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Post by rapidfire187 on Nov 9, 2010 22:15:30 GMT -5
Okay, so when it comes to serious wrestling discussion on these boards, posters are always very quick to criticize wrestling promoters. Vince McMahon focuses too much on "Sports Entertainment", Eric Bischoff is too short sited, Paul Heyman can't manage money, Dixie Carter is wasting her father's money, Gabe Sapolsky is a one trick pony, etc.
So point blank: Do you think that you would make a good wrestling promoter? We'll take care of a big variable here to level the field. You're starting with $50,000. This covers the cost of your ring, venue rentals for a few shows, and wrestler's pay. We're also going to assume that you're booking wrestlers that are still young and green, but are at least competent enough in the ring to carry out your booking.
In my opinion, I think I'd have a good shot at building a good company. The south doesn't get many good Indy shows, so I think it'd be easy to stand out. I'd spend 5-6 K on a good ring. I'd start small, renting small/cheap venues and running ads in newspapers and on the radio. I'd book maybe 6 matches for these shows, and have a few wrestlers do mask gimmicks so they can work twice. This way, I could pay everybody good, and have plenty of room for new people in the future.
I'm earning a degree in Management & Supervisory Development right now, and I've come to realize that I could handle running a small business. I could handle my own finances AND day to day operations while booking if I really had to. I've always thought that if I were to be rich one day, I'd start an Indy promotion.
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Soultastic
El Dandy
Only an idiot can be completely happy.
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Post by Soultastic on Nov 9, 2010 22:23:53 GMT -5
No. I would absolutely suck.
But just to make it clear, you don't have to be good at something to realize someone else is doing bad.
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ICBM
King Koopa
Didn't know we did status updates here now
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Post by ICBM on Nov 9, 2010 22:31:09 GMT -5
No. As much as I believe in the logic and workrate, tv production would kill me. I understand the basic elements of doing tv but live tv, ppv would not be something I could pull off. Talent-wise I'd like to think I have a good eye but I never made a cent in wrestling so what could I do?
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Post by Evilution E5150 on Nov 9, 2010 22:56:37 GMT -5
i dont think so, i could probably book ok, or work really well with a booking team but be completely incharge now way, i couldnt do it all
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2010 23:00:23 GMT -5
Considering that I would book at least 75% of my shows as a comedy, I probably wouldn't last long. Not to mention having to deal with all of the egos in the locker room, that is a way overlooked part of booking if you ask me.
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Post by Nasty Nate: The Giant Midget on Nov 9, 2010 23:01:15 GMT -5
no
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Post by Brandon Walsh is Insane. on Nov 9, 2010 23:04:26 GMT -5
You wouldn't be able to do TV with only 50K.
I've looked into it, and you're looking at around 20K to put on a good show with good wrestlers, at least in the LA area, starting out without any contacts.
I think you can put on a fun show with that much though, and use that show to build up to another one. And it's all about marketing and promotion as long as you have good performers wrestling for you... wrestling fans are pretty die-hard, so it's not hard to get them to that first show; many will seek it out. You just have to keep them coming back.
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Post by rapidfire187 on Nov 9, 2010 23:47:02 GMT -5
Geez guys, I wouldn't expect anybody to attempt TV or anything, not at first.
Maybe I could've worded it better, but I'm thinking something in terms of starting with JUST the essentials to put on some small shows. Making money from small shows, and eventually building a company. TV is a long term goal, even syndicated TV.
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Paco
Hank Scorpio
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Post by Paco on Nov 10, 2010 0:53:55 GMT -5
I think I'd make a fine booker/writer.
But promoter? Um no. I'd need a team who knows what they're doing with tons of experience in the wrestling business or else I wouldn't even bother.
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Post by johnnyk9 on Nov 10, 2010 12:57:57 GMT -5
Can I think up wrestling yes, can I sell wrestling heck no
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Post by YAKMAN is ICHIBAN on Nov 10, 2010 14:14:31 GMT -5
I think if I tried to run my own wrestling company it would end up like ECW - creatively good but financially terrible.
