What would one actually need to start a wrestling company?

[Mr. Long]

I'm really putting a lot of thought into this. Does anyone here know what it would take to start a wrestling company? I'm hoping to have like a checklist of sorts.

I'm serious about this, so please don't respond with shit like, "Wrestlers" or "A ring".

[DjM]

I've actually thought about this seriously before. But the lack of money is obviously putting me off right now. I came across a site a few months ago that had all the things you needed for a wrestling company. But Its in the UK so that probably wouldn't be much help unless you just wanted to know what you'd need.

Then we're talking...

The ring, including everything that comes with it...canvas, ropes etc
mats so your wrestlers don't hit their heads and die lol
crowd barriers
ring bells
weapons (i.e tables, chairs, trash cans etc)

Then if you wanna put it on tv you need the equipment for that to.

Hope thats helped atleast a bit, and i'll try and find the link to that website too if ya want.


EDIT: And heres the link to the site htt*p://wrestlingringsuk.co.uk/

[APostingGod]

Actually, money is number one... trying to sign somewhat known wrestlers to appearance contracts, Promoting, and like Dan said the basics like a ring. Public Acces television is always a good start for promotion and getting to know the buisness in genral good. If your going to college, I would look into buisness as a major. Because knowing how to spend money or even get money for your business can me learned that way. As for promotion, that's just hard work and getting word on the street. Never go background wrestling style either, always try to be somewhat legit.

[Mr. Long]

Thanks Durph and Ryan.

So I'm making a list of who I've got on board:

Judge- Head of creative
APG- God...like...manager
Mike- Color Commentator
Chazz- Creative
Gravalamadingdong- Michael Lansing
Ana- Ring announcer
PK- Whatever he does, he'll do that
Future- Timekeeper

I'm seriously thinking that we should all do this. Pool a lot of money, fly some people out, rent a ring (for the first show at least), get a house band (like Miss Nic or Wonk Unit) to do all the themes, have the show, and record it. Give it out to members as like a bonus for becoming a donating member.

We could use some of the wrestlers from WP, like D-Dogg, and Cha Cha, and SiNN, hell maybe even Como.

Even if we did it once, and it was only for our amusement, it would be a memory that I'm sure none of us would forget.

Obviously money is an issue, but I think that if we all put in our share, it could be done.

Us smarks always act like we could put on a better show than WWE, why not actually do it?

[JustinCredible]

Thanks Durph and Ryan.

So I'm making a list of who I've got on board:

Judge- Head of creative
APG- God...like...manager
Mike- Color Commentator
Chazz- Creative
Gravalamadingdong- Michael Lansing
Ana- Ring announcer
PK- Whatever he does, he'll do that

I'm seriously thinking that we should all do this. Pool a lot of money, fly some people out, rent a ring (for the first show at least), get a house band (like Miss Nic or Wonk Unit) to do all the themes, have the show, and record it. Give it out to members as like a bonus for becoming a donating member.

We could use some of the wrestlers from WP, like D-Dogg, and Cha Cha, and SiNN, hell maybe even Como.

Even if we did it once, and it was only for our amusement, it would be a memory that I'm sure none of us would forget.

Obviously money is an issue, but I think that if we all put in our share, it could be done.

Us smarks always act like we could put on a better show than WWE, why not actually do it?

you can buy rings at highspots.com

along with alot of other gear.

I would say Money is the #1 thing.

Money
ring
Mats
A PLACE TO HOLD SHOWS
crowd barriers
lighting
PA speakers
Quality superstars to build off of
Alot of time
Alot of creativity
Good sense of buisness
A way to advertise


just for starters...alot more surely follows.

[Mr. Long]

I found a website that I can get a top quality ring for $4,450.

And I'm adding Future to my list, he wants to be the bell ringer.

I think while I'm at Full Sail, I might try to get some help from the students in the Entertainment Business department.

[The Kid]

Ok well since you totally haven't thought this through, if you want to start a wrestling company, you should be prepared to lose at least 100,000 in the first few years. If we're actually talking a big time wrestling company, you should be prepared to lose around 3-5 million at the absolute very least. If you have the money to do it, more power to ya, but this just really isn't realistic without alot of money. By the way, this board couldn't put on a better show than the WWE.

