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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2011 21:11:18 GMT -5
Whatever happened to wrestlers "paying their dues" in the business? When I and many others started out, it was required that the new guys spend at least a year, many times longer, helping set up and tear down the ring, putting out posters and flyers, jobbing, etc. Some were even required to sell tickets in order to work the shows. We would drive for hours and do all this, then work a match and at the end of the night, be grateful for the opportunity. Maybe we would get a few bucks but most of the time it was a free hot dog and a Coke. These days, it seems so many young guys want it the easy way. Few will actually travel or even move somewhere where they can receive proper training. Instead, they find the nearest "local star" who will train them at the cheapest rate. Whether the "local star" really knows how to train them or not. Some just take a few lessons then seek out the first place that will put them in the ring and make them their "star". They show up, have their match, expect a payday and leave. Never doing anything to even help the business. After a a few matches, they consider themselves "veterans".
I'm not saying every young wrestler does this, but there are many. Every now and then, these guys run into a real veteran who "puts them in their place". I have never shot on anyone in a ring (as much as I have wanted to) but I have seen it done. Then all their friends and family get online and badmouth the vet for what he did when they have no idea why. Again, I am not saying I condone it, I just know why it happens and certainly understand.
How can the general public have respect for the business when so many IN THE BUSINESS have no respect for it? We all (and yes, even myself) have it so much easier than those that came before us when it comes to being a part of this business. It is much easier to become a wrestler or even a wrestling promoter now than it use to be. Be thankful for the opportunity by carrying on the traditions, paying your dues, and helping further the business. Doing these things is work and nobody really wants to do it, especially if you are dead tired after a match, but it's only for a little while. Before you know it, you will be the veteran and there will be other young guys taking up these duties. By showing respect now, you earn it later on. We all know indy wrestling isn't what it use to be. But many of us still love it and push on. Shouldn't we all do what we can to hold on to what life indy wrestling still has left?
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Post by St. Louis Wrestling Rocks! on Apr 3, 2011 0:04:23 GMT -5
Maybe you can come up to Springfield to straighten out the guys up here cause everyone wants to run a fed all of a sudden and firefights have ensued.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 0:38:07 GMT -5
Firefights? With a city the size of Springfield, it is sad that New Midwest, or any other promotion for that matter, does not thrive. I believe a lot has to do with the general public not having much respect for independent wrestling. Kind of like, "a few bad apples spoil the bunch". Wrestlers and promoters that do their best to do things right and put out a quality product suffer from being lumped in with the others that are ......well......garbage. Crimey, you obviously hold NMW in high regard. Although I am not familiar with the wrestling scene in Springfield, my guess is that a lot of the new promotions popping up there may be because NMW will not book some wrestlers so they start their own promotion. This is common in most areas. So now, if it wasn't already hard enough to draw a crowd, promotions like NMW may suffer all because they either already have a full roster or don't think some other wrestlers are quite ready to be used on their events. (or they flat out think they suck).
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Post by St. Louis Wrestling Rocks! on Apr 3, 2011 1:31:21 GMT -5
Well no one else will book them either in a lot of cases...desperate they are to get in the ring and not train.
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Post by playboypaulrose on Apr 3, 2011 10:28:16 GMT -5
I want to apologize to all AAPW staff and production team for not staying and helping the last show. I had another show to attend so i had to roll out. I am all about paying dues. I think it shows respect and great willingness to be apart of an organization in any way possible. thank you for your time.
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wrestling09
Has an excessive amount of free time on his hands posting nothing but gibberish
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Post by wrestling09 on Apr 3, 2011 13:35:23 GMT -5
paying your dues is a good thing.
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Post by siuwrestler on May 19, 2011 19:06:13 GMT -5
i would like to say that I totally agree with what you say about paying your dues as well. I have been a professional wrestler for 7 years and when i first started i was lucky enough to be trained by the late Bud Chaplin. when you trained and worked for him you still had to pay your dues both in the ring and out. Bud also taught us to respect the people in this business that paved the way, the thing i really hate is when you have federations that because you don't have every match you ever had on YouTube won't even give you a chance. I myself wrestle all over the Midwest but, because i don't post my matches online federations close to home will not even consider booking me. I was told by a legend in this business this quote that i still hold true. " why would anyone come pay to see you wrestle somewhere if every match you are in is free online" so i say again that paying your dues is key but federations first giving chances to wrestlers that do would be nice and second if the federations would actually not book the workers that have flashy mixed highlight tapes on YouTube, it would help this business 10 fold
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Post by St. Louis Wrestling Rocks! on May 19, 2011 23:21:33 GMT -5
If you had a fair representation of your matches online - and doesn't have to be more than five to seven of them...I dunno why these other companies are not wanting to take a look at all.
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wrestling09
Has an excessive amount of free time on his hands posting nothing but gibberish
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Post by wrestling09 on May 20, 2011 12:30:53 GMT -5
that is crazy if you don't put your wrestling matches on you tube they the promotors won't book you hmmm that's stupid i think oh well but if i was a wrestler then i would make sure to make a scene on every show.
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Post by george3 on May 20, 2011 16:05:06 GMT -5
Long before you tube my partner and I would travel to other groups with a video tape in hand. We would also have our gear. Would would not expect to get booked on a show all of a sudden, but we would make the offer to work a short match if there was room on the card, or if someone no-showed. This way the promoter could see the video, which he would assume wre the best cherry-picked representations of our work, or he could see us live and see how we could play to a crowd that had never seen us, all without any money risk to him. This strategy worked well for us. I think one of the greatest thrills to come from this is when we worked for an organization about three times when the booked us in an Indiana town we had never heard of. It was just over the IL/IN border but about 200 miles from home. When we made our entrance there fans with posters that had our name on it! It was great! We probably sold more from the table that day than any other.
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wrestling09
Has an excessive amount of free time on his hands posting nothing but gibberish
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Post by wrestling09 on May 21, 2011 11:20:59 GMT -5
wow george3 that was a great idea i like it myself. atleast you sold more from the table then anything else how cool.
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Post by jyukon on Mar 18, 2014 14:37:57 GMT -5
Crap. I remember when I got started back in the 70's. I had to pay my dues for 3 years. Thought my name was Meat Bag for awhile there....lol. Took lots of pounding by veterens just to learn the craft and was glad to do it. After 3 years....dues was over....and I has utmost respect for everyone and the craft. Built quite a rep for myself then. Did the circuit small town show for several years. LOVED IT ALL...MADE LOTS OF FRIENDS. Just wanting to chime in here.....thanks.
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