Shawn Ray's First Experiences as a Promoters

[240 is Back]

I mean, I'm sure we all enjoyed the banter of Bob Chick's ad-libbing last night, but imagine a poor man's Chris Rock up there, making jokes about the obvious aspects of the show.  Would the egos in attendance allow them to take things a little less serious?

[Tre]

The emcee/radio duo of Dan & Bob were great at the show last night.  Working in concert with the expeditors and production team, things flowed perfectly for most of the evening, which was good for the viewing audience.

The only real trouble spots they had were when they were expected to fill time while awaiting some results or something.  That's not their area of expertise and even though dead time is something that happens at even the best-run events, it was not reasonable to expect them to be able to entertain the crowd for more than 60 seconds. 

As we got near the end of the show, people just wanted to get the results so they could go home.  They'd already been there for 4-1/2 hours and just wanted to see their hometown guy get his win and that big paycheck.  During that lull in the action, Dan & Bob tried their best, but they had to have been tired, too, and to ask them to do something outside their talent set could not have given a good result, no matter how hard they tried. 

All-in-all, for a first-time event, everything - including the judging - exceeded all expections. 

[240 is Back]

I'm thinking more of an additional draw, so people would actually look forward to the breaks.  It would break up the monotony, make it more sellable (carrot top could have drawn more than 700 ppl last night).

IMO, ticket sales are a big problem.  There HAS to be a few small things that can be added to get more butts in the seats so promoters stop taking a bath.

[240 is Back]

When it comes to the marketing, your approach has to match the product offering, and the target audience.  Check it:

If you're going to advertise to a mass audience (shotgun approach), you need a mass appeal offering.  If you're going to be on the morning news, talk about something that they like.  Add something to the show to make them want to visit. IE: "guest host" someone that housewives identify with, etc.

If you're going to advertise to a specific audience (rifle approach- my favorite!) you need to NOT spend time on the news, but spend time doing seminars at local gyms the 8 weekends before the colo pro, with athletes coming along to meet the patrons and giveaways, etc.  THIS would have motivated ppl to come out. (IE: "I met darrem, nice dude. I'll be there!"). 

Shawn was just another guy selling something on the morning news.  But in the gyms, he would have been THE man with THE SHOW OF THE YEAR!

Schedule 4 appearances a weekend- Q&A with Phil Heath and a few other guys, for the 8 weeks BEFORE the colo pro.  Hit the 32 biggest gyms closest to Denver.  That's 2 every sat, 2 every sunday.  Meet thousands of real pro BBing fans in the denver area. 

Anyway, that is my marketing advice. You never asked, but I'm sharing anyway.  You went after the wrong cutomer group, Shawn.  You did things right, but for the WRONG people, IMHO.

Rob

[Stavios]

Schedule 4 appearances a weekend- Q&A with Phil Heath and a few other guys, for the 8 weeks BEFORE the colo pro.  Hit the 32 biggest gyms closest to Denver.  That's 2 every sat, 2 every sunday.  Meet thousands of real pro BBing fans in the denver area. 


Rob

I think Shawn's partner did that tought

[240 is Back]

I think Shawn's partner did that tought

I'm talking Shawn Ray and Phil Heath and another guy or two actually visiting the gyms, doing 30 min of Q&A, taking 30 min of pictures, and getting out of there.  hand out some free vyo stuff too, why not.

THAT WORKS!  Having Jeff Taylor or Lift hang up some signs and chat a bit with the gym owners DOES NOT.

[Shawn Ray]

Thanks for your Expert Opinion, I'll take note.
Next time, try and be PRESENT to witness the event and offer a resourceful Opinion.
Out.
S. Ray

[Stavios]

Very True.

I am looking foward to the montreal pro show here in quebec. I think the promotor is doing a poor job.
not a frickin poster in the gyms, nothing. If I did read it myself on the internet, I wouldn't even know there was a montreal pro show this year.

[WOOO]

Thanks for your Expert Opinion, I'll take note.
Next time, try and be PRESENT to witness the event and offer a resourceful Opinion.
Out.
S. Ray

... not only did he sign it... but he turned off his radio...

