Why Cut Back? I can’t take credit for this iconic saying. No, it was actually Muscular Development’s very own Steve Blechman who uttered those famous three words first. Little did he know, when he texted that jingoistic war cry to Chris Aceto late last year, that he would in fact be answering his own question way sooner than expected. Why cut back? Because it just doesn’t pay to carrying a roster of superstars who do nothing be eat, shit, and lift heavy weights. No, in today’s world, number of friends, followers and likes are way more important than how much weight you lift, how big your biceps are, or how many striations you have in your glutes. The old school regime of Levrone, Coleman, Yates and Wheeler has been replaced in today’s world by Dana Linn Bailey, Rich Piana and Bostin Loyd. It’s evidently way cooler to today’s fans and athletes to wear a Flag nor Fail t-shirt, get a 5% tattoo and jab your ass with 3cc of some underground brew of research chemicals. So, given this new reality, what should the current crop of pro bodybuilders do to make a living? With Blechman cutting back his all-star roster of Jay Cutler, Jose Raymond, Aaron Clark, Cody Montgomery, Justin Compton and Evan Centopani to make room for a sole female social media darling-- Dana Linn Bailey; a strong message is being delivered to the bodybuilding community as a whole. We don’t need you anymore. And, in typical Blechman fashion, when an athlete is no longer needed; guess what? He cuts back!
The sad part of this entire situation was summed up best by John Romano when he said, “Dana Linn Bailey is a rock star in today’s fitness community. If Blechman still insists on selling print magazines in this day and age, Dana Linn Bailey is his last vestige of hope.” Given that reality, how will bodybuilders make money in the future? I’m sure this stark reality is traumatizing to the majority of old school pros that are relics from the heyday of bodybuilding—the 90s and early 2000s. These pros can no longer depend on a magazine sponsorship check and nutrition company contract to support their training, eating and supplement needs. In today’s social media-driven world, you gotta “work hard for your money” or you wind up a poor, broke, chump.
How’s a bodybuilder supposed to make a living in today’s social media-driven environment? I’m sure the good majority of bodybuilders out there are lying on their couch (eating tuna and rice) wondering this very same thing. Well, I’ll tell you how. Get off the couch and start marketing yourself. If you want to be a commodity that people need, you have to create that need. Work your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. Post up progress photos, fun photos, and creative videos. Let people get a peek into your life; what makes you tick. But, even more importantly, make yourself relevant. How do you do that? Get involved with original online video programming that is seen by high numbers of people. This is the reason I created all the unique in-house programming on RxMuscle.com; to help promote the athletes! Rx Muscle has more than 6 original TV programs to date—Heavy Muscle TV, Iron Debate, The Fitness View, Live With, Muscle in the Morning, and Rx Muscle News Update—that offer plenty of opportunities to let the public know who you are and why they need to buy the “Kool Aid” you’re selling. Don’t wait for me to call you; contact me with updates, interview ideas, and stuff you’re looking to promote. Rx Muscle is the perfect vehicle in today’s social media market to sell your talents to an Internet-hungry fan base. Don’t sit home crying about not having a magazine or supplement contract; you can make way more money investing in the your biggest and best commodity—YOU!
