when you are on a stage at a pro show, like the arnold or the mr.olympia, and your doing your posing routine... is that as awesome of an experience as you thought it would be ?
Doing the routine is the best part, and probably the only reason that I competed in my first show.
I will honestly say just get on stage, because no matter how "big" you think you are in off season conditioning, you will watch it all melt away the first time you do a contest diet. The reason is, until you compete, you "think" you are carrying a whole lot more muscle then you really are.
Just pick a small show to get your feet wet and go for it. There is so much to learn that first time, you need one show just to get famaliar with how it all goes together.