I don't think anyone should be left out, be they someone who literally just found out about Animal hours earlier at The Cage or dedicated long-term active Forvm member.
I also don't think that the venue should change, both because of tradition and practicality regarding proximity to the GCCC and hotels.
It would be great if we could somehow fit more and more people into the gym each year, but from a practical standpoint I think the event has reached (and possibly exceeded) its feasible capacity.
I think it is very true that a person may be disappointed if they were not able to take part in the event due to a size limit. On the other hand, I could also see someone being even more upset at waiting in a long line just to get into a gym where they can barely move freely, let alone train.
One way or the other, not everyone is going to be happy. However, I think if done smartly, there is a way to have a very large yet manageable crowd at the National ABC, while minimizing people being left out. As was said in another post, I'm thinking somewhere between the size of the crowd in 2012 and 2013. In my mind, a crowd that size would pack Metro Fitness to the seams without overcrowding it to the point where it would be dangerous or people would be unable to train. People will have to share for sure, and most definitely not be afraid to work in with or around one another. At the same time though, there would be enough space for people to train adequately and safely.
In order to facilitate this, I think a pre-registration system would be a great idea. I mentioned this in my earlier post, but I've been thinking about it and I might have something that could work. Overall, for anyone to get into the ABC they would need a pass. These would be numbered. For the first ____ number of spots, somewhere in the range of 60-75% of spots available, have pre-registration on The Forvm here. Those individuals would then be sent their pass, by e-mail or some other means...or there would be a way for them to pick them up at The Cage itself.
For the rest of the spots, have sign-up at The Cage, similar to the bench your body weight. In order to be fair, only sign up ___ number of people per hour or something like that, and make announcements throughout the day and on the schedule itself. If done right, people who really wanted to be there would be able to sign up and get in.
Like I said, one way or another, people are going to be disappointed, and that is unavoidable...the same thing happens when gear sells out, the free LE "concert" shirts run out, or when one of the bench your body weight contests fills up. However, I think as long as it's done in a fair and equitable manner. and explained clearly, most people would understand.
Finally, I just want to make it clear that the only reason I suggest any kind of cap or limit on size is from a practical standpoint of both the enjoyment and safety for the participants involved.
Fraternal order of the Animal
The Crew™
Saraigh
"I don't need no arms around me.
And I dont need no drugs to calm me.
I have seen the writing on the wall.
Don't think I need anything at all.
No, don't think I'll need anything at all.
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall."-Pink Floyd
So YOU were the guys making all that noise with the deadlifting!!! LOL!!! AWESOME!!! But I agree with you about the space being limited and timeframe as well. That's why I suggested a facility that's bigger and not that much further away. It's definitely within walking distance from the Hyatt, but also in a good position for folks who drove and aren't staying in downtown hotels. Most of the athletes stayed downtown thanks to Animal - what a huge PLUS!!!! But most of our Animal family could only get hotels outside of downtown and drove in each day. I'd rather make the walk to a bigger facility that's more convenient for our Animal FAMILY who are there every year to support us and want to train with us. This might actually help cut down on the ones who are only there for free shit. Just putting it out there. ;)
I got pissy at one point during our training at the ABC, Powerswitch and several others had to hold me back and shut me up because there was a male and female using the bench for bent over barbell rows. WTF?!?!?!? We were low on benches for our bench training session. The one prime bench was being used by this couple who I have never seen before and have absolutely no idea if they're even on the FORVM, nobody could tell me who they are. I know for a fact that when we were in the Cage, they didn't even wear Animal gear. They put them on briefly to get into the ABC, but changed for their workout. NOT COOL!!!
Anyways, I had to be held back when I was bitching at them for using the bench OTHER than what it was intended for. Powerswitch calmed me down and said "Honey, they were there first. Let them finish their workout and shut the fuck up." LOL!!! What cracks me up is they dropped the weight on one side and almost took out someone's leg and foot doing so. HELLO!!!! Do your bent over rows somewhere else and not on benchpress equipment! For God's sake, use clips on the damned bar!!!! I'm pretty sure they used it for their workout because of the lack of space and available equipment.
In hindsight, I feel bad for them for having to do so - no wait, I don't. I feel bad for Marshall because he wanted to be able to shirt up for his bench training and didn't have the opportunity to do so. Even when training with the gals while they tried to work in shoulders, it was a clusterfuck. I apologize again to the one chick with the mohawk (very nice, btw - she was sporting a really cool do and was cool as fuck!) - I hope I didn't interrupt her training too much, almost knocked her over because my fat ass got in the way of her lateral raises. For the most part, everyone was sooo cool and so kind. I just think that everyone would have had a better time with their training had there been more space and available equipment.
Actually I remember that crew too, they loaded up the bench but uh forgot to load up both sides of the bar and the one side did about fall onto some peoples ankles. That group was there all weekend, Thursday and Friday liftring and definitely not in Animal gear at all except to get into the ABC. I saw the 1 guy that night changing and he had already dropped out of his Animal gear too and this was early like 830pm. Definitely agree that could have been a huge medical emergency there.
