Latest / BBQ Therapy / Memphis in May (Recap) I Feel like the Champ !!
Transcript
- 0:00Listen, learn, get inspired. I'm Tavis Bryant and this is.
- 0:05Barbecue therapy Like Subscribe. And follow to help.
- 0:09Grow the BBQ therapy. Community also visit.
- 0:12My website at www.barbecuetherapy.
- 0:15Podcast.com BBQ. Your BBQ off.
- 0:20Get your BBQ off. Get your barbecue off.
- 0:25Welcome to the BBQ therapy. Podcast my name is Tavis Bryant
- 0:29and today we're having another special episode.
- 0:31I'm just going to come on and do a recap of my Memphis and May
- 0:35experience if you've been. Following social media and you
- 0:38can see I had. Awesome time.
- 0:40And I just want to recap it and just tell my side of the story,
- 0:44All right? And it all started back, I guess
- 0:47I could say a little bit after. I went to MB BQA, got a message
- 0:53on my phone. I checked it when I got home and
- 0:55it was Bob Gonzalez of Smokin. Brothers slash gateway.
- 0:59Drums. So I'm like.
- 1:02He left a message so I. Reached out to him and called
- 1:05him back and that's when he was explaining that they're going to
- 1:08have a. Podcast set up at.
- 1:11Their tent in Memphis and May and he asked.
- 1:15Would I like to? Come on and be a guest host and
- 1:18interview people. So of course I'm going to say
- 1:21yes because it's a good opportunity.
- 1:24For me and definitely. Like to get.
- 1:27More experience. It's coming up.
- 1:29To close to the. Year I've been doing this and
- 1:32I'm just. Happy to that.
- 1:34Someone noticed me enough to ask me to do something like this and
- 1:38I know they had to do their homework before just asking me.
- 1:40So I appreciate them. Choosing me because it's it's an
- 1:44honor to be chosen to do something like that because it
- 1:47means a lot. Is.
- 1:48Because they're putting their reputation on the line, asking
- 1:51me to come on. So they're having to put.
- 1:54That trust in me. To do the.
- 1:56Best I can interviewing everybody that they.
- 1:59Brought over there. So how the process?
- 2:02Went is as time went on. It was like a like two or three.
- 2:06Weeks before the event we was already going because usually me
- 2:10and my wife go up there and walk.
- 2:12Around and just visit. People that we know and stuff
- 2:15like that and we went in 23 and we went in 20/25/2024.
- 2:20My daughter was born around this time.
- 2:23So like I said, last year I started a podcast.
- 2:26Right after I left Memphis of May and what I explained to him
- 2:30is that I mean, if once you get the names, he listed out the
- 2:34names of the people that were coming.
- 2:36The. Area to get interviewed.
- 2:38It was just a few at that time. And as we went on, they kept
- 2:42giving me names, so me I. Like I said.
- 2:46And I've said numerous times on the podcast.
- 2:48I like to be. Prepared for anything I do, so
- 2:52that's when I each time he gave me a name I would come up.
- 2:56With like a. 25 minute interview for him because I I don't want
- 2:59to have do anything because I'm representing me and I'm
- 3:03representing Smoking Brothers slash Gateway.
- 3:06So. I definitely wanted to be on my
- 3:09game as well as show people that may haven't heard of me or.
- 3:13Haven't took the. Time to listen to any of my.
- 3:16Episodes to. Let them know that.
- 3:19Hey I I take this seriously. And I'm about business.
- 3:23And as time went on, I as he sent names, I kept making
- 3:29interviews and then he. Sent pictures of the double wide
- 3:34I thought it was. Awesome and.
- 3:36As a good setup that they had there so.
- 3:39As time came on, I. Had to add an.
- 3:42Extra night to my stay because I was just staying.
- 3:45I was coming in on. Friday and Saturday.
- 3:48Like we normally do. But once he offered me this.
- 3:51I added Thursday on. So.
- 3:53I started getting ready because I already had planned to come
- 3:56out there. I was going to bring my
- 3:58equipment to see if I can set up somewhere and maybe record.
