You Won Your IFBB Pro Card ....... NOW WHAT!?

[stuntmovie]

Some GetBiggers complain a lot while others appear to just go along with the flow.

And others put up the good fight to make changes for the betterment of the organization of which they are a part ….. and for those who are a part of it.

I’ve heard numerous complaints about the number of present day ‘graduates’  from the NPC into the IFBB where the ‘students’ receive an IFBB Pro Card in lieu of a high school diploma.

And many antagonists feel that ‘college’ is getting too damn crowded.

For you grammar school kids, it wasn’t too long ago when IFBB Pro Cards were only awarded to a very few individuals in a very few number of selected bodybuilding events, but now-a-days it’s very common to award Pro Cards to more contestants in one year than were ever awarded within a ten year period in the past.

Many will ague this point but I personally think it’s a change for the  BETTER!

It’s better for the NPC and the IFBB due to the fact that it brings more members into the organization. And more members means financial success which every organization strives to achieve.

It’s better for the members simply due to the fact that it gives those members who are successful more opportunities to compete as a pro which will eventually open the doors to athletic related contracts within the industry.

So right now we are all witnessing a major change within the world of competitive bodybuilding where  IFBB Pro Cards are awarded in numbers that have never been seen before. (Fifty-three alone in the most recent NPC USA Championships.).

But with growth comes problems ….. but problems are eventually resolved within large organizations and become mere bumps on the road to success.

One of the major problems that I foresee is …… What do all these new IFBB bodybuilding  pros do now?  

Will the bantam-weight pros ever have the opportunity to compete within and win a cash award? Will they ever be able to do well in a big money contest such as the “O” or the Arnold?

And how successful will weight class events ever be within the IFBB?

It could possibly happen that this vast increase in the number of IFBB  bodybuilding, physique, fitness, figure, bikini pros  will encourage more promoters to promote more contests that may allow more of these new pros to compete on a level playing field with the possibility of winning a decent monetary pot.

That could possibly mean some new form of division among the pro ranks other than the present day individual weight and height classes.

Some plan should be devised to keep these new IFBB pros within the IFBB when it comes time to renew that IFBB card each year.

[Rhino]

They should also give a few cards out to the geriatric division. I for one would love to see our very own Muscle Centre an IFBB pro. It would not be an exageration in saying that Muscle Centre has more than paid his dues.

[stuntmovie]

RHINO, I believe that the Geriatric Set is being well taken care of ..... even to the point where pro cards may even be offered to competitors in the 70 year + range.

Maybe someone can confirm this ..... or NOT!

[drmarkp]

RHINO, I believe that the Geriatric Set is being well taken care of ..... even to the point where pro cards may even be offered to competitors in the 70 year + range.

Maybe someone can confirm this ..... or NOT!

They could hold an over 70 "Ultra Super Grand Master's Pro Mr. World" contest- the winner gets a generous gift certificate to Home Town Buffet..

[stuntmovie]

BRO, You said, "Perhaps there just isn't enough money for more weight classes and shows in the IFBB."

I think that the IFBB has enough money to do as it pleases but ... there just may not be enough of an interest among the BB fans to pay good money to see the lighter weight classes.

Throughout the years I have noticed that the seats are always relatively empty until the light heavies come on stage.

And most recently I've noticved that many of the seats become unoccupied when the women's events are over.

This is defiinitely noticeable if the male bodybuilders come on stage during the later part of the evening.

It seems that the fans want to get home early..

[Krankenstein]

Some GetBiggers complain a lot while others appear to just go along with the flow.

And others put up the good fight to make changes for the betterment of the organization of which they are a part ….. and for those who are a part of it.

I’ve heard numerous complaints about the number of present day ‘graduates’  from the NPC into the IFBB where the ‘students’ receive an IFBB Pro Card in lieu of a high school diploma.

And many antagonists feel that ‘college’ is getting too damn crowded.

For you grammar school kids, it wasn’t too long ago when IFBB Pro Cards were only awarded to a very few individuals in a very few number of selected bodybuilding events, but now-a-days it’s very common to award Pro Cards to more contestants in one year than were ever awarded within a ten year period in the past.

Many will ague this point but I personally think it’s a change for the  BETTER!

It’s better for the NPC and the IFBB due to the fact that it brings more members into the organization. And more members means financial success which every organization strives to achieve.

It’s better for the members simply due to the fact that it gives those members who are successful more opportunities to compete as a pro which will eventually open the doors to athletic related contracts within the industry.

