Am. Royal Invitational vs. Open

Uncle Willy · 10-24-2012, 12:53 AM

So 2013 will be my first year at the American Royal and I have a couple questions. We have been invited to the Invitational, what are the main differences between the Invitational and the Open? If I'm going to be cooking the Invitational anyway should I just cook the Open as well?
Any input y'all have would be appreciated.

BruceB · 10-24-2012, 01:04 AM

You're going to be there anyway, you might as well cook both. We cooked both this year and it's a long weekend. As far as differences go, there are about 140 teams in the Invitational and well over 500 in the Open. You'll be cooking Friday night for the Invitational and Friday night is BIG party night at the Royal...don't get distracted. The Saturday night cook for the Open is much more mellow.

It's a long weekend doing two cooks in 3 days but you have to do it once just to say you did it. And if you should be lucky enough to get a call, it will all be worth it.

Big Poppa · 10-24-2012, 09:48 AM

There were 154 teams in the invitational this year. I think they frown on you not doing both if you are there.

I preferred the invitational this year...heheheh

Diva · 10-24-2012, 10:36 AM

If you do the Invitational and not the Open, they usually place those teams near the exit, because you have to be out Saturday after awards.

JD McGee · 10-24-2012, 10:40 AM

We cooked both for the first time this year...it is an experience we will never forget and one every comp team should do...at least once! Good luck!

shares · 10-24-2012, 11:54 AM

You're there, you might as well cook both. You'll wish you did.

Uncle Willy · 10-24-2012, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the info. Any idea what the difference in payouts is between Invitational and Open?

JD McGee · 10-24-2012, 01:08 PM

You can actually win money? We wouldn' know anything about that...

Big Poppa · 10-24-2012, 02:22 PM

we won $10,000 for the invitational win I dont know what we made on our categories....just waiting for the dough...I think the open payed $12.5

huminie · 10-24-2012, 02:35 PM

You don't do either of these contests for the money. It is all about hearing your name called just once. You need to look at it for the experience that it is. Getting the chance to compete against the very best is an honor and privilege. Cook them both and have the time of your life! Definitely a bucket list item!

jbrink01 · 10-24-2012, 05:39 PM

I live 3 hours away and doing the pair of contests costs $2,000 m/l. Go do both and don't be afraid to get some sleep Friday. If you don't, you'll be dead by Sunday. I think my AR invoice this year was $780. Then you have meat, meals, fuel and alcohol......

BBQchef33 · 10-24-2012, 08:17 PM

We've been there for 5 years. Did both every year. After the first 2, we decide to spit the team. Scott and I do the invitational, and we put together friends to do the open.. last 2 years its been the mods of this forum Team Name for the open...

BBQ Brethren - Youve been Moderated. :)

backs to backs is exhausting and standing on blacktop the whole time doesnt help. YOU MUST get some sleep. The sheer size and engery of the event sucks the juice out of you. Sunday morning, i was wandering around clueless and pre-coffee from 2 days of partying/eating/cooking.. Diva gave me a kickstart with shot of tequilla.

so, advice..

start saving $$ now..
do both
get sleep fri AND Sat
consider splitting the team into 2 shifts unless you think yoiu can do both without fallign asleep during sundays turnin(like i did 2 years ago).

i just added up the numebrs from the debit card transactions.
All inclusive during the trip. fuel, hotels, contest incidentals and food/snacks $2281.
entry fee, $680(20x50)
Contest meats.... a little over $650.

its an experience you HAVE to do.... i was hooked after the first year.

Muzzlebrake · 10-24-2012, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huminie

You don't do either of these contests for the money. It is all about hearing your name called just once. You need to look at it for the experience that it is. Getting the chance to compete against the very best is an honor and privilege. Cook them both and have the time of your life! Definitely a bucket list item!

I do it for the money but I read Playboy for articles too

jbrink01 · 10-24-2012, 08:31 PM

[QUOTE=BBQchef33;2254677
i was wandering around clueless and pre-coffee from 2 days of partying/eating/cooking..
QUOTE]

So your point is......?

BBQchef33 · 10-24-2012, 08:35 PM

point is diva rescued me with a shot, but i was still clueless... that was established when I didnt have coffee, and there was a kuerig in the trailer..

10-24-2012, 12:53 AM	#1
Uncle Willy Found some matches. Join Date: 02-17-12 Location: Austin TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Am. Royal Invitational vs. Open So 2013 will be my first year at the American Royal and I have a couple questions. We have been invited to the Invitational, what are the main differences between the Invitational and the Open? If I'm going to be cooking the Invitational anyway should I just cook the Open as well? Any input y'all have would be appreciated.

