Campetition or Catering

[Woodman]

Well, here is a question that comes up alot for me lately. I have a BBQ catering business that is growing, but I also am a member (I think still) of a successful BBQ comp team (Northcoast BBQ Society.) I did a record number of jobs (13) this summer but was unable to compete even once! I can never commit to a comp far in advance because I have jobs come up sometimes on two week notice. The one week I could have gone to New Holland Pa, I was so tired and sick of BBQ, that I passed! This week, I had a job for 50 that netted me about $500 . Going to Oinktoberfest in Buffalo NY would have cost me $300. IN the end, there is more labor and work in catering, but you are just as worn out at the end of a comp. What would you do?

[DaHorns]

Competitions are fun, but the catering gig will help pay the bills. Also, its gaurunteed money......you know?

[Zilla]

All work and no play makes Woodman a dull boy. How about mixing it up a bit? Choose 6 comps to attend and go have some fun with the boys. It was all about fun when you started right?

[Papa Tom]

I find that the folks I cater to are easier to please than the judges and the rewards are more reliable.
But then you could wager on NCAA football too, Colorado and Kansas St. would have paid well this W/E.

[Bluegrass BBQ]

I do some catering,fairs and festivals. I have never been involved in a competition. I think I would get a lot more satisfaction out of the compliments I get from satisfied customers than I would from a few judges trying to decide if my food was any good. If you look at the $$ side of it it is a no brainer. It sounds as though there is just as much work it comps as in catering. I cook because I enjoy it or I wouldn't do it.

[SoEzzy]

I'm with Zilla, if the 13 gigs would pull you in $6,500, I would drop it to 10 gigs and do 3 competitions staggered through the season.

At the end of the year, you'll still have $4,100 extra in the bank, some quality time with good friends, and some more bbq tall tales and memories to carry you through to your dotage.

[HFD26]

I can see both sides. I've given some thought to catering in the past. I was wondering if you have a health license, insurance to cover liability in case someone gets sick and sues you? What about taxes? Since you are dealing with perishables, it take refrigeration and electricity is expensive? Do local health laws allow you to operate a food service business out of your home? I'm curious because I may give it a try someday.

[Papa Tom]

I can see both sides. I've given some thought to catering in the past. I was wondering if you have a health license, insurance to cover liability in case someone gets sick and sues you? What about taxes? Since you are dealing with perishables, it take refrigeration and electricity is expensive? Do local health laws allow you to operate a food service business out of your home? I'm curious because I may give it a try someday.


Yes you should carry liability insurance for the kid that goes up and puts his hand on the firebox.
Taxes Self Employment and sales taxes.
Refrigeration yep ya need to keep it cold. (and generating electricity out in the field is more expensive)
Local health laws will not allow you to operate a food service out of your home. You really need a health certified facility or you can name a commissary.

[BossmanBBQ]

Catering or contests was a question I had to ask myself this year after my wife and I got our certified kitchen. The problem I have with catering is like you said, it is very time consuming.
In the end I settled on doing contests and selling at the contest as well as doing private chief gigs for those interested so then I dont have to worry about the commercial kitchen, just do all the stuff at the gig.
The other problem with catering gigs is everyone wanted a discount not realizing the good Q isnt cheap! Got frustrating and more of a headache then it was worth.

[Woodman]

Catering or contests was a question I had to ask myself this year after my wife and I got our certified kitchen. The problem I have with catering is like you said, it is very time consuming.
In the end I settled on doing contests and selling at the contest as well as doing private chief gigs for those interested so then I dont have to worry about the commercial kitchen, just do all the stuff at the gig.
The other problem with catering gigs is everyone wanted a discount not realizing the good Q isnt cheap! Got frustrating and more of a headache then it was worth.

Bossman, welcome to the forum guy!

[gordo]

Id rather cook the contest, and throw the dice..:D and see how it comes
out...Lots of folks do very well at catering, and I'm sure after doing a gig, Id be as tired as doing a cookoff
But just sounds too much like a job to me..like to think of cookoffs as fun!!