- 4:01I didn't know. Specifically where, but I had
- 4:04some stuff that I bought. To be mobile but this was right
- 4:09on time and also. I had bought the.
- 4:12Chain The chain that I I wore in all the.
- 4:14Pictures I took. I bought that in advance because
- 4:17I was going to wear it myself when I walked around with me and
- 4:19my wife Just unveiled and promote.
- 4:22The podcast because. Everybody know me, you know I'm
- 4:24always promote until. Everybody's able to.
- 4:27Recognize me, I'm going to keep promoting and keep promoting and
- 4:30keep promoting. So as time went on, it was time.
- 4:33To go out there. I was going.
- 4:35To go out. There and get there around
- 4:37noontime, but I decided. To get there early.
- 4:40So. That Thursday was the.
- 4:43I missed Wednesday, anything that they did Wednesday, but.
- 4:46I left out. Early enough to try to get there
- 4:49on Thursday, to have enough time to get set up, see what the game
- 4:54plan was and Pat is going to. Orchestrate the idea.
- 4:59So I got up at. 2:00 in the morning, left out the house at
- 5:023:00 and. Drove all the way.
- 5:04Up to Memphis. My wife got ill at the time so I
- 5:07was supposed to bring everybody, but I had to.
- 5:10Go on my own SO. That's why I left so early but
- 5:14got there about. 9:00. Or so there's good.
- 5:19Thing that the time difference, there's a time zone.
- 5:21Difference so that helps out a lot also, but I still didn't get
- 5:25the rest they allowed. Me to check in my room so I just
- 5:29came in there and brought all my stuff and.
- 5:32Got the stuff I was going to take.
- 5:34To the event and left out and went there and that's when I met
- 5:38the group Brian and Bob and. Everybody else smoking brothers.
- 5:43Gateway. They gave me a rundown on the.
- 5:46Process of there was. Going to bring different people
- 5:50for me to interview. I had my list and I had.
- 5:53I printed out all my papers in my.
- 5:54Old school so I. Printed out each interview for
- 5:57each person. That I was supposed.
- 5:59To interview and I had a couple universal ones that.
- 6:03I was going to use if different. People came, but.
- 6:06I really didn't use those, I just figured it.
- 6:08Out as I went along. I had all the interviews that I
- 6:12had prepped. I would say half of them.
- 6:14I didn't get to use. A lot of people were.
- 6:16Busy during the event, so it was fine.
- 6:20But in all, I, I did almost 40 interviews in two days and you
- 6:25know, I, I, you never know. What you could do until you do
- 6:28it? Because I've never done live as
- 6:31far as me interviewing, I've been on, I guess on one podcast,
- 6:36Johnny Mags. Pit Life BBQ.
- 6:38But I've never interviewed anybody myself.
- 6:41Live. So I definitely wanted.
- 6:43To see if I was able to do. That and just show everybody
- 6:47what I can do. I can't pass up no opportunity,
- 6:50especially some of the names that were.
- 6:51Coming through there so. Once we got started.
- 6:54You know I had. I mean, I was.
- 6:56Tired, but I shook it off. And jumped in there and started
- 7:00interviewing and got more comfortable.
- 7:02Their crew was great. And and very healthy, helpful
- 7:05and the. Hospitality was awesome.
- 7:07Also they. Continued to ask me did I need
- 7:10anything and was hungry or anything like that and but my
- 7:14thing is is I'm I'm fine. I'm I.
- 7:17I go with the. Flow the only thing I asked for
- 7:19is the media pass so I can get in and.
- 7:22He was able. To get that for me so I wouldn't
- 7:24have to. Deal with.
- 7:26Getting harassed at the. Front gate.
- 7:27Come in with my. Backpack and stuff, so.
- 7:30Once we got to going, everything was flowing the first night.
- 7:33I was exhausted but. I pushed through and got the
- 7:37first set of interviews done. I didn't get to walk around and
- 7:41see anything that much but. It was cool because like I said.
- 7:45Like I told him that business. 1st I still have.
- 7:48Time to go venture off and see people.
- 7:51So at the end of the first night and why everybody went to
- 7:54awards, that's when I went on and went to the hotel.
