**How To Make Bodybuilding Mainstream**

[Ex Coelis]

In order to make pro bodybuilding more mainstream, you have to start small. By slowly increasing the fan-base you can create new sponsorship opportunities for the athletes as well as bring more money into the sport as a whole. Now I'm no marketing guru like 240, but here's my proposal:


Bodybuilding is all about big muscles. This is why people come to the shows, buy the videos, and read the magazines. The sport's core fanbase are the hardcore fans and the schmoes. Already we have the freaks and the aesthetic physiques to satisfy these two groups. It would be a mistake to shape the judging criteria to reward only one type of physique or to discourage another; all kinds of physiques appeal to all kinds of fans and both are necessary for the sport to suvive and grow. In order to increase the mainstream appeal of bb, you can't mess with the central fanbase, otherwise the sport will die. Instead of changing the sport, you simply have to emphasize certain elements are market them accordingly to receptive audiences.





For example, the sheer size and hyper masculinity of certain pros like Ronnie Coleman and Markus Ruhl appeal to more than just the hardcore fans. They can appeal to segments of the population who prize and respect macho physiques and dominant male figures. The rap/urban music community holds these qualities in high regard. Being big, physically powerful, and larger than life are consistent themes in hip-hop. Having someone like Ronnie Coleman in a Mike Jones or Chamillionaire music video would be a perfect fit. Put some diamons and gold in Ronnie's mouth and put him next to some spinners and you're all set.




Much of the problem is that the Mr. Olympia title isnt known well enough. As Gary Strydom pointed out in MD, ask 10 people on the the street who Mr. Olympia is and 10 of them won't know. It's a sad fact. Ronnie and Dorian are great champions and legends, but they don't do enought to promote the title and the sport. Appearing on Leno once a year doesnt cut it.





Ronnie has the perfect opportunity with the rap scene. Not only is he a large African American but he also lives in Texas, the hottest rap scene today. All he has to do is show up in a few music videos and his name will be out there, reaching a considerable and receptive audience. What happened to bodybuilders and the music industry, anyway? Back in the day Flex would hang out with Dr. Dre all the time. We need to reconnect these two industries.





Making pro bodybuilding more appealing to the mainstream is a rather daunting endeavour. The fact is, not EVERYONE will appreciate our sport. In the pursuit of wider public acceptance, we CAN NOT tamper with what makes our sport what it is. This means not changing the judging criteria to punish athletes for being either a mass mosnter or a more aethetic physique; let there be both. However, it is possible to increase our fanbase a little at a time by marketing certain aspects of it. By starting with the rap music industry, a market that respects physical accomplishment, the sport can attract more interest. This will lead to more exposure and more money for the athletes who deserve it most. It's not much, but it's a start.

[240 is Back]

Less mass, more grass?

[BroadStreetBruiser]

Take out the dudes.

[Al-Gebra]

What happened to bodybuilders and the music industry, anyway? Back in the day Flex would hang out with Dr. Dre all the time. We need to reconnect these two industries.


[/size]

Didn't Bill Clinton say that these two industries would help build the bridge to the 21st century by providing youngsters all over with great role models? I can't believe we let the dream die. 

[Mr. Intenseone]

In order to make pro bodybuilding more mainstream, you have to start small. By slowly increasing the fan-base you can create new sponsorship opportunities for the athletes as well as bring more money into the sport as a whole. Now I'm no marketing guru like 240, but here's my proposal:


Bodybuilding is all about big muscles. This is why people come to the shows, buy the videos, and read the magazines. The sport's core fanbase are the hardcore fans and the schmoes. Already we have the freaks and the aesthetic physiques to satisfy these two groups. It would be a mistake to shape the judging criteria to reward only one type of physique or to discourage another; all kinds of physiques appeal to all kinds of fans and both are necessary for the sport to suvive and grow. In order to increase the mainstream appeal of bb, you can't mess with the central fanbase, otherwise the sport will die. Instead of changing the sport, you simply have to emphasize certain elements are market them accordingly to receptive audiences.





For example, the sheer size and hyper masculinity of certain pros like Ronnie Coleman and Markus Ruhl appeal to more than just the hardcore fans. They can appeal to segments of the population who prize and respect macho physiques and dominant male figures. The rap/urban music community holds these qualities in high regard. Being big, physically powerful, and larger than life are consistent themes in hip-hop. Having someone like Ronnie Coleman in a Mike Jones or Chamillionaire music video would be a perfect fit. Put some diamons and gold in Ronnie's mouth and put him next to some spinners and you're all set.




Much of the problem is that the Mr. Olympia title isnt known well enough. As Gary Strydom pointed out in MD, ask 10 people on the the street who Mr. Olympia is and 10 of them won't know. It's a sad fact. Ronnie and Dorian are great champions and legends, but they don't do enought to promote the title and the sport. Appearing on Leno once a year doesnt cut it.





