Make your goal for your first comp: Do not get a DQ in any category. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it's easy to get DQ'd: wrong greenery, ribs not cut all the way thru (I've seen this one bite experienced teams), a foreign object in box. My wife's job is box inspector (no jeers please :heh: ). She makes sure that the box is right before it walks.
As Slamdunk said, beware the Fire marshall Nazi. The guy has a reputation in Chesapeake, and not a good one for the BBQ people. I heard that he even rejected someone's EZUp because the tag had been ripped off saying it was fire retardant.
Time line, Time line, Time line!! That will bite you. It still gets to me. I have to have a Bloody Mary before chicken and a beer before pork just to calm down. Those 30 minutes windows come quick after chicken time. It will unnerve you if you haven't prepared for it. No time to relax between. As soon as you turn in one, you need clean your work station and get setup for the next box. Disposable table covers help here. Just rip off the nasty one and put down a clean new one.
If you have help, assign one person to clean things. Luckily for us we have a clean-freak friend. His job is to wash all implements (spatulas, brushes, etc) and he puts them back out like a surgeon's assistant. It's not cool to take away your tongs and then cant find them. This guy also takes away the meat and bags it after each turn in. This may sound trivial but it really helps.
As Ron L said, do a full practice in your backyard with the same time lines. Make notes. Try to have everything you need on your site and try not to go back in the house for anything. If you do forget something, write it down.
Looks like you're a beer fan. Good. Have your celebration beers ready. As soon as you turn in Brisket, break out your team beer and Celebrate! You deserved it!
I may be in Chesapeake with the Pigs on the Run team. If so I'll look you up. What's your team name?
