first time competitor

[chaosmatt]

Hey guys first post in this section, basically i saw a while ago there will be a show near me in november of next year (there are some before but i figured taht this gives me pleanty of time to prepare.

Just had a few questions.

How did you know when you were ready to step on stage?

When you went to the show could you bring family back stage or just a training partner to help?

What are the best ways to boost confidence?

Where are the best places to practice and how do you know if the lighting is correct?

Im sure ill have loads more but just looking for some advise on how to start out as i dont have money for a coach or anything like that.

Any replies i will rep and be very thankful.

Regards

[chelly88]

Hey guys first post in this section, basically i saw a while ago there will be a show near me in november of next year (there are some before but i figured taht this gives me pleanty of time to prepare.

Just had a few questions.

How did you know when you were ready to step on stage?

When you went to the show could you bring family back stage or just a training partner to help?

What are the best ways to boost confidence?

Where are the best places to practice and how do you know if the lighting is correct?

Im sure ill have loads more but just looking for some advise on how to start out as i dont have money for a coach or anything like that.

Any replies i will rep and be very thankful.

Regards

All these answers will vary according to the organization, country etc... way up here in Canada (eh) here's how it went for me...
I really didn't KNOW I was ready to step on stage but I sure felt like I was confident enough in what I accomplished to get up there and fit right in (and take home 3rd :D)

No one was allowed back stage... not even trainers/coaches- authorized staff only so make sure you prep everything you need and might need before hand (make a list- last minute things can REALLY throw some people off)

Best ways to boost confidence for me was constantly imagining myself walking on stage, doing all my poses, nailing them, being confident and fluid and making a great impression. The second a doubt starts creeping in your mind it's far too easy to be obvious on stage and end up looking awkward

You will never know if the lighting is correct, it's different in each venue and can vary show to show as well depending who's doing it/how it's set up etc... I'm sure some places keep it the same all the time but after that final peak week and tan you will look like a whole different kind of monster ;)

For me planning was my best friend. My first show I was very organized, calm, relaxed, got there early with lots of time to spare, no mis-haps and I did fantastic. My second show I felt like a bit of a mess... let the pressure get to me more (higher comp level), my makeup was done VERY last minute- about 3 mins before running upstairs which made me forget to pump properly- and I went on stage feeling like an awkward teenager and I'm sure the lack of confidence showed all over because I didn't do very well! Presentation is HUGE... you can look incredible, be the leanest, meanest guy on stage but if you blow your poses it the guy next to you who nailed it and has a slightly weaker physique could take it home

sry, I'm a talker!!! But I got loads of help on here so I'm passing it on
Good luck!

[bigsd67]

Hey guys first post in this section, basically i saw a while ago there will be a show near me in november of next year (there are some before but i figured taht this gives me pleanty of time to prepare.

Just had a few questions.

How did you know when you were ready to step on stage? When you see striations in your glutes you're ready.

When you went to the show could you bring family back stage or just a training partner to help? Varies and is usually posted on the federation site...my last show not even coaches were allowed so I dream tanned outside.

What are the best ways to boost confidence? Look at your abs in the mirror!!! Seriously though what boosted me is knowing that I was in better condition than 99% of the country and no matter how I placed I worked my @$$ off to get there.

Where are the best places to practice and how do you know if the lighting is correct? Best place is home with a video camera...posing in front of a mirror is good, but if you see yourself you'll correct yourself...video will show you what you need to work on. For lighting I would go under a light and then back up until my the shadow was just above my chest if i looked down at it.

Im sure ill have loads more but just looking for some advise on how to start out as i dont have money for a coach or anything like that.

Do some searches on this site and you'll find a lot of helpful advice. Also I'd read Layne's contest prep article for base line diet/training info.

Any replies i will rep and be very thankful.

Regards

Posted answers in your message.

