Australian Pro Grand Prix Posters

[SteelePegasus]

Here are the posters for my show. The first one is printed in A2 & a4. The second one is a giant 5x3 street poster. This goes all over Melbourne and stops traffic. 380 locations, all on busy intersections. That's taking the muscle to the people...

more updates including competitors list here
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=194441.0

are you trying to tell us that Dexter doesn't believe in training legs?

[SteelePegasus]

How much is the prize money 10K?

also do the competitors have to pay their own way?

[BigSexy50]

Tony,

Wouldn't it significantly help your prospects if Lee was competing in your show? Why not lobby the IFBB for an exemption so Lee can do his hometown show?

Ed

Ed,

Lee Priest retired.   

Besides he has been "off" for 14 months, and wouldn't be ready to compete or guest pose. 

Thanks

[timfogarty]

This goes all over Melbourne and stops traffic. 380 locations, all on busy intersections.

Local advertising makes a world of difference.  Here we are two weeks from the Ironman and I have yet to see any.  There were some 2 x 5.5 inch cards on the counter at my gym for the fitness expo, offering half price entry.   But they don't mention the Ironman, or IFBB, or pro bodybuilding.

[Tony Doherty]

How much is the prize money 10K?

also do the competitors have to pay their own way?

Prizemoney is $20,000

I pay all expenses for around 5-6 this includes flights, room, food, transfers etc.
I pay hotel and food for everyone else. I think over the last few years I have been the only promoter to take care of everyones room and food expenses.

Doing the best that we can.

[Tony Doherty]

So isn't that kind of false advertising having Lee on there when we all know he won't be there?

Very observant tiger, down the right side are all the winners from the first 7 years. Lee won in 2005 which is what it says. I wont change history.

Cormier 2001, 2002, 2003
Dexter 2004, 2007
Lee 2005
Ronny Rockel 2006
? 2008

[kiwiol]

Prizemoney is $20,000

I pay all expenses for around 5-6 this includes flights, room, food, transfers etc.
I pay hotel and food for everyone else. I think over the last few years I have been the only promoter to take care of everyones room and food expenses.

Doing the best that we can.

Good stuff man. Do you know what happened to Boris Borodin who promoted the NZ Grand Prix in 2001? I don't think it's him who is doing the GP this year.

[Tony Doherty]

Good stuff man. Do you know what happened to Boris Borodin who promoted the NZ Grand Prix in 2001? I don't think it's him who is doing the GP this year.

Boris and I have stayed in touch, he is a very successful businessman. He travels a lot and has investments in several countries. Boris was always good to me and made us very welcome whenever in NZ. 

This years show is being promoted by Mark Stewart and Moe Mossaoui

[kiwiol]

Boris and I have stayed in touch, he is a very successful businessman. He travels a lot and has investments in several countries. Boris was always good to me and made us very welcome whenever in NZ. 

This years show is being promoted by Mark Stewart and Moe Mossaoui

Cool. Thanks for the info. Keep up the good work

[Vince B]

Prizemoney is $20,000

I pay all expenses for around 5-6 this includes flights, room, food, transfers etc.
I pay hotel and food for everyone else. I think over the last few years I have been the only promoter to take care of everyones room and food expenses.

Doing the best that we can.

Does that mean guys like Dexter get their trip paid for before they arrive? I mean, you can't treat past winners the same as the guys who have never placed. Just wondering about how you deal with the champs. Sounds like a very expensive, profitless enterprise. Promoters have a big job bringing everyone down to Australia. It is an expensive trip but maybe that is why the contest is held when air traffic is reduce and thus the fares are lower. Still, the cost must be huge to put on a show in Australia when almost all the guys are from overseas. Who selects the judges?

[Matt C]

Prizemoney is $20,000

I pay all expenses for around 5-6 this includes flights, room, food, transfers etc.
I pay hotel and food for everyone else. I think over the last few years I have been the only promoter to take care of everyones room and food expenses.

Doing the best that we can.

Exactly, and doing the best you can at either a loss or little profit to yourself I may add.  I should remind everyone that bodybuilding contest promotion is not very lucrative and Tony could probably spend his time better with other projects if he was strictly thinking of financial remuneration.  This is something he does out of passion.

[Meltdown]

Ask Cormier about the Judges.That is a good question how many fly in to judge or are they just a taxi ride away.As for the costs nobody does it for love there must be some coin leftover major sponsor 40k takes a bit of costs down IMO.

