[BubbaJ]

I post this with the goal of finding out just what does it take to be a promoter on the indy scene.

What I am getting at here is that there is a lot of criticism of various workers and promoters on here but no one says what exactly constitutes a worker or a promoter.

I pose this question to those on TBH; What in your opinion makes one qualified to be a wrestling promoter.

If you had to write a job description for a promoter, what would you put in it?

This isn't aimed at anyone in particular nor is it picking on anyone.

I thought this over many times this week and I am curious to see what ya'll say one needs in order to be a promoter of independent wrestling.

To be honest, I don't know myself. I am no expert nor am I a worker.
I am just another fan who wants to know what people who care about the business think should be a prerequisite for running you own show.

Also, no I am not looking for advice so that I can run my own show. I know where my talents lay and wrestling and promotions is not the place. I know better than that.

[Slamtech]

WANTED: WRESTLING PROMOTER

Must have own car and the ability to drive long distances.

Must be able to finance posters, flyers, TV, Radio, and Newspaper ads.

Must be able to find and utilize reasonable good wrestling talent.

Must be able to secure a building and pay for general liability insurance.

Must not want to put himself (unless he's a trained professional wrestler) on wrestling shows.

Must not want to be a heel commissioner or manager EVER.

Must have enough manpower to poster & flyer a town, put up a ring, and assist with all set up and break down.

Must be able to pay talent or tell them that he can't man to man.

Must be able to pay "name" talent at all turns with no excuses.

Must be able to play politics because there are some.

Any other ideas, folks?

[maddogms]

Must have hip waders, because you WILL deal with the deepest BS around.... LOL

[enforcer]

Must be willing to serve cupcakes at the show?

[Randy Orton]

must be a little bit touched in the head.

[MAV]

Most important one...

You have to love it and accept that it very often doesn't love you back.

I suppose that kind of makes me a stalker of sorts.

[Randy Orton]

Must be willing to accept fat chicks as ring rats for the first couple of shows.

[Tauron Nox]

MAV wrote:

Most important one... You have to love it and accept that it very often doesn't love you back. I suppose that kind of makes me a stalker of sorts.

Ahem....

http://theburninghammer.com/forum/topics.html-t-21329-start-25

About half way down

[BubbaJ]

I should have know ring rats were involved here.

But seriously I am learning something here.

Mr. Evans' post actually gives me a better idea of what a promoter does.

I just wonder. With so very many different opinions on here about everything known to man why some people are not qualified to be a promoter and others are.

Does a promoter have to have been a worker or a current worker?

What do you think when a promoter is also a worker or manager in his own promotion?

[Superstar Steve]

BubbaJ wrote:

I should have know ring rats were involved here. But seriously I am learning something here. Mr. Evans' post actually gives me a better idea of what a promoter does. I just wonder. With so very many different opinions on here about everything known to man why some people are not qualified to be a promoter and other are. Does a promoter have to have been a worker or a current worker? What do you think when a promoter is also a worker or manager in his own promotion?

I am neither worker or promoter, but I will say that credibility is huge.

with the workers, community, financial institutions, fansetc...

Some sort of connection with the local talent or school is probably a 99% necessity.

[BubbaJ]

How important is it for a promotion itself to be associated to a school?

[MAV]

BubbaJ wrote:

I should have know ring rats were involved here. But seriously I am learning something here. Mr. Evans' post actually gives me a better idea of what a promoter does. I just wonder. With so very many different opinions on here about everything known to man why some people are not qualified to be a promoter and others are. Does a promoter have to have been a worker or a current worker? What do you think when a promoter is also a worker or manager in his own promotion?

Does a promoter have to have been a worker or a current worker?-
No. Sometimes it helps, as someone who has worked SHOULD have a better feel for what is supposed to happen during and be done for a show.
It helps to be clever and resourceful and to respect thd people you have working on your shows though, and to never think you're any brighter than the "marks".

What do you think when a promoter is also a worker or manager in his own promotion?-
I must think it's OK. It depends on the individual doing it. Some guys are fine, other guys turn the entire promotion into a vanity project to get themselves over.

[eastman]

Just have a lot of money. That's all

[enforcer]

eastman wrote:

Just have a lot of money. That's all

Better yet, use someone else that has a lot of money.

[The Big Shill]

BubbaJ wrote:

Does a promoter have to have been a worker or a current worker?

No. But having actually worked in the business, even if it's not in the ring, is a very big help. It's almost impossible to be successful if you don't have any experience actually working in wrestling or a good base of contacts and connections to start with. At that point, you are at the mercy of people you have to place your trust in - bookers, wrestlers, crew. Even I, who had been around indy shows for 10 years before promoting one, ended up being abused by people who should not have been trusted to the extent they were before settling into the partnership I have now.

I never cease to be amazed that anyone who has not actually been involved in wrestling would think that they could just come in with no experience and have any chance of being a success.

I laugh at the guys who say "I have a different approach." I always believed that was code for "I don't want to pay my dues."

BubbaJ wrote:

What do you think when a promoter is also a worker or manager in his own promotion?

It happens all the time, but I have yet to see any of those kinds of promotions really succeed on this level. Being a promoter is a big job. To do that and be the top attraction or be the central focus of angles is a stretch.

The guys who have done it successfully are very experienced and had the star power to back it up. Bill Watts pulled it off in Mid-South because he was a star as a wrestler and a very intelligent owner who ran his promotion like a sports franchise. Verne Gagne was extraordinarily talented and had a good team of partners who promoted the towns and provided support.

In the end, you have to be able to step back and see how the ship should be steered.

[Chris_Envy]

must have balls!!!!!

Every worker will kiss your ass ot get on the show and stab you in the back if they don't get their way. Ask WWW promoter Johnny. Everyone wants to be your best friend and hand out favors to get booked. But if you don't get to work your friends, they talk shit about you or say you don't know how to book.

It happens a lot and alot of promoters/bookers fall under the pressure and let the workers book the show. From time to time a worker does have a killer idea for an angle or where to progress with a work, but if we let them all call the shots, we wouldn't have jobs.

But to tell someone NO is one of the hardest things in wrestling withouth being blackballed. Hence the reason most of the roster from WWWs Augsut show wasn't re-booked.

Some were solid workers, but their "other half" were douchebags. Other just couldn't work in the first place. I'm nottaking shots at all as I myself have been on the shit talking end, as well as the booking poorly end.

But to tell a friend, even a close friend they can't cut it on the roster takes balls.

[KL Murphy]

MAV wrote:

You have to love it and accept that it very often doesn't love you back.

Seeing how local wrestling and local theater companies are run, this is an extremely true statement. In both types of organizations the promoter is the most difficult unloved position. Obviously one that is extremely necessary though.