Promoter Not Happy With IFBB Pro Female Bodybuilders
The promoters of the IFBB Europa Super show sent this eye-opening email out, discussing various concerns related to the behaviour of IFBB pro female bodybuilders who competed in the 2008 Europa Pro. It came from promoters Ed Pariso and his wife Betty Pariso, a veteran IFBB pro bodybuilder and IFBB female bodybuilding rep.
“First let me say the only constant complaints I received at the Europa Super Show were from the Pro Women Bodybuilders.
The Show was too long:
The FBB’s complained the show was too long. It was the largest show in the history for the IFBB. If you want to get it over fast, go to some of those smaller Pro Shows. With a record setting 127 in the Show, it is not fair to rush someone’s time on stage just to get the show over. You would not want that done when it is your turn to stand on stage. So you had to sit around..big deal… it’s a record setting show that included Women’s BB on this big stage, at a big event and Web Cast around the World.
2 Day Show
The only way BB.COM would accommodate Women BB into the Web Cast, was to have it with the Men’s show over 2 days. So Ed & I go to bat for the FBB and get this extra production expense to get this included in the Web Cast and get the Women more exposure, and all we got from the FBB was griping. Lets be clear….57 Pro Men, 38 Pro Figure and 16 Pro Fitness, all had to do the same thing, compete over 2 days.. and not one complaint, …we only got attitude from the FBB’s.
The FINALS opening
We had planned a big opening performance with all 127 Pro Athletes on stage at one time to be filmed live around the World. Unbelievable only 3 FBB showed up, and 2 Pro’s had actually told Ed they were not coming back for that “crap”. So we put something in place to showcase the FBB and show them in a different light to the world, and they don’t show up, just because they are inconvenienced and had to show up early… and sit around for a while. What really surprised me was to tell a promoter to his face , they were not coming back for that “crap”. These were 2 women that took home some of our prize money.
Special Awards
We had over 10 Special Awards for the Women BB and not one stayed around till after the Show finals to pick up any of these special awards. The Pro Fitness, Pro Figure and Pro Men all stayed around and showed up, but not one FBB was there, all the Trophies were still on the table when we cleaned up.
No Overall & 2 Weight Classes
We felt the show is about getting your Olympia qualification, 2 weight classes and getting the Women on the Web Cast. We are the only event that featured the Women on a live Web Cast, and because of camera time and cost we were limited on what time allotment we could have. Another factor was we did not want to dilute the prize money. I fought hard for weight classes, which is what the women wanted, in the end it has proved to me as a Promoter to be a problem not worth it. We get no additional competitors that a single class show gets, and just more angry FBB backstage.
Hotel Photography
We even had complaints about the Hotel not being photograph friendly. We had complaints from the Hotel that the FBB were standing on the waterfall in a thong at the Hotel check-in area doing a photo shoot, and also parading around in their posing suits in the elevators, without cover ups. Not all, but some photographers and FBB showed a complete lack of respect to the Hotel and the other Hotel guests. This showed a complete lack of class and does nothing to helped the image of FBB.
What was amazing to me is I would have thought the Men would be the ones to complain, but all we got from them was praise. The fitness women who actually sat around just as long, understood that big shows…especially record setting big shows take time.
Let me say that for the 2 or 3 FBB that did support us…thank you. All in all I am very disappointed in the way we were treated, talked to and disrespected by the FBB’s. Part of what the Pro FBB’s do not get is this was all done this way to encourage BB.COM to include Women BB in the World Web Cast. In the end Ed & I were trying to make the show special for the FBB, and include them in everything we could to get the additional exposure that the women are always asking for….and all we got was “attitude” from the bodybuilding women.
Putting on Women’s Bodybuilding is at best a very, very hard sell for a Promoter, but for the Women Bodybuilders to make it even harder, does not make sense. This proves to me the Pro FBB have no clue on the reality of Women’s Bodybuilding, and the decline in the amount of shows and the lack of Promoters that support our sport.
As the IFBB Women’s Rep, Promoter, and a constant supporter of Women’s Bodybuilding, after the show was over I felt disappointed and disrespected from only one group…my own peers.
PS. By the way our e-mails are flooded with praise from Vendors, Guests, other Athletes, and IFBB officials that
this event has become one of the biggest, fun & most successful events in the World.
Because of this overwhelming success from the Corporate Sponsors that attended the EXPO, we have already locked in our NEW 2nd EXPO in Orlando (Europa Show of Champions).
Betty Pariso
Vision Star Entertainment Inc - President
2009 Europa Super Show-Dallas
2009 Europa Show of Champions-Orlando”
Betty Pariso herself is a phenomenal athlete who has made a success in a kick in the face business. If half the other FBB’s took one minute to pull their heads out of their own asses, then maybe their ’sport’ would receive some credibility from their own peers. As it stands all they do is entertain a crowd full of taxi driver/part time ‘photographers’. Way to go Betty and Ed.
As a former FBB, I know all too well how hard it is to get the recognition FBB’s deserve. But after reading this I can fully see why promoters and sponsors are reluctant to do more for FBBing.
For goodness sake, what makes these women think hey are so good that they can walk over the people who support them.
Here in Australia you are hard pressed to find a decent show that doesn’t just race you through and throw you a $5 posy of flowers and a “thanks for coming”. We’d give our right arm for such an opportunity as mentioned above. My goodness, a live World Web Cast, special awards, how often does that come along for FBB…not often. They bitch that FBB doesn’t get enough recognition, then shit on the promoter who stuck his/her neck out for them.
The disrespect shown at the hotel. That will leave a lasting impression, unfortunately it won’t be a good one. This will effect future arrangements for competitors in shows to come. They are representatives of the sport and as such should be setting a good example.
I’m happy with my decision to switch to Figure. I’ve found a strong comradery amongst the competitors, I’m yet to find an ungrateful person.
Ladies, if you want FBB to come forward, be a little more humble for what your supporters are trying to do for you. One should not bite the hand that feeds you. Here was a grand opportunity and you stomped all over it. Don’t be surprised if that was the last time someone did such a favour for you. If you want respect for what you do, you have to give back in kind to those who are standing behind you.
Well said Coral.
This is just another nail in the coffin for Women’s Bodybuilding.
I’ve said it a million times before, but female bodybuilders only have themselves to blame for the current state of Women’s Bodybuilding.
I can see a time in the not too distant future when there will be no more Women’s Bodybuilding classes.
No one supports female bodybuilding more than me, but each year it gets harder and harder to attract quality competitors.
As a promoter, Women’s Bodybuilding is the toughest class to put on. You get very few competitors and they tend to bring no one to the shows. The Figure girls on the other hand are prolific competitors who bring heaps of people to come and watch them.
With this in mind you would think that female bodybuilders would show a bit more respect, gratitude and appreciation for the Promters of this show who have obviously gone out on a limb and done their best for these ungrateful bitches.
Lift your game girls or you won’t have anywhere to compete in the not too distant future.
Ooops, I forgot to put my name on that last post.
It was me, Craig Lucas - CCI promoter and Editor of HCAM.