by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
Some might really feel like this text is taking photographs at a sure group of individuals or group. That couldn’t be any farther from the reality. If you wish to develop bodybuilding, it is advisable to deal with it like a enterprise and an actual (skilled) group. Meaning advertising, getting it out in entrance of extra individuals, turning it into one thing individuals can interact with, and making it extra accessible. That’s to not say the game isn’t skilled or not an actual enterprise, however with every little thing, there are issues that may be checked out and improved upon.
I’m not taking a look at anyone present or competitors, however the truth is, the Olympia is among the greatest spectacles of the game. It’s the “Tremendous Bowl” of the health and bodybuilding world. And the Olympia crew is doing an excellent job of getting celebrities and athletes to point out as much as the occasion, they usually placed on one heck of a manufacturing. You’ve gotten guys like Dwayne Johnson, Shaq, Mark Wahlberg, and lots of others seen on the Olympia.
That’s all effective and dandy, however how will you develop bodybuilding and get it out to extra individuals and leverage these family names that present up? I’ve a number of concepts on how one can develop bodybuilding, however it’s going to come back at a value that I don’t really feel the organizers within the bodybuilding world are keen to pay for.
Let’s dive into a number of the ways in which we are able to develop bodybuilding and make it extra mainstream.
Reside Stream the Exhibits… For Free
I’m totally conscious that the IFBB doesn’t have the identical monetary means because the NFL, NBA, MLB, and so on. That stated, the game won’t ever develop with out extra entry and eyeballs. I really like the truth that reside streams at the moment are accessible for sure reveals and I really feel we want extra of them.
It’s my opinion that every one main reveals ought to have a reside stream. Meaning the Pittsburgh Professional, NY Professional, all the Arnold Classics, the Olympia, and so on. Not solely ought to all of them have reside streams, however they need to all be free to view.
The NFL may make a fortune off of placing the Tremendous Bowl behind a paywall. As an alternative, they cost individuals to promote by way of commercials. The Olympia workforce ought to contemplate shifting towards that route to assist offset the fee to broadcast the Olympia without cost.
Now, I perceive {that a} Pay-Per-View or placing the reside streams behind a paywall is a option to generate extra earnings and assist cowl the price of the reside stream itself. However in case you’re not investing within the reveals to get them out to the general public, the general public will overlook in regards to the reveals and by no means interact.
The purpose needs to be to get individuals within the reveals. Now that there are such a lot of divisions, there are extra mainstream seems which might be attainable. It’s not like again within the day when the one factor you had was Males’s Open, Girls’s Bodybuilding, Health, and Determine Divisions. Positive, the physiques have all modified, and every is now carrying extra muscle mass, however the skill to view totally different seems and physiques is sufficient to get individuals to tune in and see what it’s all about.
Keep in mind when health and bodybuilding was broadcast on tv? Nicely, with extra individuals streaming, this can be a nice alternative to work in the direction of making the game extra mainstream to develop bodybuilding.
Enable Free Entry into the Expos
This isn’t a knock on the Olympia, although it might come off as one, however the price of entry into the Olympia Expo this yr was absurd. Once more, would you like extra individuals to attend these occasions or not? Draw them in with the expo. Who doesn’t need free samples, the flexibility to take a look at their favourite manufacturers, and an opportunity to speak with and meet their favourite bodybuilders and health opponents?
May these patrons get their a refund in free dietary supplements, swag, and different giveaways? Positive, however that’s inappropriate. The purpose needs to be to get as many individuals into the expo and within the sport as potential if you wish to develop bodybuilding.
I bear in mind again after I was with MET-Rx and being on the sales space daily. You’ll see individuals from all walks of life. Younger, outdated, males, girls, boys, and ladies. You had individuals strolling round with six packs and people who nonetheless rock a keg. And everybody was there for a similar motive and to have an excellent time.
Nobody cared what anybody else seemed like at an expo, everybody was there to get pleasure from themselves, be taught, meet new individuals, and keep in tune with new issues the trade needed to supply. Moreover, it’s a spot the place individuals can be taught and achieve information from speaking with a few of their idols.
I bear in mind how lengthy the road can be for individuals to fulfill Phil Heath when he was certainly one of our athletes. Or how the road would wrap round our sales space of individuals wanting to fulfill Greg Plitt (RIP). Greg would reply each query individuals would ask him intimately. They would go away the expo with one thing they will take residence and apply to their exercises or weight-reduction plan. If you wish to develop bodybuilding, the bottom line is to interact as many individuals as you’ll be able to and pull them in. Get them excited to coach. Get them excited to make enhancements to their lives and physiques.
Leverage Celebrities Extra
I can’t say this for sure, so don’t quote me, however I’m certain guys like Shaq and Mark Wahlberg don’t pay to get into the Olympia. The Olympia workforce ought to capitalize on this and have them livestream through the occasion, put up main as much as the present, and put up after the present is over to interact their viewers and introduce them to health and bodybuilding. I do know a number of the celebrities had been doing this, however it needs to be doubled down on.
Our sport is taken into account “taboo” to many. If extra celebrities bought behind health and bodybuilding, we may simply develop bodybuilding and increase how many individuals go to reveals and expos. It could even assist develop the smaller reveals as extra individuals would wish to get entangled.
General, I actually simply wish to develop bodybuilding and see it increase with every passing yr. I’m not making an attempt to tear down bodybuilding or the Olympia by way of this text. I simply suppose there’s extra that may be executed to develop bodybuilding and enhance its presence. And I really imagine that to be able to do this, it is advisable to make it extra accessible to everybody (that features the individuals who wish to sit and have interaction with the game from the consolation of their very own houses).
