by Christian Duque
Okay earlier than anyone requires my execution, I need to state that I’m not taking a knock at Michael Krizo. I feel that Krizo has executed an excellent factor with posting as a lot of his Highway to Pittsburgh as he has on social media, significantly Instagram. I really feel that it’s essential for knowledgeable athlete to provide the followers as a lot content material as attainable. Now that final observe is essential for the athlete and it actually comes right down to an athlete by athlete foundation. Some rivals prefer to hold the followers at nighttime about every thing. It’s that previous Eighties mentality of carrying sweatpants and a sweatshirt to the fitness center. You don’t showcase the arms, you don’t showcase the wheels, you don’t showcase something.
All the pieces is prime secret. All the pieces is on a need-to know-basis. Nevertheless that mentality will solely go to date within the digital media age. Followers are glued to their telephones and generally don’t even take a look at televisions for days on finish. There’s nothing on tv they need to see. All the pieces they need is on Youtube, Fb, Instagram, Tiktok, after which possibly a number of the film providers like Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video. Their whole lives are on their telephones. They get updates from varied platforms on the subject of following their favourite bodybuilders and different health stars. So the fact of the matter is, if someone has that ’80s mentality of being hunkered-down and displaying nothing, they’ll have the smallest fan bases of any athlete on that stage. In order I mentioned, I give kudos to Krizo for posting as a lot as attainable, however do assume he must be cautious.
I’ve to say that Michael’s content material is fairly good. He seems to be larger than a home whereas on the identical time has onion-thin-skin and vascularity for days. He seems to be like a strolling science experiment. And the truth that he’s so pale doesn’t actually assist issues, but it surely additionally provides it a sure authenticity. He’s not entering into make-up or tanning himself simply to provide you a coaching video. He’s not doing the goon lights, both. In actuality, what he’s doing is he’s displaying you a day in his life. There aren’t any bells and whistles. He’s mainly doing what Sam Sulek did on his YouTube rise to fame. And I feel that there’s a sure worth in that. As a result of bodybuilding followers are hungry for the reality. They need to see what the followers aren’t presupposed to see. Whether or not that features cooking meals, the moments in between coaching units, or driving round city. They need to see their favourite bodybuilders going to the chiropractor, sitting on the sofa, or just questioning the entire course of earlier than their very eyes.
That is why cardio confessionals used to take action effectively on social media. Followers need to really feel like associates. They need to see what followers usually don’t see. However on the finish of the day, what they need most is content material. Followers in the present day want a gradual stream of content material in any other case they change into bored. That’s the reason the magazines died out. Who the hell from in the present day goes to need to learn yesterday’s information? Or final week’s information? And even worse, examine exhibits that occurred a month in the past. That’s not that sort of world now we have in the present day. and so somebody like Krizo posting continuous goes to do very effectively on the subject of garnering a following.
And despite the fact that followings don’t decide exhibits, they do decide how a lot cash a present could make. If Krizo has a lion’s share of the followers and Krizo goes to do a present, that promoter goes to be laughing all the way in which to the financial institution as a result of based mostly on that one competitor they’re going to make their cash. Promoters that don’t make cash don’t have exhibits. The game of bodybuilding must make cash and must see earnings, in any other case, it additionally is not going to develop. So the truth that Krizo is throwing his hat into Pittsburgh and is posting each single day, you’d be an absolute idiot should you didn’t assume that might translate to extra ticket gross sales and extra pay-per-view purchases if that individual present decides to promote pay-per-view. that being mentioned it additionally creates some limitations for the athlete and we’ll get into these in a second as effectively.
The primary limitation it creates is that the athlete now could be beginning to get seen by all of the followers which in flip will get him seen by the media. Thus far, so good proper? Nicely sure and no. While you begin to develop viral movies now it’s such as you’re below the microscope. Now as a substitute of type of coasting right into a present, possibly even below the radar, all people is you. And all people is anticipating you to dwell as much as the hype. And despite the fact that Krizo isn’t actually speaking quite a bit – like others, Nick Walker and Derek – by displaying himself a lot on-line, he’s forcing himself into the dialog. Now could be when the gurus and the pundits may begin analyzing the failings in Krizo’s physique or begin speaking about why he isn’t going to win the present. That’s not the sort of press protection you need main right into a contest, particularly if you’re drawing lots of fanfare. However once more, on the finish of the day, I feel that what he’s doing is nice. And whereas I feel that he could also be including extra stress on to himself than he actually ought to, that’s subjective. Anyone that is aware of something about bodybuilding, is aware of that stress might be very counterproductive throughout a prep. It might additionally really spoil a prep. So once more, is it actually needed to place all this further added stress on his shoulders? I suppose it actually relies on what his prerogative is. That will be my reply.
However along with the stress that it causes, it additionally begs an important query, how is Krizo going to pose in opposition to different prime tier rivals? As a result of if you seem as a lot as Krizo has appeared on Instagram, it begins to lift questions on what you are able to do subsequent to different rivals? While you’re posing by your self, after all you’ll be able to look spectacular as a result of there’s nobody else there to check you to. For those who’re lifting by your self, you might look all kinds of big, when in actuality your physique is depleted. I’m simply saying that whereas social media might be very highly effective, it may also be very detrimental if that’s all you’ve got. I simply don’t need to see Krizo go loopy on Instagram solely to return up brief on stage. And now we have seen that occur over time. I don’t assume that Krizo is an Instagram Champion, however he’s undoubtedly someone utilizing Instagram far an excessive amount of. For the followers, it’s nice. Close to his street to the winner’s circle, I’m not so certain that any excessive is an efficient factor.
On the finish of the day although, I do applaud Krizo for posting as transparently as he’s been doing. That’s not simple. Most rivals don’t do it. Now the query is, can Michael Krizo dwell as much as the hype on the Pittsburgh Professional? And the way will that greatest look in opposition to guys like Nick Walker, Martin Fitzwater, and Derek Lunsford? As at all times, I hope you loved studying my article, right here, at IronMag. I sit up for studying your suggestions within the feedback. Please remember to share a hyperlink to this text on all of your social media feeds. It’s going to undoubtedly generate some full of life dialog.