I know nothing about running a business. I have, however, had experience in every stage of production. I put together some good shows for my college TV station if I do say so myself.
I'd give running a wrestling promotion with cinematic style production a shot.
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Post by Baixo Astral on Nov 10, 2010 14:17:17 GMT -5
No, I'd lose interest so quickly... I think I have ADHD or something, I can't focus, and I never see anything through.
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Post by Sir Woodrow on Nov 10, 2010 15:30:00 GMT -5
I would start with all these grand plans but would probably make Ian Rotten look like Vince McMahon, Verne Gagne and Bill Watts at their peak.
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Post by Next Level was WRONG on Nov 10, 2010 15:40:06 GMT -5
I'd easily be the best ever.
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Post by Djm Doesn't Find You Funny on Nov 10, 2010 15:56:39 GMT -5
The second paragraph is essentially the CHIKARA model.
Since the idea of having an indy is much more appealing to me creatively than a big-time sports entertainment extravaganza, that is how I would go about doing it.
So, I know this was supposed to be a "mainstream wrestling only" mindset, but that's not how I see things. So, I could probably make it work somehow as a Detroit-based Indy.
Most of my influence comes from Gabe and Mike Quackenbush, and like Mike, I'm obsessed with continuity. Quack adopts ideas from TV shows like LOST, and his love for comics. I'd take my own ideas from shows like 24, and my love of anime and manga, and come up with something, at the very least....interesting to its audience.
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zeez
Patti Mayonnaise
Yeah. That's right.
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Post by zeez on Nov 10, 2010 16:07:33 GMT -5
Depends on what constitutes as being "good." If it means booking angles and pushing wrestlers that leaves the fans happy and not constantly criticizing my booking decisions on Internet forums, then no. No. No.
No.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
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Post by nisidhe on Nov 10, 2010 21:45:32 GMT -5
So , 50 big ones, eh? That's actually a lot of money, if you think about it, to start a promotion on. Around here, they'd be talking about TV.
Let's see....one used truck, $10K (tops). One decent used ring, $3000 (tops - I've seen them advertised online for less. Promotional materials and production, $2K-5K (banners for ring apron, posters, advertising on truck, website design & maintenance, and brand merchandise.) I'm starting slowly here.
I'd budget about $1000 to $1500 per show on bookings: $100 for each member of my core roster, $50 or so for anyone new to the business who wants to jerk the curtain and pick up some tips and info from the rest of the boys.To break even, I'd need to draw a gate of 100-150 at $10 a pop, plus concessions. Running cards weekly, I could keep up the pace for at least six months. Venue rentals would be smaller- a rec centre or school gym, for example - but I believe in the idea that it's better to sell out a broom closet than to perform at an empty Madison Square Garden.
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percymania
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
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Post by percymania on Nov 10, 2010 21:59:30 GMT -5
I'm business student. If I had 50 grand, I would try to do something else with that money. I think I could do it and possibly be successful, but there are other business opportunities I would rather try. There's just not much of a market here for small wrestling promotions.
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Post by Milkman Norm on Nov 10, 2010 23:15:57 GMT -5
I did vote no but if good would be defined as "doing what me and my friends find entertaining no matter what others would think" than yes. But I would do weird thing like have a hardcore match turn into a show tunes sing offs from time to time so really my sensibilities should be no where around runing a promotion
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Post by thereallybigshow on Nov 11, 2010 11:40:41 GMT -5
Hell yes!
I started a promotion out of a trucking garage. Our first show had like 30 people. We continued for several years. We drew over 400 several times. We consistently drew 200 to our regular shows.
As a promotion we only lost money on one show. And, that was because of an overblown budget as opposed to low ticket sales.
Being a good promoter is about creating media exposure and hanging up and handing our fliers. Over the course of our run we appeared on several different radio stations, including the promotion of a tag team match featuring a personality from the top rated morning show in our state. We also we featured on the front page of several papers.
Promoter get people to the show, the booker and talent has to keep them coming back.
Oh and most guys don't draw anybody. Including guys from TNA...
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