[Emotastic Ave]

Way to squash his hopes man. He actually has put a lot of thought into this. And I bet with the people on this board we could put on a better show than the WWE. Alot of us have watched WWE shows and talked about how we could make it better, so this would be our great chance. Even if it is just one show, still it would be worth all the stress and money just seeing something we planned happen.

On that thought... who is going to film the whole thing??

[Mr. Long]

I'm not planning on being the next WWE. I wanna put on a good show, one using the fantastic ideas that I've seen people on this board come up with. Besides, we already have like a year's worth of shows planned out thanks to PCW and WPW.

And I know I will lose a lot of money doing this. It's not about the money, it's about putting on a good show that fans can enjoy.

[The Kid]

Ok, I could squash his hopes, or I could say go ahead man, do it, lose all your money. I'm sorry but I don't wanna see anyone homeless because they put all their money into something they know nothing about. And you think because you watch WWE means you can run a wrestling company? Um, well, the WWE is a totally different animal. You'll be running an Indy, not a multi billion dollar company. Plus, how are you going to put on a great show without actually trained wrestlers?

[The Kid]

I'm not planning on being the next WWE. I wanna put on a good show, one using the fantastic ideas that I've seen people on this board come up with. Besides, we already have like a year's worth of shows planned out thanks to PCW and WPW.

And I know I will lose a lot of money doing this. It's not about the money, it's about putting on a good show that fans can enjoy.

Exactly how much money are you planning on investing? By the way, it's a business, hence, it's not about show quality, it's about the money. If you think otherwise you don't know very much about wrestling.

[Chazz]

First of all, Ana, lay off Kid. He is entitled to his opinion. And I think you are missing his point. All over the net, all you here is people say is that they could book a better show than Vince or anyone in the WWE. Now, I believe most couldn't back up there claims, but there are some smart fellas on this site who could give it a shot and might actually make it work. Kid is just saying that while most will say that they could book a better show, how many of them can back it up? Not many.

Jesse, realistically, money is the number one thing. You can get all the other stuff, but if you don't have the funds to run a legitimate business, then you are going nowhere fast. You have to have the capital to start up any kind of business, and you also have to look ahead (called projecting) at your potential losses vs. what you will bring in. That means, you need to have plenty of start up cash. Not just enough to get going, but enough in the bank to eleviate the pains of the first few years. Plus, you have to be smart about how you run it. You need to know the total cost of doing a show, not to mention having to go out and promote your business. There are alot of things behind the scenes that have to be done. But the first thing that needs to be done is getting the funds. In business, you have to look at everything.

Start up cost
Venue cost
Salaries
Advertising

These are just a few examples of what you will be dealing with as a promoter. Now, as much as we all like to sit at home and whine about how Vince is doing a crappy job these days, bottom line he has been doing this for years. I think he knows what he is doing. But, that does not mean that Jesse could not do the same. I am a firm believer in following your dreams. So if Jesse wants this, then I will encourage him.

[The Kid]

I totally agree with following your dreams, but I'm not gonna act like this is going to be easy, and honestly, I wouldn't suggest it, especially if you're going in looking at it as a chance to book a good wrestling show. Good wrestling doesn't draw, add on to the fact you most likely wouldn't have the funds to afford putting on a good wrestling show. If you're trying to build a sucessfull promotion, you have to have ALOT of money for startup costs. Add on to the fact the business is at an all time low, and it's not a good combo. Right now, there's probably 2 significant wrestling organizations in America that are making money (and TNA isnt one) so, to think this could be profitable seems a bit far fetched. But if you have the money to do it, I'll be glad to support it in any way possible, because the more places for the guys to earn a paycheque, the better, in my opinion.

[Philly]

Me and my cousin a few years back took a look into starting up a company. The plan was we work for a few years to get the money (we had some plans for that, but whatever profession you can get is great for money, obviously.) then we would move to a known city with a lot of people (good thing I live a half hour outside of Philly, and since your moving to Orlando, try something there, just avoid TNA.) We had a lot of plans. As for whats needed:
money is most important. Without it, who can you hire?
wrestlers. I think getting wrestlers, and not huge names, or even remotly known names, just people to fight is what you need, is more important than getting a ring. Just bill every match as a street fight until you pick up a ring :).
Then the ring to fight in.