[Matt C]

Ask Cormier about the Judges.That is a good question how many fly in to judge or are they just a taxi ride away.As for the costs nobody does it for love there must be some coin leftover major sponsor 40k takes a bit of costs down IMO.

At the end of the 1999 IFBB English Grand Prix DVD, the promoter said he either broke even promoting the show, or came out at a little bit of a loss.

DVD REVIEW:

http://www.bodybuildingpro.com/1999englishgrandprixdvd.html

PICTURES FROM THE GREATEST BODYBUILDING SHOW EVER:

http://www.bodybuildingpro.com/1999englishgrandprix

http://www.bodybuildingpro.com/1999britishgrandprix

Mike, formally of 1fast400.com said lost $100,000 promoting the Charlotte Pro.  The promoter of the local bodybuilding contests in my city does not make any money off them.

[Tony Doherty]

Does that mean guys like Dexter get their trip paid for before they arrive? I mean, you can't treat past winners the same as the guys who have never placed. Just wondering about how you deal with the champs. Sounds like a very expensive, profitless enterprise. Promoters have a big job bringing everyone down to Australia. It is an expensive trip but maybe that is why the contest is held when air traffic is reduce and thus the fares are lower. Still, the cost must be huge to put on a show in Australia when almost all the guys are from overseas. Who selects the judges?

Hi Vince,

Yes I pay for Dexter and the other top guys. 5-6 as stated. I do the show this time of year because if I follow the Arnold I have a chance of getting some top competitors in the show.

It is a very expensive business.

[Tony Doherty]

Ask Cormier about the Judges.That is a good question how many fly in to judge or are they just a taxi ride away.As for the costs nobody does it for love there must be some coin leftover major sponsor 40k takes a bit of costs down IMO.

Nobody likes losing, lets leave it at that. The judges have come from UK, USA, New Zealand, Sydney, Brisbane and yes a couple local.

Main sponsor pays 15-20k, then I lose on the prizemoney and sanction fee cause they are in US$.  The first year I did the show, the dollar dropped to 0.43, wrecked me.

The most I have lost is around $10k, the most I have made is less than $10K. 3 months work goes into the show, around 18 hours a day for the last 6 weeks, my other business suffer, therefore I don't do it for financial reasons. Having said that I am OK with profit if it works out that way.

[Meltdown]

When they promote without having all costs covered they will lose everytime but the sponsors will tell you they don't miss them when it comes to sponsorship at any show, then you have minor sponsors to cover hotel costs and food.Flights around 2k each 10k total for 5 of the elite.$75 entry per person 1000+ enter auditorium 75k + sponsor 40k ++++ then out costs 20k total prize money.Do judges get paid??

[Matt C]

Nobody likes losing, lets leave it at that. The judges have come from UK, USA, New Zealand, Sydney, Brisbane and yes a couple local.

Main sponsor pays 15-20k, then I lose on the prizemoney and sanction fee cause they are in US$.  The first year I did the show, the dollar dropped to 0.43, wrecked me.

The most I have lost is around $10k, the most I have made is less than $10K. 3 months work goes into the show, around 18 hours a day for the last 6 weeks, my other business suffer, therefore I don't do it for financial reasons. Having said that I am OK with profit if it works out that way.

This is something that I hope the bodybuilding community is aware of.  While by and large people do operate in order to make a profit, this is not always the case and certainly does not seem to be the case in the Oz show.  Some people do do things out of passion.  It's also worth noting that Tony is consistently held in high regard by the competitors for actually being personable and giving them respect and that goes a long way.

[Tony Doherty]

Exactly, and doing the best you can at either a loss or little profit to yourself I may add.  I should remind everyone that bodybuilding contest promotion is not very lucrative and Tony could probably spend his time better with other projects if he was strictly thinking of financial remuneration.  This is something he does out of passion.

Thanks Matt, you seem to have the best grasp of this whole concept. I love it but every year I wonder if I will do it again, I have lost an average of 10kg every year from stress and worry. Then it takes 6 months to get fit again both physically and mentally. It is hard on my family and I am lucky to have their support.

The comedown after a show incredible, I am still learning how to deal with it. First it is relief, then flat, then nothing.

Having said all that, no regrets at all! No one forces me to do it.

[Meltdown]

He does a great job Sanction fees to the IFBB 10k same as the winner now that is where the loss comes from.

