Nah, I'm not gonna bust Shawn's chops this year.
Last year, I was annoyed by "Superstars like..." then a list which surpassed that of the Olympia. I went a bit overboard in the criticism. This year, I hope the show does well.
Like I said last year shawn, this time hit up the gym. Grassroots is the only way when it comes to cult sports. All the morning TV shows in the world are fun, but aren't going to pack the place.
use your star power. You and heath and whoever else, do a bunch of gym seminars and sell sell sell! Don't leave it up to people to drive to the show and buy a ticket. hit them up in person. Who's gonna tell phil heath no?
Now, with the MMA, boxing, powerlifting, WSM, and bikini model search, do the exact same thing! Send a grinning Phil heath into local modeling agencies to talk about how the bikini search is a wonderful thing. Recruit some local powerlifting guys (jeff taylor will know them) and really sell to those down-county home lifting redneck powerlifters. They usually show up in groves.
Boxing, MMA... hit them at their dojos. Take risks! Look at their websites and email them, ask if you can stop in and donate t-shirts to the kids classes, then hang out a bit and sell tickets and talk about the exposure their dojos or gyms could get with a booth (i assume you'll be selling those everywhere you go also!). Additionall, every gym you visit should have a stack of tickets at the desk with the gym getting a healthy commission per sale. And the winners of each of the expo events should be given the CASH part of their prizes onstage at the night show that evening. Comp them each 2 tix, and watch them have ten of their friends buy, JUSt to clap for them and take pics in their only stage moment in life in front of thousands for their physical accomplishments. Plus, exposure, yada yada. That bikini model top 3 is gonna drool at chance to be seen by everyone in industry for 20 seconds, and her boyfriend/crew will certianly buy tix to be a screaming sections. Sell like hell, but more importantly motivate all involved to sell like hell
Good luck this year. Please don't try to make this event mainstream, as the type of disciplined mindset who is a fan of these activities at the expo are probably not going to be the same housewife watching Good Morning Denver at 10 am. Busy people are at productive places... go there and kick some tires!
Rob
