Attending Smoking in Mesquite BBQ Competition as spectator/tourist?

[azloon]

Wife and I are going to Vegas over Labor Day Weekend and plan to visit Smokin in Mesquite BBQ Competition which ia about 1 1/2 hours from Vegas that weekend. Plan to go on Sat or Sun for a few hours and have a few question that maybe someone can help me with. We have never participated or attended a BBQ competition before and want to see one in person.

1) are you allowed to go thru the team areas and observe?
2) If we go on Saturday will enough be going on?
3) Are BBQ vendors there with items for sale?
4) Any other comments or advice?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Ozric]

1) Absolutely, you are permitted in the team areas. Many teams will have items for sale (like their rub or sauce) and most or all will sample at one time or another. The last few comps I've been to are selling sample tickets now, so there's no need to deal in cash for samples; just give them a ticket. That's how I found Yoder Smokers. There was a comp in Williams the end of June. One pit master had a new YS640 and a beta YS1320 (both on comp carts; the 1320 is now the 1500 (6" longer; the same otherwise)) that Yoder was letting him try on the comp circuit. He was kind of in the middle of something, but he was nice enough to talk to me for a bit. After that, I knew my next grill was a 640.

2) Depends. The answer for Sunday would be the same. Each comp will have a number of actual comps, with Saturday and Sunday turn-ins. So, if you get there just before a turn-in is due, you won't get anybody to talk to you; they're too busy. You want to get them after the meat is on and before they need to pull it. Pick a day. You'll have a blast.

3) Yes. Depending on the comp, and the level of competitors. I am not familiar with the comp you're going to, so can't comment specifically on it. One thing is certain, though. If a team has developed its own rub or sauce, they'll have it for sale.

4) Yes. Eat smoked meat. Drink beer. Have fun! Drive safely.

 

[Big Poppa]

You cannot go into teams areas...sorry Ozric If you are invited fine but the worst thing is for spectators walking around your cookers while you are trying to make turn ins/

 

[Ozric]

I didn't mean inside of a specific team's area. What I meant was, and what my experience has been, is that you can walk the "aisles", around, between, however they're arranged at a given comp, and watch them work. They will set up there sample tables (if they're prepared to do that) along those "walkways." In other words, the team area (the area the teams are in).

The closest I got to being inside of a team area was the team that had the Yoder YS640 and YS1320 at the comp in Williams the end of June. The pit master didn't have much time, but he was nice enough to explain them a bit to me while he was working (his choice; I didn't push him at all; that would have been disrespectful). He even went back to his truck to get me Yoder brochure.

 

[Big Poppa]

ozrtic just clarifiying

 

[scooter]

azloon, the best times to approach a comp team is the evening before the comp and after turnins are done the day of the comp. the evening prior is when teams are at their most relaxed and social. After turnins is when they are exhausted but are also beginning to cleanup and get ready to go home. They are approachable during time after turnins.
There are property lines at a comp in the same way as on a block of houses on a street. The same rules apply. Do not enter unless invited. Do not cross through one teams camp to get to another team or to shortcut to another row of teams. Please go around, not through. If they look busy, they are so please come back at a different time to catch them when they're not busy.
Not all comp teams vend and not all venders are competing. Teams will have menus up usually if they're vending. You'll be able to tell the vending teams from the non vending teams and from the vendors selling food and/or BBQ supplies.
Have fun, be respectful of the teams property lines and cook schedules.
You will learn a lot.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk while driving one handed!

 

[KimG SOW]

Go to the Contest's website. It should have a good amount of information. Hen we cooked Mesquite a couple of years ago, they had a people's choice rib cook-off. A lot of the teams turned in ribs all you had to do was pay and fee and then you could sample all of them and pick your favorite. That year Texas Rib Rangers were the BBQ Vendors. If you want to socialize with teams, go the day before turn-in and most teams will be willing to talk.