And what you have now, which is good, is ambition and a plan. You know who your going to hire (to some extent) and it seems like your puttiing thoughts into the "What Ifs" which is important.
Right now me and my cousin are in the wrestling business. We wrestler in a basement in front of a camera and air those shows on the Internet. We have like 30 characters, but only 3 people acting. But that is just a weird company (it has good storylines, but its like a WWE/Saturday Night Live show mixed). But what we are doing is getting known. People who see those videos see our booking skills (which I dont want to brag but I am good at booking, especcially for my age.) and wrestling skills. Granted, I am not so great at the fake wrestling part, but my cousin is. So we do what you have to do which is get known. Getting known by some kind of public is huge because you cant just put a sign out in front of Freebird and say "Wrestling Tonight" because no one would come. You have to find some way of promoting the Fed.

As far as getting the members of WP to do some kind of show, Im all for it. It would be a dream come true for me, I get to beat the shit out of half the members here. (id rather not say who because then Id get my ass handed to me in some way shape or form).

Hope all goes well Jesse. If you need any help figuring out what I just said (I know its confusing. Im not great at explaining things via Internet.) or anything else just hit me on AIM im always happy to help people wrestle.

[Sal's Pal]

I know I'm a newb posting among WP vets here, and what I'm about to say may sound incedibly.... stupid, but theres a market for bum fights, a good one too if you know who to sell to. It would be a good way for you to
A. Make a little money. Hobo's will work for next to nothing, and they'll beat the shit out of eachother.
B. Gain experience in the fight promoter world

Again, I understand if that sounds very dumb and people want to flame mem go right ahead, just figured I'd put in my 2 cents

[The Judge]

Even though WPW books shows at the Freebird, that's working on the assumption that WPW gains the audience size it does as well. Although I've made it realistic to a sense that we're starting small and working to get bigger, I still did start at 300 attendance for the South-Eastern states. The Freebird would be something you'd have to work up to, assuming they'd even want a wrestling show there in the first place.

Starting a fed from nothing is hard, it's very hard. The most realistic thing out there to describe it would be a game, TEW 2005 (07 is coming out very soon). You can do that there, start from nothing, work up. I tried it, and even just the game itself I found myself bankrupt in no time flat. I took out loans from the bank, held monthly shows, and I finally drew crowds breaking 300 in attendance... 4 game years later, and about $300,000 in the hole. Now that said, it is just a game, a very realistic one, but still just a game.

In reality it would and will be harder. WPW runs well, we have alot of fun with it, but for all the realism elements I put into the fed, I also take out a few. First of all, and most importantly, money. Realisticly a company like WPW couldn't exist in it's form because the price of paying wrestlers on a per-show basis and the venue costs would bankrupt it in no time flat. Carlos Gonzalez would be roughly a million dollars in the hole by now, and as you can see from WPW's example, he's rose attendance from 300-800 in Northeastern Florida. In other words, he hasn't done a whole lot in increase revenue and expenses continue to gradually build.

Renting out venues is the least of the cost worries. Believe it or not booking for WPW and keeping things realisticly I've learned alot about how much they cost on average. Alot of the places we have our shows are realistic. The Freebird would be expensive, but most of those community centers you could pay off with ticket costs. The problem comes afterward. Tickets pay for the venue, barely, but the wrestlers won't just come wrestle for free. Even nobodies are gonna want to be paid something, and this is where draw and fanbase comes in. If you want to draw, you need to have names people recognize. The more someone knows he's drawing, the more he'll want in return. You could say you'll just hire a bunch of friends and work from there, but think about it this way too. If you went to a wrestling show and it completely sucked, would you go to the next show? It's not all about booking or promoting, if the wrestlers have no talent or the people watching lose interest having no idea who they are, they won't come back. More talented wrestlers draw more, thus, cost more. Never ending circle that ends with you coughing up cash you'll probally never see again, or if you do, long after your hair's gone grey.

