I recall the first show I attended was in 1978...the Mr. Capital District...I was 15 and my father brought me...there were over 100 competitors.
However, it is strange to think that not one entrant posed to music.
Not only did they not pose to music of their own choosing... there wasn't even 'house' music...the kind where everyone would do their routines to the same old tune all night.
That was how it was back then. At least, that was the 'tail-end' of an era in which, at least in local and/or regional shows, you just brought what you had to the stage and hoped to God that the crowd was charitable in their appreciation of your efforts.
I started competing as a teenager in 1980. Still, we did not use our own music (anyone let me know if this was the case in your own instances around this time period).
The first song I ever posed to was 'Eye Of The Tiger' (as well as EVERY other competitor that night!)-from one of the early Rocky movies.
I remember one guy brought 'music' on a cassette tape...it was simply a recording of rousing applause, synchronized to play about every 5-7 seconds...you know...so, he'd hit a pose...his tape would blare-out applause, and, curiosly...the crowd started really going nuts and clapping for this guy (he wasn't in even fair shape, either).
Then, as most know, from this era on, everyone uses music.
I competed in 60 shows. Won two of them outright, along with a class win. Have a total of 17 trophies in all.
So, I did a lot of losing.
Let me tell you, when you can't use music, and the crowd is dead quiet, there is no lonlier man onstage!
Anyone have similar recollections?
Mike