[daking]

I would have to opt for the football. Don't yet have the skills or confidence for a competition and sure as hell couldn't pull off a catering gig. I'd rather watch USC play football while practicing my own smoking skills. I know we looked real bad last night but it could be worse. We could have wound up like Texas, Oklahoma and Florida.

[HFD26]

In a cook-off you cook at your own leisure. You entertain family and friends. They give you the same kadoos. It's like a camping trip. Yea I want to win but having fun is the name of the game. I guess it depends where you are at in your life as to your preference. The question was do you want to make money or do you want to spend it? If I were to have asked the question, It would have been.

Would you rather ?

1. Cook a Cook-Off?
2. Cook a catering gig?

[Thom Emery]

Woodpost
You didnt say watching your team win NCAA Football LOL Thats always best

I have done a couple of Competitions , Done a few Private Parties
The Best would be watching a good game while making money at a gig
But I tell ya when my Son is cooking and pulling in a GC or a RC it is it sure is
FUN

[david brace]

Catering makes some bucks and you're advertising and cooking, which is what you like to do anyway, so it sounds like the choice to me.

Football??? Nah. Not when the Yankees are in the Postseason again :D :D

DB

[Bluegrass BBQ]

After viewing all the replies it sounds like it is pretty much the same work for either gig. I see the difference is the cost vs profit or cash vs ribbons/trophies. I guess I will have to try a comp before I can make an informed opinion. I just don't have many comps around here. I always wondered if you could sell food at these comps. Do you have that possibility at all comps?

[Woodman]

Catering makes some bucks and you're advertising and cooking, which is what you like to do anyway, so it sounds like the choice to me.

Football??? Nah. Not when the Yankees are in the Postseason again :D :D

DB


Enjoy it, because it's gonna be a short visit........

[TexLaw]

Barbeque is a hobby. If I tried to do it for a living, what would be my hobby? Drafting software license agreements?


TL

[Hankerin Bar-B-Q]

Well, if I had to ask myself this question, it would mean that I don't really need that $500 to make ends meet, and that I can actually afford to take a weekend off from catering and that I can afford to enjoy my hobby. So I voted for the cook-off. You should throw in some fun every now and then, like Mr. Ambassador suggested. Even though the work in competition cooking is similar to catering, at least you would give your mind a break from the stress of running a business.

[Oli]

At a cook off I am my own slave.....
Drink as much as I want and have fun.

A proper solution would be to only cater on Mondays after a cookoff, so you only have to cook once.

[texasbill]

I think it is an individual decision that one makes. I like to cook period and whether it be a comp or a catering gig or just for some friends you first have to have some fun and enjoy what you are doing.

Bill

[Bad Santa]

I've been doing both, comps and catering. I've made a little money at catering but it is a longer time period of work in doing the catering, the logistics of it can kill ya, time line, preparation, storing the items til cooking, actual cooking the menu, not much room for error since price is per head/number of folks cooking for etc. One screw up with the meat, weather so forth, there goes your profit margin. It's alot of hard work and it's more stressful since the money has been paid ahead and folks are going to expect to get their moneys worth, rain or shine. One bad cook can put your catering on the back burner for awhile, since word will travel fast if they aren't satisfied for whatever reason
A bad day cooking a cookoff means that you still got to be with friends, drink beer, laugh with folks and have a great time even tho' not getting your name called, or got ant money for placing, but you're ready to do it again as soon as possible, and pay for the priviledge to do it.
Besides having someone who is not hungry, doesn't know who cooked the Que, and chooses your turn in as a favorite over the other entries, sure makes a person feel good about what they're trying to do.
Comps are way more fun to do, since enjoying yourself is the main reason to be doing either one anyway.

[Woodman]

Interesting replies so far guys!

[HFD26]

You started a good thread Woodman. Intresting to read the repiles. It tells me that we are all here because we love to barbque no matter what. We can all draw from the well of experience from our brother forum members.

[david brace]

Enjoy it, because it's gonna be a short visit........
They start tonight. I assume you're a Tribe fan...Wanna wager something?

DB

[Woodman]

They start tonight. I assume you're a Tribe fan...Wanna wager something?