Ronnie has the perfect opportunity with the rap scene. Not only is he a large African American but he also lives in Texas, the hottest rap scene today. All he has to do is show up in a few music videos and his name will be out there, reaching a considerable and receptive audience. What happened to bodybuilders and the music industry, anyway? Back in the day Flex would hang out with Dr. Dre all the time. We need to reconnect these two industries.





Making pro bodybuilding more appealing to the mainstream is a rather daunting endeavour. The fact is, not EVERYONE will appreciate our sport. In the pursuit of wider public acceptance, we CAN NOT tamper with what makes our sport what it is. This means not changing the judging criteria to punish athletes for being either a mass mosnter or a more aethetic physique; let there be both. However, it is possible to increase our fanbase a little at a time by marketing certain aspects of it. By starting with the rap music industry, a market that respects physical accomplishment, the sport can attract more interest. This will lead to more exposure and more money for the athletes who deserve it most. It's not much, but it's a start.

You can market until the cows come home but it ain't going to do any good unless.......you apply the contents I've outlined in this thread....

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=77781.0

[castor troy]

I think Big Poppa J brings up a very interesting point. I think it is one of the avenues that should be pursued with deliberation.  Bodybuilding definitely needs a creative outlet for exposure. 

Also, I think trainers of champions are very important in promoting bodybuilding.  Charles Glass and many other Gurus train professional boxers, pro tennis players, pro golfers, and so on....I think it would be very helpful if somehow the public can see how their bodybuilding background (the trainers) is used to train so many other types of athletes and people.   Bodybuilding at many different levels lays the foundation for most sports out there.  Training and eating properly to gain lean mass is an essential part of most sports. 

[240 is Back]

If he has the thug, i got the plug.

[timfogarty]

Bodybuilding is all about big muscles.

bodybuilding had much bigger fan base when it was about symmetry and proportionality too.

guys in the audience saw physiques to which they could aspire. "I could look like that some day."  Very few feel that way today.

that's why it is more of a fringe sport than it was in the 1970s and 1980s.  that's why there are fewer and fewer amateur contests.   and you're not going to have a health pro sport without a healthy amateur one.

[thisGuy]

You have to make bodybuilding contest more then flexing in a thong. Make the competitors run a mile, have a bench/squat/dead compition.

[Stavios]

Bodybuilding will never be maintream

hope this help

[Mr. Intenseone]

Make the competitors run a mile
 

LOL, just have them walk up a flight of stairs, to them it's like running a mile !

[Hedgehog]

Honestly, a guy like Phil Heath can't pose like shit.

He goes on and hits a few mandatories.

WTF is up with that? Bring in John Brown, Shawn Ray, Ed Corney and some others to hold clinics with Kamali, Heath and the rest of them. They're totally clueless in how to set up a posing routine.

In the 80's good posing was expected. Today it is a pleasant surprise.

YIP
Zack

[onlyme]

The only hope is the


PDI

[MCWAY]

You have to make bodybuilding contest more then flexing in a thong. Make the competitors run a mile, have a bench/squat/dead compition.

Bodybuilding contests used to be the opening act, so to speak, for weightlifting meets, back in the early days of the AAU. Eventually, the bodybuilding portion became more popular than the lifting part, as being a weightlifter did not necessarily require a great-looking physique.

Unfortunately, bodybuilding has three major image problems:

1) The participants don't do anything but pose. If people want to see big muscular guys, they can do so by watching RAW and SMACKDOWN. Before I got into bodybuilding, I'd see guys with muscular physiques by watching wrestling every week.

2) The steroid use: It's not just that the competitors use anabolics; it's the perception that such use (and heavy use at that) is virtually mandatory. People are, by and large, shocked when folks from mainstream sports are said to use steroids; that ain't the case with bodybuilding.

3) Image problem: Outside of the anabolics issue, I think the biggest problem in bodybuilding is that people still see bodybuilders as selfish, narcisstic, egotisitcal, and stupid jerks. It certainly doesn't help when you have a certain supplement company feeding into that stereotype, just to sell its goodies (No, you do NOT have to ignore your wife/girlfriend, live in a rat-shack, look down on people who aren't into bodybuilding, and spend your rent money on supplements to be a champion bodybuilder).

Bodybuilding won't become mainstream, until it gets a major fan base comprised of people who DO NOT work out. The majority of football fans have never put on pads, cleats, or a helmet.

[benchthis]

less shrugs more drugs  i had too lol

[gatrainer]

Bodybuilding will never be maintream

hope this help

Well Put!!  There is just not enough people that care about bodybuilding.  There are tons of sports and "interests" that have tons of followers, but are not mainstream.

Go to Barnes and Nobles and look at the magazine racks.......TONS and TONS of different sports, hobbies and interests....each with tons of followers.   Motorcycle mags...Chess Mags...Lacrosse Mags....ect  Those guys who folllow their interests have about as much interest in bodybuilding as we do in their crap.

The reason Ronnie was only one Leno that time because most of the mainstream look at bodybuilding at an oddity.

[OneBigMan]

I still remember when Mr. O Ronnie Coleman appeared on the Tonight Show. Why did he sit there and do the interview only wearing his trunks!!!!!!!!!! The audience was shocked and the atmosphere looked very awkward.