[Stavios]

I would like to hear your opinion about your first experience as a promotor. Were you satisfied ? I would also like you to comment on the placing. Personnally, I think they were spot on but some guys here are calling bullshit.

speak on this Shawn !

[240 is Back]

Thanks for your Expert Opinion, I'll take note.
Next time, try and be PRESENT to witness the event and offer a resourceful Opinion.
Out.
S. Ray

Shawn, traveling to Denver was not feasible for me.  Hold it in Tampa and I'll be passing out flyers for you!

Seriously though, do you think that 8 weeks of seminars in local gyms- meeting and taking pics with BBing fans and talking with them about the upcoming show- is a BAD IDEA?

Holy crap... 32 gyms' worth of BBing fans who could meet you, learn about the show and the athletes, and really make an EMOTIONAL connection with the athletes involved.  

Shawn, marketing isn't about numbers- it's about MOTIVATION!  you have to motivate ppl to WANT to attend.  Just telling them about the show isn't enough.  If you met 6000 people at local gyms (200 per gym for 30 appearances), at least half of them would show up, and probably bring a friend or two!  They'd all be local, all KNOW you in person instead of from magazines.

If I'm wrong, someone tell me. But IMO, next year, this will get your numbers up.  Hit the ground, meet the people, and they'll vote by buying tickets and returning your thoughtful visit with one of their own- to your show!

[240 is Back]

Plus, VYO would pick up some new friends too!  Those free samples you hand out at the hour-long visits would result in those kids asking their gym owners to STOCK UP ON VYO products!

See how this just grows, shawn?  You go with shawn and 1-2 other guys.  Everyone loves you, asks how the diet is going, snap some pics, etc.  Hell, SELL TICKETS WHILE YOU'RE THERE!!!

I am just grinning right now.  I can't believe you don't believe grassroots handshaking with your EXACT target market would return results.  Unreal

[onlyme]

It's going to be hard to get through, but Denver was a horrible choice for a venue.  He did not think this one out.  He made three (at the least) major mistakes. 1) putting the show on in Denver. 2) doing it on a holiday weekend. 3) doing it at a venue just to big for the size of the event.

I want to know did any of the people he went and did interviews with come to the show.  Like the radio and tv people.

And what did it say in todays paper.  ANyone?

I was wondering did Sean appear in the Vyotech booth.

[The True Adonis]

Did anyone else notice that Sean`s coat didn`t fit him at all.

A suit jacket should be tailored such that when you curl your hands with your arms in a straight position, the fabric should hit the palm nicely.


Also, It was pretty bad when you had to have random dudes come up there and tell shitty jokes during lulls.  They could at least have cut to the screen and showed some highlights from Arnold posing back in the day or something. hahahah

[Lift Studios]

This is better then my Sunday comics. The same four cartoon characters in here commenting on the show, none of which were in attendance. Thanks for the laughs. 

[240 is Back]

This is better then my Sunday comics. The same four cartoon characters in here commenting on the show, none of which were in attendance. Thanks for the laughs. 

I'm glad you can laugh at 700 tickets sold. 

Lift, are you saying that holding quick meet & greets with shawn and a pro or two in Denver area gyms would be bad for attendance?

You can't sell a NEGATIVE number tickets.  So it's a little strange to crap on my idea after your way got a whopping 700 in the door. 

If you want to argue why you chose a mass market approach to advertise a NICHE product offering, I'm all ears.  It didn't make good business sense.

I'm glad you're laughing though, Isaac!

[Shawn Ray]

Dooooooooooooooooooo! 

[Shawn Ray]

The DVD is coming soon...........Stay tuned to: www.coloradoproshow.com
I had a Blast!
I'd like to thank the Academy, as well as the Sponsors and Athletes butmost of all I'd like to thanks the FANS!
All 3 of them! You guys are the reason I will be pulling out all the stops for the next 2 years as we signed on the dotted line last night!

1st Weekend of June 2007!

My review will be detailed in Flex Magazine, Muscular Development and on my web site: www.shawnray.com
Peace,
S. Ray

[240 is Back]

AIDA.  She is the woman all marketers love.

Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.

Shawn went on the news and got their attention.  maybe even their interest.  but it's hard to elicit desire, and especially action, from a TV set the week of the show.

