1. “Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.” – When tailgating, things should be convenient and easy. All your gear should be light and compact so that it fits into your vehicle easily. Don’t go overboard and over think it. Simplifying for the sake of simplifying may lead you to forget something.
2. “The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” – The tailgating parking lot has been described as “the last great American neighborhood.” That means when tailgating people are always very friendly and generosity abounds. A good rule to follow is to always share with your fellow tailgaters. Don’t be afraid to offer some ketchup or an extra drumstick to your tailgating neighbors. It’s called Tailgating Karma and it will come back to you one day.
3. “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” – Coming up with new tailgating ideas can be difficult. (I would imagine getting new tailgating ideas is probably one of the reasons you found this website.) Many times we as humans are so afraid of making a mistake we always trudge down the same well-beaten path. Getting out of your comfort zone can be good sometimes. Maybe try parking in a different section of the parking lot next time. Who knows who you will meet? They might be more fun than the people who normally tailgate in your section. They could be total creeps. You’ll never know unless you are willing to take a chance.
4. “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” – Do you ever get bored by eating the same thing you did the week before? Have you played that one tailgating game a bit too much? This is where your imagination comes into play. Everyone can grill hamburgers and hot dogs while tailgating. It takes a bit more imagination to come up with a truly unique tailgating menu. Try to come up with something noone else has done and you will truly be king of the tailgating lot.
5. “Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds.” – You hear it all the time. “Let’s just stay home and watch the game on TV”. “Do we have to go so early and tailgate all the time?” These are the weak minds Einstein was talking about. You love tailgating but sometimes those around you may not share your passion. Bringing those dissenters into the fold should be your ultimate motivation. Lead by example and when you are tailgating, have as much fun as possible. That positive energy you exhibit will rub off on those that do not want to be there. Show them how much fun they could be having. Soon your positive outlook on tailgating will be embraced by others.
6. “The only source of knowledge is experience.” – You can read and do research all you want but nothing beats going out and tailgating for yourself. It has taken me years of tailgating to come to the point where I feel comfortable imparting my tailgating knowledge on the web. That knowledge came with tons of experience of going out and tailgating. Get out there and start tailgating and build your knowledge every time you head to the stadium.
7. “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” – Einstein coined the phrase “thought experiments” which is essentially what we know as daydreaming. Allowing yourself to experiment and come up with new ideas puts you on the road to being a true tailgating visionary. Getting stuck in a routine and tailgating the same way every week gets monotonous and boring. Mix it up and set aside some time to come up with something new and interesting for your next tailgate party. If you do that, when someone says, “Way to go Einstein”, you’ll take it as a compliment.
