YOU THINK YOU KNOW IT ALL? WHEN PREPARING FOR A COMPETITION IS MORE THAN JUST DIET AND TRAINING
Okay, so you think you know it all and are ready for your competition. You did all of your homework and research and you are good with the poses or what you have to do on stage because you have read the magazines and seen all of the pictures. That is more than enough. Also, you are going to just wear a friends' suit or the one you ordered off the internet, hit the tanning bed and do your own make-up and hair. Also, you wear high heels so you will have no worries walking in stage shoes. Think again!
When we as competitors prep for a show, the majority of the time, energy and focus is spent on diet and training in order to achieve the physique and look that is stage ready. Carefully measuring and cooking our food, making sure we have all of our supplements in stock, record or have a coach/trainer keep track of our progress in the gym. What else is there to do really? Honestly, a heck of a lot more. Posing suit, tan, shoes, jewelry, music, make up, hair, membership fees, show fees, hotel and the list goes on. All of this adds up and is extremely expensive, yet, what many seem to forget or not take into consideration is that these final touches are the difference in becoming the overall winner and not placing Top 5 at any show.
Now, by no means am I am expert in this area, but I have been there, done that, and I am not going to lie...it is EXTREMELY expensive. This industry and competition is a costly one to take part in, but if you want to do well, you need to make the sacrifices. Why cut corners and take chances 'winging it'? Yes, I have competed and more recently I have attended my fair share of competitions and I have to say that I am really shocked and surprised by how many of the comp
etitors are either cutting corners to save costs or are not paying attention to the rules and expectations of what you need to look like and what is judged in a competition.
With social media being one of the quickest ways to share information, why is it that so many competitors are not taking advantage of the advice, sources and classes out there being offered to compete? At any show, they have a mini expo, where there are numerous booths set up from businesses in this industry sharing their product and knowledge. The shows also have various sponsors which are geared to stage prep and presentation, but still there will be that competitor that steps out on stage with their class and the tan is not correct for stage, the suit does not fit and they have no idea on how to pose. All of these are key factors that will have a huge effect and outcome on your stage presentation and overall scoring from the judges.
One of the stage prep steps that seems to be either not done or not done correctly is the tan. The stage tan is essential for every competitor regardless of your skin colour. Stage lights and everyday lights are not the same. So if you as a competitor decide to only use the tanning bed, guess what, all of that hard work and countless hours spent in the gym will have been a waste of time. Sure you may look great off the stage and all, but when you step onto the stage and the stage lights shine down on you, you become wh
ite. No definition, no muscle visible. Sure the stage tan looks intense off the stage, however all of that colour is necessary to showcase and highlight the hard work that you put in to stepping on the stage. The stage tan is used to compete with the stage lights and show the judges and audience what you look like, regardless of your natural skin colour too. If you are of black skin colouring for example, you will also have to have a stage tan or else you turn a grayish hue under the lights. Does the stage tan cost more? It can. But what is essential to realize is that the person who is doing your stage tan is trained on how to spray you according to your division, most often is on site and will be there to touch you up when your tan may run due to the heat of the stage lights, and for the bodybuilders, the sweat from the intense posing. You have to remember, what you look like back stage is nothing to be concerned with - the colour washes off eventually, you have to be concerned with how that colour looks on stage because that is where it matters.
Another area of stage prep that is far too often neglected or left to the last minute is that of the walk or poses that are mandatory for each division. This is something that I do not understand. If you are a competitor and are serious about the division you chose to compete in, would you not take the time to learn and practice the poses that are required? This is part of why you are up on that stage. This is mandatory. Like the tan, the poses are another huge key factor that helps to showcase your physique and highlight the muscles or body in a certain way to assist the judges and how they score you. Posing for figure, physique or bodybuilding, or the walk for bikini, all should be flawless, graceful, classy and artistic. This is not the time to overdue a move or strut or bend a certain way, and honestly think that will help you out. It is also not the time to look over at your fellow competitors and see what they are doing and try to copy them. Posing takes time and a lot of effort. It is tiring to do and should be included in most of your regular gym training days. You have to learn how to flex, smile, and engage all muscles at the same time, all while breathing and staying focused on what the head judge is saying. You have to appear confident, not cocky or arrogant, and most of all look like you are having fun and enjoying yourself up on the stage.
One of the other big problems I see, as competitors take to the stage, is in the divisions where there are mandatory posing routines pieced together with music. The individual posing routine is your chance to be creative and artistic with your body to show the judges one last time the overall package and physique you have brought to stage. You have a routine set to music which included the mandatory poses, and some of your own with the emphasis being set to the music. The competitor is able to highlight and showcase their best features and strengths during this time frame. Too many times I have seen routines where there is random loud music in the background and the same 2 or 3 poses are done repeatedly, and time is 'wasted' by just walking around. That is not a routine. Competitors should be spending weeks on posing and routines. Take a look at Kai Greene for example. He does things in his routines that not many can do or repeat, and that is what sets him apart and what he is known for. The movements, poses and music are all selected to work together to showcase his muscle and physique. That is a posing routine.
I have seen and read all over social media, for both the Canadian and American Associations that host these events/competitions, workshops and classes put on by Pro competitors and even judges to assist and work with competitors on this essential aspect of stage prep. Do yourself a huge favour...take them. If you can be taught how to walk and pose by the industry's own, as well as be corrected on form, given tips and insight, and build overall confidence, what do you have to lose. These class have com
e out for a reason - either do to demand or necessity, and are offered by those in the know. So honestly, you cannot go wrong with attending.
I had the privilege of attending a few posing workshops through the work I do now in this industry and what shocked me was the shock and lack of knowledge from the new competitors on how hard posing or walking for stage really is and that there is a style and way to do them. Too often too many believe that they just have to do the bear minimum regarding practice because they will know what to do. All too often, those are the competitors that stand out on stage for the wrong reasons. Posing workshops are a gift to you as a competitor from those with experience. Yes posing is hard, and it hurts and in itself is a mini workout, but the time and effort put in, will only assist what you put out.
Getting ready for a competition does take a lot of hard work and multiple hours and planning, but if that hard work is only put into some of the aspects of stage prep and presentation, you have wasted your time. Stepping on stage and being on stage require as much work and/or more than your training and diet. All of that can be lost if the steps for stage presentation are not taken.
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