judges class

Lee,

There is a lot of benefit judging first.. Make sure you actually judge a couple of contests, and not just take the class. The class will benefit you, but actually judging gives you a chance to see what teams are actually turning in, and it also gives you a chance to interact with the experienced judges.

Agree with Kevin.

I always ask teams, when they come up to me, if any of them are certified judges. The ones that are finishing near the bottom never have any judging experience.

Logic tells me if I have to compete by their rules, then get out there and learn the rules -- by judging.

Judge as many as you can, looking at the various boxes and listening to the various judges. It will drive you crazy later when you're a competitior, but it's the right way to do it.

Russ

I could not agree with Kevin more. All four of us on the FireHouseBBQ team are judges. In fact, three of us are master judges. Of which, we feel this was one of the big reasons we have done as well as we have when we joined the cooking circuit.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks for all the comments.
Lee

What the guys above said , could be the best thing you ever do.

The judges judge you against a standard,although somewhat subjective.

They could be looking for pizza and you are turning in cantelope-because you and your family like cantelope on Sat.

Then you can't figure out how your cooking could be so poor.

I attended the class the past weekend.
I had a blast.
Learned a lot of good info, especially what the judges a going by, instead of what I like.
I was truly suprised, there were 67 people taking the class, which will also make it harder to get a judges spot at competetions.
I got to talk to some fellow pellet heads and some people that I've seen on Food TV.
It was cool.

So, name names. Who'd you meet?

Glad to hear it. Best way to judge is to annoy the heck out of the organizer and say that you'd like to help out as a judge and if there is anything else you can do, let you know.

THEN

Once you're on their list, you'll get invited back each year.

Smokin'

Like Smokin' says,reach out to them-don't wait for them to seek you out.

Here is the NBNews site and schedules.

Go through them now,email and snail mail all those organizers that you would like to go to-now.

They need judges in your area.
National Barbecue News Schedule

Thanks John for pointing out that I am not a Master Judge yet. Maybe some day I can get some Pink suspenders and a nice big hat too.

Lee I always tell people that are first looking to compete to judge. First it save's you alot of money, because you know what kind of product is out there. Second you can now taste the other products that are out there. This give's you a head start on know where you can improve on your que. I would find a class and then judge as many as you can. I would also look into some good classes out there.


Craig
FireHouseBBQ

I met Cookshack site members, TN Catfish and Joe Amore.
Some of the smokin that we judged was by Music City Pig Pals and BlindDawg BBQ.
KCBS pres Tony Stone gave the class.
I talked to Steve who is over the Bloomin Bluegrass and BBQ in Sevierville and he told me to go ahead and send in my application to judge even though we won't get our judges # for 4-6 weeks. And Mark who is over a new competetion that will be in Knoxville at the end of July.
The man who was our table captain (I can't believe I forgot his name) was the nicest guy and would answer any questions.
My wife has laughed at me all weekend saying I was like a little kid at a candy store and talking about my new friends.
I can't wait to judge my first comp, hopefully it will be Seveirville in May.
Lee

Now Craig,

You have to post the number of "backyard contests" you do, to get real status.

quote:

Originally posted by FireHouseBBQ:
[qb] Thanks John for pointing out that I am not a Master Judge yet. Maybe some day I can get some Pink suspenders and a nice big hat too.
[/qb]

And I'm proud to say Craig, I'm not a Master Judge either. There are those that do (cooks) and those that don't (judges) so I don't see myself going to contest for the next few years and judge. That is unless I get pasted this year in contests and give it up.

Oh, and NO offense to my Master Judge Friends. Enjoy those Backyard tables

My apologies Craig. It was not meant as a derogatory comment towards you.

John I don't think it read as an insult, you guys just pick on the "kid" too much. But he's a fireman and can handle it.

ME, I see it as a badge that I haven't sat through that many contests and not competed.

Not to belabor this,but for those not in on the jokes, my teammate"the redheaded favorite stepchild" is also a very senior /experienced judge, himself, and hasn't bothered to pick up the couple incidental items that will make him a master.

He just complains because he doesn't have his own pink suspenders,pith helmet,and cooler.

What can ya say about these wannabes?

LOL Sorry I have not been able to be on for acouple days because I have been at the firehouse. John it was a joke... Yes I am the red headed step child on the team that loved to judge the backyard tables too. Tom are you going to hand me down your pick suspenders when I become a master judge some day? Or maybe those funny orange shoes mom gave you?


Craig
FireHouseBBQ

I'll never give up the orange shoes,as they also identify me as a certifiable table captain.