SPW President Dale Barnett comments on SPW SHOWDOWN
This week Steeltown Pro Wrestling aired the third episode of SPW SHOWDOWN on GoFightLive.tv. After four TV tapings and three episodes aired, SteeltownProWrestling.ca caught up with SPW President Dale Barnett for comments regarding the new series.
On producing weekly television
It’s a lot of work on two fronts. The TV taping themselves are long days with the ring being set up in the morning, promos and vignettes being filmed in the afternoon, going over the card with talent in the evening and filming the matches all night. Everyone is busy either with production or wrestling as we all take a deep breath when the night is done and the ring is all packed up ready for the road.
The second is post-production where all the footage is brought in studio. From there all the matches and promos are edited down and applied to the storyboard and produced into 30 minutes episodes with story arcs from one episode to the next. And once you’re done a TV taping and a set of episodes it all begins again. The cycle does not stop!
On the early success of the series
We weren’t at all sure what to expect. We were confident of what we could do after more than 95 episodes of SPW iTV but this is a whole different ball game now. Episodes are longer and we have a broadcast partner, unlike posting video at will on YouTube. We have a specific date and time that each new episode airs so we have deadlines to meet. We were happy with the numbers we got from episode 1 and so was GoFightLive.tv. I didn’t expect to be one of the highest rated weekly episodes on Go Fight Live right off the bat but it was great news and we hope to build on those numbers each week.
On promoting and advertising the series
The internet is our biggest tool. We’ve always pushed really hard when it comes to online activities. That’s why we have active Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube and Blogger accounts. Our website is always being updated. On top of that we’ve been featured in several local newspapers; some radio stations and a few TV show too. We don’t have a huge advertising budget so we maximize every dollar and take a grassroots approach that has worked well for us thus far. It’s a challenge but not a unique one. You can look at a company like TNA Wrestling and after 8 years in operation they’re only now getting decent exposure.
On the current direction of the company
We’ve modified and evolved our business strategy over the course of two year, the biggest changes occurring this year with the creation of SPW SHOWDOWN. Our last several live events have been TV tapings and with that was a format change. We’re still adjusting to the change in format trying to make it as exciting and efficient as possible with a good flow and solid pacing. We’ll never stop learning and that’s a big part of why I love this business. There is always something new to learn.
On what we can expect in the future
Well you’ll see more of Bushwhacker Luke who is part of the first run of episodes we produced. He was a great addition and will help us add some “star power” to the series while we establish our own stars. You’ll see some more of the women too, starting with episode 3. We’re also going to establish the tag team division which has been a part of SPW since April when we crowned our first tag team champions. We hope to develop some more “backstage” presence to the show with segments and vignettes to introduce new wrestlers and let their personalities shine through all while furthering the issues between the wrestlers.
His thought on the SPW roster and team
You can use a lot of adjectives like roster or team but I see it as a family, one I’m a proud member of. The company was built of the wrestlers’ backs and their efforts inside that ring over the last two and a half years. We all got to where we are together. Some have come, some have gone and some came back, it’s always changing. I think we have a good core of wrestlers that are ready for the opportunities we have before us. I’m really proud of everyone involved whether you’re a wrestler, a ref, an interviewer, announcer or producer…whatever role they play in our company is an important one and I’m really proud of everyone thus far.
Where he sees the company six months from now
It all depends on the success of SPW SHOWDOWN. In six months we’ll have produced 24 episodes of the series. If it takes off like we’re hoping I expect to see SPW SHOWDOWN syndicated on other on-line speciality channels and traditional or terrestrial television. We hope the exposure allows our talent to expand their horizons. We hope the series has an affect on live events with bigger crowds and more shows in more towns. It would be a lot of hard work but you never know you might even see SPW on PPV through Viewer’s Choice, Bell ExpressVu, Rogers or Shaw Cable. I dream big, I shoot for lofty goals. Six months from now is a long time…you never know what can happen in wrestling within six months. For all I know the industry could explode within six months! It’s an exciting time and I’m taking it (and enjoying it) one day at a time.