So right now we are all witnessing a major change within the world of competitive bodybuilding where  IFBB Pro Cards are awarded in numbers that have never been seen before. (Fifty-three alone in the most recent NPC USA Championships.).

But with growth comes problems ….. but problems are eventually resolved within large organizations and become mere bumps on the road to success.

One of the major problems that I foresee is …… What do all these new IFBB bodybuilding  pros do now?  

Will the bantam-weight pros ever have the opportunity to compete within and win a cash award? Will they ever be able to do well in a big money contest such as the “O” or the Arnold?

And how successful will weight class events ever be within the IFBB?

It could possibly happen that this vast increase in the number of IFBB  bodybuilding, physique, fitness, figure, bikini pros  will encourage more promoters to promote more contests that may allow more of these new pros to compete on a level playing field with the possibility of winning a decent monetary pot.

That could possibly mean some new form of division among the pro ranks other than the present day individual weight and height classes.

Some plan should be devised to keep these new IFBB pros within the IFBB when it comes time to renew that IFBB card each year.

1) Financial success for who?  Surely you do not mean the 'winners' of the shows.

2) Athletic related contracts?  With all due respect...whats so athletic about bodybuilding...let alone the IFBB?

[stuntmovie]

drmarkp - Hell! I get a free "home town" buffet  at least once a week here in LV so your plan ain't the ideal solution.

Thanks, though!

[240 is Back]

now you live the rock star life.  Mobbed at malls, groupies, endorsements, all that.

[stuntmovie]

KRANK, I think I made it clear .... Financial success for both organizations ... the NPC and the IFBB.

For comment #2 .... Substitute ... Athletic 'looking' individuals if it suits you better.

And that includes fitness/figure/bikini/physique/and bodybuilding individuals.

Are you aware that some of these 'individuals' have contracts that exceed $100,000 a year and one individual pulls in over $20,000 each month on his own highly respected web-site?

[RagingBull]

For most of the new pros who may not have any future in the IFBB, the only silver lining is that their personal training business will get a boost due to their newly acquired pro status.

[local hero]

Sure. The IFBB has an ample amount of money, as exemplified by some of the nicer shows and conventions they put on.

However, the parallel between and organization such as the UFC could be used as a perfect model for the IFBB.

The UFC was recently purchased for a couple million dollars, and now has become a multi million dollar organization, with demand for events becoming increasingly higher.

The UFC brought in a lighter weight division, aka, the small guys. At around the same time, they brought in female competitors.

The main difference between the UFC and IFBB from a business standpoint, is advertising. The IFBB barely advertises outside of its niche market. Do regular people walking the streets in A big city know when the IFBB comes to town to host an event? Or are there a larger number of people who know when the UFC comes to town for an event?

The amount of advertising dollars spent by the UFC is staggering, as shown with the broad amount of ads in various cities.

For those who say Bodybuilding isn't for everyone, well, neither is the UFC, yet the once small company garnished what it had to work with, and promoted it diligently. The IFBB could grow even larger by even promoting the physique divisions more!

Where is Victorias Secret hosting a show with the IFBB fitness and figure events?

While that is just one example, the possibilities are endless.

Bottom line, IFBB has opportunity to grow, and they need to jump at the opportunity now.  

look, i love bodybuilding, ive competed and attended my fair share of shows..... the only people who go to watch are bodybuilders, girls/wives of bodybuilders, family members of competitors and maybe a handfull of gays,,,, no one else outside of these groups will pay good money to watch, ever!

and what has already been said, we only want to watch the freaks anyway, if they dont look subhuman people get bored

[local hero]

i know what your getting at,,,, but they dont need to, we all know where it is and the date etc, as i said we are the only people who would pay to go anyway..

[stuntmovie]

BRO, Thanks for your intelligent response. I almost agreed with you 100% but then I read  LOCAL HERO’s response and have to now drop that 100 down to 90 simply due to the fact that the modus operandi of the UFC should not be compared to the NPC/IFBB method of doing business.

It would be like comparing apples to hand grenades … so to speak.

As LOCAL said…. “The only people who go to watch (NPC/IFBB events) are bodybuilders, girls/wives of bodybuilders, family members of competitors and maybe a handfull of gays,,,, no one else outside of these groups will pay good money to watch, ever!”

I agree completely with LOCAL and honestly hope that t,,,he future may soon prove us to be dumb asses in this regards.

But the ways things are today … no amount of advertising will change what LOCAL has stated above.

