BIG NATION Radio - Bodybuilding's Dirty Secrets - Replay now!

[Melvin Goodrum]

Bob, on this show I pointed out the benefits of the Athlete's Representative keeping all contracts on file for review (only by other Athletes or their representatives) and also pointed out certain negotiation principles of which the foundation is having as much credible information as possible. I was wondering if you were open to this idea.

I also discussed the sad, but real, prospect that most Pro Bodybuilders are woefully unprepared to deal with life and finances beyond bodybuilding and suggested the concept of a 'Mentorship' whereby you could facilitate for a Pro nearing the end of his career a mentorship with a successful former Pro Bodybuilder (i.e. Labrada, Gaspari, etc.) to learn and develop the business knowledge needed for success beyond the stage. What are your thoughts?

I think Chick has tried to help a great number of bodybuilders as Shawn Ray has as well.  Regardless of what some people think, they've stuck their necks and reputations out for a lot of people only to get spit at in return. 

Mentorship has to be accepted by those who want it.  Chick or Shawn or anyone cannot help people who don't want to be helped.


As far as contract negotiations are concerned, a lot of athletes definitely need to have their contracts reviewed as they are for the most part very shaky however bodybuilders are a dime a dozen nowadays and a company can easily go with someone else if they even ask to have an attorney look at it.  That is the reason that there should be a pro bodybuilder's union.  That way, bodybuilders will have more protection against predator supplement companies.

One good example I can make is Lee Priest when he was with Muscletech.....Their ads pretty much made them out to be the sole reason Lee Priest was even a professional athlete to begin with.  I don't like Lee Priest but I do at least respect his hard work and dedication that it took for him to turn pro especially at his age

[Earl1972]

cant we have one thread on getbig without gordiano posting about guys fucking guys? just one?

haha blutOWNED brings the funny

E

[Meso_z]

ed is there a replay?

[HowieW]

chick is probably the guy who profited the most from a BB career without having as much lost.
(Risk vs Reward)
made money for himself over the years in BB. didn't compete all that much as a pro. (well, he spent alot of time chasing pro-card but he got it!  )

he's a spokesperson for BB.com + other endorsements. bb talk radio, emceeing olympia + other shows...the fit show series...war for the worlds, etc.

so in the end...he's probably gonna keep making money without having to put his health at risk, by doing show, after show. thats amazing if you ask me!

I agree and it shows what a little effort, ambition and intelligence can do for a guy.
Hmmm, look at that big Austrian kid that was big in the 70's , he made out ok I think? hehe

[Colossus_1986]

I agree and it shows what a little effort, ambition and intelligence can do for a guy.
Hmmm, look at that big Austrian kid that was big in the 70's , he made out ok I think? hehe

i'm sure guys Like Jay, Ronnie, and soon maybe Dexter are set for life, just on their investments...their name...etc...

but at what cost? i think we all can agree their bodies (Ronnie especially) have been pushed to the limits and they might not live until 65 or more, as normal males should...
just sucks that guys have to worry about their future after the sport, whereas any other sport...even the crappiest Baseball player has enough $ to retire after 10 years of playing...

hopefully one day any and all guys who turn pro (in bodybuilding) shouldn't have to worry about finances the way they do today.

[Bluto]

ed,

what about the rest of the industry? how much do they make? supplement companies, the guys doing md, flex etc

[Special Ed]

ed,

what about the rest of the industry? how much do they make? supplement companies, the guys doing md, flex etc

Well, let's start with the fitness models who work the booths at the Arnold. Their pay can range from $0 - $200 for a day's work, with 99% of them earning $0 and 1% earning $200!

For example, the MD girls, including the "Major Distraction" girls and the freaks and all of the ones in between ALL EARNED EXACTLY ZERO DOLLARS for their promotion. They even had to pay their own way to Columbus and pay for their hotel and food. I guess the "honor" of sitting at the MD booth was enough to warrant them paying $1000+ for that "privilege".

Then again, I know Steve Blechman is hurting financially and probably couldn't afford to pay these girls anything for their troubles. Right? Or did a MULTI-MULTI-MILLIONAIRE somehow convince 15 women to finance their own trips to Columbus with the lure of a photoshoot for the magazine or an article or a thread on a message board or a little photo in the magazine.

