Weymouth is a nice intimate show. I thoroughly enjoyed the last one and it was certainly value for money.

Well the site had gone rather quiet so I thought that it was time for something, honest but perhaps a little controversial. It seems to have worked!

I must say I am very relieved to have received, as much support as I have and I do trust that those valid criticisms posted here will be taken in the spirit that they are offered by any promoter who recognises his product here. I can only "say it" as I "see it"!

It was good to receive support from someone in the business like “Ellis”, who also runs shows around the West Country. CSF like Premier knows how to put on an enjoyable and professional show! Their product may be completely different in _style_, a bit too American for my own personal taste, but that same commitment is always there!

A special thanks also to Kate as always, for her amazing honesty, and for her support.
She is someone who knows so much more about this profession than we “fans” who dare to post our opinions so readily and publicly on these forums.

It is at this point that I am feeling brave enough to say that on this particular occasion Kate has got it slightly wrong!

Kate and I know the particular show that she is speaking about; we were both there weren’t we?
Yes, Kate was on a show that was not very good, and yes several of my 10 criteria on “How not to present a Wrestling Show” were met.

However, Kate will find it hard to believe that this was not the show I was referring to in my original posting!
I went to another show a few weeks before the one she was on and my original posting was _base_d upon that night. The fact that the show Kate appeared in also met so many of my criteria does indicate very clearly some of the problems of the business today.

I did suggest before that many of you reading this might recognise many of my points in the current shows that they attend every night of the week!
Well, Kate obviously did, and never has my point been more clearly made!

I am happy to confirm that both of these shows took place a very long way away from Weymouth. Weymouth is certainly on my list of “must attend” future venues and I look forward to getting there some time in the future. Old David might even bring Young Dowland in with him!

Thank you Kate!

My suggestions for a good promotion.

1 Between 4 & 6 matches, all at least 15 minutes long

2 At least 1 blue eye v blue eye match

3 At least 1 heel v blue eye

4 At least 1 tag

5 At least 1 singles

6 At least 1 technical match

7 1 gimmic match only, ladders, cage, etc

8 1 comedy bout preferably to finish

9 Believable refereeing. Eg don't have ref leave ring to look after injured tag partner leaving villains to beat up hero. Looked awful

10 No outside interference. Wrestlers may interfer afterwards!!!

Well David what do you think? Come on wrestlerzone, I challenge you to have your 10 tips on here.

I think that we have a 10 out of 10 for lovellweb.

Looks like a great show to me; see you there!

David

Right you want my top ten tips.. Here goes..

1.. Get the right venue, a proper entertainment venue. Most sports venues won't have wrestling now because certain promoters ripped them and the fans off.

2.. Advertising, Advertising, Advertising. Something most modern day promoters seem to forget. Promoting involves work, hard work too. Walking streets postering everywhere that you can, then a decent advertisiment campaign in local rags.

3.. Book wrestlers on talent not on who is your mate and his or her mates, and check them out. Don't just take another wrestlers recomendation, go to shows and see who and what you like.

4.. 5 or 6 match card, give the wrestlers time to work a match

5.. Finances, don't promote unless you can afford to do it

6.. Remember punters are punters and nothing more, if its a business they are there to make money for you, so sell sell sell and give them a show they will want to attend when you return

7.. If your hiring a ring, make sure its tidy, clean and does not look like its a WOS throw back, only with 700 _layer_s of chipped paint, dirty ripped canvas that probably has more bactiria on it than in your local NHS hospital and a ring apron that well looks like its been a few rounds with a thorn bush.

8.. Lighting and Sound, your putting on a show. The ring is your stage, so focus should be on the ring, simple ring lighting, decent sound system and a simple enterance way for the wrestlers to enter from. Always remember its a show and thats what people have come to see.

9.. Mix it up a bit, 6 matches all the same will send even the hardened fan to sleep, even if all 6 matches are 5 star. A bit of everything for the whole crown, bit of old school, a good gimmick match (Tables, ladders or a basic hardcore), a good womans match, some high flying, some power/monster wrestlers. It has to appeal to everyone.

10. Most important part, have fun. love what you are doing, but do it for the show, keep the punters happy and the punters give you money.

Fascinating stuff from wrestle-Zone and who could disagree with one single word.
I'd go to one of those shows tomorrow!

We all seem to know exactly what is required, so how do we manage to put so much effort into gettting it so wrong, so often?