DB


Actually, it starts THURSDAYnight! How about we wager 6000 posts!!!!!!!! :twisted:

[texas hottie]

The STANKEES? HE's rootin for the STANKEES????? I with you Woody! Go Tribe! Put a feather in me!

[Bad Santa]

Hey texas hottie! How you been doing Darlin', good to see you posting again, it's been awhile. Welcome back..:)

[texasbill]

OK the stakes are getting good for the Yanks and the Red Sox starting this Thursday night. DB first you should figure out when the game is before you start to wager. I like the 6000 post wager but maybe we should make it interesting. Maybe we should throw in a trip to QFest if the Yanks can win and if not we all get a trip to NY City to visit DB.

Bill

[redneck cooker]

Hey Bil, pick me up a Stankees tshirt at the airport while you are waiting on your return flight to Houston....thata as close as I want to be to NY....

[Woodman]

I'm already closer than I want to be!

[HFD26]

I think Texas Hottie could be one of the guy's on the forum jackin with the Woodster. :) :) Has anybody laid an eyeball on her?

[redneck cooker]

Oh Ive seen plenty of times, she lives in brazos point about 15 minutes away, she and Woody are old freinds,......sorta!! right woody

[HFD26]

OK Redneck, she's legit.

[Woodman]

OH, she's jackin alright!:wink: :oops:

[Bad Santa]

Texas Hottie is real alright, but has got a thing for Woodreaux....so that's got to tell ya something huh?

Texas Hottie...
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/9404/thongie5.png

[gatorpit]

I wish I did a comp for only $300.00. I choose comp over catering. Comp = FUN. Catering = WORK.

[gatorpit]

Okay Bad Santa, I didn't see your post until after I replied. That there is NASTY.

[Bad Santa]

Woody doesn't seem to think so, he was showing pictures of her at Q fest last year to some of us unfortunate ones.

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/5753/ugly3zn.jpg

[Hankerin Bar-B-Q]

Texas Hottie is real alright, but has got a thing for Woodreaux....so that's got to tell ya something huh?

Texas Hottie...


:shock: :shock: My eyes....MY EYES!!! OH they BURN.....:cry: What did I ever do to you Santa?! I swear I'll be good for the rest of the year....just PLEASE don't leave that under my tree this year. :cry:

[david brace]

Actually, it starts THURSDAYnight! How about we wager 6000 posts!!!!!!!! :twisted:
Seems like you no longer have 6,000 posts to wager...I was thinking something more tangible...like a team Jersey of the Winner's team that the loser would be REQUIRED to wear and a photo on the forum.

And I'm writing this AFTER the Yanks got clobbered 12-3.

DB

[david brace]

OK the stakes are getting good for the Yanks and the Red Sox starting this Thursday night. DB first you should figure out when the game is before you start to wager. I like the 6000 post wager but maybe we should make it interesting. Maybe we should throw in a trip to QFest if the Yanks can win and if not we all get a trip to NY City to visit DB.
...it really makes no difference to me when the game starts, I just think that looking at both teams the Yanks are the more solid team, especially offensively. I think they led the league in more offensive categories than Cleveland.

And Brother Bill, you sure are spending a LOT of my money travelling all youz guyz to NYC !!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

DB

[Woodman]

Let's do something easy, loser flys the other team's logo for a month? Woodman

[david brace]

You mean as an avatar? With the sig line "I'm a closet (Yanks/Indians) fan"

I'm in...How about you?

I just gotta dig up a Yankees avatar today.

DB

[Woodman]

We are on, but do you want the "traditional" really racist Chief Wahoo I am using now, or the "modern" semi-racist Chief Wahoo they currently use? The Yankees really seem over-rated and suckky to me. I guess the play by play guys don't get it because the entire focus has been on THEM rather than US. HEY NEW YORK< THIS JUST IN...........YOU WERE THE FREAKING WILD CARD!!!!!!!! THERE IS A REALLY WONDERFUL WORLD BEYOND THE HUDSON RIVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Poor A-Rod. Unless he single handedly wins game 3, he is a dead man!!!!!!! Long live "the bugs!"(did ya notice how they didn't seem to bother the Indians Players? I guess that if they would have been ****roaches, then the Yankees would have taken it in stride.) Those bugs were "midges". They require clean water to breed. You could NEVER have them in New Yawk!!!!!!!:sarcastic: :sarcastic:

[Woodman]

Ummmmmm??????????????

