Getting wrong information for an NZFBB event

[MasterTel]

Several situations at last weekend's Auckland Champs further highlighted to me how some people are badly informed in their preparation for an NZFBB bodybuilding event e.g.

* posing routine duration - many people still think they can do a 90 second routine for regular classes when they are only permitted 60 seconds (unless doing Mixed Pairs or Fitness)

* tanning - turning up to an event with no tan thinking they can buy it at the venue

* not bothering to read the poster or listen at the briefing and turning up at 6pm for the night show when it started at 5pm (this happens at almost every show and especially with Teenage and Junior competitors)

* entering the Fitness category when they should have entered Body Fitness

Has anyone been told something about an event and found it to be quite wrong?

One of the reasons I regulary run seminars is to try and inform potential competitors of exactly what to expect and what to consider for an event? As most first-timers are not known to the NZFBB until they register, it is hard to inform these people weeks or months out.

Perhaps we enforce competitors to pre-register for an event at least one month out so we can send them a booklet or put them in touch with their local Executive member?

Any ideas, or experiences that may be relevant?

[Gym rat]

I like that idea for people who are plaining on doing any other NZFBB show later on in the year to keep in touch with there local executive member so the athlet who is plaining on doing the show can be informed with any changes for the likes of change of venue, rules and change of date for the show as well.

[Small]

-um the price of rego; $15 was wat i thought it was to be, turned out to be $25

-the backstage tanners putting on stuff all dream tan so you look all pasty on stage

-your routine music (no offence mastertel ) being played followed by someone elses, rather than just your track, i.e someone elses track gelled onto the end of yours so your music sounds sloppy and incomplete

-then being made late becoz there arent enough tanners to dream tan you up backstage: nzfbb makes it quite clear that noone else bar official people are allowed backstage, and (i know they are volunteers) but cant supply enough, or dont have a regimented system in place to dream tan up people is annoying - i coulda had someone else do it for me, rather than be late onstage, raher than holding my bikini bum down after it had been glued 2 seconds before going on stage..

[MasterTel]

It's off the topic, small, but I'm happy to comment on your Auckland Champs complaints here:

* All NZFBB regional event registration fees were increased around the middle of last year from $15 to $25. They had been $15 for at least 7 years, so they were due for an increase and $25 per competitor is not too much to ask when most regional shows cost well over $10K to run.

* Sorry about the merging of tracks. I did my best to fade and pause the music at the end of each track, but all the music was loaded into i-Tunes and one or two tracks were supplied with no "whitespace" added at the end to allow a gap before the next competitors track started. Professionally mixed tracks usually have 3-5 seconds of silence added to the end the track when the disc is created to allow the sound technicians time to pause before hitting the next track.

*There are very good reasons for limiting who goes backstage, and I know Mark struggles to get staff to help at these shows. Obviously there was pressure on the tanners - especially due to the quicker than usual turnaround of competitors. One tip to help yourself and the tanners - put most of you tan on before you go backstage, or get down there early and put most of it on yourself. A lot competitors I know do this - rather than expecting the official tanners to fully tan them.

I'm not trying to make light of your complaints, small, but please keep in mind that the staff do work very hard, and as you have said - they are all volunteers. It's not possible to appreciate how hard it can be to be a tanner, scrutineer, music person etc until you try it yourself!

[bj powerL]

Understand both sides, we turned up to help a novice not knowing that there would not be anyone allowed back stage, we had told him not to worry about his tan we would help when we got there... He appeared white on stage and 'pasty', bummer but he looked good anyway.

Competitors are notorious for running out of tan or 'losing/forgetting it' so with the NZFBB ties to the NZ distributor of the prod might pay to offer it for sale at future events in the morning briefing..make the federation some $$$ and help the competitors, makes sense to me :wink:

[weener lad]

With re-guards to non officials back stage:

This needs to be ammended, you should be allowed one person back stage with you to help with tanning, pumping up and general prep.

These comp days are the result of months of hard work and to have it jeopardized in any way because you can't get tanned properly is rather harsh.

Perhaps at weigh in you could nominate that helper and grab a generic badge to give to that person for the next day. Now it can and will get very limited for space so there would have to be some restrain from competitors and helpers to not hang around back stage. (get it done and leave)

Just a thought

[2guns]

do a nabba show then if u want some one or two backstage with u

[Matrix]

Hi Mastertel,

One of the reasons I chose to do a NABBA show instead of one with the NZFBB was because you are allowed one person backstage to help you with your tan/mentor you etc.

