Natural Contest Promoter Profiles
Featuring the those individuals who work so hard promoting Natural Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness competitions and who share our enthusiasm and dedication to drug-free bodybuilding and fitness.

James B. Jefferson M.E.S. C.P.T. C.S.N.

Promoter Name James B. Jefferson M.E.S. C.P.T. C.S.N.

Show(s) Promoted

8th Annual South Jersey Natural Physique, Figure and Bikini
August 29th 2009
Atlantic City Convention Center
Atlantic City, NJ 08055
www.SouthJerseyExpo.com

1st Annual Atlantic City Natural Pro Mr. and Ms. NJ
August 30th 2009
Atlantic City Convention Center
Atlantic City, NJ 08055
www.SouthJerseyExpo.com

3rd Annual Philly Natural Physique, Figure and Bikini
January 9th, 2010
Valley Forge Convention Center
King of Prussia PA
www.PhillyExpo.info

1st Annual Philly Natural Pro Mr. and Ms. Philadelphia
January 10th 2010
Valley Forge Convention Center
King of Prussia PA
www.PhillyExpo.info

What the your contact info and website for your show(s)?

James B. Jefferson
(609) 923-2663
www.SouthJerseyExpo.com and www.PhillyExpo.info

Which Organizations have you promoted with?

NGA, NPC, AAU, OCB

Why do you choose to work with this organization? I now am running all my events at this time Non Sanctioned.

How do you feel about the number of shows and different organizations that currently make up Natural Bodybuilding? Do you ever see a day when all of the major organizations will work together? Do you think the variety of organizations is good or bad for the athletes?

When the Ego's get smaller and the promoters and organization realize it is about the athletes, the sport and the fans we may have change but until then the organization will think it is all about them. The best one out there at this point is the NGA.

What is your background in Bodybuilding and Fitness?

I have been involved competing, promoting and training bodybuilders for 25 years. The Last time I competed I was runner up Mr. NJ in 1995

How did you get started in promoting shows? What made you decide to become a promoter?

When I got sick of the dieting and realized how poorly the shows in NJ were being run and organized I decided to take control of my own destiny and put on shows that included other sports to bring in new fans. Our events have up to 9 sports and 10,000 fans including Arm Wrestling, Powerlifting, Strong Man, Cheerleading, Boxing, Martial Arts, MMA and add more each year. We are the largest sports show in the North East that is in one venue. We are creating new fans for Natural Sports all year long.

Tell us a little bit about the history of your shows, when it first started, how it has grown?

Our shows started with a small BB and Figure Show 8 years ago in a middle school and have grown to over 50,000 sq feet in Convention Centers attracting up to 1,000 athletes and 10,000 fans with 3 Stages and over 100 vendors. We are not done here we want to build an event that is about 1/4 the size of the Arnold right here on the East Coast between Philly, New York and Washington.
Why not this is the Largest Populated area in the USA with the Most Wealth and Gyms. It should be here.

Who were your mentor(s), if any when you started promoting shows and how did they help you?

Mike Wokoe in Wildwood N.J. , Dr. James Corea who ran a Sports Fest and had a radio show and vitamin line for 40 years, Pat Croce who ran and operated training programs for all of the Philadelphia Sports Teams and then went on to own the Sixers and Motivational Speaking. THE ARNOLD CLASSIC

What are some of the challenges you have had to deal with as a promoter?

Egos.  Organizations that hate each other. Organizations that cause problems for Judges, promoters and athletes when they want to compete or be involved with other organizations. GETTING PEOPLE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX and stop running the same old lame high school events where 200 people show up and we create no new BB fans. SAME OLD SAME OLD...."The Definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and over and expect a different outcome!"

What makes your show different from the others and why should competitors choose your show(s)?

Most is stated above but we give out hundreds of dollars in free stuff to the athletes, we have spray on tan there to help them a great pump up area and they get a free $35.00 VIP Pass to the entire weekend of events.

What are some of the most memorable moments from your show(s)?

Making my First Profit 3 years ago. HA and my Sons now helping with the events along with my wife, stepdaughters and Mom and Dad.

What are some of the funniest moments from your show(s)?

Me jumping on stage to challenge the Arm Wrestling Winner without ever competing before at the drop of a hat holding on for dear life for about 4 seconds until he kicked my butt. I will get my revenge in AC.....

If you could do it all over again...what, if anything, would you do differently? What do you wish that you knew then that you know now?

THE RIDE HAS BEEN FUN AND INTERESTING, I think I would of charged more for tickets and not given so much away for my hard work. Maybe skipped the show we did in a skating rink LOL

How do you drug test at your show? Polygraph or urinalysis? All competitors, class winners or random?

We have done Polygraph with an FBI agent and Uninalysis. This year we will random urinalysis 20% of the athletes and hand pick some that we suspect We also accept any proof of drug testing in the past 6 months from other shows or work. All of our sports are Olympic Qualifiers or Arnold Qualifiers so we need to drug test for Powerlifting, Boxing, Karate etc. Come on you know who is using and who is not it is so obvious.

Is your show judged by weight class or by height class. Why did you choose the method you use?

Weight Class at this point. Most people are used to it. But I am open to height classes.

How do you select your judging panel? What qualifies someone to be a judge at your show?

They must have over 20 years of experience in this industry and have judges at least 10 shows.

What advice do you have for competitors getting ready for the show, on the day of the show and after the show is over?

I actually run free seminars for all of my competitors at local gyms to teach them how to get ready and how to pose. My biggest suggestion is to work hard and diet hard to look good the Sat of the show not the week before. Patience.

What new ideas do you have for your upcoming shows? Mailing $5.00 Discount Post Cards to all local contacts and gyms.

When is your next show?
August 29th and 30th in Atlantic City 2009

Who are the folks you would like to thank for supporting your show?

VPX EUROPA DYMATIZE The Vitamin Shoppe, VEMMA, Acitve Fitness Center, Rock Bottom Nutrition, more on the web sites.

Thank you for the chance to tell all the what's what..............KEEP NATURAL KEEP CLEAN.....YOU CAN DO IT....!