Suppose shawn, phil, and another pro or two had spent time in teh gym, shaking hands and trading words with local fans.  BBers.  PLers.  Old and young.  Wide audience with BBing/weightlifting in common. 

He's there, he has their ATTENTION.  That's the A.
INTEREST?  Hell yes.  There's several pro Bbers in your gym, that's rare! Of course they'll be interested.
DESIRE- once they meet shawn and phil heath and other guys, they WANT to see this show that these two big guys are so excited about.
ACTION- hey, whattya know... Lift is at the gym selling tickets.  Wow, free VYO supp giveaway when you buy a ticket.  hell, I'll take two tickets.  I'll find someone to bring along.  Or, I'll buy 3 and take my roomates.  We like the city.

See?  Isaac, I know you like to shit on my marketing sense, but I can't see how my logic is flawed here.  You guys would have sold a ton of tickets by going to gyms, doing 30 Q&A and 30 min of pictures.  Seriously.

[onlyme]

This is better then my Sunday comics. The same four cartoon characters in here commenting on the show, none of which were in attendance. Thanks for the laughs. 

I saw it on Webcast.  Isn't that why you put it up there.  Isn't that the whole reason for dong a webscast is so people who can't make it can watch it and experince the excitement.  Oh I did experince the exctiement it was awesome.  I was on the edge of my seat.  How could anyone hear there music it was so loud from everyone yelling.  I swear you guys had the best security.  I mean to hold all those people away from storming the stage.  It was awesome.  I was defintiely the best BB show I have ever seen on webcast (actually the only one).  How did you guys pull off this monumentous show.  DId Jim Lorimar call you to see if you are available to help with his show so he can get more people in.  Is it true they had to close all downtown traffic because of how many people were outside wating to get into the show.  And it is true you made Ali and former President Clinton wait in line outside.

Man, I missed a great show.  Maybe next year?        DOUBT IT!

[Lift Studios]

I'm glad you can laugh at 700 tickets sold. 

Lift, are you saying that holding quick meet & greets with shawn and a pro or two in Denver area gyms would be bad for attendance?

You can't sell a NEGATIVE number tickets.  So it's a little strange to crap on my idea after your way got a whopping 700 in the door. 

If you want to argue why you ch ::)ose a mass market approach to advertise a NICHE product offering, I'm all ears.  It didn't make good business sense.

I'm glad you're laughing though, Isaac!

Not laughing at your ideas, never discredited them and some of your ideas hold merit. I am laughing at the Sunday morning quarterbacking that is taking place here. Who'd a thunk? 

[onlyme]

Whats funny is all the shit Sean and Issac said about my show and me being a failure and for me to sit back and watch how its supposed to be done.  It ended up EXACTLY like I said.  IN fact worse.  I had more people attend my show and I live on a fricking island.  I bet I had more people fly in to see my show than yours too. 

So, now that you are in my boat, I hand over the wheel and now you can continue to fuck things up more.  Sean now you can only call me fat since we are both losing promoters in your eyes.

[bigdumbbell]

suddenly a critique becomes sunday morning quaterbacking.  it's called education, son.

[240 is Back]

Not laughing at your ideas, never discredited them and some of your ideas hold merit. I laughing at the Sunday morning quarterbacking that is taking place here. Who'd a thunk? 

I respect you, Lift.  I didn't want to piss in your cheerios, and I certainly didn't want to tell you how to do your marketing job.  As some of my income comes from BBing field, and since I'm a fan, I want to see these shows do well.

The Sunday morning QB, that'll always happen.  That's what getbig is, people throwng out ideas, and then saying good or bad things about those ideas.

For real tho- get with me next time, guys.  Sure, I am a prick on the message boards, but in real life, I do get results.  Continually being antagonistic and agenda-analyzing is bad for making friends online, but great for finding and capitalizing upon opportunities in real life.  Good effort though guys, I did respect what you, jeff, and shawn did.  you did work your asses off.

[Lift Studios]

suddenly a critique becomes sunday morning quaterbacking.  it's called education, son.

Thanks bigdump, glad you contributed to helping me get my learn on.

Will we do everything exactly the same next year? Of course not. Is the gym idea good? Yes. I'm confident in my marketing abilities teamed up with Shawn, Jeff and Vyotech that it will continue to grow.