I found this very useful because it means that you are not taxing the officials to supply manpower for tanning and you can also have an experienced person to cast an eye over your physique, make you feel less nervous etc.

All NABBA officials did to limit the numbers in the tan/pump up room was stagger the classes allowed in it, so space wasn't really a problem. As one or two classes finished another came in.

I think for Novice competitors especially it really helps to have someone who is more experienced and has helped you with your contest prep backstage with you tanning etc rather than a random official.

Perhaps NZFBB could debate this at their meetings to see the merits of such a change? It definately leads to a relaxed atmosphere backstage.

[MasterTel]

Those are excellent points about allowing people backstage and also having tanning products available at the venue.

One important thing to remember is that NZFBB judging rules are the same for all events, but many of the event "rules" (e.g. allowing people backstage) is up to the discretion of the event organiser - and these can differ greatly depending on who the organiser is and where the event is held.

I tend to have more staff backstage that many other events - perhaps 8-12 tanners as well as the usual number marshals. I also allow competitors to take someone backstage - but only if they clear it with me before the event starts. That way I can control the number of non-competitors backstage and give any extra people a name badge so the head marshal knows they are approved personnel. While I know my tanning team is very experienced and will do a great job with a competitors tan and other finishing touches, I also recognise that many competitors (esp first-timers) need someone they know with them for moral support.

I think it is a good idea to try and "standardise" as many event rules as possible over all events to give more consistency for competitors - it's something I will discuss with the other Event Organisers, all of whom are on the NZFBB Executive.

Keep these ideas coming - plus I'm also very keen to know where people get mis-information from (e.g. a website, personal trainer, or perhaps a friend who has competed) about events so we can try and eliminate this happening in future.

Perhaps as well as the usual event information pages that we provide on the NZFBB website we need a comprehensive guide which competitors can download - with specific details and tips on tanning, music, costumes, backstage rules etc? I cover all this in the seminars I run - perhaps we need more seminars as well?

[Flamer]

A point I would like made clear on your web page or somewhere similar is that if you compete for another federation after registering with NZFBB, that your registration is void.

No one told me this last year, and in fact Go Figure's web page still says that you can compete for both federations - no problem.

Last year I had registered competed and then done a few other comps in my area. Sonny Schmidt came up - I dieted, dehydrated, tanned and turned up to enter (with only the correct cash to enter) and was told I needed to re-register. Wouldn't have been an issue if this was made clear to me, and I'd had the money to register and enter. I then scanned all the info I could find to see where this point is mentioned - it's not!

[MasterTel]

Yes, another very good suggestion, Flamer - something else that can be put in a general guide on the website.

That rule (rejoining after competing for another organisation) is a strict IFBB requirement and has been in place for as long as I can remember (i.e. since at least 2000). Despite that, if it's not published clearly, we can't expect everyone to know.

Of course we can put a guide on the website, but we then have to depend on people actually going there and reading it. Also, we can't control what other possible incorrect information other websites contain (except this one of course! :wink: ) so it's best not to rely on them. So we (NZFBB) have to make sure our website is correct, comprehensive and updated regularly and promptly - none of which has happened for a while, but we are getting someone new to look after it now.

[michaelk]

I think there are a lot of good points coming out here, the biggest is that there is a lot of misinformation.

The rules are there to be found and as we who contribute on here are all pretty well aware of Mastertels position, there is nothing wrong with asking in a pm for the official position, or each poster will have email contact details for the promotor. Don't trust your mates or pt's find out for yourself, or ask an official.

My thoughts: Tanning available at the show- great idea, makes business sense to have a supplier with a cut of the profits going to the nzfbb. I left mine on the dining room table with my posing briefs in auckland once, the show was in taranaki! $80 later at a local shop...ouch.

Different venues will suit different cirmcumstances, at the Akl Girls Grammer there is little room downstairs with all the weights and big competitors, and having too many people around is where tanning product goes missing, I have seen plenty of people including myself get tanned outside (or down at the cafeteria area behind the fridges) and then go through for a final prep.

A lot of the same people are volunteering to help out backstage, so have a huge wealth of experience and are the best to ask for an overview.

Needing a hand backstage pumping up? that's what the weights and benches are for. And before anyone says theres not enough, the is more than at the pro shows!