There's a term in the business that is often thrown around called "EXPOSURE". People seem to think that "Exposure" in and of itself is a valuable commodity. Let me break the news to you: IT'S NOT! The people at the Supplement Companies and the Magazines are ROLLING IN MONEY. They have PLENTY OF MONEY TO PAY YOU for modeling, photoshoots, appearances, booths, etc. If you don't demand to get paid, you don't deserve to be paid.

[davidpaul]

Well, let's start with the fitness models who work the booths at the Arnold. Their pay can range from $0 - $200 for a day's work, with 99% of them earning $0 and 1% earning $200!

For example, the MD girls, including the "Major Distraction" girls and the freaks and all of the ones in between ALL EARNED EXACTLY ZERO DOLLARS for their promotion. They even had to pay their own way to Columbus and pay for their hotel and food. I guess the "honor" of sitting at the MD booth was enough to warrant them paying $1000+ for that "privilege".

Then again, I know Steve Blechman is hurting financially and probably couldn't afford to pay these girls anything for their troubles. Right? Or did a MULTI-MULTI-MILLIONAIRE somehow convince 15 women to finance their own trips to Columbus with the lure of a photoshoot for the magazine or an article or a thread on a message board or a little photo in the magazine.

There's a term in the business that is often thrown around called "EXPOSURE". People seem to think that "Exposure" in and of itself is a valuable commodity. Let me break the news to you: IT'S NOT! The people at the Supplement Companies and the Magazines are ROLLING IN MONEY. They have PLENTY OF MONEY TO PAY YOU for modeling, photoshoots, appearances, booths, etc. If you don't demand to get paid, you don't deserve to be paid.

good post.

[Bluto]

ed,

what is the percentage of those fitness models working as escorts, and whats their current rate?

[Moosejay]

i'm sure guys Like Jay, Ronnie, and soon maybe Dexter are set for life, just on their investments...their name...etc...

but at what cost? i think we all can agree their bodies (Ronnie especially) have been pushed to the limits and they might not live until 65 or more, as normal males should...
just sucks that guys have to worry about their future after the sport, whereas any other sport...even the crappiest Baseball player has enough $ to retire after 10 years of playing...

hopefully one day any and all guys who turn pro (in bodybuilding) shouldn't have to worry about finances the way they do today.

depends on how well off you mean when you say 'set for life'.

Based on the way these guys piss money on cars galore, and the deterioration or expected deterioration of their health, I'd think again on the aforementioned bb's.

[Moosejay]

Well, let's start with the fitness models who work the booths at the Arnold. Their pay can range from $0 - $200 for a day's work, with 99% of them earning $0 and 1% earning $200!

For example, the MD girls, including the "Major Distraction" girls and the freaks and all of the ones in between ALL EARNED EXACTLY ZERO DOLLARS for their promotion. They even had to pay their own way to Columbus and pay for their hotel and food. I guess the "honor" of sitting at the MD booth was enough to warrant them paying $1000+ for that "privilege".

Then again, I know Steve Blechman is hurting financially and probably couldn't afford to pay these girls anything for their troubles. Right? Or did a MULTI-MULTI-MILLIONAIRE somehow convince 15 women to finance their own trips to Columbus with the lure of a photoshoot for the magazine or an article or a thread on a message board or a little photo in the magazine.

There's a term in the business that is often thrown around called "EXPOSURE". People seem to think that "Exposure" in and of itself is a valuable commodity. Let me break the news to you: IT'S NOT! The people at the Supplement Companies and the Magazines are ROLLING IN MONEY. They have PLENTY OF MONEY TO PAY YOU for modeling, photoshoots, appearances, booths, etc. If you don't demand to get paid, you don't deserve to be paid.

Sure, they can demand all they want.

However, Weider and others have always looked at it this way: if you don't like $50 or $100 payment for a cover shoot or to man a booth (Yes, that is all they get at times for a cover shot)...there are hundreds of others who will do it free.

[Special Ed]

ed,

what is the percentage of those fitness models working as escorts, and whats their current rate?

As I have explained, 99% of the girls in this industry prefer "exposure" to "cash". Therefore exactly 1% are "working" as escorts and the other 99% are screwing judges, editors, writers and webmasters for FREE.

The going rate for an escort is $2000 a night, but for $1000 you can have a no-show date with Bethany Howlett!