[david brace]

You win...what can I tell you? I'm a real Yankee fan. But let's not lose sight of the Yankees history- in ALL MAJOR SPORTS, no other team has won as many Championships as the Yankees.

Yeah, and all the losing teams ALWAYS say and have said "The Yankees buy their pennants" So does that mean that the other teams play for FREE? Minimum Wage?

Enjoy the flash-in-the-pan victory. The Yankees will be in the post-season again next year.

DB

[TexLaw]

How gracious! No wonder Yankees fans are so popular.


TL

[Woodman]

You win...what can I tell you? I'm a real Yankee fan. But let's not lose sight of the Yankees history- in ALL MAJOR SPORTS, no other team has won as many Championships as the Yankees.

Yeah, and all the losing teams ALWAYS say and have said "The Yankees buy their pennants" So does that mean that the other teams play for FREE? Minimum Wage?

Enjoy the flash-in-the-pan victory. The Yankees will be in the post-season again next year.

DB

Spoken like a true Yankees fan. Um, we are 2-1 against you in post season now! You may get into the post season next year, but it will be with a whole new group of players! (probably half of them ours!......enjoy it!) I can respect the Steelers (and I DESPISE THEM MORE THAN I DO THE YANKEES,) but to me, the Yankees are just a joke. Do you New Yorkers really believe that it is "The Organization" that produces these teams? It is the city of New York (cash and glitter draw great players) and Major League Baseball (farm system.) "The Organization" has changed hands and management numerous times over the years. It is not a level playing field and never will be until they share revenue.

[TexLaw]

How gracious! No wonder Indians fans are so popular.


TL

[HFD26]

I'll bet Billy Martin was kicking hot embers on that ole devil's feet last night.

[david brace]

I'm looking for a suitable picture to display as my one-month-in-the-penalty-box avatar.

And TL, why do you say I'm not gracious? I conceded that Woody and the Indians won...I just happened to pre-address some retorts that are always heard from non-Yankee fans. They always say that the Yankes buy the pennant. They also strafe the Yankees without looking at their past dynasties.

But as a Yankee fan, I know that it is BECAUSE of these past dynasties that other fans hate the Yankees so much. I realize that. But if it was THEIR team that constantly won, would they be there to criticize themselves as 'buying the pennant' or other such talk? No.

All visiting players are in awe when they walk into Yankee Stadium for the first time. All anyone has to do is read any sports page or book about it...the reports are all the same throughout Yankee Stadium's history. You can't find talk like that about any other stadium. And that's not because of any money at all. There's never aything said about 'Boy, they sure paid their players well.' It's always 'I'm standing on the same field as Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, Ford, etc.'

Nothing to do with money, because these players at that moment are affected by the History of the Stadium, not the money...

And what of all the home-grown players that came up through the Yankee Organization? Oh yeah, that's right...they don't count because they get paid MONEY...

So all the other teams do it for FREE? For FOOD STAMPS? for MINIMUM WAGE? Gimme a break...they're all millionaires.

To conclude, I am a Yankees fan. We have won a lot in the past, and I'm not ashamed of that. Would YOU be ashamed if your team won?

Get over your hatred...just like I'm getting over the Yankees loss...We lost...They won...That's all.


My penalty logo comes tomorrow...today I'm in mourning :cry: :cry:

DB

[Woodman]

You might want to think about becoming a Brooklyn Nets fan. I hear that is where that jerk turncoat Lebron is headed to be with his home dog Jay-Z. Sorry , we cannot compete with the flash, panache, *****es , and hoes ,in NYC! LEAVE NOW LEBRON> WE DON'T WANT NO STINKIN YANKEES FANS HERE!

[Woodman]

We are building up to a big ole "group hug!"

[david brace]

We are building up to a big ole "group hug!"

Do you really need one???