People credit Vince alot, and I do as well. He's a genius, however, he didn't start from nothing. It was his father's company before it was his, and although he's the one who made it big, he didn't do it from the ground up. I'm not here to crush dreams either because I have my own as well, just naming some things to be aware of.

To Kid though, while I agree most people couldn't put on a better show than WWE, they're not the holy grail just because they sit on the throne of the wrestling world. I'm not gonna say I could wake up tomorrow and put on a better show than the WWE with my blood, sweat, and tears. But give me the WWE's resources and fanbase, and I think you'd be surprised how much better the WWE has the potential to be.

[Mike Corral]

And here I was thinking I was the only one who wanted to start a fed.

The fed would be an awesome idea, but to start I was thinking of posting matches on YouTube to get known. Once we have some people watching, then we can start to do shows in arenas. We'll have to book them and get noticed, hence the money everyone was talking about. With the ring and some people who really want to wrestle, we can start to do business. From there, we either sink or swim.

And can I be the wrestler/Green Lantern Fan? Please please please pleeeeeeeeeeze????

[Chazz]

BTW.....You also need to make sure that you can afford to have some Divas as well. Hey! Gotta have eye candy, even if you hire local strippers to do it. I'm sure Ken can get X-P*c to make an appearance as well. You sign him, then you know you will have a sell out!:laughing:

[Mr. Long]

And can I be the wrestler/Green Lantern Fan? Please please please pleeeeeeeeeeze????<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

If you were Gregory Helms yes.

Some of the wrestlers I had in mind were Alex Shelley (I would make him champion), Delirious, Tomko (cause he's from Jacksonville), Cha Cha, Brent Albright, Larry Sweeney, Matt Sydal (as El Pollo), Shark Boy, CP Munk, Lance Hoyt, and some more well known like Daniels, Aries, Strong, and Joe.

Sure I love those last four and a few others like Sabu (once he gets fired), and New Jack, but they would be damn near impossible.

See, not too many well known. Aside from those last few, I couldn't see too many of the others asking for too much.

[Scorch]

Honestly Jesse, the first thing you want to do if you are serious about running a wrestling company, is to get in the business at whatever level you can with another company. Forget trying to do it right out of college, if you really want to succeed, take it slow. This way you can begin networking and building relationships with people in the industry. There are a few avenues to go from there. You'll probably want to use it as a secondary job as well if you wish to eventually own a company as you will obviously need money, the other option is to try and find an investor who will trust you with his or her or their money. While you work with another company, always be paying attention, look at what works. Look at the area you want to run in and see what's popular with kids there, with teens, with adults. Not just wrestling wise, but musically, the kinds of shows they watch, get an idea of how people think. Determine your target demographic. I'd advise going after a niche crowd like ROH did with pure wrestling fans, ECW with hardcore wrestling fans, find out something you can give to fans that they will not get elsewhere.

It would be close to impossible for you to start one and have any kind of success within the next ten years or so, but in the long run, it could be doable. Know going in that the odds are against you and you are probably going to fail, but if you do fail, fail spectaculary and without regret. If this is what you want to do with your life, then go for it, but be careful with it, be patient and be ready for hard times.

I know I want to be a sportscaster of somekind, been working for it for a long time, preteen days, and I would indeed include commentating for a wrestling company as something I would want to do, I think I could do the play-by-play side of things.

[Mike Corral]

If you were Gregory Helms yes.

Awwwww......

Then can I be like Green Lantern Fan?

And the wrestler thing.....eh, I'll be a jobber. I just wanta wrestle.

[Mr. Long]

Ah what the hell. Sure why not. You can be Marky Mark, the uber-mark.

Hope you don't mind taking a cheese grater shot from New Jack.

[Mike Corral]

Yay!!!!

[The Kid]

Jesse, you do realize that most of those wrestlers that you listed take 1000+ per booking, with people like Sabu probably in the 2500-3000 range? Add on to the fact, you don't have a ring, don't have a venue, this is all just a pipe dream and I can't believe how many people are taking this shit serious. I'm sorry, I try being all like nice and shit around here, but man, how much money do you have to throw around? Especially with a roster like that.

