KayfabeMan
09-01-2005, 11:45 PM
I know that with Katrina destroying the Gulf Coast area it is improper to even think of what effect this will have on wrestling, but I have to do something to keep my mind off of how horrible the current situation for these people are.
With ROH, certain NWA groups, and numerous other promotions, independent wrestling has been making a slow-but-steady comeback in certain areas. The good news basically ends there, and the welcome to reality begins here.
Our fantastic government has fixed it so gas prices are up a lot. Katrina hit the US, and now gas prices have hit an all time high - at a very unexpected pace. Some people are paying $6.00+ for gas. It is ridiculous. Airfare, train & bus transportation tickets have also risen a great deal - with fuel shortages and the rising costs being cited.
As I'm sure "Xander Harris" would say if he were real, "THIS MEANS BAD".
HERE IS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PROMOTERS
Under regular circumstances, promoters will not always have the money to spend on travel. Now, when traveling an hour from home and back can get you a $30 gas bill, they will have even less. As a promoter-wrestler myself, Kayfabe knows how difficult it can be working within a budget - especially with the economy forcing a lack of sponsors for a number of promoters.
What this means is that many talents who were previously booked for a number events may be faced with a different schedule, as promoters will scurry to check their wallets for cash remnants. Wrestlers traveling in for shows via airplane for regular indy events may become a luxury.
Another issue numerous promoters will deal with is ring rentals. Many now rent rings from HighSpots or other groups who bring rings in for them. This also will become a problem, since now ring rental companies will raise their price accordingly to the rising gas prices, forcing promoters to shell out $$ renting a ring - leaving less money and work for the boys.
Many promoters who have been spending their own money on events, or barely hanging on - hoping for a boom in the business that may never come again - will be forced to shut down. Less promoters means less shows, less shows means less work, less work is less interest, and less interest means smaller crops of indy talent than what there already is.
Strike one for indy wrestling.
HERE IS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR WORKERS
Nevermind the impact this will have on the boys. Some of these guys and women work regular jobs to support themselves, and keep whatever they make on the indy scene [which is little enough already] to have spending money, or to cover much needed bills - such as that ever expensive gas, rising rent / mortgages, the climbing electric bills, and food [which is also rising in cost]. This is shared by most promoters, who also have many bills.
You have another portion of wrestlers just starting in the business, who possibly are worse off - as they usually have even more bills to pay [like school, etc.]. Guys who drive in for events have become strike two, as they'll be spending more on traveling in, and will go home empty handed. Either this will happen, or they'll ask for more from the above mentioned promoters who probably won't have it to give them.
That means they will have to decide whether it is worth traveling anymore, and wrestling will be like it was in the 60's and 70's, when guys traveled a round trip of 700 miles for $30 bucks - except at least then it covered gas. Today, FORGET IT. In addition to promoters dropping bookings, the boys will too; citing they can't afford to get to shows [a legit claim on both sides].
Some others will cancel due to the fact that they sometimes take off work with their regular jobs to do indy shows, and with no income from the indy shows at all - they will be forced to stay at work. Those above mentioned rising bills will stack up QUICKLY while losing days of work.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FANS
Ahhh...the big strike three for indy wrestling. The ever declining, and ever important fanbase. Fans who travel to shows from out of the area [as many fans in the Northeast often do], or people who travel from one city to a city that is 30 mins. away, may not be able to do so anymore.
Those $5 and $10 and $12 tickets aren't so cheap anymore when you figure in a $40+ gas bill. Most people are lucky they are pulling in the money to get tickets [even at low prices], nevermind their gas.
If they do make it to the shows, the gimmick tables will take a substantial hit, as the money you and your boys would have taken in at the table will now be deposited in Mr. Habib's wallet, in exchange for fuel for your car.
THE OVERALL IMPACT
This will be taken in stride by some of the more experienced guys, who have some "name" value on the indy scene. They might just hang them up and be done with it. They had their time and chance. However, for young guys, this is horrible. This will limit their opportunities and even their ability to make one for themselves. Before, if you were really willing to work, you take $15 for gas and drive 2 hours or more to the show and back - and cover difference on your own, all for the chance to make it somewhere.
Now if you take $15 and pull that drive, you'll need quite a bit out of your own pocket for gas, nevermind if you want to eat and maybe keep your TV on at home. Promoters who have been around for years will go home and stay out of wrestling. People with less knowledge and possibly more money will pop up. They will have the money to keep guys working, but will use a great deal of name talents, leaving the indy guys nothing.
There may be no engraved tombstones as of yet, but for many places and people, indy wrestling is officially dead. Most won't care, as they'll still have ROH and the other DVD promotions, but in 4-5 years when they're searching for more talents, look for more Tomkos and Masters' and less Benoits.
