Livin' the Dream: BBQ PR, PDQ!

A couple of days after running into a former co-worker recently (while tailgating at the Northwest game at Arrowhead), her current marketing/advertising agency hired me to manage the PR and media relations for one of its clients — the American Royal Barbecue! With more than 500 teams from three different continents, it's the biggest barbecue contest in the world. And it was just 14 days away.

The Friday morning it began, I met Lindsay Shively, a reporter with NBC-41, at 4:30 a.m. and she broadcasted live all throughout the morning news. Oh, and temperatures were in the 40s with the first windchill factor of the season.

Here's another barbecue team up that early, tending to their meat, while Lindsay interviews Jim McNair, president and CEO of the American Royal. Yes, the guy in the red cap is wearing shorts.

Mmmm, barbecue — the breakfast of champions.

In the shadow of Kemper Arena.

Jeff Bell from 980 KMBZ.

Mid-morning, I had a chance to check out the grounds while all the teams were busy getting ready for Friday night's parties; the time, effort and expense that they go to is amazing. (Don't miss the old-fashioned gas pump on the right.)

Just a plain ol' chandelier rigged up beneath the overpass.

Sassage.

I got a call from Lindsay who returned, with a different cameraman, to report during the hour-long mid-day show, too! I quickly lined up interviews for her with the Jamaican team and the winner of last year's "Party of the Year."

Shaun Broyls, from KCTV-5, interviewing Bryan Beaver, chairman of the American Royal board of directors.

More party decor.

You can't tell from a still photo, but this rotisserie smoker rotates the ribs 'round and 'round.

Dr. BBQ.

For the Friday evening news, I worked with John Pepitone from FOX-4 and arranged interviews for Bev Chapman from KMBC-9.

It had already been a looong day, but I tracked down Paul & Patti before heading home.

Just one of the entry gates, as I headed out.

I remember the first time we went to the American Royal Barbecue, several years ago. As crazy as the whole atmosphere is, I realized that the entire event is simply about eating, drinking and having fun. Phil Peterson, freelance photographer for Ink, captured the thousands of people partying 'til the cows came home.

Back early Saturday morning.

Check it out, a huge RV pulled by a big-rig.

Liz Zamora and Jaime, a cameraman who I've gotten to know through the years, from NBC-41.

I spent at least an hour accompanying Susan Pfannmuller, a freelance photographer with The Kansas City Star.

Her shot in front of the "Bull Wall" art installation — of a boyfriend and girlfriend visiting from Phoenix for a friend's wedding, who said they wanted to truly experience Kansas City — was in the Sunday paper the next day.