Contest Announcment Bear's Smokehouse New England BBQ Championships - Hartford, CT - 9/5-6

Any news on this? The teams that will sign up for this are already making their schedules. Some may be done. Would hate to see this contest lose its draw. This isn't a comp for the two a year folks. With that entry fee you want the big boys and the big boys (and girls) make their schedule as soon as possible.
 
With the change to a flat fee, and simplification of the permitted makes this sound more attractive. I don't want to put emergency lighting in my open sided tent though. If there are 2 people in a 20 foot tent with no walls, and you can't find the exit without an exit sign - it's nature's way of thinning the herd.

Only other issue: it's the same weekend as the Sam's Club Regional. Now only the top 6 from that will advance, but we won't know if we are in that group until AFTER the weekend of August 8th, and the cutoff for Bear's is July 15. Given that well over half the field in Sam's this year has the chops to advance, I'm sure there are a number of teams taking a wait and see approach here.
 
I have only done a couple permits so this might be a dumb ? but it seems the meat is not set for PC, but when you fill out the permit online you have to list what you are cooking?


Bear'sBBQ said:
Skip,

Also I believe the prize pool is posted now. I have personally committed 20K, so the pool is at the very least that. As we get more sponsors the pool will increase.
Click to expand...

I could not find this on the site, has the prize pool been posted?
 
I am watching this thread for updates and thinking of doing this comp. I will probably bow out of the Peoples Choice, having a trailer with graphics on the side stating "The Largest NY Jets Fan Club/Tailgate Party" will probably not go over so well in Patriots territory.
 
Skip said:
Any news on this? The teams that will sign up for this are already making their schedules. Some may be done. Would hate to see this contest lose its draw. This isn't a comp for the two a year folks. With that entry fee you want the big boys and the big boys (and girls) make their schedule as soon as possible.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I'm in the two a year club. What a convoluted hot mess this contest sounds like. Only the big boys will be able to comply with all those requirements, and I'm sure the city will have some "surprises" during turn ins. Wish there were more tailgate/backyard comps in the area. The kcbs circuit is slowly becoming to expensive for the little guy
 
wags said:
Yeah. I'm in the two a year club. What a convoluted hot mess this contest sounds like. Only the big boys will be able to comply with all those requirements, and I'm sure the city will have some "surprises" during turn ins. Wish there were more tailgate/backyard comps in the area. The kcbs circuit is slowly becoming to expensive for the little guy
Click to expand...

This is on the very high end for KCBS fees, I wouldn't judge contests by this one. Try Taino's Smokehouse, RI Campus Cook Off, New London Best BBQ chef for more affordable area events.

The problem with tailgate events is that without the judging rules that KCBS provides, it's a real crap shoot. As much as we like to complain about KCBS judges on here, a backyard event judging process is likely to be a LOT worse. There are no standards, and sometimes no scoring system at all. We cooked in one once where we asked the organizer how the judges scored the entries...the answer was "I hadn't really thought about that."

So KCBS costs a little more, but you get more for it.
 
I agree with above! These are all Great events!, but there still should be some type of backyard separate Comp to encourage those that want to get their feel wet.
 
wags said:
Yeah. I'm in the two a year club. What a convoluted hot mess this contest sounds like. Only the big boys will be able to comply with all those requirements, and I'm sure the city will have some "surprises" during turn ins. Wish there were more tailgate/backyard comps in the area. The kcbs circuit is slowly becoming to expensive for the little guy
Click to expand...

Wags check this one out 4 meats KCBS categories I cut my teeth at this event for 3 yrs before moving up to KCBS .. only $50 to enter great little contest , great venue, Matt and his group are the best.and grand prize they have given away Tragers, and Cookshacks in the past http://barnbrewbbq.com/1_2_Smoke-Off-2015.html
 
Anyone heard anything new here? Whats 5the final outcome with all the fees. Anyone have email contact or updates?
 
Skip said:
Anyone heard anything new here? Whats 5the final outcome with all the fees. Anyone have email contact or updates?
Click to expand...

This was the cost to just sign up for the KCBS contest:

$503.95

$100 of this is a cleanup deposit that is supposed to be refunded after the event if you don't make a mess.


If you sign up for just KCBS you get this email:

Thank you for registering for the Bear’s Smokehouse New England BBQ Championships. In reviewing your application I see that you have elected to not participate in Saturday’s People’s Choice Event. As a fundraiser for Riverfront Recapture, your participation in Saturday’s People’s Choice event is very important to us and we would very much like to have your support. In addition to receiving a preferred site assignment and donated meat, you can win up to $1,500 out of our $4,000 People’s Choice prize pool! Please also understand that we are only accepting applications from a limited number of cook teams. If we reach capacity and a waitlisted team is willing to participate in Saturday’s People’s Choice event, they will take priority over teams that only elect to compete on Sunday.
Please consider joining us for this great event. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call.
 
Details are here: http://www.riverfront.org/events/bears-smokehouse-new-england-bbq-championships

I believe WFC is full for this year, so you would be competing for a 2016 spot in WFC.

I heard the prize pool was reduced to 15k, but I haven't seen that in writing. The web site still says 20k, as does KCBS, so I'm hoping I'm wrong about that. People's Choice is 4k.