- 7:56So I can rest up for the next. Day because I know.
- 7:59It was a full. Day because I think I went.
- 8:01From like 12 to maybe 5:00 to. 30 on the Thursday and I know
- 8:07the next. Day, which was Friday.
- 8:09I was going to have to start at 8:30 in the morning interviewing
- 8:13and I wanted to make. Sure I was.
- 8:14At least somewhat rested for the long day and.
- 8:18So I got up. Got there in the morning and got
- 8:21set up and we rocking. We was.
- 8:23Rocking and rolling. The whole day and you know.
- 8:27Sometimes when you. Get in your groove.
- 8:29It kind of boosts your. Confidence when the first few go
- 8:33well I started out with Sunny Land and then Tuffy and then
- 8:38from then on it. It felt natural just doing the
- 8:42live videos and I enjoy talking to the.
- 8:45Kids, that was a. Very fun part.
- 8:47Of it just. A lot of them getting their
- 8:49first interview. Alive, so that was.
- 8:52Fun and entertaining and I, I I. Like how I boosted their
- 8:58confidence and stuff like that. Also I got an.
- 9:01Opportunity to interview. A lot of.
- 9:03People that I normally, I mean just probably had on the.
- 9:07Wish list of those who probably scroll or have scrolled through.
- 9:11Past my e-mail. But I I love it in this.
- 9:15Format. Because smoking brothers
- 9:17connections. Allowed me to show what I have
- 9:21and interview people. That.
- 9:23I had on the. Bucket list and show that I take
- 9:26this seriously. And.
- 9:27Gave each. Person a unique interview and
- 9:31that I put my all into this and. Like I said, I had to Pat.
- 9:37Myself on the back. Because sometimes when?
- 9:40You put in situation. You unlock skills that you.
- 9:43Didn't know you had. So like I said, I was.
- 9:46Proud of myself for just grinding it out.
- 9:49Because a lot. Of people just see the
- 9:51interviews coming on. Facebook Live, but they.
- 9:54Didn't know the whole. Process that was.
- 9:56Going into it where these interviews were going back.
- 9:59To back-to-back. And in between.
- 10:02The few that we did have scheduled.
- 10:04Some of them had. Scheduled times, but a lot of
- 10:07them. Were freestyle interviews and
- 10:10they were. Grabbing people, some people.
- 10:12Were grabbing people and bringing them over so I didn't.
- 10:15Have a lot of. Time to just sit.
- 10:17There and. Focus on getting interviews.
- 10:20Together, but I was able to. Be spot on and come up with a
- 10:23system that I could make interviews for each person and
- 10:27about 5 minutes and went with it.
- 10:30So definitely happy with myself and I performed and showed up
- 10:34for them and they took a chance on me and I was.
- 10:37Happy that I. Didn't let them down and and I
- 10:40was on my A game and everything worked out for them also and
- 10:44taking a chance on bringing me out there.
- 10:46I think that it overall it was a.
- 10:49Positive response and. I had the idea of.
- 10:52Everybody putting the chain on. I was a little hesitant at 1st
- 10:56and then Bob. Convinced me to go ahead and
- 10:58get. People to start.
- 10:59Doing it so. That's when we started the idea
- 11:02of. Everybody putting the chain on
- 11:04it did an interview on the second day.
- 11:06By the first day. I didn't.
- 11:08We didn't think of it. We.
- 11:09Didn't think about taking pictures anyway also but the
- 11:13second day that's why most of the pictures I posted were.
- 11:15From the second day and. As.
- 11:18Far as the interviews. But there was a lot of great
- 11:21people. That I missed out on.
- 11:24As far as taking a picture. That I interviewed on the 1st.
- 11:27Day so I apologize for that but overall after we got.
- 11:30Finished. Everybody was happy because.
- 11:34I mean what? We did it.
- 11:36It was very successful. I mean, we had people standing.
- 11:39Around watching people come around recording their favorite
- 11:43pitmasters as they get interviewed or got the record
- 11:47their child being. Interviewed and stuff, so it was
- 11:51nice to see that. And as well as.