BUT …… And this is a BIG BUTT …..  Unexpected major changes are always possible and I hate to be controversial but I kind of forsee this men’s physique division and each of the lady’s events outperforming the men’s bodybuilding comps within the NPC someday very soon …. And some of the pros I’ve spoken  to are in complete agreement.

But men’s bodybuilding will always dominate the IFBB.

But anyone who ever used that word (“always”) has always proven himself to be pretty damn dumb anyways.

I almost always never use it.

Thanks, BRO.

[stuntmovie]

RAGING BULL! Thanka! That's another immediate benefit I failed to recognize .....

[stuntmovie]

I did mean to post that the Olympia is advertised on a few of the major highway signs here in LV. Some are even displayed using that new electronic, optical, advertising device.

And the host hotels do an extensive  amount of in-house advertising. Even  larger than life shots of the major competitors on the elevator doors.

I know nothing about advertising methods so I'll shut up now.

But I do know enough that I can read them when I see them. Or when I bump into one.

[ESFitness]

market yourself.

if you're never gonna win a show, who cares?

you can still use the publicity to market yourself in;

1-guest posing
2-endorsing products
3-launch your own product line using your 'image' as leverage for investors.
4-use your 'image' and 'ifbb pro' status as leverage to gain personal training clients

A good number of pro's and amateurs make a good living without ever winning more than $1000 at a show (if anything at all).

Of course, you'll always have the blockhead dummy's who'll never be successful in anything no matter what. Similar to pro football players who blow 40million on a 30million $ salary and are bankrupt in 3 years.

[Tito24]

[Rhino]

For most of the new pros who may not have any future in the IFBB, the only silver lining is that their personal training business will get a boost due to their newly acquired pro status.

and only naive ppl will pay lol we all know the truth suckers lo

[arce1988]

 Stunt is a great poster. Glad he is here. We are lucky to have him.



Semper Fi

[stuntmovie]

ESFITNESS, Thanks! Great suggestions regarding self-marketing …. But most often harder than it looks or seems.

a.   Guest posing …..That’s difficult unless you are one of the better known ‘O’ contenders whose guest posing fees are usually $2,000 to $5,000 per event and sometimes higher. But guest posing could be a possibility for some of these brand new pros if they were to guest pose at events within their home town for considerably less than as shown above.

b.   Product endorsement ….. Twenty or so years ago, a contest winner would have a decent chance at endorsing a product for a small amount of income, but then the ecomony sunk and the money dried up and it became a damn near impossibility. Back in the day I was told that Weider would offer an upcoming bodybuilder (pro or amateur) $40,000+ a year to make that boybuilder available to guest pose at NPC/IFBB events and then offer the NPC promoters a guest poser free of charge in enchange for  placing the IFBB logo at the top of every contest ad and poster and entry form. Sad to say, but those were the good old days and have been long gone and won't be seen again.

c.   Your own product line …. A new business start-up in  today’s economy would be a risk in which these young pros would fear to tread. And would you buy a supplement product from a new start-up endorsed by someone you’ve never hear of before who happens to be a brand new IFBB Pro?

d.   New personal training clients …..I think this is your best idea but only if he/she can run this business outside of the gyms that take 60% of his daily income (more or less). There are individuals in the Hollywood area who run their own training business by training clients in the client’s personal residences and charge high figures to get the actors/actresses in shape for their next major appearance. A couple of PT’s even travel to exotic locations where the production is underway and make a very respectable income.

These past few years I’ve been encouraging the guys and gals who have SuperHero looks to do their utmost to find a Hollywood agent who would represent them. A difficult but not impossible task.

More on that subject later ….

Thanks, ESFit

[doison]

Profit!

[epic_alien]

stuntmovie is a old queen and  schmoe


stop giving "warnings" to guys who come up  and and dream of being pro.

just go away and do your sick business in the dark, after all, thats what supports bodybuilding.

no one wants to see more of your epic novels of crap

[claymore]

People that chase getting a PRO Card don't understand that 99.99999999% of people that have there PRO Card don't make shit off of it !!!!!  Stan and I laugh about this all the time, great you got your PRO Card....Now What HAHAHAHAHA LOL

[Teutonic Knight]

Life outside Pro Card exist, why not trying fitness modeling type events !,
Modeling physiques a far more in demands than any Olympia competitors.
Example: 2 contests in Australia with $ 60000 prizes 

[The Abdominal Snoman]

"You won your IFBB Pro Card.....Now What?"

Double your rates for Schmoe Squatting sessions and make a killing