Actually I remember that crew too, they loaded up the bench but uh forgot to load up both sides of the bar and the one side did about fall onto some peoples ankles. That group was there all weekend, Thursday and Friday liftring and definitely not in Animal gear at all except to get into the ABC. I saw the 1 guy that night changing and he had already dropped out of his Animal gear too and this was early like 830pm. Definitely agree that could have been a huge medical emergency there.
I didn't think they were Animal family - they didn't interact and with that smooth move with almost taking out some legs, all I could think of was this guy:
I do believe they developed a new exercise called Kipping Bent Over Rows. Whatever the fuck they were doing, it was all wrong and should not be attempted. LOL!!!
I thought it would be impossible to improve the cage yet every year it gets better and better because you guys listen to our feedback. Granted, there is limited space to to fit everything in but yet you fit so much goodness into the booth space you get allotted. Most of the improvements that I have thought of have already been mentioned and explained far better than I could ever wordsmith it but the idea about having monitors up so those outside the cage can see would be huge. I'm pretty sure that if there is a professional camera crew there again that they would be able to live-stream to those monitors and the crowd outside the cage would grow immensely. Also, in between events there could be little promos running about various Animal and Universal products as well as promotions for the National ABC and local ABC chapters.
For the ABC, there have been a lot great ideas tossed around in here but I think it is evident that the downtown Metro may no longer be the best option for the event. Being local, I know that there are other Metro locations around town that have much more space and much more equipment... also this equipment is well maintained and it's easy to locate the all the accessories you could ever need. If it is necessary to stay somewhat close to the expo, OSU is less than 10 minutes from the GCCC and should have facilities available that are large enough to house us all. Some of their facilities have already housed events for the Arnold and this year there were photo shoots going on in at least one of their gyms during the expo weekend. To direct people to an ABC that is not at the downtown Metro, event cards or flyers could be printed with all the details of the ABC including directions from downtown. And as you know, it's fairly easy to get around Columbus unless you are from out of town and you get your car towed (BAZINGA!).
One suggestion for next year would maybe be a roundtable type thing or a Q & A on injuries...how to prevent them, how to deal with them when they happen, and how to bounce back from them. I know that this could possibly be a fine line to tread liability-wise, so in that respect this might not be feasible. I know that there have been similar seminars in the past though. Maybe something like 2-4 of the athletes (mix of powerlifters/strongmen and bodybuilders) spreading some info and then taking questions.
Injuries are something that can happen to anybody, not just one segment of people or those who follow one style or type of training. There would be something for everybody with such a seminar.
Fraternal order of the Animal
The Crew™
Saraigh
"I don't need no arms around me.
And I dont need no drugs to calm me.
I have seen the writing on the wall.
Don't think I need anything at all.
No, don't think I'll need anything at all.
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall."-Pink Floyd
What about doing something for charity? Something like using a pair of yellow 45lb Olympic plates for the weekend and raffle them? I mean, how cool would it be to get a set of plates used in the Cage for some ridiculous lifting? Maybe even get some of the athletes to sign them too? $5-$10 a ticket at the shop.
i was just thinking of changing up the colors for 2014, black, red, and yellow are traditional colors for Animal and a few years back we had the green. i liked what i seen at the Olympia a few years ago when they went with Orange but i missed out since i like in Ohio, so something like that. also Universal did the rubber band things last year at the Olympia, well what if we had one with the Animal Logo on it and such, was my other idea
#KeepMovingForward #DoYourWorkSon
"Anybody thinking they can succeed in life on their own is delusional. You have to love people and give back or you don't go anywhere" -Charles "Mask" Lewis
What about doing something for charity? Something like using a pair of yellow 45lb Olympic plates for the weekend and raffle them? I mean, how cool would it be to get a set of plates used in the Cage for some ridiculous lifting? Maybe even get some of the athletes to sign them too? $5-$10 a ticket at the shop.
What about doing something for charity? Something like using a pair of yellow 45lb Olympic plates for the weekend and raffle them? I mean, how cool would it be to get a set of plates used in the Cage for some ridiculous lifting? Maybe even get some of the athletes to sign them too? $5-$10 a ticket at the shop.
Fraternal order of the Animal --President The Crew™
Saraigh
"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
"dont ever let anything get in your way... destroy every obstacle, move every mountain, and crush those fucking weights." - Me.
every time i hear you say " i can't", im gonna punch you in the balls.-1stSgt Fidler.
It was definitly tight back there and a little larger work space would have been nice. Had to balance the nylon cover, letters, and my shake all on a small space. Like you, once I got in the groove I just finished one shirt at a time and people watching didn't really make much difference. Seeing that long line made you have to hustle. haha Luckily most people were cool with the wait and just anxious to get their shirt.
Wanted to comment on this earlier. The people were definitely cool with us working and there was never a speed issue in terms of fans nagging for us to hurry up or anything. The pressure built when i looked at the lines haha.
The Cage was awesome .... All the guys in the cage was really cool with everyone unlike other booths
And lifting with all the guys at Metro was fucking awesome
I think it would be cool to have Animal dog tags that could be personalized. On one side the animal A, 77' or universal dude, on the other side, name, nickname, etc
Would be a cool idea even outside the cage I think.. Wouldn't necessarily even have to be personalized. I would buy!