- 11:53We were sitting across. From the young teams and we got
- 11:56to watch them compete and that was cool.
- 11:59Because these young people. That have an interest in.
- 12:01Barbecue, I think is awesome because they're paving the way.
- 12:04For the future and what they learn, they can.
- 12:08Influence other people. To get into.
- 12:11The sport of BBQ. So I love seeing that also.
- 12:14And after that, that night, I guess my last interview was Myra
- 12:19Mixon. And that's when they, Bob and
- 12:22Ryan, came to me and said they were going to give me the day
- 12:24off. Since I was rocking and rolling
- 12:26so hard the first few days. Which was cool and.
- 12:30Bob said he would. Walk me around and introduce me.
- 12:33To the people out there. Which people to know?
- 12:36Me. I love it.
- 12:37I love meeting. The BBQ people making friends
- 12:41with the BBQ people. And just getting to know people
- 12:45I love. To hear people's.
- 12:46Stories and just meeting them and continue to grow the amount
- 12:51of people I know in BBQ. It's not about the podcast.
- 12:53I love the podcast. I love hearing the stories, but
- 12:56my thing is, is getting out there and and and meeting people
- 13:00and just becoming their friend and.
- 13:03Showing interest in them besides just a podcast.
- 13:06Podcast is fine. If it went away tomorrow, I'd
- 13:08still be fine. Because I'll be still out.
- 13:10There trying to meet people and and get to know them and stuff
- 13:14so I'm happy. That I've met a lot of people.
- 13:17And gained a lot of friends and barbecue in this short period of
- 13:20time. I've done the podcast but along
- 13:23the way I have been meeting more and more.
- 13:25People like I already. Know that I've taken numerous
- 13:28classes and part of GBA and. KCBS and stuff like that, but I
- 13:33go. Walk around competitions and
- 13:36judge A. Few contests also, so it's all
- 13:39about. Just growing your BBQ network
- 13:42and seeing what you can do to help.
- 13:44People as well as. I mean.
- 13:45People offered to help you and stuff like.
- 13:48This case in point where they offered me.
- 13:50Because at. NBBQAI didn't even think Bob
- 13:53noticed me sitting there. He came and talked to somebody
- 13:56beside me, but I didn't know he noticed me.
- 13:58I mean, we spoke. And that was it.
- 14:00So for him to. Notice me sitting there and know
- 14:04I'm honored. That I got the.
- 14:06Opportunity. I can't thank him and Ryan
- 14:09enough. Were allowing me to do this and
- 14:13it was a whole different experience there than I
- 14:16normally. Do just have just?
- 14:18Walking around, so the third day.
- 14:20We I got there. Early and that's when I met up
- 14:23with Bob and he started walking me around and once we got to
- 14:27walking around I was meeting some of everybody and.
- 14:30That's when we started. Doing the pictures with the
- 14:33chain with everybody. That we ran across.
- 14:36And everybody. Was a good sport.
- 14:38About it I mean. Everybody mostly, I think.
- 14:43Was cooperative and nobody. That really resisted.
- 14:47At all as far as? Taking a picture.
- 14:49With the chain, I thought it was a nice little thing we was doing
- 14:52there is catchy. So I was glad to see everybody
- 14:55was in a mood to participate and stuff like that.
- 14:58And you can tell. By the pictures that some of the
- 15:01people. You wouldn't even think that
- 15:03would do that. They did it, so I was happy
- 15:07about that. So he took.
- 15:08Me all around to just meet people.
- 15:11I enjoyed that and. After that we.
- 15:14Went back to home. Base and start sitting.
- 15:18Around talking and stuff like that, then around we didn't
- 15:21start wandering around until everybody got finished with the
- 15:25turn, insurance and all. That.
- 15:26That's when I ventured off and ended up at went by to go to
- 15:31Myra mixes. To try the hog.
- 15:33So we did that. After that we ended up at the
- 15:35Blues Hog tent. It was visiting her with them.
- 15:39I always got to go to them because.
- 15:41They're the ones that kind of got me hooked on BBQ because
- 15:45their kindness reeled me in. So I definitely make it my point
- 15:49if I don't go nowhere. I I go to the Blues hog.
