Event Signup

Judging Preference of Volunteer: What and why?
Volunteer is now a Judging Preference. If you select Volunteer as your Judging Preference you'll be allowed to Lock In immediately. Volunteer spots can't be held so if you don't Lock In and others do you'll lose your spot. Discourteous Judge Points apply to the Volunteer Judging Preference the same as they do to the Judge, Table Captain, and Either Judging Preferences.

Volunteer spots are only available if the event has indicated a desire to have volunteers and until all spots have been Locked In. Note that a Volunteer, as defined by the JLP, is a CBJ looking to get a KCBS Rep signature by working the turn-in table, left-over table, possibly even Table Captain or Judge, basically do whatever is needed as directed by the KCBS Rep.

KCBS requirements to become a KCBS Certified Master Judge say that you must receive 30 credits (One credit equals one signature from a Rep) and those credits should be recorded on the CBJ Contest Verification Form in the back of the CBJ manual and at least one of the 30 credits, and not more than 10 credits, must be as a volunteer.


I always sign up to Judge, why do I sometimes get asked to do something different?
Technically when you sign up for a KCBS barbeque contest, you are signing up to do whatever job you are needed to do. The JLP tries to maximize your satisfaction by allowing you to select your Preference of Volunteer, Table Captain, Judge or Table Captain (known as Either), or Judge.

Be aware that while it is the goal of the JLP for you to get to do exactly what you signed up to do, in some cases you may be asked to do something different than your selected Preference.

Certainly those signing up as Either know that they will possibly be called upon to Table Captain. However, beyond that all Judges are potential Table Captains if there aren't enough signed up.

While Volunteers may be called upon to serve as Table Captains or Judges, if an event is short on competition cook teams Table Captains and Judges may be called upon to be Volunteers.

The assumption is that doing anything in the Judging Area is better than not being in the Judging Area at all! Everyone gets a KCBS Rep's signature, maybe some good barbeque, and has a good time.


Why can't I see my list position for a few days?
When an Event first becomes Open for Judges, Table Captains, and Volunteers to sign up there is often a lot of activity and movement of List Positions. By 'hiding' the List Position information for a few days it allows that flurry of activity to settle down so a more accurate List Position can be displayed. Keep in mind that because the JLP is a weighted list system there will always be some movement of List Positions, but nothing like what often happens the first couple of days.


How can I sign up for an event when there isn't a check box next to the event?
You can't. If there isn't a checkbox it means it is a CBJ / CMJ only event and the system is treating you as not being a CBJ. It might be that you have a brand new account and your CBJ status is yet to be verified, or you may not have entered your CBJ number when your account was created. The former will work itself out in time; for the latter you will need to update your Judge's Profile to include your CBJ number and KCBS Membership expiration date.


Why does every option I select on my JLP Menu take me to the JLP home page?
For security reasons the JLP uses the cookies feature of your web browser. By setting your browser to accept cookies, the JLP's built-in security will be able to function and you will be able to access the menu options.


What if I need to change some of my judging selections?
Simply login to the JLP, then from your JLP Menu select Edit Events I'm Signed Up For and make any changes you need to make. Be aware that changes you make may affect your list position.


What if I am no longer able to attend an event?
As soon as you know that you can't Judge, Table Captain, or Volunteer at an event you are signed up for, login to the JLP, then from your JLP Menu select Delete Events I'm No Longer Able to Attend and delete the event. This will give another Judge, Table Captain, or Volunteer the opportunity to attend in your place and insure that every event has the needed number of Judges, Table Captains, or Volunteers.


I signed up to judge Ancillary Categories and now I realize I won't be able to, what do I need to do? Will I still be able to judge the Main Categories?
If you are Locked In you need to email a request to the JLP Administrator asking to be unlocked so you can then edit your signup. If you are not Locked In you can simply edit your signup to not include the Ancillary Categories.

Note that this may affect your ability to judge the Main Categories. Because Ancillary Category judging is one of the weight-factors, your list position will change when you edit your signup to not include the Ancillary Categories.


So I'm signed-up, now what!?
1. If the event let you Lock In and you locked in then you are set to go. Put your JLP Ticket in a safe place, reserve a hotel room, keep checking the Information Kiosk for maps and the latest information, set your GPS, and come join the RMBBQA family at another Cup Contest event.

2. If the event isn't locking in yet then there are a couple of things you should be aware of: your list position and your future Lock In date.

Your list position can be found on the Check Events I'm Signed Up For menu option page. It's important because it is an indicator of your chance of judging this event. For example if your list position is 10 and the event is expecting to need 66 judges your chances are real good. Good enough in fact to book airfare and make a hotel reservation. If on the other hand your list position is 64 you might want to hold off on making travel plans until you are able to Lock In.

Your future Possible Lock In Opportunity date can also be found on the Check Events I'm Signed Up For menu option page. Sixty days prior to an event the top 60% of the list is allowed to Lock In. Forty-five days prior to an event the top 75% of the list is allowed to Lock In. Thirty days prior to an event 100% of the list is allowed to Lock In. It's kind of like boarding an airplane.

When given the opportunity to Lock In, do it! Locking in is an agreement between you and the event; you are committing to being at the event, and the event is ensuring your place in the Judging Area.

3. If at any point you realize that you are unable to Judge, Table Captain, or Volunteer at an event please be a courteous judge and remove yourself from that event's list. By doing that you allow Judges, Table Captains, or Volunteers on the waiting list to know sooner if they will be given the opportunity to Lock In.


So I'm on a waiting list, now what!?
It just means it's going to take a little longer to get a Lock In opportunity, or one may never come.

Basically you have 3 chances: someone above you on the list removes themselves, the event adds additional judging tables, or you take a holeshot and Lock In ahead of someone else.

1. Event lists are dynamic and there is usually always movement at the top. Life happens and judges remove themselves from the list. When a judge exits the list everybody below that point moves up the list. If that happens a few times, you are suddenly off of the waiting list.

2. If more teams than expected sign-up to cook the event, more Judges, Table Captains, and Volunteers are needed, and the list will expand.

3. Fifteen days before an event everyone on the waiting list is allowed to Lock In. It's mayhem, it's a crazy free-for-all, first-come-first-served, jump ahead of everyone else opportunity. Even the last judge on the waiting list can get a holeshot and beat out everyone else on the waiting list for the last remaining judging seat.

Or, everyone above you on the list locks in when given the opportunity and thus your Lock In opportunity never comes.