It's a business, treat it that way...

I only write these blogs when I feel that I actually have something to talk about.  Rather than coming on here and forcing myself to type some bullshit, I want to have a point or tell a good story.  I have gone on record saying that my last post was probably my best one yet, but I think that this one is going to be pretty good as well.

There is a term that many wrestlers say which is, "I'm in the business."  Really?  Are you?  Because there are plenty of shitbag wrestlers and promoters out there that say that they are in the "business," but do not know the first thing about running a business.

Each and every one of us are small business owners when it comes to wrestling.  If you are a promoter, then you have a service that you are selling, which is a wrestling show.  If you are a wrestler, then you are your own product and need to find the right strategy to market yourself to promoters and fans.  Either way, it is YOUR job to make sure that you know what the hell you are doing and talking about in order to run YOUR business the right way.

Wrestlers, you need to know how to market yourself, not only to the fans, but to everyone in the business as well.  The more you know, the better you are, the better you are, the easier it is to get booked, the easier it is to get booked, the better chance to you have to present yourself to the fans, who will then buy your shit.  Take Colt Cabana for example.  This guy has always supplemented his income by having shirts, headbands, buttons, posters, DVD's, and whatever other stuff fans will buy.  Now, he runs an AMAZING podcast called The Art of Wrestling, where he not only gets the word out on himself, his show dates, and his products, but he also puts over the business of pro wrestling as a whole.  Colt has turned himself into a media empire in order to make a full-time living as a pro wrestler.

Promoters, you need to start finding ways to make money at your shows, PERIOD!  All wrestling shows are different, the crowds are different, the style is different.  The key is to hide your negatives, showcase your positives, and market your business accordingly.  The first step is to figure out ways to get people into your shows.  I have said it before, once you get the people in there, just let the wrestling and overall entertainment speak for itself after that.  Then, eventually you can start making DVD's, shirts, and whatever else to sell to this fanbase that you have built up to make more money.  It does not all come at one time though, you need to get a plan together, take small steps to better your company, and stick to it.  It may be a year later, or it might be your next show, but the growth will come.

You also need to take care of your talent as well.  Spend some money to have at least water and some kind of food in the back.  For example, I have wrestled at W.A.R. Wrestling (Wrestling And Respect) in Lima, OH for years.  Ever since I began going down there, they have ALWAYS had food and water in the back for the wrestlers.  They have an entire catering company come in with food for their guys, it's AMAZING.  If you know anything about business, then you know it is all about connections and networking yourself.  That is what W.A.R. has done.  They have connections for the food.  Monster Energy is one of their sponsors now, so there is free Monster in the back for the guys.  They have even worked out sponsorship arrangements with hotels in the area for their talent to get free rooms.  THIS is how you take care of your talent.  It is not about spending a shit-ton of money on this type of stuff, it's about working out some sort of arrangement where you can put over their company at the show or make them a sponsor or something like that.  Start thinking OUTSIDE OF THE BOX for a change.

The issue in this business are these promoters and wrestlers that do not know what the hell they are doing in or out of the ring.  Wrestlers who are "self-trained" and look like Jimmy Dipshit from the Seven Eleven.  These guys have no idea what they are doing, so why are promoters booking them?  Money.  That's why.  These shitty promoters who don't want to pay a dime for anything put these yard-tards on their shows because they will wrestle for free.  Let me ask the promoters something...how is having these guys on your shows helping you at all?  You cannot tell me that Jimmy Dipshit is drawing people into the shows.  You cannot tell me that this guy is making you money.  SO TAKE THESE GUYS OFF OF YOUR SHOWS AND PAY FOR REAL TALENT!!!  These kind of promoters are the people ruining the business of professional wrestling.  Giving these guys the OPPORTUNITY to be on your show makes all of the other yard-tards feel that it is okay to get into the business this way, which IT IS NOT!!!

Let me just put it this way...promoters, if you do not have the money to pay for REAL TALENT to wrestle on your shows, then DON'T RUN ANYMORE.  Do everyone in the business a favor and just stop.  Because this is a business, treat it that way.  If you can't or do not know how to run a business, then go find something that you do know how to do and STOP RUINING PRO WRESTLING!!!