And to address Judge, I know WWE isn't the holy grail, Mid 90's All Japan was probably the best wrestling promotion ever. Mid-late 90's WCW, 80's MidSouth, current ROH, current NOAH, current Dragon Gate, 90s New Japan, and current all Japan, were also all better than the WWE is. So believe me, this isn't just a case of WWE markism.

[Mr. Long]

I realize it's just a dream, I know it won't be a while before I can actually do something with this. I'm not stupid, I'm not thinking that this will all fall together just 'cause I have a few people from WP interested. I know it's stupid, I know I'll probably bankrupt myself. But you know what? This is something I really want to do, and I will try my hardest to make it a reality.

[Chazz]

Jesse, you do realize that most of those wrestlers that you listed take 1000+ per booking, with people like Sabu probably in the 2500-3000 range? Add on to the fact, you don't have a ring, don't have a venue, this is all just a pipe dream and I can't believe how many people are taking this shit serious. I'm sorry, I try being all like nice and shit around here, but man, how much money do you have to throw around? Especially with a roster like that.

And to address Judge, I know WWE isn't the holy grail, Mid 90's All Japan was probably the best wrestling promotion ever. Mid-late 90's WCW, 80's MidSouth, current ROH, current NOAH, current Dragon Gate, 90s New Japan, and current all Japan, were also all better than the WWE is. So believe me, this isn't just a case of WWE markism.

And this is one of the reasons why I love Kid. I mean, he tells how he feels no matter what anybody says. Now, me being me, I stated I encouraged Jesse to follow his dream. I think Jesse knows that it will take a lot to be a promoter. And, the way Scorch outlined it, I think if Jesse went that route, he could eventually pull it off. Will it happen? I have no idea. Thing is Kid, if Jesse has the dream to do it and he sticks with it, it could happen for him. Seriously, I'm not gonna bring out stories of guys who struggled through tough times, but then they eventually fulfilled there dreams with perseverence and sheer determination. We know those stories exist. Jesse could be one of those. You never know. Still, I applaud Kid for being who he is. May not always agree with him, but then again, I don't have to...lol.

[The Judge]

WCW?

No, didn't say it was markism, but I wouldn't say people couldn't book a better show based just on the fact that the discussion involves a dream that has about a .1% possibility. Don't get me wrong, I'm serious about the fact that were a promotion ever to start up I'd sign the dotted line, but I and I'm sure most here know in it's current state that's not happening.

Nothing is ever impossible, ever. For all we know Jesse could win the lottery tomorrow, but God knows that's most likely what it'll take because there is no money to be found in starting up a wrestling promotion. That said though let's say by some fluke of a chance someone around here stumbles into a billion dollars. Would you put money on the fact that with that kind of cash that over the course of a year our storylines couldn't be as compelling or more than WWE's? I wouldn't, and speaking from the heart, I know damn well I could do better.

Could.

I won't though, because none of us are winning the lottery, I'm bound to be working at a less stressful hotel in a month or so, and I'll die with $30,000 dollars to my name when I'm 63.

[The Kid]

I get the whole follow your dreams things, but I really, really don't wanna see someone lose everything they have over something that really doesn't have a great chance of suceeding. But it's not my place to say anything I guess, and the more wrestling out there the better, and if you can really get this going, I'll be more than happy to promote the fuck out of this on every single wrestling website around. But, I just don't advise it.

[Mike Corral]

I'll be more than happy to promote the fuck out of this on every single wrestling website around.

Second.

[The Judge]

As much as I agree with the end result, I disagree entirely with the message.

Will Jesse lose everything he has following this dream?

Moneywise? Yes, he will.

But life is about far more then money. You can have millions of dollars and die an old man regereting never doing what you really wanted to do. Or you can take the chance, and even if you fail, you'll still have the knowledge that you tried. You did all you could to follow a dream, even if it was an impossible one.

I'd rather die a poor happy man than a miserable rich one. I'd gladly lose it all for the chance to really live, even if it's just for one night.

