site set-up tips to share?

[Poker Smoker]

If you own a cell phone, you own an atomic clock.
Less is more.

[watg?]

Thanks folks, a ton of great ideas here, thanks!!

[chambersuac]

as someone who would love to compete one day, these are great. watg, are you going to make your article available here? IMO, this would make a great sticky so the tips can help many people now and in the future. Mods?

[Alan in Ga]

Yes I found that very informative as we are also getting ready to join the comp ranks

[Jeff S.]

I mounted my paper towel holder(the folding plastic kind) in the recess under my folding table. It keeps the towels dry and they dont blow in the wind.

When folded closed for travel, it is thinner than the recess, so it cant get broken.

[Buster Dog BBQ]

I trim everything at home and have a knife for each category that needs slicing. That leaves me with about 8-10 dishes that go in a bus tub and home to the dishwasher. Most of those 8-10 are used during turn in so they are not sitting around long.

[Buster Dog BBQ]

Originally Posted by ZILLA

Wear two pair of latex gloves and just remove the dirty pair. Much easier to get a new pair on.

I put my pork and brisket on the same smoker at the same time. Doing this I can load the smoker much quicker and only have to open it once.

[Ron_L]

Originally Posted by chambersuac

as someone who would love to compete one day, these are great. watg, are you going to make your article available here? IMO, this would make a great sticky so the tips can help many people now and in the future. Mods?

We have too many stickies as it is, but I will add this to the KCQuer Roadmap To the Competition Forum so it can be found easily.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=13677

Thanks, Dan!

[watg?]

Originally Posted by chambersuac

as someone who would love to compete one day, these are great. watg, are you going to make your article available here? IMO, this would make a great sticky so the tips can help many people now and in the future. Mods?

I will keep you posted on the article, got some great stuff here, thanks again to everyone for your suggestions.

[Rookie'48]

Originally Posted by Boshizzle

What about judges? I take Tylenol, soap, a clean t-shirt, and a clamp on umbrella.

And a wet wash cloth in a baggie. I also bring masking tape to hold down the plate on windy days and toothpicks (the plastic ones with floss).

Middle seats are always either the 3rd or 4th pick from the turn in box.

I like the end seats - fat guy mod.

Don't put your fingers that you have been licking all over the entries that you are not eating when picking out a piece of meat from the box. Don't take up so much room at the judging table that the ones sitting beside you are cramped. Be considerate of the other judges.

Ditto on the fingers - yuck! As for taking up too much room, see above comment ;>)

..... You are not there merely to eat good BBQ.

You are 100% right on that! Take at least two good sized bites of each piece so that you can give a fair score.

[KnucklHed BBQ]

Originally Posted by Poker Smoker

If you own a cell phone, you own an atomic clock.
Less is more.

My blackberry is one of the few phones that will let you set the time to whatever you want, I always sync it to the official clock just in case!
If it's slower than the official, I usually adj it so that its 30 sec fast if anything...

Originally Posted by watg?

I will keep you posted on the article, got some great stuff here, thanks again to everyone for your suggestions.

Thanks for this!

One thing I plan on implementing is to STOP using wash tub type things as a means of transporting stuff to and from the comp... when it's time to set up the tubs, you have to empty all yer crap out of 'em and then the joint looks like a mess (not to mention it sucks to try and find the things you need then)
I plan on getting some 3 drawer plastic carts and giving everything a permenant home, that way set up and break down are quicker and smoother. Also, items can actually be put away when finished being used instead of just tossing somewhere to the side.

Something I've also been bad at is having to pack too much stuff from the kitchen before leaving.
I'll be getting duplicates of everything, that way there's no robbing the favorite tongs or whatever from the kitchen, there's already a pair in the comp gear... same goes for shakers, knives, baggies, foil, etc...

Bring small wooden blocks of different thicknesses to level out tables & tents... even if you're cooking in a parking lot, you'll end up being the guy with the busted up asphalt and a rocky table and a tent pullin some 3 wheel motion. Hopefully you've got the sick beats and metal flake paint to pull it off and still look cool.
Use a wood boring bit to make a slight impression in the block on 1 side so that the table leg/tent leg has something to sit in and won't just slide off the block.

[bbqdavarrow]

Instead of constantly looking up at the clock I also use a "audio clock" by that I mean I play "Elected" by Alice Cooper which is about 4:20 long. I have played it so much that I know when the song is about 1/2 way done or getting close to the end. And it has become sort of a subconscious clock where you know exactly how much time you have without looking at the clock. It works for me!

[Yleekyoti]

Hey George I just did my first comp ever at Easton (18th overall ,7thplace pork) Yea Im happy LOL. YOur book was a big help in that direction. I left friday morning with five gallons of hot water in a drinking cooler and it was still hot when I got home sat night , Thanks for that tip.
One good thing I did was to have enough table space so that every thing I needed was On the tables or under it. No walking back and forth to the truck or trailer looking for stuff.
Looking forward to reading your article.. Thanks again!!!
BoB

[Sticks-n-chicks]

I don't think this was mentioned but what has helped me more than anything is practicing in my driveway and doing it with how I would set up at a comp. This helped me get my layout down and organize what I needed and what I didn't. Observation of how other team set up and what they use. must have's to me are;
- coleman hot water heater
- table leg extensions
- Comfy chair (making sure the beer cooler is within reach)

But the most important thing to bring to a comp...patience and a sense of humor!

[CBQ]

Head mounted lights. They make 'em for skiers. Ever try to peer into the back of your smoker at night while trying to mop something and hold a flashlight? Ya, I look like a coal miner, but I always have light where I need it and free hands.