Tips on putting on an amateur boxing show

[1on1boxingfitness]

I have a gym in Mesa, Arizona where I train amateur boxers, here is the website http://1on1boxingfitness.com My gym has been open for a year in January and I want to start putting on amateur boxing shows to showcase my boxers. Does anyone have any tips they would like to share with me as to how to successfully put a show on. How do you get sponsors? How do you approach someone for a venue? etc.

[BEAST21]

go to restaurant, barbershops,audio shops, car lots,tire shops ect, even gyms that is only fitness let them know that you are hosting an amateur show. and you are looking for sponsor. you have to make flyers at least 5,000 and their business info will be on them. you can charge around 150.00 and you can have 6 sponsors in the back of the flyer. also you can have a sponsor for wrist bands. they are only around 100.00 and you can a get sponsor and charge them like 250.00 and give them 2 v.i.p. let them know in the wrist band you will put the name of their business and ph num just with that you have maid around 1,000$. then you can also charge sponsors to hang their banner you can charge them around 150.00ea. try to get around 8 banners. that would give you 1,200$ make sure that the host mention the sponsors in between bouts never forget your sponsors give your sponsor atleast 2-4 v.i.p make them feel important. in your intermission make sure to announce all of your sponsors and with an hand of applause. hope that can help you some what!!

[1on1boxingfitness]

Thank you that was very useful gave me a few ideas

[Slythex]

I've never personally put on a show, so take what I say with a grain of salt.
This, however, is what I've observed as an official working about 30 shows or more a year for the past few years.

On sites/venues:
1) A lot of venues are chosen in such a fashion as to allow the venue to make money on concessions/food/beer/whatever. I think they may still pay for site rental, but if the turnout is good, I think the site fee may be reduced accordingly.
2) A lot of the gym owners putting on shows develop a relationship with the site, and we have shows in the same location over the course of a few years.
3) Some owners, depending on the size of their gyms, actually host a show at the gym location.
4) As far as finding a place, we have a bunch held in VFW type places, if they have a big enough ceiling. Also places that have wedding receptions, and hotels.

On sponsors, in addition to what beast21 said:
1) For shows that are have a lot of sponsors, many times there will be a 'program' printed up for people who attend the show. The program will basically be a copy of the bout sheet with another 6-10 pages of ads of various sizes. I think the going rate in Pittsburgh is about $100 for a full page ad.
2) I know some sanction holders like to hit up local political officials (mayor, councilmen/women, etc)
3) In addition to announcing the sponsors, we typically have medals (or trophies for the bigger events) which we give to the boxers. Usually the medal presenter is a VIP who sponsored the event. ("Presenting the medals is Mayor Jones of Happytown...")
4) There is usually a 50/50 raffle to help raise money.
5) Sometimes the sponsors are added to the round cards, or else two round cards go up. One says 'Round 2' the other will say 'Bob's Automotive' or whichever other sponsor.

Hopefully this helps somewhat. Good luck!

[WESTSIDE BOXING]

Venue:

Book a venue that allows you to sell the food and beer.
You can make a good profit on the beer and food sales, if you do it right.

Food:
Adhere to the KISS format for the beer and food. Keep it simple
We have 3 food items (pizza, hot dogs, nachos) all are the same price. Don't skimp and buy cheap food, serve quality food and charge a decent price.

Beer: Every good boxing show needs beer. No beer and a % of people will not want to attend or come back again.

Lighting: Important but overlooked by most shows. Make sure you have lights for the ring and that you can dim the lights in the rest of the venue, this really puts people in the fight mood.

Tickets: Charge enough for tickets, so you don't lose money, by giving people a good show for cheap.

Matchmaking: We only prematch. If this is your first time matchmaking, expect to have more then half your bouts fall apart at the weigh-in.

Bout sheet: Make one!

DJ: Get one!

Announcer: Get one!

The above info all applies to running a quality show that will put your club in good light.



Or you could just skip all that hard work and advance planning.
Rent the cheapest hall that you can find, rent a ring, and have some boxing clubs show at the weigh-in and just go from there.

[1on1boxingfitness]

How do you approach a sponsor / venue?

[boxmel]

Just a comment - most local boxing shows do not serve alcohol of any kind.

In order to host a show, you must be a registered club with USA Boxing, along withyour boxers and non-athletes. You must get a sanction from your Local Boxing Committee - in your case, you will need to talk to Walt Hoskins. If you get a venue other than your own gym, you might have to get Third Party Insurance as additional insurance for their facility. There will be a sanction fee of approximately $250.00. Please remember that USA Boxing is a non-profit and any monies charged for a show are considered donations. Most gyms in Southern California either don't charge for admission; tops is probably $5.00 for adults. Most gyms make their money off concession sales. You will also need a minimum of 5 certified officials. The first thing you should do is call Walt and get all the particulars from him. He can also give you lots of advice on how to put on a show. Good luck.

