What should I expect at my first USCF tourny?

I'm 25 and I've been playing chess over the internet for about 5 years now. I recently got curious and looked up otb tounys. There is a place that host them fairly regurgly around me $20 entry fee and 1st place prize is $50. Doesnt really seem worth it but I'd kinda like to get my foot in the door and see how I do. What kind of level of play should I expect for an event like this?

Monetarily, tourneys are almost never "worth" it.  If you enter a tourney strictly trying to make money, most all of the time you will be disappointed.

Instead, you should enter tourneys because you love the game, because you love the competition, because you like to hang out with other who enjoy your passion for chess, etc.  Anytime you win anything at all, consider it a "bonus."

Does your tourney have sections?  Most of the larger tournaments have different sections, meaning, you will only play against other players of your approximate strength.  Of course, if you've never entered a tourney before, you will initially be unrated.  After your first tourney you will have a raing, but it will be "provisional." 

In your tourney, there may be an unrated section or a lower section that you will probably want to enter.

Ideally, you should practice playing games and recording your moves as you play, as that will be required for most tourneys.  I've read that some players who aren't used to recording their moves are initially distracted by that ritual.

Let us know how you do.

Biggest change you will see is that you are required to write down your moves unless it's a blitz tournament. Make sure you understand the rules and the time limit. Tell the tournament director that this is your first time and you want to make sure you understand the rules. If you are used to playing on the computer you will find that OTB is different. In my mind OTB is more fun because you get to play someone in person. Good luck!

I did contact the tournament director and he said the big things were if you touch a piece you have to move it, if you touch an oppentents piece you have to take it. He also said chess notation is encouraged but not required. Also the rating range for adults is open so its probally a smaller tourtament.

I do play otb as well as online but the people I play otb are usally just friends who have yet to challenge me.

Thank you guys for your insite I will be sure to let you know how I do as soon as I get the money to join uscf and venture out to my first event.

If you play mostly online, it will probably be very different the first time you play OTB. You might be nervous, you probably won't see the pieces the same (2D board vs 3D board), you will be distracted by having to write down your moves and remembering to hit the clock, you might be sitting next to a guy who smells bad, and so on. For your first tournament, just try to get a feel for how it all works. There is a lot more administrative stuff you have to do that will distract you. Expect that you might not play very well. After the first time you will know what to expect and will start playing better.

What else do you have to do . Do it for fun

-In addition to writing down your moves you also need to hit the clock after each move. If you have not played otb with a clock before that is something that can throw you out of your comfort zone. If your opponent just sits there not making a move when his move seems forced and obvious - check to be sure that you hit the clock and that his time is ticking.

Also prepare yourself to be paired against and beaten by children. My ego dies a little each time I get beaten by a nine year old but it does happen. 

Yes, there are 9 year old kids who are like 2100. And look at Awonder Liang.

Play openings you know,and preferably open games,so you won't get as nervous and have to think as much about your strategy.Also manage time,but use when you need it.An time loss in an winning position is better then an time win in an losing position.Also try some smaller time frames,like 15 min for each side,so you can play more games and the tournaments are shorter,so you don't have to stick around the whole day to play 5 rounds.

Also you need to practice on a real chess board. After only using a 2D chess board for 5 years you'd notice a big drop in skill when you change to a regular full size board.

When deciding on a move, sit on your hands -- literally.  You will be tempted to play the first good/reasonable-looking move that enters your mind, but try to consider at least 2 or 3 candidate moves before deciding.

Also, don't worry if you get the "shakes".  This means trembling hands and jittery legs caused by excessive adrenaline.  As a novice competitor, your brain will usually initially interpret the stress of OTB competition as an actual physical fight (much more so than you would feel playing on-line chess).  After several OTB tournaments, you should start acclimating to the stress, and the shakes should diminish over time.

Play well!  And remember to have fun.

$20 entry fee sounds more than reasonable.

You play in tournaments for the stiff competition and to be rated, i.e. on the bumpy road to a possible title.

At least you won't be expecting the smell of cherry blend pipe tobacco which was what I remember from all my non-scholastic tournaments back in the seventies.

Also, don't worry if you get the "shakes".  This menas trembling hands and jittery legs caused by excessive adrenaline.

TurboFish: That's great advice. When I first started playing Slow Chess here after a thirty-year layoff, I practically collapsed after each game.

Yes, the muscle trembling caused by excess adrenaline consumes a tremendous amount of calories.  So in addition to remembering that this is not life-threatening (at least to those without a heart condition), we can avoid low blood sugar by eating a high-carbohydrate snack once or twice an hour.  I recommend unsweetened whole-grain granola containing complex carbohydrates, but not sugary sodas since simple sugars trigger the release of insulin, leading to a counter-productive "sugar crash" (excessively low blood sugar).

When writing your moves it's helpful to write your remaining time every now and then by your move on the scoresheet to help you keep track of time.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that happens to. I don't play much because I get so anxious while the game's going on, particularly in live chess. I can't imagine what my reaction would be like OTB. Humorous for my opponent I'm sure!

I always interpret it to mean they're calculating hard.  They know there's a very credible chance they'll screw up if they aren't accurate.  That's good, they'll eat up time.  Then again they may be able to sift through the complications favorably.  

Intense calculating is definitely a big part of OTB chess, and this burns a lot of calories.  But in addition to that, for less experienced players there is a tendency to become too nervous (emotionally stressed).  I've played dozens of USCF-rated OTB tournaments, and no longer get very nervous (learned to accept the fact that I will lose many games), but I still get exhausted from calculating.