Part 3: How can we improve our bodybuilding events

3. Communication

One of the most important thing for a show to run smoothly is the effective communication between the major players behind the scenes. The stage director needs to get the cue from the emcees while he gives the cue to the sound and lighting guy as well as the smoke machine guy, and finally the athlete. Only through this can they properly introduce the athletes. The judges as well need to communicate with the stage manager on which athletes he wants to call out for comparisons. As well as the order of the athletes he wants to compare.

If budget is a concern on renting these gadgets, plan an alternative, like hand signals, sms, or for multi-party communication try whatsapp or viber so that everyone is aware of their cue.

The security team needs this as well to be on top of things. Providing order when the crowd suddenly all stand up blocking the view of the audience seated at the back. Or worse those who move around to occupy the front seats.

4. The Run Through

I had experienced the nightmare of waiting for more than two hours outside the main hall because the director needed the athletes to do the rehearsals before the afternoon (which turned out to be an evening) show. I was like, how difficult could it be walking into the mike, saying your name and place of residence? I was not happy with the wait, but the show did run rather smoothly.

The need for rehearsals boils down to the different degree of understanding of each athlete. No one can read your mind, not everyone can comprehend tagalog or english. So the best way is to do the rehearsals.  

Ensure the athletes know where they should stand during the introduction, the call outs, the free posing, and the awarding ceremony. Sometimes the prize announcement and victory pose is the most chaotic part of the event. 



Actual demonstration on how to do it is better than giving instructions. 

While we're on this topics, emcees need to run through the athletes and judges' name, so that hey can introduce them correctly.  We have a myriad of dialects in the Philippines which makes pronouncing the unfamiliar surnames a challenge. Add to that the parents seems to have been getting creative when picking their kid's name. So there are a lot of variations from the normal Juan and Pedro to the unusual Novs and Skylove. This problem is compounded by foreign names which are tongue twisters by themselves.

The organizers should also have a backup spiel for the emcees, just in case there are technical troubles. These spiels could be as short as thanking the sponsors to as long as describing how the sponsor's product is going to be beneficial to the audience - an ad placement, plain and simple. Nobody wants dead air, where the audience is left wondering what's happening or what is next to come.


to be continued...