Contest Interest?

[Jeff_in_KC]

As some of you MoFos and KanFos recall, there used to be a pretty good contest at Pleasant Hill, MO and it ended a few years back. Well, being on the park board, I have pressed the issue to try to bring it back to town. I'm not sure I can convince the powers that need convincing but I think I have Rich and Bunny Tuttle onboard with it. They want to cook it though, not organize it.

I guess I'm interested in knowing a couple of things:

1. How many of you guys would cook the contest (with assurance it would be a very cooker friendly event) if it were brought back into existence? Pleasant Hill is about 15 minutes southeast of Lee's Summit in case you weren't sure on the distance from you.

2. And this question could be for anyone in the country with the experience: What approach should I take to try to convince the city we need to bring it back? I know their main objection was the work involved for little or no perceived benefit to the community. What would be the main things to emphasize to them?

Keep in mind this is very preliminary and stems from a discussion over several margaritas last Friday evening. Any words of wisdom are appreciated. :-D

 

[Merl]

Jeff,
You have cooked enough contest to see that some contest are only about the contest and some are community events.

If the city wants a community event then plan things which will involve the community.

For a start, inclued taster plates and peoples choice. Give the public a taste.
In addition those contest which bring in kid things, vending, funnel cakes, kettle corn, BEER, and other eats do well.
Don't leave out some music or entertainment. Its all about what you have and then promote, promote promote.

It can be a city wide event. Its not an accident some contest make a large impact and some don't.
Good luck
Merl

 

[Kung Fu BBQ]

let the city know there is money to be made... how it will be made I do not know. Contests encourage traffic and may bring people in. Combine it with a "taste of pleasant hill". That could get them stirring.
I'm in Lee's Summit so I'd be down with cookin that close to home.

 

[KC_Bobby]

Doesn't P Hill have an all night softball tournament? A BBQ in combination with that could be cool ... with an after hours beer tent and all!

Next to Raytown, this could be the closest to my home too. Speaking of which, how come LS doesn't have one? I count four teams on this board alone that are from there.

 

[Plowboy]

Just down the road from me. If the dates were right, I'd be there.

 

[Doorbusters]

Jeff, you still hungover form the Margaritta's? You know the answer to all these questions... No entry fee, $10k to win and pay through 20th etc... Just kidding, you know my situation, I'd cook all of 'em if I could afford it. I am all for the 24 hr Softball tourney, we did something like that when I was in Manhattan, kicked arse. Softball, food and a band with a $5 cover, the Parks and Rec. still say it was their best fundraiser ever. I have connections to County Beverage (Bud Dist.) make a deal to let them have rights and the city gets a cut!

 

[BBQ_Mayor]

Get a list of interested companys and business willing to support or sponsor the event before you go in front of the council. Show the council you have the support of the business community and have a plan for parking, vending, bands and other things. Make sure you check with them on ordinanices or permits you might need.
I would also Merl. Get the community involved. Have a peoples choice chile contest, Margeritta contest, bloodmary, whatever. Have taste tests or a Backyard contest open to people cooking on gas or whatever.
Depends on the date ( and the price of gas) if I could make it down, but it sounds like fun.
Make it Sept. 21 and 22nd and I'll be there since theres a Chiefs - Vikings game on Sunday.

 

[Papa Hogg]

A fundraiser for the park, I'm cooking in 2 events this year that are also fundraisers, one's for a Rotary Club & the other is for the Racine Zoo.

 

[Kung Fu BBQ]

Doesn't P Hill have an all night softball tournament? A BBQ in combination with that could be cool ... with an after hours beer tent and all!

Next to Raytown, this could be the closest to my home too. Speaking of which, how come LS doesn't have one? I count four teams on this board alone that are from there.

I've thought about the LS question myself. I'm gonna start hitting city council meetings, I also want an ice skating rink.

 

[KC_Bobby]

If Jeff wants to push P Hill, that's close enough for me. LS would screw it up ... just like the street construction. (Is there anyway to get across town right now without taking a detour?)

 

[SloppyQ]

What state is P Hill in.:roll: You know I would show up. See if you can get some local organization involved, Jaycees, Moose, Lions etc..

 

[Kung Fu BBQ]

470 to 50 east to chipman east turn left on the frontage road, take the second left past the chevy dealer ship do a uturn before the park, talk to Jerry the bum, wait three seconds and then accelerate to 35 but no greater, wait for the light to blink 3 times turn left hit the bump in the road, steer on two wheels between the bulldozers and the next thing you know you are there.

 

[slat]

If clean up is part of the problem check to see if you could get some Boy Scout Troops to help with clean up. They have to do so many community service hours anyway. Might help to reduce some of the burden on the city as far as clean up.

 

[Hawgsnheifers]

It's not like I know what I'm talking about Jeff, but it seems to me that the idea of putting on one of these is to introduce surrounding folks to Pleasant Hill as a way to lure them to live there, buy a house there, start a business there, buy stuff from a business there. So it would be logical that real estate, ( I think you have that one covered), local employers, owners of apartment buildings, service oriented companies would want to participate to get out the word. If you were to have a trade show kind of event where local business folks could show their wares. I bet the local Chamber has such a yearly show (if they don't they should) and linking with them could be the ticket. They typically have the "Buy Pleseant Hill" shows at some location with a big parking lot that can be used for the comp. Before I got into smoking, I would go to competitions and try to figure out how to get some of the chow. Nobody was serving, just some vender that came in to sell the so-called "Q". Osage city's event this year sold out all the BBQ bucks they had printed, and that was with the 4 inches of sleet and snow Friday night. I don't think the city is interested in fund raising. They want people to live there, pay taxes and tell others how great the city is and why they should live there also. Start talking increase tax base to your city board and they might find a way to make this happen.

my .02 for what's it worth. I'm not an expert and I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night either..

 

[Kung Fu BBQ]

/\ Thats kinda what the raytown event feels like.

 

[Chris Nickelson]

p hill sounds good if schedule fits

Dodge County could be there if it fit into the schedule.

 

[VGuilford]

You know I would be there. It would be perfect for ppl with no contest experience to get their feet wet. I've been thinking about doing a couple of small town events.

 

[Jeff_in_KC]

OK here's what I am thinking... two options: One is go next year third weekend in September when the only contest around KC is Shawnee Great Grillers and a week after Kearney. Two would be wait until 2009 and go first weekend in June when the closest is McLouth, KS and a week after Memorial Day Weekend and the Great American BBQ. Then I'd be expecting teams to go Oklahoma Joe's, GAB and ours in consecutive weeks. Would that be a bad thing (for anyone but Andy who cooks seventy-two straight weeks!)? One problem there is IF I decide to make a city council run in '09, the election is in April and would take away from my time organizing this. Thoughts?

 

[HoDeDo]

I wouldnt worry about the city council run... I have plenty of pictures to help sway that.... )

 

[Plowboy]

First weekend in June would fit perfect in our schedule. Second weekend is World Pork Expo. Third weekend in September is typically Liberty, I think. Liberty is usually two weeks after Blue Springs. Its canceled this year but claims to be back next year.