[chaosmatt]

All these answers will vary according to the organization, country etc... way up here in Canada (eh) here's how it went for me...
I really didn't KNOW I was ready to step on stage but I sure felt like I was confident enough in what I accomplished to get up there and fit right in (and take home 3rd :D)

No one was allowed back stage... not even trainers/coaches- authorized staff only so make sure you prep everything you need and might need before hand (make a list- last minute things can REALLY throw some people off)

Best ways to boost confidence for me was constantly imagining myself walking on stage, doing all my poses, nailing them, being confident and fluid and making a great impression. The second a doubt starts creeping in your mind it's far too easy to be obvious on stage and end up looking awkward

You will never know if the lighting is correct, it's different in each venue and can vary show to show as well depending who's doing it/how it's set up etc... I'm sure some places keep it the same all the time but after that final peak week and tan you will look like a whole different kind of monster ;)

For me planning was my best friend. My first show I was very organized, calm, relaxed, got there early with lots of time to spare, no mis-haps and I did fantastic. My second show I felt like a bit of a mess... let the pressure get to me more (higher comp level), my makeup was done VERY last minute- about 3 mins before running upstairs which made me forget to pump properly- and I went on stage feeling like an awkward teenager and I'm sure the lack of confidence showed all over because I didn't do very well! Presentation is HUGE... you can look incredible, be the leanest, meanest guy on stage but if you blow your poses it the guy next to you who nailed it and has a slightly weaker physique could take it home

sry, I'm a talker!!! But I got loads of help on here so I'm passing it on
Good luck!

Thanks for the very in depth answer, looks like im just going to have to go with what ever feels natural and just stay calm (im usually a calm person anyways :D) Well done on your third place in your first show, very impressive. You must have done something right.

Just a couple more questions, did you have anyone help you with posing that knew what to look for?

Also at the show i heard its aot of just waiting around to be called, is this true?

How did you go about setting up your free-posing did you just do that manditories?

Thanks again for the great reply and reps for you :)

[chaosmatt]

Posted answers in your message.

thanks dude i will take alook around, just thought here would be the easiest place to ask spacifics and stuff.

Regards

[bigsd67]

thanks dude i will take alook around, just thought here would be the easiest place to ask spacifics and stuff.

Regards

Asking here is definitely great and you'll get a lot of good info. Supplement that with some of the current info out there and you should have plenty of time to come in sliced and diced.

You have a great base with some real good potential.

[chaosmatt]

Asking here is definitely great and you'll get a lot of good info. Supplement that with some of the current info out there and you should have plenty of time to come in sliced and diced.

You have a great base with some real good potential.

Thanks dude, im bulking until about april next year in which time i want to get to atleast 200lb and with that i think i will be around 22% body fat, then i will cut for the 5 or 6 months leading to it nice and slow so i dont lose to much muscle.

Have you got a link to the article by any chance or know what i should search, i done a quick search but came up with all the inside the life stuff

Thanks for the help

[bigsd67]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/layne36.htm try that one.

[chelly88]

Thanks for the very in depth answer, looks like im just going to have to go with what ever feels natural and just stay calm (im usually a calm person anyways :D) Well done on your third place in your first show, very impressive. You must have done something right.

Just a couple more questions, did you have anyone help you with posing that knew what to look for?

Also at the show i heard its aot of just waiting around to be called, is this true?

How did you go about setting up your free-posing did you just do that manditories?

Thanks again for the great reply and reps for you :)

Thx :) I did have the help of an awesome coach and his IFBB pro wife who told me how things would work, helped me find suits, makeup/tan/hair-all the details. They did my diet and training but there are plenty of people around here who do it all themselves, but it was definitely nice for the first time!

This time around I will be flying solo because I just can't justify spending all that money (it got MUCH more pricey than I expected... it all adds up) with everything else going on this year and I just can't tear myself away from that stage.

I thought there would be loads of waiting around... the show started at 9am, until 5pm and I was on stage 3 times for about 5-15mins each (I did figure) so I thought it would drag but really, prepping to go on, backstage photos, touchups, pumping up etc all takes up time and the day really flew when it was all said and done. Don't rush it, soak in the environment, the culture is vibrant behind the scenes at shows :)