 5, but we have been wildly successful by our standards. A call at every comp.
We still follow the same three rules we used at our first:
1. Don't miss any turn-in times.
2. No DQs.
3. No DALs.
Then we just let the chips fall where they may.
Have a great weekend, enjoy the atmosphere, talk with the other teams, engage the public when/if possible.
Have fun!

BigButzBBQ · 04-30-2012, 10:28 PM

Shane,
Just do you. Make as many lists as you want. Like Clark said, in the end don't miss any turn ins, make sure to not do any DQ's and you most likely won't have any DAL issues. Truest in yourself and your abilities. Don't forget to breath and move to your own rhythm, not the one that everyone else thinks you should.

Ron_L · 04-30-2012, 10:29 PM

All I can say, Shane is...

I sure hope that Wyatt is going!

You'll do fine. Have fun and work on getting everything turned in on time. The rest will take care of itself.

bbqbull · 04-30-2012, 10:31 PM

Think as a boss like you do in your regular job. I always take an atomic watch and double check it w/my cellphone time. Keep your cool, plan for the worst and hope for the best. If you get a DAL consider it a great learning experience. Don't be afraid to ask other teams for a bit of advice.

Just oversee everything and everything should turn out just fine. Good Luck brother.

Rookie'48 · 04-30-2012, 11:56 PM

If you have any questions at all,

just ask Wyatt

.

04-30-2012, 08:18 PM	#1
txschutte Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-02-07 Location: Cozad, NE USA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Pre contest Jitters I'm sure you all have them, or have had them. Getting ready for my first KCBS contest this weekend as the Head Cook. I have been going crazy with list, more lists, journals, then checking my list of lists. Done KCBS before, but just as a lackey. Nervous, hoping for a walk, but just don't wanna be DAL. __________________ "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. I'm such a ZERO. Team Whosoever Q If a man looks lustfully at eggs and bacon, he has already committed breakfast in his heart.

04-30-2012, 08:24 PM	#2
Vince RnQ is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-09-07 Location: Phoenix, AZ Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We've done nearly 100 events and we still get the jitters. I think it is perfectly natural and part of the excitement of competing. __________________ Rhythm 'n QUE Our Website On Facebook A Few Great Moments in RnQ History 1st Place Chicken at The Jack 2012 GC at the Inaguaral Sam's Club Invitational The Double Grand Championship

04-30-2012, 08:24 PM	#3
MattyB On the road to being a farker Join Date: 06-01-11 Location: Rochester, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Good luck! Take notes on things you forgot and didn't expect so you know next time. Don't stress out too much....enjoy yourself (but not too much). Make some friends and some memories and let us know how you did. __________________ Matty B (Buckner Brothers Barbeque)

04-30-2012, 08:25 PM	#4
K-Train is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-22-11 Location: Edgewater, MD Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I think that's pretty normal. Make a check list of all your cooking steps so you won't forget anything during the event. We had our first cook of the season two weeks ago. The guy on our team that I put in charge of timing wasn't there. That messed me all up. I got all nervous trying to do too much. I missed several small steps for each meat which added up to a snafu. As soon as we got home I made a check list. Make that list so even when nervous your good to go. __________________ Keith Fat Maxine's BBQ Thanks to DArtagnan Foods (Awesome ribs)

04-30-2012, 09:01 PM	#5
Big_AL Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-13-10 Location: O'Fallon, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We competed in our first KCBS event a couple weeks ago and we were pretty nervous going in. How were a couple of newbies cooking on WSM's, sleeping outside in camp chairs under an EZ-Up who didn't even know how to set up camp going to compete with teams sleeping in motor homes and cooking on several thousand dollar cookers? A couple of thoughts calmed us down... 1. The pressure was on THEM not us. The experienced teams were supposed to win. 2. Instead of getting upset if something didn't go right, we looked this first time out as a learning experience, making note of both our errors and successes. 3. We set a realistic goal...just turn everything in on time. Especially after we realized the first point, we calmed down, cooked with confidence and surprised ourselves at how well we did. __________________ Big AL SLBS CBJ 18" WSM, 22" OTG and OTS Canadian Bakin' BBQ Team

04-30-2012, 09:12 PM	#6
SDAR On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-20-11 Location: Amarillo, Tx Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Motor home or not, high dollar cooker or not...it doesn't get much easier. It's stressful and exciting. Cook your cook. Be proud and learn from what was right and what was wrong. Listen to the guys that are successful and you will learn the subtleties of a successful contest. Geez. Just won my first grand and now I think I know it all. Seriously though there is A LOT of great information on here. __________________ LBGE, Traeger 075, Pitmaker Vault on LT-1 Trailer

