Competitors Beware of the Music City BBQ Festival in Nashville TN!!

dosvans

dosvans

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On August 22-23rd, we competed in the Music City BBQ Festival in Nashville TN. We deposited our Reserve Grand check a few days after the contest, and found out a few days after that, the check had bounced! I called the Organizer and left messages, and after several days I received a call back. He told me that I would get my check in a few days. After a week and no check, I called again and left messages. Well, three weeks later and still no check and no call back from the organizer. I have found out that this has also happened to a backyard team at the same contest. I had heard bad things about this organizer prior to this contest, but decided to compete anyway. Now I’m regretting that I did. My recommendation to all BBQ competitors is to steer clear of this contest in the future.
 
Write a letter to KCBS explaining everything. Do not attack the organizer or use emotional language, just state the facts...you will get farther that way.

On another note...Money is one thing, but I've never heard of someone regretting competing in a contest where they got an RGC...them is braggin rights brother - CONGRATS!
 
Man, that's the worst. We had the same thing happen to us a couple years back (not RGC, but checks bouncing). Luckily the organizer made good, and paid for the bounced check fees.
 
I would write up a professional and non-emotional letter laying out what happened, how you attempted to contact the organizer and include dates/times.

I would then send it to the organizer and let him know that as there seems to be some difficulty in reaching him, that you will be sending that letter to each sponsor of the event, whoever owns the venue (the township probably), the media outlets that covered the event and the other competitors in the hopes that one of them can reach him. List as many of these as you can by name in the letter.

If you can reach out to the person that got stiffed in the backyard division, have him do the same about 3 days later.

I would also reach out to the Better Business Bureau in the town.

Eric
 
TooSaucedToPork said:
Write a letter to KCBS explaining everything. Do not attack the organizer or use emotional language, just state the facts...you will get farther that way.

On another note...Money is one thing, but I've never heard of someone regretting competing in a contest where they got an RGC...them is braggin rights brother - CONGRATS!
Click to expand...


KCBS (2 board members) has been notified and know the full story. I was told that it would be brought up at the next board meeting.

As far as my regret, I regret taking part in a contest where there was the increased potential for this to happen to any BBQ competitor no matter if it was the RGC or 10th place in a category. As competitors, we all put up a lot of money to compete, and we all deserve the advertised rewards/awards as a result of our hard work.

This contest happened over 5 weeks ago, and I've been very patient because I know stuff happens. When an organizer does not return calls, and when he does, gives multiple excuses, that just isn't right. I've been told two times that the check would be in the mail the next week and it never was. Since my intial post this morning, I have spoken to the organizer again, and I was told that they are working to get the money in the account (meaning, they never had the full amount of money to payout to the awardees to begin with). Then I was told by the organizer that it's going slow because they all have "day jobs" (exact words).

If it sounds like I'm bad mouthing or attacking the organizer, you got it right!!! I'm beyond being patient and nice about it.

I decided to post on here because I don't want this to happen to other brethren at this contest.
 
Teamfour said:
Just curious, is the GC having the same issue?
Click to expand...

Both GC (MBN & KCBS) checks were paid. Per the organizer, they had 5-6 checks that bounced. Besides mine, I know one other was a team was competing in the Backyard division. I don't know who the other 3-4 are.
 
It's a bad contest all around in my opinion. It's a hour away from me and I won't cook it.
 
Do you have the information about the bounced checks in an email or was that verbal?

If you involve, even tangentially, the municipality, the sponsors and the BBB, you endanger the organizers ability to run this event again in the future. Create a paper trail.

Use a professional but aggressive approach.

I'm glad that you're reaching out and warning other folks. That sucks and I'm sorry that you have what should have been a great experience (RGC) ruined by these people.

Eric
 
"Bad contest" - besides not paying people hahaha

Is it because they try to do too much? ie MBN, KCBS and backyard at one contest? That has to be an organizational handful.
 
motoeric said:
Do you have the information about the bounced checks in an email or was that verbal?

If you involve, even tangentially, the municipality, the sponsors and the BBB, you endanger the organizers ability to run this event again in the future. Create a paper trail.

Use a professional but aggressive approach.

I'm glad that you're reaching out and warning other folks. That sucks and I'm sorry that you have what should have been a great experience (RGC) ruined by these people.

Eric
Click to expand...

I appreciate your and TSTP's advice, and most of the items you list are already part of my steps to rectify the situation. I only posted in here so that the Brethren know what's happening in regards to this contest, and maybe will think twice before competing in it in the future.
 
I'm pretty confident you'll be paid eventually. One of the reasons we cook KCBS sanctioned events is that on the rare occasion that the organizer goes broke KCBS is supposed to step in and make good on the promised prize money.

I believe this was a dual sanctioned event though, and I don't know what the MBN policy is on organizers defaulting.
 
Bad contest because of lack of communication, can't roll out till Sunday seems all the arrangements are made last second by the orginizer Elec. Location, porta johns, etc. They have a record of not paying other folks from what I understand. It wasn't the teams last time
 
DOSVANS- sorry to hear you're still getting jerked around. Hearing all this I wish more teams did the survey.
 
I didn't do nearly well enough at the comp to earn a (bad) check, but I will concur that it was not a well run competition in any facet. It's a shame in many ways as the city should be a great place to compete and enjoy all that is Nashville. Our experience there included:

-Not getting the larger space we ordered.
-No ambassador support
-When a team member commented to the organizer that there was an exit that could be opened to allow teams to leave Saturday, security was called and escorted the guy out.

I am still shaking my head at the spot one poor team got 2 down from us. A 20x30 site with a 8 foot diameter power pole base in the middle of it!!!

Hope you guys get your money!
 
I am reopening the survey for this event. If you attended it please feel free to take the survey so that we can get an accurate reflection of the event. If you know of other teams that attended but are not on here please pass it along. Whether your experience was good or bad I'd like to have it rated appropriately.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P592XVB
 
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