I figure I would start a new segment on Corner Man called Just Saying… Yes it will be a soapbox and you may agree or disagree with me but that’s the fun of it. I hope that some of the stuff I say will spark conversation and make you send me angry emails. I will leave the tame columns for my weekly newspaper spots.
As the great Peter Griffin said, “you know what really grinds my gears?” Going to an MMA event that feels like an all day affair.
Whether you like him or hate him, MFC President Mark Pavelich raised a great point a few weeks back,
“The time has come for a change in the way an elite-level MMA show takes place. The MFC has always run a tight ship – we have to because of live television. That means starting on time, correctly spacing out the fights, and making sure everything happens as close to perfectly executed clockwork as possible. But it’s still not enough.
This is the generation of instantaneous news, Twitter and Facebook status updates that can reach millions in mere seconds, and Google searches that can provide access to information at a moment’s notice.
So why is a mixed martial arts fight card an epic production that lasts for hours? Look at our counterparts in other sports:
The average length of an NHL game – 2:19
The average length of an NBA game – 2:30
The average length of an MLB game – 2:47
The average length of an NFL game – 3:11
Even in the age of multi-million dollar summer blockbuster movies, the average movie now is only 2:09.”
When I read those comments I jumped for joy and said THANK YOU! Thank you Mr. Pavelich for saying what I have been thinking for the last year. I’m sure most of you can agree, there is no reason why an MMA event needs to go over three hours. Hell, there is no reason why an MMA event needs to have more than ten fights on a card.
If the UFC can get away with ten fights (five on the under card and five on the main card) there is no reason why you have to be any different. This isn’t Lollapoolza. We’re not all going to bring a blanket, or a lawn chair and watch fights all day long. I understand booking more fights just in case of injury but instead of that, have fighters on stand by. Tell them to train and be ready in case of injury. If there is no injury put those fighters in waiting on the next card. Pretty simple.
To all promoters there are some basic rules to follow when putting on an event. However, everything falls into place if you plan it with the attitude of being FAN FRIENDLY. You are probably going to ask, “What do you know about putting on an MMA show?” Well kids, sit down because Uncle Trevor is going to tell you a story. It’s a story about working with a promoter who, although his intentions were good, lost his shirt because he didn’t plan properly.
I watched a promoter plan an outdoor show on a May long weekend here in Vancouver near the water. If you don’t know, a spring evening near the water is like 6 degrees. Not exactly warm. He also decided to spend a ton of money on a rock band despite being told that it wasn’t a good idea. In fact a few people including myself warned this promoter about what he was doing. To make a long story short, a lot of money was spent, and a lot of money was lost. No more MMA promotion. I won’t go into details of the fall out, but it wasn’t pretty.
I love going to fights. Most true fight fans will attend a local MMA event. I highly recommend supporting your local athletes and promoters. The UFC is not the be all and end all of the sport. Fighters have to start somewhere. I’ve decided to use this rant to throw down some rules for promoters. It’s from a fan’s point of view. You may agree or disagree, but over the last few years I have seen what has worked and what has not. So here we go!
- Start on time. For the love of God! If you say you are going to start at 7pm, start at 7pm. If you want to be taken seriously as a professional event, follow the “curtain is up” rule that has been made famous by theater shows. You are no different. It’s entertainment. Start the bloody show on time. All it takes is some planning and organization on your part.
Do not plan your event on a UFC night. You are not the second coming. Nobody is going to weigh their options and say…”hmmm… Colorado Mayhem 3 or Gsp vs. Nick Diaz?… hmmm…. what to watch. Tough decision.” No it’s not! it’s an easy decision, you’re attendance is going to suck cause everyone is at home or at the bar watching the UFC. Get over your arrogant self. Go to MMASucka.com or MMAJunkie.com click on rumors and see in advance what the UFC has planned and on what dates. It’s not hard to figure it out.
- If you start at 7pm, end at 10pm, 10:30pm the latest. Which means once again plan properly. Space the fights out. Like I said no reason to have 15 fights. By the time the Main Event rolls around its 1:00am and everyone went home. There is only so much we can take. Apply another theater rule to your show, “leave the audience wanting more.”
- No live bands. This isn’t a rock show; people are there to see fights, not a reunion tour of Twisted Sister. People have tried to make rock bands and MMA events roll together for years, it doesn’t work.
- Advertising, advertising, and more advertising. It’s not enough to throw up a poster or two. Use social media, make relationships with radio, print and television media. It is you that is going to put the spot light on this great sport, so do your best to showcase it and advertise it. Nobody reads posters on a power pole anymore. Nobody goes, “hey let’s go check out the Power Pole on 8th Street and see what is happening tonight.”
- Speaking of showcasing the sport in a positive light, please do not be affiliated with any gangs or bad people. The police and politicians are going to look for reasons to shut you down and prove that their political agendas were right. You don’t think that your shit is going to stink for miles if you are being funded by drug money or have Slash and Snake from the local motorcycle gang promoting your show? It doesn’t do the sport any favors. Make sure you run a clean ship.
- Follow the rules of the local athletic commission. I think this goes with out saying; the fighter’s safety should be paramount. Make sure you have great refs, judges, doctors etc… Do not run an underground show with no rules and no commission, because that will only blow up in your face. If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t do it. Leave it to the people that have a plan and want to see the sport grow in their community. Nobody likes wannabes.
- Run your organization like any Mom and Pop business. Run it like a business period. Be fair to your employees don’t rip them off. Don’t rip off the fighters either. In fact I can’t say that enough. Why in the blue hell would you rip off a fighter? This is the sport they are working their asses off to make a career out of. Why would you rip them off when all they did was work their asses off for months to fight on your promotion. They need that pay check…MORE THAN YOU! Running an MMA promotion is tough. There isn’t a lot of money in it at first. You are not Dana White. You are not funded by a Casino or the Fertittas.
You have to allow the business to grow, and work hard to keep costs low. If you come into this with deep pockets, it doesn’t mean that you have to spend every penny on the first show. Be wise and let things grow organically. Which means do not charge fans a wheelbarrow of money to see your show. Most true fans are not loaded. They just want to see their friends fight, and see some local stars build their careers. They want to be a part of that. You’re not the UFC, so there is no reason to charge people an arm and leg to watch the show.
I could go on, but I digress. Follow the above suggestions and I think you have a chance of being successful. I know in some cities there are 15 different promotions going on and each guy or gal are doing the same thing. Try and differentiate yourself. That doesn’t mean you need to have tag team boxing matches or midget mud wrestling. Maybe by just following the above suggestions that will differentiate yourself because right now I don’t know to many promoters who are doing it right.
Oh I nearly forgot, Ring girls should be hot, they shouldn’t be taken off crack alley and put into a slutty outfit to prance around a cage. They should be fun and personable. The ladies are there representing YOU. If Mercedes from the local peeler joint has a meth problem she is probably not going to make a good ring girl.
Just saying….
-Corner Man-
Join Trevor Dueck’s Facebook Page. You can hear Trevor on Fatlip Radio or read his weekly column in the24Hrs Vancouver Paper.
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