Fatboy Dose His First Strongman Show

[FatBoy]

Well guys, I was asked to put on a small show by my friend Steve Denison who promotes a lot of USPF meets in CA. I said yes, obviously or I wouldn't be posting this. It was a hell of a show to pop my performer cherry on. It was the CA state powerlifting championship with approx 100 lifters. I was extremely nervous and anxious and couldn't relax. My nerves got the better of me and I couldn't bend the Red Nail. I set the nail aside to do some other feats and come back to it, but I was cut off by the promoter who you'll see in the video behind me telling the announcer to cut me off. But he was cool about it and walked over to shake hands and apologize for not letting me make another attempt at the Red. All and all, it was a good day. I chose 5 easy feats for myself, unfortunately only four went down, but they went down easy. I looked up a couple times during the show and I had more people watching me than were watching the lifters during squats. One cool thing that came out of this that I never foresaw was the reaction of all the children. I had requests for pictures, the frying pan and the phone book. It was a gratifying yet humbling experience.

I'd like to thank all the gripboard members for sharing all the tips and information that has allowed me to make so much progress. It's all of your willingness to share that's made this possible. Good luck to all!

[gazza]

Nice work William i bet a few of those kids will never forget there first experience of a STRONG man.

Dont worry bout the red its all part of the learning process.

[bentpresser]

Looking very strong Bill.

[426]

Looking very strong Bill.

Yah! Nice stuff.

[DAN PRAYDIS]

nice going fatboy that red was just a demon

[John Beatty]

Nice show!

I learned after my first show it's a great idea to bring a pile of old bent stuff from the trash for the kids in the audience. The first show I did was for my daughter's preschool & one of the little girls started crying because I didn't have anything left for her to take home. I sent in enough bent stuff for all the kids the next day & I still hear about it almost two years later at school stuff from the parents. The kids make it so much fun.

I also bring some 1/8" round for little kids to try, you can grab the ends & help them a little & they love it.

Edited April 2, 2007 by John Beatty

[Cannon]

My nerves got the better of me and I couldn't bend the Red Nail.

Kind of surprising because you freaking KILLED it at your cert! Great job performing, though. Getting in front of people is tough!

[EricMilfeld]

William, you made the other four events look real easy!

I've only done one strongman show, and I guess I was fortunate, because despite the fact that I don't like an audience all that much, they did give my strength an extra boost.

But to carry on successfully after your initial failure took a lot of guts.

[Booyah!!!]

You Kicked A-- FatBoy!!!!!

[acorn]

Nice Job Bill! sometimes those reds can be a bugger to kink.

- Aaron

[Brad Manion]

Great job on your first show. Doing it was a blast, wasn't it? The more of them I do, the more fun they get. That was some SICK strength on the quartering of the deck of cards, by the way.

[Steve B.]

Nice work Bill!

I saw this first hand and even took some pics.

Bill's come a long way sice i met him a few years back.

It looks like your wife got some great video though.

Thanks for the free show.

[dimmers]

Well done fatboy!!! great show you put on there, bet you enjoyed it!?!

cheers for putting it on youtube

[Yersinia]

nice stuff fatboy !

[Hubgeezer]

I have been the emcee 4 different times for a strongman show. Three times for Clay Edgin, and once for my son.

The general public does not have a clue what a "red" nail is, and short bar bending is not as physically impressive as say, tearing phone books.

Clay's favorite performance was where he was a surprise guest at a Rotary banquet.

But for me, watching the reaction from kids is the best kind of show that a guy can do. Kids see so much BS nowadays that when they see something REAL, they get excited. I bet that was a great buzz for you Bill!

Mike

[FatBoy]

Thanks for all the kind words everybody.

John thats a great idea to bring a bunch of pre bent stuff to give away.

The red gave my hell because 7" bars have always been hard for me do to lack flexibility (something I need to work on). I knew this going into the show and warmed up on only 7" bars and even bent a red before I went on stage. I was so tense that I could not get the red in the right position to hit it really hard. After I got home I wrapped up the same red from the show and it fell in about 25 seconds. So I need to stretch and learn to relax.

Hub how in your tendon healing?