Post by Jacob Frost on Nov 10, 2007 14:09:33 GMT -5
There is another website that calls itself an indy board but only promoters, workers, and fans from the Michigan, Ohio, Penn., W. Virginia area post.
Someone had 10 questions and someone else gave 10 answers and I thought the questions and answers were pretty good and am posting them for your viewing and educational pleasure.
Keep in mind these are not necessarily my views or opinions nor did I come up with this Q&A.
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Question 1: What keeps some of these small indy feds from joining up, merging bank rolls and running something under a new label together? Is it simply all about a promoter's ego, lack of trust, or is there more to it?
Some may call it ego but its more then that. Its to many chief not enough brave. When you team up of sorts people cant get along for very long. Even the best of promotions will have falling outs over bullshit. Promoters may be close but an indy worker in ones ear will always destruct what" could have been". People tend to take advantage of a group effort. You may go in even but when it comes to expenses there lies the problem. There is way to much "money" issues.
Question 2: How in the world do these promoters "book" the guys that aren't so much homegrown? Is there a secret website, Mason-like, that allows guys like Sandman, Abyss, Christopher Daniels, etc. to be booked on? How do they contact/bring those sorts of guys into the area?
Many guys that are workers work shows and tend to trade numbers and such. The advent of the internet, websites, myspace, have made it alot easier to get in contact with former fed names or bigger draws to some.
Question 3: How much does a mid-tier superstar, like Shark Boy or Rob Conway from Indiana, cost to wrestle? How about somebody like Scott Hall or Abyss? Does the promoter pay for travel - airfare and a hotel?
Its not mid tier in reality. To you or me yes but to a named worker they are all main eventers. Booking fees can be dependent on where they are coming in from, what day of the week, sold show, etc. When you bring in a bigger name yes you are responsible for travel expenses, accommodations. That is why you will see a named worker working an area of promotions as promoters can work agreements to save a little cash.
Question 4: How much would somebody get paid who wrestles mid-card or lower at an indy show? Is it true some locals will wrestle for almost nothing?
That is again dependent on the show. If it is a sold show and you have "X" amount of cash upfront then you can typically see talent fees of at least $35. or higher for your average indy worker. If guys are working regular shows where pay days are dependent on gate, concessions, souvenirs, then yes they are working for little to nothing. Not enough indy workers apply them self through gimmick. One that does is TC Reynolds. He has a great deal of merchandise and can easily pull in $150-250 in just gimmick table sales. Another is Snakeman Devin Michaels. Yes he sells pics with the snake but also sells figures, snake toys, photo copied pics, etc. He is one of the few that see where to make a few bucks at shows. Guys think a t-shirt is their bread and butter and aren't willing to spend a few bucks and try to make a few bucks.
Question 5: Is there such a thing as "exclusive" indy wrestlers?
Not really. Promoters will say they cant work for this promotion or that. If you are not living you life on the pays from a promotion and under contract then you are not exclusive. Its loyalty, and respect for a promoter that keeps guys exclusive.
Question 6: Off the top of your head, what kind of expenses would a promoter be looking at if he ran a show, no perks, and had to pay for EVERYTHING (i.e. ring, an OK venue, full roster, etc.)?
Depends on what you are wanting to make out of the show. Ring rentals can run anywhere from $300 and up depending on where they are from, when, how far of a trip, etc. Building rental can be anywhere from free to 3 or 4 hundred. Again it depends on the area, the buildings and things. Roster pays depends on who you book where they are coming from. Figure an average of at least $25 a guy for a first show plus your name if you are to book one. How you advertise is the biggest outgoing expense. TV, radio, print, can be reasonable but can also run several hundreds of dollars. I would say low balling without a real name you can put 800-1000 bucks out.
Question 7: Could there ever be such a thing as an All-Ohio territory? This goes back to Question 1, sure, but what kind of damage could be done if even 50% of Ohio/WV/PA's current indy organizations joined up under their own state's banner? Would such a thing be feasible, if done right?
