by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
Some could 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’s good to deal with it like a enterprise and an actual (skilled) group. Meaning advertising and marketing, getting it out in entrance of extra folks, turning it into one thing folks can have interaction with, and making it extra accessible. That’s to not say the game isn’t skilled or not an actual enterprise, however with every part, there are issues that may be checked out and improved upon.
I’m not taking a look at anybody present or competitors, however the truth is, the Olympia is without doubt one of the greatest spectacles of the game. It’s the “Tremendous Bowl” of the health and bodybuilding world. And the Olympia crew is doing an incredible job of getting celebrities and athletes to indicate as much as the occasion, they usually placed on one heck of a manufacturing. You might have guys like Dwayne Johnson, Shaq, Mark Wahlberg, and plenty of others seen on the Olympia.
That’s all high quality and dandy, however how will you develop bodybuilding and get it out to extra folks and leverage these family names that present up? I’ve a number of concepts on how one can develop bodybuilding, but it surely’s going to come back at a price that I don’t really feel the organizers within the bodybuilding world are prepared to pay for.
Let’s dive into a few of the ways in which we will develop bodybuilding and make it extra mainstream.
Stay Stream the Reveals… For Free
I’m absolutely conscious that the IFBB doesn’t have the identical monetary means because the NFL, NBA, MLB, and so forth. That mentioned, the game won’t ever develop with out extra entry and eyeballs. I like the truth that reside streams at the moment are accessible for sure reveals and I really feel we’d like 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 forth. Not solely ought to all of them have reside streams, however they need to all be free to view.
The NFL might make a fortune off of placing the Tremendous Bowl behind a paywall. As a substitute, they cost folks to promote by way of commercials. The Olympia group ought to take into account shifting towards that route to assist offset the fee to broadcast the Olympia at no cost.
Now, I perceive {that a} Pay-Per-View or placing the reside streams behind a paywall is a method to generate extra revenue 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 neglect in regards to the reveals and by no means have interaction.
The objective ought to be to get folks within the reveals. Now that there are such a lot of divisions, there are extra mainstream appears to be like which are 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. Certain, the physiques have all modified, and every is now carrying extra muscle mass, however the skill to view completely different appears to be like and physiques is sufficient to get folks to tune in and see what it’s all about.
Bear in mind when health and bodybuilding was once broadcast on tv? Effectively, with extra folks 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, regardless that it could come off as one, however the price of entry into the Olympia Expo this 12 months was absurd. Once more, would you like extra folks to attend these occasions or not? Draw them in with the expo. Who doesn’t need free samples, the power 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? Certain, however that’s inappropriate. The objective ought to be to get as many individuals into the expo and within the sport as doable if you wish to develop bodybuilding.
I bear in mind again once I was with MET-Rx and being on the sales space daily. You’ll see folks from all walks of life. Younger, outdated, males, girls, boys, and women. You had folks strolling round with six packs and people who nonetheless rock a keg. And everybody was there for a similar cause and to have a superb time.
Nobody cared what anybody else regarded like at an expo, everybody was there to take pleasure in themselves, study, meet new folks, and keep in tune with new issues the trade needed to supply. Moreover, it’s a spot the place folks can study and achieve data from speaking with a few of their idols.
I bear in mind how lengthy the road could be for folks to satisfy Phil Heath when he was one in every of our athletes. Or how the road would wrap round our sales space of individuals wanting to satisfy Greg Plitt (RIP). Greg would reply each query folks would ask him intimately. They would depart the expo with one thing they’ll take dwelling and apply to their exercises or weight-reduction plan. If you wish to develop bodybuilding, the hot button is to have interaction 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 positive guys like Shaq and Mark Wahlberg don’t pay to get into the Olympia. The Olympia group ought to capitalize on this and have them livestream throughout the occasion, publish main as much as the present, and publish after the present is over to have interaction their viewers and introduce them to health and bodybuilding. I do know a few of the celebrities have been doing this, but it surely ought to be doubled down on.
Our sport is taken into account “taboo” to many. If extra celebrities received behind health and bodybuilding, we might simply develop bodybuilding and develop how many individuals go to reveals and expos. It might even assist develop the smaller reveals as extra folks would need to become involved.
General, I actually simply need to develop bodybuilding and see it develop with every passing 12 months. I’m not attempting to tear down bodybuilding or the Olympia by way of this text. I simply suppose there’s extra that may be completed to develop bodybuilding and improve its presence. And I really consider that with a purpose to try this, it’s good to make it extra accessible to everybody (that features the individuals who need to sit and interact with the game from the consolation of their very own houses).