[The Kid]

I don't know, booking a better show than the WWE is one thing, but booking one that actually draws is quite another. ROH probably books the best shows in America, but that being said, they've never cracked the 2000 fan mark. In the end, booking a great show means nothing if you're losing money in the end. People have to remember, wrestling started in carnivals as a way to take money from people. It's not a sport, it's not an art, it's a scam. Now I enjoy the scam alot, but at the same time, I admit it's basically something designed to get me emotionally attatched so I'll spend my money on it. So if you're not effective at scamming money, all you are is a mark with a promotion, who for some reason thinks you're accomplishing something with 5 star matches.

[The Judge]

ROH doesn't have the resources WWE does though. The old slogan "To make money you have to have money" is true, and while ROH slowly rises, without some kind of global television deal they won't make it big. 5 star matches mean nothing when only a limited amount of people are seeing them. If ROH was in the same position TNA is in, they might have a much higher fanbase than TNA, and may be pulling in bigger ratings.

The bigger name guys go to TNA instead of ROH not because it's a better promotion, but because of that TV deal. Look how bad WCW was but because they had an endless source of money backing them, they did alright for the time they were around. Money controls everything. Money plus good booking is what brings the money back. That's why the WWF was sucessful, and in the end, WCW wasn't.

[The Kid]

WCW was like awesome. I think alot of people look back really badly on it because they don't like their main event scene. Benoit, Regal, Finlay, Jericho, Malenko, Mysterio, Faces of Fear, Mortis and Wrath, among countless others. I'd have a hard time saying that was terrible.

[AFalseSinn]

Jesse asked me to work for him as a wreslter (SiNN duh!)

problem is im not cheap haha

nah, if it where to come to life i sure as hell would sign up, if anything everyone that worked in it could use it as experiance and a gateway to the "big time"

[Mr. Long]

Jede, my plan right now is to have Van Risen vs. SiNN, where you basically beat yourself up for a few minutes, then the wrestler The Original SiNN comes out and hits you with your own HAM.

[Andrew Xavier]

I am fully behind you jesse. If you want to follow this dream I support you all the way, yeah it may cost money but with the right amount of determination and heart you can make it for one show at least. You wouldn't even have to buy the ring you could rent it for the night of the show, same goes for the extras I think. I looked at doing this myself, I had planned to run a wrestling show for charity at my school but I couldn't find a ring company in Scotland and I didn't think the school would go for it. However in 2 years time my year will get to decide on the stuff and I was thinking of putting on a show using the crash mats piled up with the other mats around the ring. I'm not sure for ropes etc but I have 2 years to think about that lol.

Anyways If you would like I have a lot of creative ability and I would love to help you with storylines etc. Also if I can get some training and you could get me a visa I would move to the US and work with you lol. I would work say 2 nights a week for you. Say $50 a night maybe less, and then work another job through the week.

[Mr. Long]

Let's wait 'til I have a some money before we commit to anything that serious.

[Andrew Xavier]

Yeah I know dude I was just saying lol.

[Mr. Long]

Thought I would post this. I MySpace'd the wrestler The Original SiNN and asked him a few questions (to get some info from a real wrestler) and this is what he sent back.


wrestlers range in price from 25 cents to 25 thousnad BUT you get what you pay for!!!!
$20-$50 dollar local wrestlers are typical but usually suck and don't put asses in the seats (they can however help fill up the card)
most guys from TNA that you can rent out depending on who range from about $400-$2500 plus flight and motel. (all paid and arranged up front)
I charge $500 plus flight and motel
also need to know show date incase we are already booked somewhere else...
Merry Xmas
SiNN

[The Kid]

If he's chargin 500 plus flight and accomidations, he's not getting anyyyyy bookings. Because there is no way any promoter is paying 500 for a no name.

[Mr. Long]

He's not a total no name, he was in TNA. Part of The New Church I believe. Granted being famous in TNA is being famous in the AFL (Arena Football League btw).

[Funk]

Youtube!

Youtube is the new "thing" and the best way to take advantage of the market is to carve your own niche in it man.

It's 4 in the morning but I came up with something:
We (you) make a genuine looking "arena" with a ring and everything, that's about 8k?
Then you can start off by using yourself as a wrestler, and setting up multiple camera's (to not have a camera dude, or you can just ask a friend to film) and you can get multi-camera angles, and since you're wrestling, you don't even have to pay yourself. Call it the InternetChampionshipWrestling, ICW!!1. And make an entire fed without having to pay for pesky rentals, and all of that. If you get a following (one guidance, don't be pretentious and have decades old backstory for some unknown wrestler, start it all off with some brutal-looking high intensity matches, then that will start all the drama you need to get the wheels in motion "story-line" wise).