- 15:52Tent because their niceness is the one that that showed me the
- 15:57BBQ community and the love that they have.
- 16:00For people out there because they talk to.
- 16:03Me and my wife. While we were just.
- 16:05Sitting randomly in the crowd and befriended me and her.
- 16:09I don't take that lightly. And it means the world.
- 16:13To me, because, you know, I'm somebody just.
- 16:15Looking to get into competing and all that and by them doing
- 16:20that. It.
- 16:21Helped motivate me to. Stick with it as well as the.
- 16:25Following of. The year, I guess, two years
- 16:27later, when? I got to meet Tim and all that
- 16:30and he has to be on the podcast and that's when I went home and.
- 16:34Started the podcast. You know, he that was, he
- 16:37helped. Motivate me into.
- 16:39Starting a podcast just by. Asking, asking to be on it.
- 16:42So that's how that came about. But I've been rolling ever since
- 16:46and. Just working hard to.
- 16:48Promote the BBQ community and you know you know, I try to do
- 16:52different from. Other people's podcast.
- 16:55I don't want to do the same. Flow as everybody else I try to
- 16:58get. Out there and meet people and
- 17:00introduce myself to people and you know it.
- 17:04I love doing a. Podcast, like I said, but.
- 17:06Staying in the studio is not my thing.
- 17:09It's nice to. See them on the screen, but
- 17:11it's. Better to see.
- 17:12People in person. And see how they really are.
- 17:15So that's what I just. Love about barbecue and.
- 17:20I was able to when I was at the. Blues Hog tent I was able to get
- 17:23some of the hog. That they had there.
- 17:25And yes Sir, I definitely took me some to the house.
- 17:29I was happy that I drove, so I got to got to keep it cool, put
- 17:34it in the cooler and take it on to the house.
- 17:37Sitting in the freezer right now, but you know it.
- 17:41After that, you know, I kind of walked around and went back to
- 17:44the home base. And after that it was I started
- 17:47getting tired so we sat. There and they started to go to
- 17:50the meat whiskey. Area to eat.
- 17:54And that's when I. Said I was going to go.
- 17:56Back to the room. But overall?
- 17:58It I just want to say that. I thank everybody for their
- 18:03hospitality. And kindness.
- 18:05Smoking Brothers. Gateway.
- 18:07Definitely Bob Gonzalez, Ryan, Josh.
- 18:10DeWitt, they are always. I mean asking what they can do
- 18:14to help me. Tim Shear, Mark Bayless, all of
- 18:18them always go. Out their way to make sure that.
- 18:21If I need anything hey let me know and you know I I.
- 18:25Want to thank also. M&W Smokers.
- 18:28For the food. Stuff Brian and Brian, Wayne and
- 18:32Cox, thank. Y'all for your hospitality,
- 18:35sweeties BBQ? They mean they.
- 18:37Was they show great hospitality, they got original.
- 18:40Memphis. I mean, we was.
- 18:41Talking for a little while. I enjoyed my conversation.
- 18:45Over there, but definitely everybody else also that
- 18:48participated. In.
- 18:49Taking pictures with the. Chain You know, I can't say
- 18:53enough good things about the BBQ community.
- 18:55I got to meet more. People that I.
- 18:58Communicated with online and. That's always awesome to put a
- 19:03real live face with pictures and.
- 19:05Stuff like that and shake hands and it's always nice to see.
- 19:09Alex from Roto Q360, good guy and he's always out there.
- 19:14Doing his thing so. Like I said, I.
- 19:17I told him he he doing his thing out.
- 19:19There so I. Definitely happy for him.
- 19:22I always promoting himself in his product and you know, so
- 19:27hopefully my goal is to continue on to.
- 19:31Be able to do. Things like this so.
- 19:33We'll see how it goes, as well as.
- 19:35I want to look into maybe MCN events, calling out awards or
- 19:41hosting award dinners and stuff like that.
- 19:44So I'm a get my paperwork. Together far as just.
