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Never been to a BBQ comp.

Bigr314

Bigr314

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I have never been to a BBQ comp. before. I would like to find one to go to. Is there a lot to do as a spectator? Do not want to compete, just to go see one. Do you walk around and sample some Q, or what else is there to do? Thanks
 
Bigr314 said:
I have never been to a BBQ comp. before. I would like to find one to go to. Is there a lot to do as a spectator? Do not want to compete, just to go see one. Do you walk around and sample some Q, or what else is there to do? Thanks
Click to expand...

yeah,go,they're fun but it depends on the comp.some don't allow samples to the general public but most do.

some comps are held in conjuction w/ city/county/state fairs,NASCAR races,etc. and some are smaller events that center around the BBQ itself.

this one is coming up soon in PA.-
https://www.everfest.com/e/new-holland-summer-fest-new-holland-pa
 
Bigr314 said:
I have never been to a BBQ comp. before. I would like to find one to go to. Is there a lot to do as a spectator? Do not want to compete, just to go see one. Do you walk around and sample some Q, or what else is there to do? Thanks
Click to expand...

I'm with you i have never been to a BBQ comp. either and have always wanted to go and have had the same question what do you do there?
My son and I always talked about Memphis in May and talked about going but never did because we lived in SW AZ.
So the Jack Daniels is coming up in Oct. and i now live in NC. about 230 miles away so giving it a lot of consideration i just don't know what to expect i'm 65 and brand new to the smoking thing and just want to learn all i can.
 
Luckly down here all contests have us hand out samples. One will even let you buy a whole butts. Don't know what associations you have up there. You always have an invite down here for the one we still do in March. We don't compete much any more due to working nightshift.
 
Mt.man511 said:
I'm with you i have never been to a BBQ comp. either and have always wanted to go and have had the same question what do you do there?
My son and I always talked about Memphis in May and talked about going but never did because we lived in SW AZ.
So the Jack Daniels is coming up in Oct. and i now live in NC. about 230 miles away so giving it a lot of consideration i just don't know what to expect i'm 65 and brand new to the smoking thing and just want to learn all i can.
Click to expand...

The Jack is fun.other than the food & some really awesome rigs there's the Jack Daniels distillery to tour,live music,and shopping around town.
it is a dry town so BYOB.

also-
if you head South on I-24 from Murfreesboro there's a Lodge cast iron factory & shop in South Pittsburg,Tn. about an hour east of Lynchburg.
 
No sampling at all around here. Not much for a spectator to do unless the competition is coupled with another event.
 
Not much to do as a spectator but I say go anyway and just walk around and look and talk to the teams (as long as they are aren't busy.) You would be surprised how friendly and open to talk most of the top teams are.

The first contest we went to we were just walking around and talking when I walked up to one cook and commented on his pit and I turned to walk away. He thanked me and invited us to come into the tent, we accepted, he gave us all a bottle of water and said he was going to be pulling chicken off in just a second and asked if I would told his turn in box still while he put the chicken in it? Sure! So he gets the chicken in and says he has to go turn it in says he'll be right back and to please eat the chicken that was left. WOW! The chicken was unreal, however he didn't get a call. Who was the cook? None other than Rod Gray.
 
Comps

GO GO GO to a comp..Met alot of great people at comps,even got to taste some really good ribs & brisket..Give you something too shoot for when your home smoking!!!
I'm going too Que by the Sea and Red White & Que next month, in Jersey..Can't wait!!!
DanB
 
4ever3 said:
Not much to do as a spectator but I say go anyway and just walk around and look and talk to the teams (as long as they are aren't busy.) You would be surprised how friendly and open to talk most of the top teams are.

The first contest we went to we were just walking around and talking when I walked up to one cook and commented on his pit and I turned to walk away. He thanked me and invited us to come into the tent, we accepted, he gave us all a bottle of water and said he was going to be pulling chicken off in just a second and asked if I would told his turn in box still while he put the chicken in it? Sure! So he gets the chicken in and says he has to go turn it in says he'll be right back and to please eat the chicken that was left. WOW! The chicken was unreal, however he didn't get a call. Who was the cook? None other than Rod Gray.
Click to expand...

Awesome!!!
 
Attending competitions are fun. The Jack was very fun to attend and the family had a great time.

You'll get the most out of a competition if you know a team. Check out the competition section of the forum and see if any brethren are going to the competition you are considering. I have no doubt any of them would be more than happy to talk q
 
We've competed 2 times and had some great conversations with passers-by. Lots of people are interested in seeing my teammate's Yoder YS640 Comp Cart (I guess there's not many of them in this area). We haven't had anyone come by during the hectic time of 10AM til 2PM...but we did practice such a thing at our practice cook before our first comp. If someone came by during that time, we'd definitely hand out a sample if someone asked.

The only strange thing was at our last comp, we were in the trailer building our pork box and I saw some guy step over some of our stuff and walk right up to my smoker...so I stuck my head out of the trailer and asked politely "Hey bud, can I help you?" and he looked like he saw a ghost and quickly said no and left never to be seen again. Not sure what he was up to...I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he just really wanted to see a Humphrey's up close. :grin:
 
The comps that are tied to some type of festival/concert/other event are the best ones to experience. Granted the ones with just the teams you can walk around and chat with them, but it might not fill an afternoon. So the good spectator ones have things for kids, vendors selling crafts, bands, etc. More to do and see at those.

But most event's websites give the info and you can see what is going one. I can also say the Jack is the best experience as a cook I've ever been a part of and would be awesome for just visiting as well. Lots to do and see there.

As other have said samples can be hit or miss in terms of them just having them, but many times there is a "Peoples Choice" where the teams turn in pulled pork to a tent and then the public judges anonymously. Those are good because you'll get a bunch of samples all in one.

Hope you get to check one out soon. They are a really cool part of the bbq world. We're at our first of the year (slow year) this weekend :-D.
 
If you're able to, see what Brethren teams will be competing in the contests (there's usually a roll call thread in the comp bbq forum), and try to set up a plan to meet the team at the contest. Most times in KCBS, the pro teams don't do any sampling but if you plan ahead, you can sample turn-ins from a team you know.
 
I've never attended a comp, either. I'm going to remedy this by attending the Smoke on the Water comp in Atlantic City this October. :grin:
 
Smoking Piney said:
I've never attended a comp, either. I'm going to remedy this by attending the Smoke on the Water comp in Atlantic City this October. :grin:
Click to expand...

We did that comp 2 years ago.....really great time. Have also done Wildwood about 3 times. The people you meet at comps are some of the nicest on this or any other planet. Being noobies to comps we forgot to bring quite a few things. The fellow competitors were more than willing to help us out. They're also very willing to share a lot (but not all) of their techniques and of course their food.

If you are heading to AC in October, shoot me a message before. Would be nice to meet another Brethren from South Jersey....even though you're a Piney :mrgreen::mrgreen:
 
Thanks for all the responses. Did not expect to get this good info on this topic. I can't wait to get to one ASAP. I will look to see if any Brethren will be competing. That would be awesome. Thanks again to all of you good people.
 
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