[formercanuck]

That'll work. I have yet to 'really' try my 85mm f/1.4 Rokinon for items like this - as its manual - I'd probably need to be ~f/2.8 or I'll be OOF every time.

[Kozlok]

The 70-200 suggestion is a good one. Then you can move back a bit and not be in other people's way. Maybe add a monopod. My Tamron 70-200 is superb. It has phenomenal rendering, sharp, nice bokeh, great micro contrast...whatever makes an image look fantastic, that lens has it.

[Colbyt]

the first 3 pictures are the unprocessed ones.just cropped to 4x6. the last 3 have been processed in cs6.
would appreciate any advice for future shots

Looks like terrible lighting. As long as you can get the image in PP, I would not sweat it.