Team Size......how many and why?

[Wampus]

There are 2 people on our team, Jimmy and I. Jimmy's fiance (Lisa) is also there with us at each comp, she puts together boxes, helps touch up parsley at turn in times and runs the boxes for us. She also does desserts, but other than that it's pretty much just Jimmy and I doing the work.

We know teams that are as few as one person and as many as 5 or 6 and everything in between. Granted, Jimmy and I are both big boys, so we fill up a comp tent quite well, but we were thinking that it would tend to get pretty crowded in camp with more than 2 of us. We were just talking about this at last weekend's comp and wondering how larger teams stay busy and work without getting in each other's way. We have a system. We don't get in crisis mode. Our process is very streamlined and although we're busy, we're rarely EVER freaking out or pushing the clock. We almost always make the first turn-in window and we typically have 10 minute breaks between turn-ins so we were just wondering why and how large teams get it done or need that many people. Again....not that there's a right way or a wrong way at all, just haven't experienced it.

Just as a point of interest, I thought I'd pose the questions.....

If you're interested in explaining, are duties split up between team members? Are team members in such large numbers so that there's a rotating schedule? I'm assuming there still has to be one or maybe two team captains (where the buck stops)? Do you do it to help with expenses by sharing costs? If there are larger teams that have different people at different comps (rotating schedule) how do you keep consistency?

On the flip side, if you prefer to or just have a smaller team and like the way that works (as we do), tell me why. Some friends that we have cook alone or only with their wives. Some wives are more involved than others, but it seems to work for that team. Do these folks like less people in camp? Do you prefer to go it alone? Does it make it harder to deal with costs?



Thanks in advance!

[Smokenstein & monster crew]

4, family style for us
me, wife , 2 kids

[CivilWarBBQ]

We have five team members. All have busy lives and we do a dozen shows a year, so having a deep bench is essential since just about everyone has to miss a few. Four of our guys are capable of cooking a show solo if necessary. Three have trucks that can pull the comp trailer.

When we're all together each person has tasks they specialize in, when we're short a man or two we have the depth to pick up the slack. It took several years to find the right mix of guys to make it work though - you can't have a large team with any big egos or caustic personalities on the roster.

[rooftop bbq]

we have 5 guys. all 5 of us do prep work. 2 of us do turns and focus during crunch time. 2 focus and peoples choice meats and making some money back and 1 is our spokesman and talks to the crowd. its a good system and makes it easier during clean up with that many people

[Pappy Q]

Just me and the wife. She builds the boxes before turn in and at turn in. I do everything else. Next contest I'll be solo as she can't make it. It works for us as I think the more people involved, the more things go wrong. This way when something goes wrong, it's nobody's fault but mine.

[NRA4Life]

Just me flying solo for a couple years, once the baby is older, it will be a family thing. Prior to the baby, it was me, my wife, and the dog. Never heard any complaints from the dog, she always thought my food was great. A 1 person team works for me fine, I've got my process streamlined, and having the trailer makes setting up and tearing down easy. I've got nobody to argue with but myself, and in the end we always end up doing it my way.

[Podge]

Just me and the wife. She builds the boxes before turn in and I do them at turn in. I do everything else. It works for us as I think the more people involved, the more things go wrong. This way when something goes wrong, it's nobody's fault but mine.

(stole yours Tom and just modified it a bit)

[quarters69]

Wampus, you have seen us at comps. I do all the work and the other 2 get in my way:))

[Lake Dogs]

KCBS and other similar comps there are just 2 of us plus my wife who is usually our runner; I've done it by myself a few times also (with wife runner) and did fairly well. Larger comps that are much more involved there are 4 of us and we stay very busy; could use a 5th or even 6th person to help split up duties. Even with just 4 of us we dont do whole hog. Could easily have that 6th and possibly a 7th person if doing it all...
Larger I usually divide up cooking between pork and ribs, 3rd guy primarily fire/smoker, 4th primarily clean-up (keeping sight spotless). We then divide up turn-in and on-site with 1 greeter who then shows smoker, 1 presenter, and the 2 others prep the next meat and prepare for the chinese-fire-drill that is bussing the table (with the presenter), re-setup, and the greeter moves the next meat to the presentation smoker. If done correctly we're like a nascar pit crew and the whole thing can be done in less than 1 minute.

[majorlee69]

Four of us...I prep the cold meat (rubs etc) and the finnished products (carving, slicing, burn/grill marks, saucing), one man responsible for the fire (coals, chimneys, overnight fires for those 14-16 hour smokes), one is Mr. Clean for cutting boards, tongs, knives, hott water, etc and a crew chief who can do it all if one goes down and makes sure it all gets done! The lovely ladies in our lives help me with getting boxes ready (lettuce, parsley and such).... A gopher or "expeditier" is helpfull and usually falls on one of our teenagers. We can manage with just a couple of us but we value most the time with our friends and an overall good time with people who share our interests.

[big brother smoke]

It is three of us: Me, myself and I, and we love it.
There is no one to disagree with but, me, sometimes myself and I always listen

[txschutte]

Four of us. We all have our duties. Shawn takes care of keeping smokers up to temp and flavor wood smoking. Bob is an all purpose guy, he is a neat freak so he cleans and makes sure I get an arse chewing for being sloppy. He's also our parsley guy. Mike is the timekeeper and box runner. He is the guy that makes sure we get up from our naps to do what we do. I simply trim meats, season and box the meats, yet they refer to me as the "head" cook. My team could easily do without me, but I'd never make it without them.

[Bourbon Barrel BBQ]

2 regulars and we pick up a 3rd or 4th depending on how close to home the contest is. We manage fine with 2 but a 3rd makes packing up the trailer at the end of the weekend so much nicer.

[porkingINpublic]

Myself: head cook, ribs & chicken
Sam: butts & brisket

We find someone to run stuff & clean up... It's generally just 3 people for us, except at mbns... That's a 4-5 person show

[Pack-A-Smokes]

We started with just me and my wife. We quickly grew to 7 because our friends really thought what we were doing was cool. Everyone had a responsibility though. We had a dishwasher, trash man, box runner and just whatever. We even had one that was dubbed our "lucky charm". He did nothing more than drink and predict how our boxes would score. The second year we were down to 5. My wife and I, another couple and another individual. This worked pretty well. Some of the others would come when they could just to hang out. Now we are down to just the two couples. Works about as smooth as ever. My buddy and I do all the cooking and our wives put the boxes together (my wife is trimming and seasoning the ribs now). Since we have reduced down we have done better because as the cliche goes, "too many cooks...". We have even taken a vote not to ever take on anymore in the future. We still have friends and family hang out but that is it. Oh, our lucky charm still gets a call after turn in for his predictions. He is pretty close most of the time. This past weekend he nailed pork and brisket placement and was within 1 of chicken.
More people = a greater chance for drama. I don't need drama at a comp!