Well what a loaded question, I have been grilling for years. I am the one when there is an outing and grilling is involved I get volunteered. Which was OK by me I always enjoyed cooking, and am a quite good open fire cook as well.
Smoking for me started about Thanksgiving 3 yrs ago, My gas grill had already burned out and turned into charcoal grill. This was one of those high dollar all S/S grills 5 burner etc. well the year pryor I had cooked the best Thanksgiving turkey I ever cooked before. so i had to top that one. Hince I turned my Gas/ Charcoal grill into a smoker.
Gutted out everything, used the lower tank cabinet as a fire box, sealed all holes, and smoked my first 21 lbTurkey, (WOW) my wife, being a little scepticle, had a back up plan for a ham to be cooked in oven. By the time she gotten around to putting ham into oven, it was too late her back up had now been put on smoker as well HAHAHHAHA, It turned out to be the most tender, and tasty turkey Ive ate, and the back up ham well she dont oven cook them anymore. So from that time on I have been hooked on smoking, have made numerouse smoking recipes, now have my own sauce and catering small outings, mostly camps, churches, and reunions.
Now looking to go larger and expand my cooking to satisfy others.