[flurby]

the more bbing will be mainstream, the more retards will hit the gym and annoy me, so no, dont make it "mainstream".

The point of lifitng weights is that it makes you being someone unique, considering all the efforts it demands.
What if everyones becomes muscular ? I enjoy being better looking than other men.I enjoy being a rare kind of alpha male compared to all these fat or skinny losers.

I enjoy making em feel like shit and being better than em.



I dont want em to be as muscular as i am?!? what a stupid idea.



f**k you and your stupid idea.



Thanks god, bbing is NOT mainstream, and thats why i like it.

[MCWAY]

the more bbing will be mainstream, the more retards will hit the gym and annoy me, so no, dont make it "mainstream".

The point of lifitng weights is that it makes you being someone unique, considering all the efforts it demands.
What if everyones becomes muscular ? I enjoy being better looking than other men.I enjoy being a rare kind of alpha male compared to all these fat or skinny losers.

I enjoy making em feel like shit and being better than em.



I dont want em to be as muscular as i am?!? what a stupid idea.



f**k you and your stupid idea.



Thanks god, bbing is NOT mainstream, and thats why i like it.

Awww!!!! Poor little baby!! "Nobody will notice me, unless I have muscles and they don't."  . If you have to put others down or make them feel bad to make yourself feel better, you are in sorry, pitiful shape. And, I can practically guarantee you there are bodybuilders who would make YOU look and feel just as bad as you attempt to do to others.

Few people have the desire to become massive bodybuilders; the rigors of training will separate the wheat from the chaff. But, more people can have respect for those that do. That won't happen, if bodybuilders act like you. If anything, they'll snicker about your being built solely by steroids and having small gonads, regardless of how inaccurate that actually is.

[MCWAY]

I still remember when Mr. O Ronnie Coleman appeared on the Tonight Show. Why did he sit there and do the interview only wearing his trunks!!!!!!!!!! The audience was shocked and the atmosphere looked very awkward.

The same thing happened when Lee Haney appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show about 15 years ago. They put Haney on the air the last 5 minutes or so, before the show ended. And, the following night, Hall was making jokes about having a naked man on his show, referring to pics of a seated Haney, taken at angles where you couldn't see his posing trunks.

The only reason they had Haney on the show is because he broke Schwarzenegger's Olympia record. Anytime you outdo Arnold on anything, you'll get noticed (if only for a brief moment).

[gatrainer]

The same thing happened when Lee Haney appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show about 15 years ago. They put Haney on the air the last 5 minutes or so, before the show ended. And, the following night, Hall was making jokes about having a           on his show, referring to pics of a seated Haney, taken at angles where you couldn't see his posing trunks.

Unless you are into bodybuilding, most people have weird look on their faces when the see a bodybuilder in their posing trunks.   I cant tell you how many idiots used to see my competition photos and would say, " Why do you have to wear those bikini underwear??  Didn't you feel weird standing there in front of all those people?"

[OneBigMan]

The same thing happened when Lee Haney appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show about 15 years ago. They put Haney on the air the last 5 minutes or so, before the show ended. And, the following night, Hall was making jokes about having a naked man on his show, referring to pics of a seated Haney, taken at angles where you couldn't see his posing trunks.

The only reason they had Haney on the show is because he broke Schwarzenegger's Olympia record. Anytime you outdo Arnold on anything, you'll get noticed (if only for a brief moment).

Haney last won the Mr. O in 1991 or 1992 before Dorian won the Olympia title, so he was on Arsenio Hall's show in the early 90's. It puzzles me why someone such as Lee Haney wouldn't ask Weider or someone in the IFBB how to approach such a situation on late night TV even though it was at the end of the show. The best thing Lee Haney could have done was make a joke about himself being in Chippendales and just take his shirt off and see what the reaction of women in the audience would be. I'm surprised that Haney and Ronnie would want to where those tacky trunks when they are appearing on a talk show.

[Ex Coelis]

I still remember when Mr. O Ronnie Coleman appeared on the Tonight Show. Why did he sit there and do the interview only wearing his trunks!!!!!!!!!! The audience was shocked and the atmosphere looked very awkward.

A British talk show wanted Dorian to come on oiled up in his posing trunks. He told them that if they wouldn't expect a football player to show up in running shorts and cleats why would they expect him to show up without his regular garb.

Bodybuilders have to show that they're people, not just physiques. Having them in posing trunks during an interview kills the title's credibility

[gettinhuge]

No big time sponsor is going to help promote a sport like Bodybuilding where Steroid and muscle enhancement drugs are visably in use. esspecially in the U.S. where it is illegal. with that Guilt by association is going to come up all the time.

[OneBigMan]

Bodybuilding simply can't achieve mainstream status because the credibility of this sub-culture would be lessened in the eyes of hardcore fans.

The only athletes I compare bodybuilders to are wrestlers and bodybuilding won't ever be mainstream like wrestling somehow still is.