04-30-2012, 09:17 PM	#7
boogiesnap Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-22-10 Location: NEW ENGLAND Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	you're a good cook right(i know ya'ar)! that's 99% of the battle. don't sweat, you'll be just fine. enjoy the jitters, get them juices flowin and go cook!!! __________________ S'mo Q Competition BBQ Team Q so good you gotta have s'mo. Sponsored by Oakridge BBQ twin WSM 22.5's 48" DCS gasser certified MOINK baller farkanaut in training avatar by grillman CLICK HERE to visit the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns

04-30-2012, 09:44 PM	#9
JD McGee somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-28-07 Location: Duvall, WA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yep...still get 'em...when I stop...I'll quit! Good luck brother! Better yet...have fun! __________________ Wine Country "Q" Competition BBQ

04-30-2012, 09:48 PM	#10
Diva is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-30-07 Location: Kansas City, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Where are you cooking?? __________________ Steph www.TheSlabs.com

04-30-2012, 10:24 PM	#11
Harbormaster Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-14-06 Location: Wyocena, WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Shane, You're gonna do well. I'm still really a greenhorn at this comp thing. I've only done 5, but we have been wildly successful by our standards. A call at every comp. We still follow the same three rules we used at our first: 1. Don't miss any turn-in times. 2. No DQs. 3. No DALs. Then we just let the chips fall where they may. Have a great weekend, enjoy the atmosphere, talk with the other teams, engage the public when/if possible. Have fun! __________________ Clark My Boys: Joseph (EI); Andrew (EE); Daniel (EE) My Toys: 10 WSMs (B, C, DH, DA, EZ, DZ, EO, DU, DR, EE/DU mutt); Brinkman Cimmaron; Chuckwagon Cooker; 22.5" OTG (DT); Two 22.5" Bar-B-Kettles; One 18.5" Bar-B-Kettle; Smokey Joes (A, K); Genesis Silver C (DU); 3 WGAs (EZ, DE, N); 3 SJPs (DT, DU, DR). "For when democracy becomes tyranny, those of us with rifles still get to vote"

04-30-2012, 10:28 PM	#12
BigButzBBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-16-10 Location: Northwestern Wisconsin Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Shane, Just do you. Make as many lists as you want. Like Clark said, in the end don't miss any turn ins, make sure to not do any DQ's and you most likely won't have any DAL issues. Truest in yourself and your abilities. Don't forget to breath and move to your own rhythm, not the one that everyone else thinks you should. __________________ Some call me... Tom...? 12" Charbroil, SJS, WGA, 22.5 OTG, mUDS, 2 UDS w/AML Wood Art Custom Handles, Pull behind rig , & 1 new rig being built from 500lb tank. Owner of 2 Red Hamilton Beach Instant Read Digital Thermometers! Inventor of: 3BGB! , Shigen! , & Bacone Scotch Egg Sundae! Avatar by Zydecopaws Big Butz BBQ Products

04-30-2012, 10:29 PM	#13
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	All I can say, Shane is... I sure hope that Wyatt is going! You'll do fine. Have fun and work on getting everything turned in on time. The rest will take care of itself. __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Save The Fatty! FEC-100/BWS Party/Memphis Pro SS/PBC/LBGE X 2/SBGE/Mini BGE/Nomad Pellet-matic/Good-One Model 42/WSM X 2/Cookshack Smokette 008/Weber Performer/Weber Gasser/Weber Kettle X 2/Weber Smokey Joe/WGA/UDS/Coffee Roasting Gasser and a pickle Remembering a friend

04-30-2012, 10:31 PM	#14
bbqbull Moderator Join Date: 12-27-05 Location: Mid Michigan Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Think as a boss like you do in your regular job. I always take an atomic watch and double check it w/my cellphone time. Keep your cool, plan for the worst and hope for the best. If you get a DAL consider it a great learning experience. Don't be afraid to ask other teams for a bit of advice. Just oversee everything and everything should turn out just fine. Good Luck brother. __________________ You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. KC I miss your advice. Heavily medicated for your protection. Klose Mobile Pit Klose Owners Reccomended Pit Cookshack Smokette Gasser Little Chief Smoker Large BGE Gifted to me my Pit Barrel Smoker

04-30-2012, 11:56 PM	#15
Rookie'48 Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-12-06 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you have any questions at all, just ask Wyatt . __________________ Dave Compton KCBS MasterCBJ # 22569 KCBS BoD Judges' Advocate Possibly the only judge ever to get an award from a bunch of cooks UDS 075 UCB WSM and a bunch of other stuff. The above post is only my opinion - mine & mine alone.