I'll help as much as I can, because this is actually really interesting. And I think I can come up with better stuff than the rambling i posted after I get some shuteye. Goodnight and Goodluck.


PS: This is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q & R were eliminated [get it? -PQRS-? Bad joke]

PPS. Any lurker thinking about stealing my ideas, forget about it, they are copy-written and I'm not even bluffing. God bless copyright laws.

[Mr. Long]

I definately agree that YouTube would be the way to go.

For a film crew, I'd probably try to find a local filming company and rent them, or maybe even try to rent out the local news film crew.

Another real challenge would be editing it. I'd have to find a film editting studio. Or pay my old high school to let me use their equipment.

[Justin Dreamer]

I can always try 2 make rare appearances for matches....

maybe

[Sky Ryder]

Ok... so I'm new here, but hey yeah, I'm an actual wrestler. I work on Sundays for a Lucha show... Yes, in Texas.... but if ever needed, I can be called upon...

[Mr. Long]

Good to know, the wrestling company probably won't ever be, but good to know none the less.

[Sky Ryder]

Don't sound so down about it.... I know some guys in Michigan, the have a fed called the KWO.... built their own ring, easily made, I fabricated one after their idea.... and if a couple of people are trained.... they can (if they feel like doing so, such as I have) train others that will be working for little or no charge at all...

[Mr. Long]

I've had a few ideas rolling around that could work for a fed. Like there are no on screen authority figures, only leaders of various stables. I would probably make it so there are no rules in the matches, just so I can throw Mike through his announce table when I so please. :)

[Sky Ryder]

Well... I have no idea who Mike is.... since I'm a n00b here... but yeah... that's how my fed started out... and now we have a steady group of about 40 people who frequently come to our shows....

[Shadows]

I have an idea to get more talented wrestlers for less money. If you can get the spare money to have either yourself or someone else trained as a pro wrestler and can find people who are determined to become professionals themselves, you can offer them training in return for working in your fed for cheap. That way, if you can stretch things out long enough to make the profits for having cheap wrestlers equal to or exceed the loss of one complete training, it'll be money saved overall. It'll mean more time and work dedicated to your dream, but if you're as determined as you really seem, it shouldn't be a problem.

I realize that doing this will still make accomplishing the dream almost impossible, but it'll at least slightly raise your chances. I wish you luck, and if I can figure out other ways to help this along, I'll be sure to contribute them.

[The Judge]

Honestly, there's actually alot of wrestlers who would work for free. I'd never recomend paying heavy salaries for wrestlers when you can find at least a dozen or so in almost every region who would work for travel expenses alone.

I know people who have been in the business for a year now and have yet to be paid for a show. That's the whole "paying your dues" thing you hear about often.

[Sky Ryder]

honestly. i work on sunday nights... i make 5-15 bucks a week. I don't even care, i have fun doing it, and it's good practice...

[D-Dogg]

Honestly, there's actually alot of wrestlers who would work for free. I'd never recomend paying heavy salaries for wrestlers when you can find at least a dozen or so in almost every region who would work for travel expenses alone.

I know people who have been in the business for a year now and have yet to be paid for a show. That's the whole "paying your dues" thing you hear about often.

It's true, i worked for 2 and a half years without receiving a single penny. Although i must admit that was becuase i was wrestling for the company that trained me so i did feel i owed them somewhat yeah me and everyone else on the roster worked for absolutely nothing because we knew that Darren couldn't afford to pay us as he was only just making enough to keep the business going.

To me i think most people in this thread are somewhat dilluded, the only person who has posted who is truely looking at this with a level head in my opinion is Kid. People can say it's harsh but the reality is starting your own wrestling promotion in any situation is hard. But starting you own wrestling promotion with no experience in the wrestling business or no business knowledge what-so-ever is simply impossible. I'm not trying to be nice here nor am i trying to smash anyones dreams i am simply laying down the facts.