NO! That couldn't work as areas are to big and not get covered enough. An example of this is PWX/NWA East. Look at their actual territory and then see they run 2 times a month in the same town. May have changed buildings but they are not running the territory they have claim of.
Someone had 10 questions and someone else gave 10 answers and I thought the questions and answers were pretty good and am posting them for your viewing and educational pleasure.
Keep in mind these are not necessarily my views or opinions nor did I come up with this Q&A.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question 1: What keeps some of these small indy feds from joining up, merging bank rolls and running something under a new label together? Is it simply all about a promoter's ego, lack of trust, or is there more to it?
Some may call it ego but its more then that. Its to many chief not enough brave. When you team up of sorts people cant get along for very long. Even the best of promotions will have falling outs over bullshit. Promoters may be close but an indy worker in ones ear will always destruct what" could have been". People tend to take advantage of a group effort. You may go in even but when it comes to expenses there lies the problem. There is way to much "money" issues.
Question 2: How in the world do these promoters "book" the guys that aren't so much homegrown? Is there a secret website, Mason-like, that allows guys like Sandman, Abyss, Christopher Daniels, etc. to be booked on? How do they contact/bring those sorts of guys into the area?
Many guys that are workers work shows and tend to trade numbers and such. The advent of the internet, websites, myspace, have made it alot easier to get in contact with former fed names or bigger draws to some.
Question 3: How much does a mid-tier superstar, like Shark Boy or Rob Conway from Indiana, cost to wrestle? How about somebody like Scott Hall or Abyss? Does the promoter pay for travel - airfare and a hotel?
Its not mid tier in reality. To you or me yes but to a named worker they are all main eventers. Booking fees can be dependent on where they are coming in from, what day of the week, sold show, etc. When you bring in a bigger name yes you are responsible for travel expenses, accommodations. That is why you will see a named worker working an area of promotions as promoters can work agreements to save a little cash.
Question 4: How much would somebody get paid who wrestles mid-card or lower at an indy show? Is it true some locals will wrestle for almost nothing?
That is again dependent on the show. If it is a sold show and you have "X" amount of cash upfront then you can typically see talent fees of at least $35. or higher for your average indy worker. If guys are working regular shows where pay days are dependent on gate, concessions, souvenirs, then yes they are working for little to nothing. Not enough indy workers apply them self through gimmick. One that does is TC Reynolds. He has a great deal of merchandise and can easily pull in $150-250 in just gimmick table sales. Another is Snakeman Devin Michaels. Yes he sells pics with the snake but also sells figures, snake toys, photo copied pics, etc. He is one of the few that see where to make a few bucks at shows. Guys think a t-shirt is their bread and butter and aren't willing to spend a few bucks and try to make a few bucks.
Question 5: Is there such a thing as "exclusive" indy wrestlers?
Not really. Promoters will say they cant work for this promotion or that. If you are not living you life on the pays from a promotion and under contract then you are not exclusive. Its loyalty, and respect for a promoter that keeps guys exclusive.
Question 6: Off the top of your head, what kind of expenses would a promoter be looking at if he ran a show, no perks, and had to pay for EVERYTHING (i.e. ring, an OK venue, full roster, etc.)?
Depends on what you are wanting to make out of the show. Ring rentals can run anywhere from $300 and up depending on where they are from, when, how far of a trip, etc. Building rental can be anywhere from free to 3 or 4 hundred. Again it depends on the area, the buildings and things. Roster pays depends on who you book where they are coming from. Figure an average of at least $25 a guy for a first show plus your name if you are to book one. How you advertise is the biggest outgoing expense. TV, radio, print, can be reasonable but can also run several hundreds of dollars. I would say low balling without a real name you can put 800-1000 bucks out.
Question 7: Could there ever be such a thing as an All-Ohio territory? This goes back to Question 1, sure, but what kind of damage could be done if even 50% of Ohio/WV/PA's current indy organizations joined up under their own state's banner? Would such a thing be feasible, if done right?
NO! That couldn't work as areas are to big and not get covered enough. An example of this is PWX/NWA East. Look at their actual territory and then see they run 2 times a month in the same town. May have changed buildings but they are not running the territory they have claim of.