DB

[david brace]

...and I'm gonna use the new logo. But I have read that the Official Mascot is this goofy thing named "Slider". WTF !!!

DB

[Papa Tom]

Get over your hatred...just like I'm getting over the Yankees loss...We lost...They won...That's all.

DB

Ok now I think I'm starting to hate you too......:sarcastic:

No I'm not I still like ya even if you are a bit Bronx biased.

Actually I find it difficult to be a fan of any pro sports team because it is all about the money. Pro sports are no longer a family sport and have become a corporate sport because of the high ticket prices demanded. I do watch on TV just for the entertainment value usually rooting for the underdog. The Yankees are the icon for what has happened to pro sports and for that reason they catch the resentment I feel with others. It is really a shame like most I was a Yankees fan as a kid because of Mantle et al and I even sold peanuts at a Yankees farm club when I got a bit older.
Even a bigger shame is that Div. I sports are following the same pattern but at least the NCAA has revenue sharing.

[david brace]

I agree that ALL pro athletes are WAY overpaid. Period. I'd rather have the magic wand and re-distribute all that money to occupations that REALLy deserve it...or to the Military.

So considering that they ALL get overpaid, or soon will get overpaid once they negotiate a new contract, I have to say that the same way I enjoy watching football is the same way that I enjoy watching baseball. I just happen to be much more into baseball, but I like to watch both sports.

When I watch the Yankee games I see almost all of the players on both sides playing like it was for keeps. I don't see anyone playing 'like they're getting paid a lot of money'. That doesn't make sense...they just play.

Also, to me baseball represents my youth where my father took me to games and we watched it on TV. I sometimes wonder about people who have no team in their state...do they favor the region's team?

DB

[david brace]

No I'm not I still like ya even if you are a bit Bronx biased.
About this statement...when Kathy and I go to Yankee games, we root for our team. we DO NOT demean the other team. If they score or do something good, we just sit there, sometimes groaning. No screaming...no cursing...no taunting other fans. And sometimes when the other team makes a great play, we'll applaud them.

So biased? yes, just like any other fan of their chosen team...but we're not rabid and ugly about it.

So now that the Yankees are out of the playoffs, oddly enough I'm gonna root for the Indians, because EVERY sensible person HATES THE RED SOX !!!:evil: :evil: :evil: :D

DB

[Papa Tom]

When I watch the Yankee games I see almost all of the players on both sides playing like it was for keeps. I don't see anyone playing 'like they're getting paid a lot of money'. That doesn't make sense...they just play.

Also, to me baseball represents my youth where my father took me to games and we watched it on TV. I sometimes wonder about people who have no team in their state...do they favor the region's team?

DB

If somebody offered me that much money to play I'd be ******* and elbows all over that field.
Baseball is the only sport I ever played on an organized team since I went to work at age 10. I coached my boys both of whom were outstanding players, the oldest was the winning pitcher of the final game of the Babe Ruth League world series when he was 13. So I have always liked baseball and really enjoy it up through AAA ball.
Had season tickets for AA ball at Wichita when Johnny Damon was there. I coerced a staff member into getting me an team autographed ball but if Johnny's signature is on there I can't find it.

[gsmith]

oddly enough I'm gonna root for the Indians, because EVERY sensible person HATES THE RED SOX !!!:evil: :evil: :evil: :D

DB

Actually you should ask the owner's how much they hate the sox. Red Sox nation fills the seats. Most road games for the sox feel like home games because of the nation's presence on the road. Shoot even at yankee stadium sox fans are pretty loud.

[Woodman]

I hate the yankees and the sox equally! I cannot tell you how much we would like to beat the sox and rub baby manny's nose in the loss. This is a very bitter town , which suffers from a huge inferiority complex mixed with a heaping dose of resentment and cynicism! WE NEED TO WIN!!!!!!!:shock:

[gsmith]

This is a very bitter town , which suffers from a huge inferiority complex mixed with a heaping dose of resentment and cynicism!


it doesn't help when your superstar king james, who I believe was born and raised in Ohio, shows up to the game wearing a yankees hat. WTF was he thinking?