10-24-2012, 01:04 AM	#2
BruceB Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Utica, MI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You're going to be there anyway, you might as well cook both. We cooked both this year and it's a long weekend. As far as differences go, there are about 140 teams in the Invitational and well over 500 in the Open. You'll be cooking Friday night for the Invitational and Friday night is BIG party night at the Royal...don't get distracted. The Saturday night cook for the Open is much more mellow. It's a long weekend doing two cooks in 3 days but you have to do it once just to say you did it. And if you should be lucky enough to get a call, it will all be worth it. __________________ Good Talkin' With You Bruce 22 1/2" WSM 2 18 1/2" WSM's Pitmaster iQue 110 Weber 22 1/2" Kettle Weber Smokey Joe Platinum Weber Genesis Gasser Treasurer, Great Lakes BBQ Association Member Rubbed, Smoked and Sauced BBQ Team KCBS/CBJ #55356

10-24-2012, 10:36 AM	#4
Diva is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-30-07 Location: Kansas City, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you do the Invitational and not the Open, they usually place those teams near the exit, because you have to be out Saturday after awards. __________________ Steph www.TheSlabs.com

10-24-2012, 10:40 AM	#5
JD McGee somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-28-07 Location: Duvall, WA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We cooked both for the first time this year...it is an experience we will never forget and one every comp team should do...at least once! Good luck! __________________ Wine Country "Q" Competition BBQ

10-24-2012, 11:54 AM	#6
shares On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-18-08 Location: San Jose, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You're there, you might as well cook both. You'll wish you did. __________________ www.TooAshamedToName.com Competition BBQ

10-24-2012, 09:48 AM	#3
Big Poppa is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-11-09 Location: La Quinta, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	There were 154 teams in the invitational this year. I think they frown on you not doing both if you are there. I preferred the invitational this year...heheheh

10-24-2012, 12:59 PM	#7
Uncle Willy Found some matches. Join Date: 02-17-12 Location: Austin TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the info. Any idea what the difference in payouts is between Invitational and Open?

10-24-2012, 01:08 PM	#8
JD McGee somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-28-07 Location: Duvall, WA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You can actually win money? We wouldn' know anything about that... __________________ Wine Country "Q" Competition BBQ

10-24-2012, 02:22 PM	#9
Big Poppa is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-11-09 Location: La Quinta, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	we won $10,000 for the invitational win I dont know what we made on our categories....just waiting for the dough...I think the open payed $12.5

10-24-2012, 02:35 PM	#10
huminie is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-11-10 Location: Gilroy, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You don't do either of these contests for the money. It is all about hearing your name called just once. You need to look at it for the experience that it is. Getting the chance to compete against the very best is an honor and privilege. Cook them both and have the time of your life! Definitely a bucket list item! __________________ 2011 CBBQA Rookie ToY - 6th Overall, 2012 American Royal Invitational - Huminie's Hogalicious BBQ

10-24-2012, 05:39 PM	#11
jbrink01 is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 08-17-06 Location: Washington, Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I live 3 hours away and doing the pair of contests costs $2,000 m/l. Go do both and don't be afraid to get some sleep Friday. If you don't, you'll be dead by Sunday. I think my AR invoice this year was $780. Then you have meat, meals, fuel and alcohol...... __________________ KCBS #13207 **2013 Insane Can Posse Tour** Sponsored By: *Gateway BBQ Store* *Blues Hog BBQ Company* *Plowboys BBQ Company*

10-24-2012, 08:17 PM	#12
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 10 Uploads: 4	We've been there for 5 years. Did both every year. After the first 2, we decide to spit the team. Scott and I do the invitational, and we put together friends to do the open.. last 2 years its been the mods of this forum Team Name for the open... BBQ Brethren - Youve been Moderated. :) backs to backs is exhausting and standing on blacktop the whole time doesnt help. YOU MUST get some sleep. The sheer size and engery of the event sucks the juice out of you. Sunday morning, i was wandering around clueless and pre-coffee from 2 days of partying/eating/cooking.. Diva gave me a kickstart with shot of tequilla. so, advice.. start saving $$ now.. do both get sleep fri AND Sat consider splitting the team into 2 shifts unless you think yoiu can do both without fallign asleep during sundays turnin(like i did 2 years ago). i just added up the numebrs from the debit card transactions. All inclusive during the trip. fuel, hotels, contest incidentals and food/snacks $2281. entry fee, $680(20x50) Contest meats.... a little over $650. its an experience you HAVE to do.... i was hooked after the first year. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Klose built MoAB (Mother of All Banderas) passed on to Big Dog, 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 1 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 1 Pit Barrel Cooker, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, 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

10-24-2012, 08:31 PM	#14
jbrink01 is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 08-17-06 Location: Washington, Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	[QUOTE=BBQchef33;2254677 i was wandering around clueless and pre-coffee from 2 days of partying/eating/cooking.. QUOTE] So your point is......? __________________ KCBS #13207 **2013 Insane Can Posse Tour** Sponsored By: *Gateway BBQ Store* *Blues Hog BBQ Company* *Plowboys BBQ Company*

10-24-2012, 08:35 PM	#15
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 10 Uploads: 4	point is diva rescued me with a shot, but i was still clueless... that was established when I didnt have coffee, and there was a kuerig in the trailer.. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Klose built MoAB (Mother of All Banderas) passed on to Big Dog, 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 1 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 1 Pit Barrel Cooker, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, 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