All that I can offer is that you should ask yourself one extremely important question: "Why am I competing?"
An honest answer to that question should make it apparent to you whether or not any sponsorship/partnership/name change should be undertaken based on how that will better fulfill your purpose.
To answer your question tim, I compete because I love it. I love seeing all the brethren, just being there is exciting.
Geeez! It wasn't my question. I said to ask yourself that question! :becky:
Does sponsorship allow you to do more competitions and thereby bring more love? As for just being there and seeing all of the Brethren, you can do that without actually competing. And you can even just do it at the comps where it isn't raining like back in Noah's day!
Gives me a chance to cook cuts of meat that I honestly can't justify cooking year round.
Really? What cuts can't you justify cooking year round?
Chicken?
So you only cook ribs at a competition?
I thought chicken and ribs were the backbone of just about any summer BBQ party.
A pork butt? OK a twin cryo may be more than you want for a meal but you can always cook and freeze, and it is simple enough to do for a party plus it is some good inexpensive eats.
Brisket? Maybe the largest of the choices, but again you can cook and freeze or do for a party.
Having a Butcher, and a local business who may be willing to help with the purchase of equipment and store said equipment comes in real handy. We have never been off the Island as far as contests go. If we placed in the Sam's club series we'd consider traveling.
OK, if it is about the money and the desire to compete bigger and more then considering making concessions like name changes may be worthwhile.
Just ask yourself that will add to why you compete.
Will that make you love it more?
Will you love seeing the Brethren more?
Will you get more excitment out of it?
If the answers are all "YES," then what you should do seems rather obvious.
If not, then tread carefully.
For me, in my situation, the answer would be clear. We compete as a family for the fun and the closeness that it brings us. Spending a minimum of 36 straight hours together with my son, my brother, and my niece gives us quality time that is often hard to find these days. Our wives are there part of the time too. It is all about having a good time. I don't need anyone outside of the family having expectations of us. One look at the advertisements on our malevolent sponsors' banner pretty much tells you all you need to know about why we're there.
