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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.
Joanne
Rossi
 Promoter
Joanne Rossi of Force Events
Show(s) Promoted
FAME South
Africa promoter with FAME SA's taking place on the weekend
of the 2nd - 4th October at Emerald Casino in Vanderbijl
park South Africa.
Also WPF Nationals happening in October South Africa and
chairlady of WPF Vaal / South Gauteng
Which Organizations have you
promoted with?
IFBB / WPF /
FAME
Why do you choose to work with
this organization?
FAME
promotes Fitness Models and helps athletes take their
level of competing to a different platform. Also, find the
lifestyle approach of FAME much broader than just
Bodybuilding and is about Health, lifestyle and a an
approach that you also don't need drugs.
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?
I think that
there is too much variety of organizations in our country,
and will hope that we could all work under one umbrella in
terms of parameters of Event management .
What is your background in
Bodybuilding and Fitness?
South
African IFBB Champion 1997 1998 and competed
Internationally with IFBB. Moved across to WPF which is an
amateur federation in 1999 and was the South African champ
and competed overseas. Found many of the federations
fairly hardcore and moved across into fitness modelling
and was a SOUTH AFRICAN GLADIATOR (Force) for the next 2
1/2
years. Decided to promote shows in our country, became an
International judge and decided that we need to host
"better" shows whereby in 2003 launched the ExerGise Award
bringing out Dexter Jackson, Branch Warren etc to help
promote and educate the sport to the masses. In 2006 moved
to shows promoting FAME and natural events and have thus
been a show promoter for several years learning yearly the
trends of the physique. My emphasis has always been to
help women and development communities that don't have
money but have the talent to compete.
Who were your mentor(s), if any
when you started promoting shows and how did they help
you?
 I was my own
mentor. I just believed that a second grade school hall
and cheap trophies was not the way to run shows, and as a
Gladiator had the platform to start doing and helping
people. My physique mentors were Debbie Kruck, Cory
Everson and Sharon Bruneau and Ami Fadli and just had
passion for myself in this wonderful sport.
What are some of the challenges
you have had to deal with as a promoter?
As a female
trying to entertain, at that stage, a fairly male
dominated sport in the late 90's. Trying to work out who
is honest in the game and who is in it for personal gain.
Trying to get sponsorships with a community less than
educated and in those times without email like we have
today.
What makes your show different
from the others and why should competitors choose your
show(s)?
I am the
best show promoter in South Africa, based on years of
experience and the amount of TV Productions I have run in
South Africa. Our venues, trophies and general show
production is always world class and I watch the judging
very closely to ensure that my shows always promoter the
right winners as they are role models for the next years
line-ups. AND then, I work on substantial line-ups so that
the athletes compete against many and have a reputation
for good sized line-ups!
What are some of the most
memorable moments from your show(s)?
Handing over
more than R100 000 in prize money at my ExerGise weekend.
 What are some of the funniest
moments from your show(s)?
Watching how
long an athlete can stare at themselves in the mirror, the
odd lady slipping out of her shoes, the odd shoe falling
off and then of course the ever embarrassing nipple shower
where the competitor inst aware of a bikini top bearing
all...
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? I loved the
lessons I have learned, albeit that people want what you
have and continue to bring you down even though you know
what you are doing. I would have like a publicist to
promote my reputation, cause sometime I just run shows:: I
don't pick the rest of the placers when people haven't won
and they blame me..
How do you drug test at your
show? Polygraph or urinalysis?
All
competitors, class winners or random. At Fame we do a
Physique screening and then in the scoring if the athletes
is too muscular or ripped they get marked down.
Is
your show judged by weight class or by height class? Why
did you choose the method you use?
We judge, in
FAME with some weight classes but the ranking of PRO and
advanced is really the ideal way of the right competitors
competing with the right athletes
How do you select your judging
panel? What qualifies someone to be a judge at your show?
I choose
people that compete Internationally or have experience
that is unbiased and can work with me in ensuring that we
have the right TOP 3 in every division
What advice do you have for
competitors getting ready for the show, on the day of the
show and after the show is over?
Read your
entry form and come prepared. Asking me for directions to
the show during registration is a No Go
What the your contact info and
website for your show?
People can
email me on
exergise@lantic.net and I am on
FACEBOOK.
www.forceevents.co.za (launching again end of JULY)
and
www.bodyproud.com
as well as the
www.wpfsa.co.za website
What new ideas do you have for
your upcoming shows?
Bringing
more International athletes and photographers to South
Africa to our shows. 1. It helps our athletes raise their
standards and get International experience and 2. We have
a beautiful, friendly country that more athletes need to
come over and see and compete.
When is your next show?
FAME SA
Weekend on the 2nd - 4th October.
Who are the folks you would like
to thank for supporting your show?
Always the
athletes for their support in me, cause without them I
have no show. To Arnie Williams for teaching me about
event management and experience we have gained from other
concerts and events. To The Universe, for letting me be on
such a path and for the athletes who let me promoter them
through my sports agency and try and get work for people
with PHYSIQUES and a passion for training!
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