An Advertising Opportunity and Ideas for CCW

[OBoy Canadian Dream]

As everybody probably knows, WWE is coming to Roberts Stadium on June 4th. Even though it's a House Show, I think it could be a good Advertising opportunity for CCW to capitalize on, but they would have to start planning now. Here's what I think CCW should do:

First, start planning the show for the Wedensday after the House Show (June 7th). Bring in at least one semi-big name. An old WWE Wrestler (Al Snow, Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, Psycho Sid) would probably be best. Then plan an awesome Undercard using the talent you have. Have Chuck Taylor vs. Ricochet, since they are comfortable with each other and always put on an awesome match.

Then, have somebody with Photoshop skills create a Flyer. I have decent PhotoShop skills, but my computer sucks and I don't have PhotoShop. Have somebody pass out Flyers at the House Show. If Roberts Stadium will allow it, post some Flyers there. If they won't allow it, post Flyers on all of the cars in the Parking Lot.

The only real problem is that if you book Billy Gunn or Road Dogg, they would have to be billed as Kip James and whatever Road Dogg is called now. I don't know if you can put Formerly Billy Gunn or not. If so, then I would put them against Tracy Smothers and on the Flyer, put something like "Former DX Member vs. Former ECW Wrestler" or something. Since WWE is building up DX & ECW right now, that might be a good idea.

If you use Sid, then you might want to put him against Lonestar, since they have worked with each other before.

[iketurner]

Sounds like a great idea. I really like the idea of like Billy Gunn vs Tracy because it could feed off of WWE storylines. Looks like DX and ECW are making a big comeback so you could bill it as former DX vs ECW. I bet there is a ton of WWE fans in E-Ville doesnt even know CCW exists. Im not sure what week 666 is planned for, but that would be a perfect week to have it. CCW could really gain from this idea.

[robg812]

if people watch smackdown, there are ads for CCW, so they know about it. So, can CCW really book people WWE fans have heard of? I really think if you brought in al snow, you'd have the best chance cause even if you can't get al snow, he'd maybe put you in contact with OVW wrestlers who will appear in the WWECW or Smackdown someday.

[Delirious Devotee]

That is a really good idea, and maybe CCW will make it happen. I would just make sure that if they're going to book one of these guys, that he shows up. If he no shows, it may just end up hurting more than helping. I would like to see Billy Gunn vs. Tracy Smothers. 666 is planned for the week of 6/6/06, which I think means the show falls on the 7th. I think Walt would be a good choice to talk to about the flyers. If they can get more butts in the seats, the head office might even get behind him.

[OBoy Canadian Dream]

From what I've seen, Billy Gunn is very reliable when it comes to showing up for shows he is booked for. I have seen him twice at a fed in KY and he also always showed up when he was booked for IWA MS(which was Salem, IN). Al Snow is pretty reliable as well, I believe.

If Al Snow is brought in, I definetly don't want to see him against Chris Micheals, even if he is the champ. I saw that match in KY and it was horrible.

If they do it, I hope they put the big name against Tracy Smothers, Cash Flo, or Lonestar.

[psychobilly]

no offence to anyones idea because they are all decent in principle the problem isn't getting people there it is keeping them coming. Each week i see new faces but rarely see them returning on a regular basis. The matches ccw has are all pretty good but there is no unity and consistancy. I personally have done both marketing and creative work in the past (although not for wrestling) and what ccw needs is a recurring storyline to tie each week together. Something to make people have to come to know what is going on. Matches do not equal ratings, drama does. Flyers i dont feel will bring in enough numbers. CCW has six spots for advertising, the ring skirts. If they would contact radio and tv stations and bring up the idea of putting their logos on the ring skirts in exchange for a twenty second radio spot. May or may not work. Evansville has a public access station, not for sure how much time costs but they could buy a 30 minute spot every cpl weeks and run some highlights. People are seeming to believe that because CCW is an indy promotion they cant perform like a wwe or tna, all indy means is nor guaranteed contract and no "no compete clauses" for the wrestlers. They have good enough talent they just need a little better creative writing and marketing.

[iketurner]

The fact of the matter is CCW is not going to sell a ton of tickets every week. Its a weekly show and most people with normal lives cant afford or simply just dont have the time to make it to the shows on a weekly basis. However, you can always make new fans. Im sure there is going to be a lot of people at the WWE show that dont know about CCW. If you could just pull in some people from the WWE show to come down and check out CCW you may make some new CCW fans. I dont think it would be very costly or time consuming to pass out flyers. You dont think flyers make a difference, but the UCW promotion that runs over here in KY, flyers the hell out of my area for shows and they always draw well. I think it would work well, especially for the 666 show, which is supost to be the biggest CCW show of the year. I think the idea of selling advertisements at CCW is a good idea, but im not sure many business places would want their name on a show that isnt exactly family friendly. The gore, hardcore and foul language may turn off business's. The bottom line is your not going to draw large crowds every week, so you might as well book some "big name" wrestlers for your special shows to help them not only draw, but make for a better overall show.

[psychobilly]

Tickets are 10 dollars, people spend more than that on movies and eating out each day. When USWA was there in the early 90's they were selling out every week, there is no reason why ccw can not do the same. People spend 40 dollars a month on pay per views, you just have to giive them a product worth spending it on, and keep their interest, which means a recurring storyline mixed with the occasional big name. fact is guys like tommy danger and fury have more talent than half the guys in wwe, billy black and j boy have more heart and charisma for the hardcore than many of the guys in wwe's hardcore era. Im sure radio stations like 103 and 89.1 would be glad to work something out. Business like get wet and tat2 shopr in the tri state area would be willing to swap some advertisement. The idea that ccw cant draw large crowds, is taking on a victim mentality, the only reason CCW cant is if they don't want to. Another way they can draw publicity is donat tickets to a charity event, auction or similar event. Offer some tickets for radio stations to give away, there are many avenues they can get the word out.