With ROH, certain NWA groups, and numerous other promotions, independent wrestling has been making a slow-but-steady comeback in certain areas. The good news basically ends there, and the welcome to reality begins here.
Our fantastic government has fixed it so gas prices are up a lot. Katrina hit the US, and now gas prices have hit an all time high - at a very unexpected pace. Some people are paying $6.00+ for gas. It is ridiculous. Airfare, train & bus transportation tickets have also risen a great deal - with fuel shortages and the rising costs being cited.
As I'm sure "Xander Harris" would say if he were real, "THIS MEANS BAD".
HERE IS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PROMOTERS
Under regular circumstances, promoters will not always have the money to spend on travel. Now, when traveling an hour from home and back can get you a $30 gas bill, they will have even less. As a promoter-wrestler myself, Kayfabe knows how difficult it can be working within a budget - especially with the economy forcing a lack of sponsors for a number of promoters.
What this means is that many talents who were previously booked for a number events may be faced with a different schedule, as promoters will scurry to check their wallets for cash remnants. Wrestlers traveling in for shows via airplane for regular indy events may become a luxury.
Another issue numerous promoters will deal with is ring rentals. Many now rent rings from HighSpots or other groups who bring rings in for them. This also will become a problem, since now ring rental companies will raise their price accordingly to the rising gas prices, forcing promoters to shell out $$ renting a ring - leaving less money and work for the boys.
Many promoters who have been spending their own money on events, or barely hanging on - hoping for a boom in the business that may never come again - will be forced to shut down. Less promoters means less shows, less shows means less work, less work is less interest, and less interest means smaller crops of indy talent than what there already is.
Strike one for indy wrestling.
HERE IS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR WORKERS
Nevermind the impact this will have on the boys. Some of these guys and women work regular jobs to support themselves, and keep whatever they make on the indy scene [which is little enough already] to have spending money, or to cover much needed bills - such as that ever expensive gas, rising rent / mortgages, the climbing electric bills, and food [which is also rising in cost]. This is shared by most promoters, who also have many bills.
You have another portion of wrestlers just starting in the business, who possibly are worse off - as they usually have even more bills to pay [like school, etc.]. Guys who drive in for events have become strike two, as they'll be spending more on traveling in, and will go home empty handed. Either this will happen, or they'll ask for more from the above mentioned promoters who probably won't have it to give them.
That means they will have to decide whether it is worth traveling anymore, and wrestling will be like it was in the 60's and 70's, when guys traveled a round trip of 700 miles for $30 bucks - except at least then it covered gas. Today, FORGET IT. In addition to promoters dropping bookings, the boys will too; citing they can't afford to get to shows [a legit claim on both sides].
Some others will cancel due to the fact that they sometimes take off work with their regular jobs to do indy shows, and with no income from the indy shows at all - they will be forced to stay at work. Those above mentioned rising bills will stack up QUICKLY while losing days of work.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FANS
Ahhh...the big strike three for indy wrestling. The ever declining, and ever important fanbase. Fans who travel to shows from out of the area [as many fans in the Northeast often do], or people who travel from one city to a city that is 30 mins. away, may not be able to do so anymore.
Those $5 and $10 and $12 tickets aren't so cheap anymore when you figure in a $40+ gas bill. Most people are lucky they are pulling in the money to get tickets [even at low prices], nevermind their gas.
If they do make it to the shows, the gimmick tables will take a substantial hit, as the money you and your boys would have taken in at the table will now be deposited in Mr. Habib's wallet, in exchange for fuel for your car.
THE OVERALL IMPACT
This will be taken in stride by some of the more experienced guys, who have some "name" value on the indy scene. They might just hang them up and be done with it. They had their time and chance. However, for young guys, this is horrible. This will limit their opportunities and even their ability to make one for themselves. Before, if you were really willing to work, you take $15 for gas and drive 2 hours or more to the show and back - and cover difference on your own, all for the chance to make it somewhere.
Now if you take $15 and pull that drive, you'll need quite a bit out of your own pocket for gas, nevermind if you want to eat and maybe keep your TV on at home. Promoters who have been around for years will go home and stay out of wrestling. People with less knowledge and possibly more money will pop up. They will have the money to keep guys working, but will use a great deal of name talents, leaving the indy guys nothing.
There may be no engraved tombstones as of yet, but for many places and people, indy wrestling is officially dead. Most won't care, as they'll still have ROH and the other DVD promotions, but in 4-5 years when they're searching for more talents, look for more Tomkos and Masters' and less Benoits.