Winston Salem? Oh my, you should be used to only the very best in BBQ. Gonna take a lot of practice to be as great as some of you local establishment. Think of all the good BBQ you'll get to eat while learning. How did you get so lucky?
That area is full of little Mom and Dad smokehouses in every little hollar.
Glad to meet you Stan, you are going to love being addicted to smoking..... meats that is.
Just a quick suggestion, a very wise smoke Guru once told me to take notes. Well I certainly thought him silly, lol, take notes? But if you don't know where you've been you can't tell how to get where you want to be. I have gotten where its as much a part of a smoke as stoking the fire box. Besides think how sad it would be to accidentally hit that perfect smoke, eaten the ambrosia of the gods and not be able to do it again? Get a notebook, journal, flash drive, cardex, whatever you are most conferable with, and use it like a sniper's kill book. You'll someday appreciate it. BTW there is a whole page of links to standardized smoke critique pages if you use the search engine. Maybe give you some ideas.
I am now starting to babble, I do that. But I don't smoke anymore, I deserve a vice.
Again, nice to meet you, remember smoke is supposed to be fun and relaxing.... no stress!
Enjoy the smoke and welcome to my addiction.
BTW you ever get over to Reidsville, try a little smoke shop called Short Sugars..... melt in your mouth good, steal a squirt bottle of that sauce!