[Matt C]

Thanks Matt, you seem to have the best grasp of this whole concept. I love it but every year I wonder if I will do it again, I have lost an average of 10kg every year from stress and worry. Then it takes 6 months to get fit again both physically and mentally. It is hard on my family and I am lucky to have their support.

The comedown after a show incredible, I am still learning how to deal with it. First it is relief, then flat, then nothing.

Having said all that, no regrets at all! No one forces me to do it.

For some reason people seem to think there is so much money in the world of bodybuilding but as Guy Grundy pointed out in MUSCLEMAG, niche industries have niche money.

I have to say that in many cases in my life I felt as though I was doing certain things because I wanted to and when the dust finally settled and I reevaluated things I realized that I never really wanted to do those things to begin with and they were not worth my while or that I was pressured into them.  Once the excitement of the show is over, sit down, relax, and honestly assess the costs and benefits of promoting the show.  A financial loss alone does not necessarily mean something is not worth doing, but if it is stressful in other areas, it may make it so.  I for one, hope the show continues as it is one of the better pro shows in the IFBB.

[Tony Doherty]

When they promote without having all costs covered they will lose everytime but the sponsors will tell you they don't miss them when it comes to sponsorship at any show, then you have minor sponsors to cover hotel costs and food.Flights around 2k each 10k total for 5 of the elite.$75 entry per person 1000+ enter auditorium 75k + sponsor 40k ++++ then out costs 20k total prize money.Do judges get paid??

It is all so simple when you put it like that, perhaps you should be a promoter yourself. Just be aware that you missed a ton of costs, like venue, advertising, printing, postage, trophies, van/car/bus hire and more. The most expensive venue I have used cost $30k for one day. My printing bill alone, runs close to $10k.
Also, be aware that it is getting harder every year to get sponsors. The dollar fluctuates and everyone thinks you are making a fortune. Then whoever dosen't win blames you and if someone you have advertised dosen't show up, it is your fault. It is thankless and tedious work, good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement.

[Vince B]

Well, as a gym owner I would say that contest puts your gym on the map and that publicity might compensate for all the time and effort put into promoting it. You are getting your name out there, too. Someone had to fill the gap left when Frank Burwash died. What worries all gym owners is that the publicity might not be the best because you get a reputation for being a musclehead gym and that might not be good for business. Once you get that reputation it remains no matter what you do. I had that problem in Sydney with Vince's Gym so I changed the name to Vince and Roz's Fitness World. Most still consider our gym a hardcore facility when it is much more than that. The best thing I ever did in my gym was put the free weights in a separate, distant room!!

The sanction fee for IFBB contests has always been too high. I guess someone had to pay for those IFBB officials and Ben. I can't see that the IFBB can justify that expense. Promoters used to be able to hold whatever contests they liked and the best guys might show up. Now it is all regulated and what a pity for promoters, contestants, and fans. Seems to me everyone loses when Lee Priest cannot compete.

[The Master]

I had that problem in Sydney with Vince's Gym so I changed the name to Vince and Roz's Fitness World.

Well, Roz ain't with ya no more, now is she?

[Tony Doherty]

Well, as a gym owner I would say that contest puts your gym on the map and that publicity might compensate for all the time and effort put into promoting it. You are getting your name out there, too. Someone had to fill the gap left when Frank Burwash died. What worries all gym owners is that the publicity might not be the best because you get a reputation for being a musclehead gym and that might not be good for business. Once you get that reputation it remains no matter what you do. I had that problem in Sydney with Vince's Gym so I changed the name to Vince and Roz's Fitness World. Most still consider our gym a hardcore facility when it is much more than that. The best thing I ever did in my gym was put the free weights in a separate, distant room!!

The sanction fee for IFBB contests has always been too high. I guess someone had to pay for those IFBB officials and Ben. I can't see that the IFBB can justify that expense. Promoters used to be able to hold whatever contests they liked and the best guys might show up. Now it is all regulated and what a pity for promoters, contestants, and fans. Seems to me everyone loses when Lee Priest cannot compete.

Good on you mate, whatever floats your boat. Personally I would not change my gym for the whole world, I am what I am and have never given a fuck what the industry or public thinks, I love my gym and still look forward to going to work every day. The upside is that i don't have to deal with the fitness industry in general or the delusional customers they attract.

[Meltdown]

Would Promote fighting before BB.So how many judges do you have from UK and USA for this show???.