Tell us about your first show!

[OldManLogan]

Ok, so selfishly- now that my son and I have decided to do our first show (Nov1, True novice men’s physique)- I thought I’d ask the pros and veterans here- what was YOUR first show like? Any cool stories? Anecdotes? Tips?

Let’s hear your war stories and veteran wisdom!

 

[Tomgrass]

Over 20 guys in first timers category in 2014 , came second literally lost by tiny amount , I was so pissed almost every show i have been -always top 3 due to conditioning but the first one is where I was dissapointed the most. This year no bullshit - shredded to the bone- no second places

 

[Simon90]

Ok, so selfishly- now that my son and I have decided to do our first show (Nov1, True novice men’s physique)- I thought I’d ask the pros and veterans here- what was YOUR first show like? Any cool stories? Anecdotes? Tips?

Let’s hear your war stories and veteran wisdom!

My first show is one week after yours!

Looking forward to it, will be following

 

[Big A]

I just turned 17. I came 4th out of 4 people. I weighed 163lbs and looked like dogshit, but I had the best tan

I followed a "competition diet" from Muscle & Fitness. I lost a shit ton of muscle and probably added fat. That was in 1991.

Within two years, still as a teen, I was walking on stage at 200lbs and winning everything.

 

[Bleed]

I kept hearing how great the experience was. The friends you make. The camaraderie. The sharing of ideas. It was going to be such a great experience that it was going to be a watershed moment.

I got backstage and it was drama city. These dudes hated each other. No one was talking.

I spent most of my time talking to a couple pros which was definitely worth it.

I also learned the shows promotor was a complete douche and overall a not good guy.

After talking to the judges, each one said something completely different than the last. I got nothing from speaking to any of them. But they all tried to sell me something.

I placed third in mens open.

 

[bbxtreme]

My first show I honestly thought I was going to come in dead last. No joke- my prep for that show consisted of moving from eating what I was to Mega Fit meals 5 times a day. Didn’t even care which ones. That was my “dieting”. There was no real logic or plan behind my cycle or any of it. I knew I had shit genetics. Was going to be one and done.

I ended up winning first in every class I competed in and got to pose down for the classic overall title. I’ll never forget when I went out for the finals pose down against the overall winner and it all hit me “shit maybe I am better at this than I thought.”

 

[Dave Perez]

1983 mr Ohio...middle of the pack in the light heavies...something like 10th out of 19...

 

[mytreefiddy]

I came in 2nd in a pretty small local show. Was hooked after that. Being that you're doing MP don't neglect posing. I've noticed entry level shows the posing is horrible. I personally HATED that part of it. Learn how to show your attributes

 

[OldManLogan]

I came in 2nd in a pretty small local show. Was hooked after that. Being that you're doing MP don't neglect posing. I've noticed entry level shows the posing is horrible. I personally HATED that part of it. Learn how to show your attributes

Honestly, that’s the part I think will be the hardest. Posing to make it seem smooth and effortless seems very very daunting

 

[hawkmoon]

My first contest was in 1988: the Massachusetts State Drug-Free Championships, held at MIT.
I was the only teen in the show and placed about mid-pack in the middleweight division, I think. I posed to LL Cool J and had fun.
I quickly learned that many athletes who claim to be drug-free probably aren't. The guy in line in front of me had a back covered with cystic acne. We even had polygraph tests, which was interesting as a young competitor.

The head judge—chair of the New England NPC—turned out to be my dad's high school football coach, though I didn’t learn that until later.
He gave me some tips and strongly encouraged me to keep going.

After this, I decided to become enhanced, largely because there were no other 'natural' shows available regionally.
My next contest was a more realistic one: the 1989 NPC New England Championships, where I won my LHW teen class but lost the overall to HW Donny DeMayo, Paul’s younger brother.

 

[SABAGOY]

20 years ago…21 years old…natural…dieted from 184 to 156 in 12 weeks…won novice lightweight and overall in an NPC show, back when you had to compete in novice before.

Learned to pose from a posing dvd I bought from the back ads in MD. Haha

Followed Lyle’s UD2.0 program…probably the hardest prep of my entire career, still to this day. LOL