[iketurner]

I will start by saying im not trying to shoot down your ideas to help out CCW, because i think we all have given CCW management great ideas on how to help itself. CCW has been running shows for a very long time and while they have a great fanbase, they will never sell out the Coliseum. Even back when Mr Perfect and Sabu were in the house, it wasnt even close to being sold out.

I think the best thing for CCW to do is to realize what they are and thats a very solid, weekly, indy fed. CCW should take pride in drawing enough people to run weekly shows. Most indy feds around cant run weekly. No matter what you say, there is no way normal working people are going to come to CCW every week. For most its just not possible with familys, college/work hours and money.

Thats why i think it would be smarter to run "supercards" every once in a while to help draw in fans that dont come to CCW often and to also help make new fans with the undercard wrestlers that are at CCW every week. I just think you have to be careful not to overspend on wrestlers that arent going to cover their own costs. Look at UCW here in Kentucky. They spend a ton of money bringing in like 5 or 6 former WWE guys, when 1 or 2 would prolly have drawn just as well. Sure they draw like 400 fans but still end up not covering the costs because they spent to much on talent. I think you have to look at risk vs reward. I think if you made a ton of flyers, brought in someone like Billy Gunn against Tracy, built it as ECW vs DX, and ran your better than normal CCW show with that, there isnt that much risk, but the reward could be high.

I Guess i have been going to shows in Evansville long enough to know what draws well and what doesnt. IWA came to Evansville with top notch TNA talent and didnt draw flies. People just arent into wrestling as much as they used to be. WWE ruined it for most people with their "sports entertainment" angle. Seems like everyone knew it was fake, but it wasnt until WWE came forward and admitted it that everyone believed it. I do agree with you that consistant storylines play a big role in attendance. If someone is comming for the first time and you do a good job of buidling next week, people will want to come back. The Oboys and Eric didnt see eye to eye on a lot of things, but that was one thing he was great at. At the end of the show, he would always build up next weeks show. Anyway, im done rambling, keep the ideas comming.

[bigsweatymike]

Just throwing this out there, getting advertisements on radio and tv are actually more difficult to get than you would think. It took forever to get the tv commercials, and personally I think those suck. I do think radio ads might help, getting the on air staff talking about the show. Hell, you could probably even get some of the local guys (Danger, Death Psi, Kashmir, etc.), or maybe even some of the bigger names like Tracy or Pondo on the morning talk shows or something. I think you could really get some support behind the local younger guys by having people hear them on the radio. Flyers would definately help too, and they're not really that expensive. I just think something needs to be done to get people coming and staying. I definately like the way the undercard storylines have been coming since I've been away.

[jasperjonesbaby]

Ha ha, come on Oboys. Your zest for CCW is a little stained considering you guys barely go to the shows anymore.

[psychobilly]

the fact is small advertising isn't that expensive nor hard to get. People seem to still be taking the victim mentality of OH IT'S INDY IT WILL NEVER DRAW A BIG CROWD. That's bull, take a look at it from a long point view. USWA was basically indy, ecw was indy when it started out and look what they grew into. People have know lomg before WWE let it out of the bag that pro wrestling was scripted. And i personally have been going to shows in Evansville since 1980 when I was 6 years old. That with the fact i have personally did marketing and creative writing in the past I might know what I am talking about. If CCW would contact local businesses such as get wet, tat2 shops, wgbf, wvjc and so forth about trading advertising I am sure they could reach something out. If CCW would send their champion to a childrens hospital that would create perfect pr for CCW. Donate tickets to charity auctions. I feel that is the right way to go. The problem with bookin big names, it may get fans their one night, but the next week when that name isn't their noone will come. Also big name tend to have egos and tend to no show, so then CCW gets a name of not delivering what they promise. If CCW would work on developin their wrestlers an identifiable character that the fans can get behind, create storylines around these characters that tie each week together, that with the right marketing and developing a good public relation through charity work and such within 6 months of doing this they could be selling out the floor and within a year be selling out the building balcony level and all. I think CCW just misses certain oppertunities to capitalize on advertising, Take for instance the hook n shoot, for 6 weeks before their last show they had cards out at the coliseum, The hook n shoot sold out with standing room only, at the show other than the poster in the box office their was no advertising for ccw.

[zachmccoy]

I agree with Everybodies Idea's but one persons comment stood out the most to me, iketurner said
"I think the idea of selling advertisements at CCW is a good idea, but im not sure many business places would want their name on a show that isnt exactly family friendly. The gore, hardcore and foul language may turn off business's"
...and personally I agree with the language part, I myself am a big fan of Hardcore/"Garbage" Wrestling but one thing I don't like is foul language in front of children especially children that aren't mine...I've only done 2 matches for CCW how many times has anybody heard me curse during the match??...I'll say zero, unless a word sliped out and I didn't realize it, I have been guilty of it though and it depends on the mood I'm in...
I think the CCW fans are great, if the crowds got bigger that would make it even greater..but like I said in another post I really appreciate everybody in the CCW that gave me a chance to go out and do what I love to do...even though in the first match it was break my elbow, and dislocate my jaw..LoL..Good Times..and I hope someday I can make it back to CCW, because honestly after the first time I steped into the building I knew that was a place that I wanted to work