Jesse i can tell this means a lot to you so here is my advice on the easiest and more importantly cheapest way to start a company (also take note it also takes the longest time to). First thing go out and get yourself trained as a wrestler, after being trained to the point where your wrestling shows and know all the basics try and get friendly with a more experienced wrestler. After you two become mates express an interest in opening you own wrestling school, with all hope he'll ne interested. Then find yourself an area that is near enough untouched by any other school as the facts are we wrestling fans are everywhere especially in america so no matter where you go your bound to get some people wanting to learn but it's best not to be in competition with a more well known school. From there it's just a case of patience. You and your partner have to simply train anyone who walks through the door of your training and then once you finally have enough good trainee's and have made enough money then you can finally put pon your first show and just hope that you get an audience.

Now that process that i just described can take however long it all depends on many things but simply put it isn't going to take anything less then about 5 years i'd say. However it is definitely the easiest and cheapest way to start a promotion and from the point i just described you could easily grow and grow and grow. Hope that's of any help to you but still my main point is that dreams aside think logically as i'd say 99 out of 100 wrestling promotions die in their first year.

[Mr. Long]

Thanks for all the advice, it means a lot to me.

Right now, I think once I graduate from Full Sail (so I will have my BA in Digital Arts and Design), I might go to the Funkin' Conservatory (it's only a couple of hours away). Hopefully while there, I can form a group of friends. Then eventually do what you said and start my own school. Maybe instead of trying to not work against another school, I could work with another school, like the Conservatory. Wishful thinking I know.

For the promotion, I would hope that I could get a few kinda well known names to have a good main event scene. And then use people I meet at the Conservatory for the mid-card. Like right now, if I had to book the main event, I would probably do Alex Shelley vs. Delirious. I'd try to get Christopher Daniels vs. Brent Albright as well. Of course, everyone would want Samoa Joe, but I'd bet that he charges an arm and a leg to book him.

My ultimate goal would be for the promotion I start to join the NWA. Again wishful thinking though.

[JustinCredible]

http://www.highspots.com/product.asp?id=8117&category=180

:) if you buy a ring---buy that one.

TNA owns

[Mr. Long]

Nah, TNA can have the 6-Sided Ring. It's already gonna be a Florida based promotion, don't need to be using one of TNA's main gimmicks too. I'll stick with the standard 20 footer.

[The Great One]

The Kid is drawing the most skeptical view here. Not trying to sound to harsh, and not trying to sound downright negative.

You just got to look at it from different views on the situation, or dream as i should say. The main thing about a business, is money. No money, then it's no go. First of all, i wouldn't recommend borrowing the money as that would be the death of you. You get the money, excellent, but if it falls flat on it's arse, you got huge debts on your head and no way of repaying it, then you're downright fucked. So, i'd recommend finding some means of money, i'd try find a highly paid job, which is harder said than done, if you find that high paid job, excellent, you're on the right road, now you can work in that high paid job, while writing out a business plan, that would be a huge benefit, once you get the plan in place, now it's time for putting that plan into place, and working out what would be the cheapest way of doing things. Everything that is needed for this dream has been mentioned, so i'd search the market for the cheapest way possible to do this.

No point, paying over the top for things that you could get cheaper and still has the same effect nearly, ring for instance, so if it fails, you don't lose much, if it works then good, now you possibly go up market. It's easier said than done i know, but you got to go the cheapest way round things before making enough to go higher in the market. No business works by going the dearest way about things, every sucessful business has gone the cheapest way. I'm not giving any recommendations, or asking you to do it this way, but simply offering my opinion, whether it's good or bad, but that's what i think i would do. If it fails, tough shit, you can say at the end of the day, you didn't try. As the term is, you never know till you've tried it.

Good luck, and hope everything works ok.

[AFalseSinn]

id do it for free, just give me a place to sleep and some food to eat and ill work my ass off for a show

the one i ran i was president and worked under three names for two shows a week and a monthly free per view....so money is not the interest


on dancer and prancer!

[Son of Kagura]

I'm not sure about Florida, I'd have to research the state website, but in some states you're required to be a licensed promoter, and must carry a bond.