Since you can't see the fee schedule until you get into the registration process, I'm showing it here. It's a pretty substantial upfront investment vs. other contests in the region.

  • A Standard Site (20' X 20') is $400.00 (required)
  • Increase Site Space to 20' X 40': $100.00 (optional)
  • Registration Service Fee: $3.95 (required)
  • Security Deposit: $100 (required, refunded after the contest if you follow the rules)
  • People's Choice Permit: $75 (You pay the upfront cost, and the contest reimburses you after the department of health confirms your permit.)
  • 15 amps included, additional 15 amps: $50

So if you want a 20x40 and will cook People's Choice, your upfront cost is $678.95, with $175 potentially refundable.

In addition, any tent over 10'x10' requires a permit from the City of Hartford, unless you rent one of theirs.

Tent Rental (includes weights)
10' X 10' Tent: $175.00
20' X 20' Tent: $390.00

Table Rental
1 - 8' Table: $15.00
2 - 8' Tables: $30.00
3 - 8' Tables: $45.00
4 - 8' Tables: $60.00

Chair Rental
1 - Chair: $5.00
2 - Chairs: $10.00
3 - Chairs: $15.00
4 - Chairs: $20.00
5 - Chairs: $25.00

Load in is supposed to be Saturday morning at 8AM, although the organizer told me they may be willing to make some exceptions for Friday night. You can
 
wags said:
Yeah. I'm in the two a year club. What a convoluted hot mess this contest sounds like. Only the big boys will be able to comply with all those requirements, and I'm sure the city will have some "surprises" during turn ins. Wish there were more tailgate/backyard comps in the area. The kcbs circuit is slowly becoming to expensive for the little guy
Click to expand...

Even the "big boys" are raising their eyebrows at the entry fees on this one.

Try New London. It's the prior weekend, not far from Hartford, and only $250.

http://www.downtownnewlondonassociation.com/portfolio/thebestbbqchefcompetition/
 
I'd love to do this one but I think I am going to look elsewhere. The organizer hasn't come back at all to review the site after dropping an incomplete report here. The fee schedule not only ridiculous but unnecessary. A registration fee? A security deposit? Fees for ez ups yet none for rented one with excessive cost? Possibly a declining prize pool? Gouging on ice? Who knows I might be wrong about all of the above but nothing seems clear.

Maybe I am overreacting but it smells fishy and that usually means its bad.
 
Last edited:
deez butts said:
This was the cost to just sign up for the KCBS contest:

$503.95

$100 of this is a cleanup deposit that is supposed to be refunded after the event if you don't make a mess.


If you sign up for just KCBS you get this email:

Thank you for registering for the Bear’s Smokehouse New England BBQ Championships. In reviewing your application I see that you have elected to not participate in Saturday’s People’s Choice Event. As a fundraiser for Riverfront Recapture, your participation in Saturday’s People’s Choice event is very important to us and we would very much like to have your support. In addition to receiving a preferred site assignment and donated meat, you can win up to $1,500 out of our $4,000 People’s Choice prize pool! Please also understand that we are only accepting applications from a limited number of cook teams. If we reach capacity and a waitlisted team is willing to participate in Saturday’s People’s Choice event, they will take priority over teams that only elect to compete on Sunday.
Please consider joining us for this great event. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call.
Click to expand...
so if I pay and they accept my money I can potentially be thrown out last minute for not doing pc? Are they serious? ??
 
Yeah Sled thats what they are saying. If you applied today they could pull your spot the day before because they got someone to do PC and you wouldn't. That's rough and potentially a blemish to a contest. If thats the case figure your number of spots and figure how many you want doing peoples choice and only release the remaining number of sites for non PC teams.

You know what the shame is in all of this. These questions were raised in February and nothing was done it seems. All the issues can be dealt with or removed completely but it seems no one is interested. I think quite possibly the organizers felt the prize pool would be enough and everyone would just grin and bear it. Seems that train of thought was wrong. Hopefully the organizers will pull a rabbit from their hat and make this contest as good as it potentially can be but its going to take work and a lot of saving face it seems. I wish them luck. We see fewer contests each year it seems in New England. It would be nice for this one to get off the ground. CT has always been hit or miss on contests.
 
mgp03051 said:
Wags check this one out 4 meats KCBS categories I cut my teeth at this event for 3 yrs before moving up to KCBS .. only $50 to enter great little contest , great venue, Matt and his group are the best.and grand prize they have given away Tragers, and Cookshacks in the past http://barnbrewbbq.com/1_2_Smoke-Off-2015.html
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike P. Just saw this! lol. Definitely something to check out for next year. Thanks for the heads up.
 
As I understand it, the contest is close to being sold out.

I think it's not the organizer that's causing the weird costs and issues, but the fact that they are using a venue controlled by the city, and with city control comes all kinds of government red tape.

Charlie Meyer has been responsive to me when I have asked questions. PM me if you want his email.

Sled, I got the same speech about being dropped if they find teams willing to do PC. I think the time slots, timing, and volume requirements make PC a bad option here. (Plus it's open People's Choice - which is nothing more than a crap shoot anyway. You just know some Hartford team throwing a party or a local restaurant that's been advertising the event for days is going to win it.)
 
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