- 19:49Resume. Wise as far as something I can
- 19:52have to present. To some of these organizations
- 19:55and stuff to promote myself and all it takes is 1 because once I
- 20:00get one. I'm able to show what I bring to
- 20:03the table and what Ioffer, so I look forward.
- 20:07To doing that I'm. Not going to say if I do it.
- 20:09As they when I do it. I look forward to.
- 20:11Doing it and like I said, just meeting more people and more
- 20:15people and my eventually my goal.
- 20:18Eventually is to. I'm gonna have my own tent.
- 20:21And stuff like that to go to different.
- 20:23Events when I want to. And just sit up.
- 20:26And interview people and. Grow the BBQ therapy.
- 20:29Brand. As well as if I get asked to do
- 20:32for other people. I don't mind doing that, I don't
- 20:34have a problem or. That type of ego where it's all.
- 20:36It's got to be all me. No, people are going to see me.
- 20:39But they also, I mean company that I'm representing may give
- 20:44me opportunities. Like smoking brothers.
- 20:46To meet and talk to. People that Tavis.
- 20:48Bryant may not get opportunity to interview based on I don't
- 20:53know what. Criteria folks might just.
- 20:55I don't know. I have yet to figure out as far
- 20:58as why people just. I mean I.
- 21:00Post enough clips. So at this point they know what
- 21:02I. Offer.
- 21:03So some people just come on, some people don't, so.
- 21:07You know, that's that's their loss because I roll with anybody
- 21:10that. Willing to come on.
- 21:12My thing is, I'm not chasing anybody, you know, because where
- 21:16I feel in BBQ, nobody's better than anybody and.
- 21:19Everybody has a story just because you.
- 21:20Got a me and trophies. Don't mean you got a good story
- 21:22to go with it. Or you don't know how to, I
- 21:25mean, as far as teaching somebody something or being
- 21:28vulnerable with information. So definitely, I mean, like I
- 21:33said, no hard feelings on that. It's people's.
- 21:36Choice where they come on or not.
- 21:37And it's just podcast. Life in general, but that was my
- 21:41adventure in Memphis and May. Hopefully you'll see me.
- 21:44Out there again doing different stuff and continue.
- 21:47To think of ideas. And trying to do things
- 21:50differently. Like I said, I.
- 21:53Love doing my. Shirts and stuff like that.
- 21:55A lot of people was had a positive reception.
- 21:58To my gold standard. Shirt with the.
- 22:01Chain on it so I'm eventually start selling those and.
- 22:05See how that goes? When I open my store on my
- 22:07website. I got a few other ideas that for
- 22:10shirts that I'm gonna put out there.
- 22:12But in the meantime, I hope you continue to enjoy my podcast.
- 22:16As well as tell somebody else about the podcast and keep.
- 22:21Listening and keep growing and keep being motivated and.
- 22:26Inspired so we can keep. Growing this BBQ community and
- 22:31get more and more people interested in the.
- 22:33Sport of competition. Barbecue.
- 22:35Regular BBQ restaurant. Backyard.
- 22:38Any type of BBQ so you run into somebody.
- 22:43Please be positive with it. And help them out.
- 22:46It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt to talk to
- 22:48somebody. Give them some information.
- 22:50It sticks. With them and goes with them a
- 22:52long time. Be friendly like I said, and.
- 22:57Tell everybody to be prepared. Please be prepared if you got
- 23:00business and stuff like that, always be prepared.
- 23:03For any situation you. Never know when the.
- 23:05Opportunity in knocks. So like I said, continue to
- 23:09learn. Learn from.
- 23:10Everybody that you be. Around nobody's too old or too
- 23:14young to learn from somebody. Else.
- 23:16So on that note. I thank y'all for listening to
- 23:18this recap. I appreciate.
- 23:20Each and everyone of y'all, each and every guest, each and every
- 23:23listener, and we'll see you next.
- 23:25Episode. Thank you for joining us for
- 23:28another therapy session and remember.
- 23:31Like, follow and subscribe to help the.
- 23:33Barbecue therapy. Community and also.
- 23:35Visit our website. At www.barbecuetherapy.
- 23:39Podcast.com.