[JMac]

Just a comment - most local boxing shows do not serve alcohol of any kind.

In order to host a show, you must be a registered club with USA Boxing, along withyour boxers and non-athletes. You must get a sanction from your Local Boxing Committee - in your case, you will need to talk to Walt Hoskins. If you get a venue other than your own gym, you might have to get Third Party Insurance as additional insurance for their facility. There will be a sanction fee of approximately $250.00. Please remember that USA Boxing is a non-profit and any monies charged for a show are considered donations. Most gyms in Southern California either don't charge for admission; tops is probably $5.00 for adults. Most gyms make their money off concession sales. You will also need a minimum of 5 certified officials. The first thing you should do is call Walt and get all the particulars from him. He can also give you lots of advice on how to put on a show. Good luck.

Yo Mel, maybe in Cali they don't sell alcohol at shows but they do at plenty of other places unless the show is in a boxing gym. In Baltimore they usually charge $25.00 general admission for local shows. They guys who put on the shows all run boxing gyms so most of the money goes back to the gym which is OK with USAB.

[WESTSIDE BOXING]

Agree with "JMac"

Most shows around here charge anywhere from $10-$30 depending on seat (GA/Table) and advance purchase or at the door.

Just because you are a non-profit does not mean you can only accept donations as ticket sales and not turn a profit on the event. This is completely incorrect information.

The idea of a show is to get your fighters competive fights in their hometown, put your club in a positive light, and hopefully not lose money, its a bonus if you actually make a profit, and if you do this goes back into your gym.

I don't see how you can actually put on a quality boxing event by only charging a $5 admission.

Some shows actually spend a lot of time and money to put on a high quality amateur boxing event that will actually draw a paying crowd, and keep people entertained. These shows you charge between ($15-$30).

Some show put the least amount of time and money as possible and are lucky to draw 100 paid. These shows usually charge between ($0-$15)

You can choose which type of show you want to do.

Just my 2cents.

[Dennis]

A lot of hard work and advanced planning are necessary for successful shows. With lots of volunteers, sponsors, diehard fans and friends and family of the boxers involved you will have a successful show - quality bouts, good crowd, and money to use for your gym. Some clubs have done shows that raise money for charities that earn tens of thousands of dollars after expenses, other clubs do guns & hoses shows (police vs firefighters) and have huge crowds with lots of $$$$. Lots of ideas out there and some are very successful, but the key is a lot of hard work and advanced planning. Good Luck.

[boxmel]

Yo Mel, maybe in Cali they don't sell alcohol at shows but they do at plenty of other places unless the show is in a boxing gym. In Baltimore they usually charge $25.00 general admission for local shows. They guys who put on the shows all run boxing gyms so most of the money goes back to the gym which is OK with USAB.

Yo Jim! All of our shows are are hosted by our clubs, usually in their gyms. We don't have any black tie/fundraising type events so we either don't charge or charge a low amount. And alcohol of any type is not served at any of our shows. Maybe the difference is we have two, if not three, shows a week, excluding any tournaments. And many of our gyms are subsidized by the Parks & Rec, law enforcement, etc. Sounds like there is a definite difference between the left and right coast events.

[1on1boxingfitness]

Yo Jim! All of our shows are are hosted by our clubs, usually in their gyms. We don't have any black tie/fundraising type events so we either don't charge or charge a low amount. And alcohol of any type is not served at any of our shows. Maybe the difference is we have two, if not three, shows a week, excluding any tournaments. And many of our gyms are subsidized by the Parks & Rec, law enforcement, etc. Sounds like there is a definite difference between the left and right coast events.

You guys put on shows 2 or 3 times a week??? Hey I would like to bring my boxers out to your shows so my guys and girls can get some matches

[boxmel]

You guys put on shows 2 or 3 times a week??? Hey I would like to bring my boxers out to your shows so my guys and girls can get some matches

Yes, we do - and would love to have you. I keep a current show schedule on my very-out-of-date website. Go to www.amateurboxing.com. Upper left hand corner, click on LBC Events. Scroll down to Southern California Assn. and click. All shows, locations, and contact names and numbers are posted. Pre-matching is welcomed. Where are you located?

[1on1boxingfitness]

I'm in Mesa, Arizona would like to do more traveling this next year to get my guys more experience

[boxmel]

I'm in Mesa, Arizona would like to do more traveling this next year to get my guys more experience

Ahhh - Walt Hoskins land. Hope to see you. Also, if any of your boxers advance to the Regional Silver Gloves next year, come find me and introduce yourself.