Supplement companies are beginning to learn a cold hard fact... That just because an athlete draws a crowd to the booth doesn't mean he/she is going to sell product. The athlete needs to be more than just an attraction... they also need to be a spokesperson/salesperson who believes in and can talk about the brand and the product. They need to be willing and able to engage the consumers they draw to the booth, speak to them about the product, and answer their training, supplementation and diet questions intelligently. Ultimately the athlete is the face of the brand he/she represents and they need to remember that and speak and act accordingly... afterall thats what they are getting paid for. (Athletes - remember this, your contract is not a right of your pro status... it is a priviledge that many athletes will never get... don't lose it by being an A-hole)
Anyone on this board who has been to any show, Arnold, Olympia or local NPC show knows there are athletes who take it notches above others when working for their respective companies... Examples of good spokespeople who take time to talk to fans/consumers/amateurs and are always pleasant - Shawn Ray, Bob Cicherillo, Jay Cutler, Adela Garcia, Jen Hendershott, Tracy Greenwood and a few others. Then there are the athletes who just want to sign autographs and collect a paycheck for sitting at a booth signing their name, the same ones who bitch and complain about how long the show is or about fans asking the same question over and over (what show are you doing next?) when they think know one is listening. Then when they lose their contract, they wonder why... its about how you present and represent yourself and the company.
Having ranted more than I wanted I would just like to close by saying... this rant doesn't explain why Melvin lost his contract. Hopefully a company who fits Melvin will offer him the right deal.
