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.

Johnny “The Motivator” Carrero

Promoter Name Johnny “The Motivator” Carrero

Show(s) Promoted

I’ve been Promoting Natural shows since 1993, 18 shows in 17 years. The NGA Natural Mr/Ms California Extravaganza is held in Beautiful Folsom, California on Saturday June 12, 2010.This event is held in June every year.

Which Organizations have you promoted with?

I started with the ABCC (American Bodybuilding Coordinating Committee) with Jack O’Bleness. Due to Jack’s retirement from the sport, I am now with the NGA (National Gym Association) with Andy Bostinto.

Why do you choose to work with this organization?

I chose these organizations due to their Integrity, Honesty, and love for the sport of NATURAL Bodybuilding and Figure. Also, the Quality of People who run the organization.

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?

All Natural Organizations worked together in the early 90’s, then some organizations just got greedy. If they are really Promoting Natural Bodybuilding and Figure as a Sport and not in it for Money, then why should we not work together like we did in the past! We were supposed to be Promoting Natural Events to keep people off DRUGS!
Organizations really don’t matter to a Natural Athlete, what matters most is Timing, Location, Title, Qualifiers, Exposure, and of cause being Natural!

What is your background in Bodybuilding and Fitness?

I started lifting weights when I was 15 years of age. I did my first Powerlifting meet at the age of 19. The same year, 1985, I lost 60lbs and competed in my first Bodybuilding show, Teenage Mr. Staten Island. I have competed in 7 Bodybuilding shows and one more Powerlifting meet since. The Sport is in my Blood! I have been Personal Training since 1989. This is my LIFE!

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

It all started on a 7hr. drive from L.A. to Sacramento, CA after placing second in the 1992 ABCC Natural Mr. Novice California. That was the closest Natural show to me. That’s when I thought we need a Natural show in the Sacramento area. We had a lot of Bodybuilders in this area, but no Natural shows. So, I put on my first Natural show, the 1993 ABCC Natural Mr/Ms Northern Territory. The rest is History!

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

It first started in 1993. In 1994 I put on two Natural events, the 1994 ABCC Natural Mr/Ms California in June and the 1994 ABCC Natural Mr/Ms Northern Territory in August. Then I seen more and more shows popping up in my area. I was not the only Natural show in my area anymore. I was eager to help anyone that asked me for help promoting a Natural show. I felt we need to keep this Crusade Strong! What better way, Strong by the numbers!

Who were your mentors, if any when you started promoting shows and how did they help you?

I didn’t have any mentor for Promoting, but I did get a lot of Help from Friends! Thank You!
What are some of the challenges you have had to deal with as a promoter?
One of the challenges was Promoting my event at other local Natural shows. I have no problem with other Natural shows promoting their event at my show, they are all welcome. Natural Athletes should be informed about all the upcoming natural events in the area.

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

My staff and I create a Fun and Relaxed atmosphere for all the competitors and spectators. I have been both, a competitor and spectator. Being a witness to many shows in my lifetime (since 1979) I always thought to myself, if I was the Promoter what I would do different, and what I liked about the way the event was run. One way to make it more relaxing for the competitor was to do check-in the day before, so all they had to do on Saturday was compete! As a competitor, I awoke fired up to compete and had to sit thru a long drawn-out check-in that drained my energy. As a spectator, the show would drag on, too much talk not enough action. I would only be there to see a few people. I decided to get the audience evolved in the show by making them judge the Best Poser and Best Presentation in each division. Now they’re watching every competitor.

One thing I can not stand about this sport is the Politics! At my show you will be judged fairly. Everyone gets an award, no one goes home empty handed! I give out Niels Andersen awards, Roses, and an Excalibur Sward to the overall open winner. Oh, let’s not forget it is the Natural Mr./Ms California, the state were Bodybuilding was born.

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

I’ve had many! The first one was at my first show. I was telling Jack O’Bleness how smooth the Promoting of the show was going. He laughed and said “Something always goes wrong promoting events, mark my words” I did not want to believe him, what could go wrong? I had 52 competitors, full house of 500 people in the audience, and then it happened. The brand new Folsom community centers air-condition, on one of the hottest days in August, blew out! It did not work in the audience only! Back stage Ice cold, Audience boiling HOT! Thank God I made programs. All I saw from the stage was 500 people fanning themselves with the programs.

What are some of the funniest moments from your shows?

One of the funniest moments was in the 1994 ABCC Natural Mr/Ms California. I wanted this show to be different then the others. I was giving away the Excalibur Sword to the Overall winners for the first time. So I decided to make a Huge stage prop, A Castle with a working drawbridge. We also made a papier-mâché stone to put the Swords in. The Castle took months to build, texture and paint. Then we had to set it up on the stage. Everything went smooth putting the Castle together, It looked fantastic! We even found sound effects for the drawbridge to go down to. The competitors would go thru the drawbridge to enter the stage. Wow this was going to be cool! The show was going to start with the lowering of the drawbridge and the intro of the promoter. The sound effects start the drawbridge starts to lower, then it stops, but the sound effects keep going to the end. There was a knot in the rope that lowered the drawbridge; all I heard was about 500 people Laughing! I couldn’t help myself but to join in the laughter!

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 have no regrets, I learned from my mistakes. I come from the School of Hard Knocks!

How do you drug test at your show? Polygraph or urinalysis?

All competitors, class winners or random. We test all competitors with a seven year Drug Free Polygraph. If they fail the polygraph they must do a urinalysis at their own expense to compete!

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

Some classes are judge by weight and some by height, it all depends on what division and category you will be competing in. The method of judging is chose by the sanction organization.

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

I hand pick my judges! All of them have competed before or is still competing. My judges need to be HONEST People! I will have no Politics at my event. I have been going to show since 1979, I’ve seen the political card pulled many times. I feel it kills the integrity of our Sport! To qualify as a judge, I will have them test judge one year and compare them to the head judge’s scores.

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

First thing, LET THE PROMOTER KNOW YOU ARE COMPETING IN THE SHOW! Don’t wait to the last minute. Have a check list! Be prepared! You should always have your tan already on the day of the show. Have 2 or more suits available, 2 copies of your music, then you can just get fired up for the stage! After the show it is always good to talk to the judges for comments.

What is your contact info and website for your show?

You can contact me @(916) 201-2922 and my website is www.fitnessinmind.com

What new ideas do you have for your upcoming shows?

I really want to start doing more and more Promoting online.

When is your next show?

My next show is the 2010 Natural Mr/Ms California Extravaganza, held on Saturday, June 12th in Folsom, CA 95630.

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

There are too many to mention. I would like to start by thanking all the sponsors that helped me put on shows since 1993. I would like to Thank all my Friends (Staff) that have helped me throughout the years. Without these amazing people the shows would be tougher to promote and harder to execute so smoothly. Thank You Everyone! ;o)>