[no one]

Bob,

I still don't get why you don't see the benefit of a contract database. In the past 6 months, I've spoken with several pro and high-level amateur bodybuilders who have no idea what others are making and what (or if) they should be charging for appearances, photoshoots, and sponsorship opportunities.

None of the Pros know what others are making unless they see the contracts with their own eyes. I suggested that only those who submit their own signed or proposed contracts to the database would be permitted to review contracts on file.

I had several bodybuilders thank me after last night's show for providing them with some real and estimated figures, but wouldn't you agree that they should be getting this information from a more authoritative source such as the IFBB Athlete's Representative?

Why the resistance for a voluntary service that could only help your fellow brethren?

i know you are baiting here ed, you are alot smarter than this.

god forbid these 'athletes' who are risking their health and emptying every pocket trying to make a living in an organisaton owned and controlled by the IFBB actually all get on the same page and educate themselves as to what is going on around them, and set a minimum standard rate of pay for such things as 'appearances, photoshoots, and sponsorship opportunities.'

why would the IFBB educate or even help educate these poor saps when all it would do is take away from their own pocket books in the long run?

[michael arvilla]

Well, let's start with the fitness models who work the booths at the Arnold. Their pay can range from $0 - $200 for a day's work, with 99% of them earning $0 and 1% earning $200!

For example, the MD girls, including the "Major Distraction" girls and the freaks and all of the ones in between ALL EARNED EXACTLY ZERO DOLLARS for their promotion. They even had to pay their own way to Columbus and pay for their hotel and food. I guess the "honor" of sitting at the MD booth was enough to warrant them paying $1000+ for that "privilege".

Then again, I know Steve Blechman is hurting financially and probably couldn't afford to pay these girls anything for their troubles. Right? Or did a MULTI-MULTI-MILLIONAIRE somehow convince 15 women to finance their own trips to Columbus with the lure of a photoshoot for the magazine or an article or a thread on a message board or a little photo in the magazine.

There's a term in the business that is often thrown around called "EXPOSURE". People seem to think that "Exposure" in and of itself is a valuable commodity. Let me break the news to you: IT'S NOT! The people at the Supplement Companies and the Magazines are ROLLING IN MONEY. They have PLENTY OF MONEY TO PAY YOU for modeling, photoshoots, appearances, booths, etc. If you don't demand to get paid, you don't deserve to be paid.

Man ................this is so "Dead on accurate!"
i was told one time i would get "commission on all supplements i sold at the Expo" (after i paid for hotel,airfare...etc etc myself)  if i was younger i know i would have done it ("exposure"..........sitting in a booth being "King shit" all day)
reality is a lonnng day hawking someone Else's "wares"......barely eating,on your feet all day,tons of annoying people,hardly no "bathroom breaks"...............it sucks basically)
you want someone to work for you selling your shit.................... pay them

[bodybuilder1234]

This was probably the best show I have heard in a while...
Candizzle, no offence but u sounded like a complete moron on air 

[Earl1972]

This was probably the best show I have heard in a while...
Candizzle, no offence but u sounded like a complete moron on air 

he thought the show was boring

E

[Special Ed]

This was probably the best show I have heard in a while...
Candizzle, no offence but u sounded like a complete moron on air 

Thanks Bodybuilder! Glad to have you aboard!

[AVBG]

PM's exposed... that was a cool episode, checkout the replay.

[bigdumbbell]

i love the show but why is the sound so fucked up?

[TooPowerful4u]

crap i would have loved to hear this one. I have a pretty good idea of all the answers since i worked inside the industry for a few years, but im curious what was said.  Can someone outline and answer the initial questions of this thread?

[Special Ed]

crap i would have loved to hear this one. I have a pretty good idea of all the answers since i worked inside the industry for a few years, but im curious what was said.  Can someone outline and answer the initial questions of this thread?

Check out the replay in the archives at UltimateTalkRadio.com.

Love to hear your feedback.

[TooPowerful4u]

Check out the replay in the archives at UltimateTalkRadio.com.

Love to hear your feedback.

LMFAO @ the Phil Heath references with Isaac haha "how much Phil Heath benched today" LOLOLOLOLOL

ET Phone Levrone hahahaha u im still laughing.......


I cant comment on some stuff as its stuff that would make me alot of enemies and i dont need that......

[TooPowerful4u]

While most companies dont PAY amateurs money...only supplements...they DO fly them to their national shows and pay for accomodations as well...which helps