Your first BBQ competition: what do you wish you'd known?

For anyone who's entered a backyard contest or cooked on a competition team, what would you tell someone considering their first event? What caught you off guard: packing, timing, turn-in boxes, working with a team, or something else? What would you spend time practicing before entering again? Mention the contest or sanctioning organization when discussing rules, since requirements can differ. If you've only attended as a visitor, what helped you understand what was happening? Curious about competing but haven't tried it? Your questions belong here, too.