Hi, I'm nobody but I have something to say....


I have been thinking for a looong time now, you guys aren't getting paid what you are worth as riders! Why do you think that is? Its because people are allowing themselves and their skills and their bikes to be taken advantage of. People want a couple of riders for a small event at their wing joint or race track. They offer you $250 to come out and you "mr small time rider" say to your crew "Sure lets do it!! That's awesome we got a paid show!!!" You have been taken advantage of!!! Robbed!! What was it like? A lot of people get it done to them EVERY day! Why? Because its hard to put a price on a stunt riders skills just yet! There are no real comparisons to go by like there are for a D.J. or a FMX guy. Its easier to put value on their skills because we have a way to make a comparison of them. Its hard for a stunter, that's why YOU guys need to step up and MAKE a scale to follow!! Make the price rules for these people to have to follow! Make it level across the board make it IMPOSSIBLE for people to take advantage of you anymore! Unite, unionize, join forces and say no more!

I have been thinking about this for a VERY long time and I wanted to run it by you guys...you ARE the stunt community!! You guys ARE the life and soul of the stunt world, and I'm asking you to seriously look at this, open your minds, and listen. If you can do that and we can do what needs to be done, we can ALL benefit from this!!

Seriously I am SICK of hearing about a huge company who hires a rider and pays them $200 to do a 4 hour show.

Lets break it down... Here's a lil dialogue for ya!!

We got a pay show dude!! Its at this raceway outside of town about 70 miles away, they want a stunt expo before the race and after the race! They are going to pay us $200 each to do this show! 2 of us $200 each that's $400 bro! "well that's $200 each yea, I have expenses bro!"
$200 / 4 hours = $50/hour. Sounds pretty good right? "Fuel?"...huh? What about fuel... "It cost me $50 in fuel to get here bro" Ok ok well you made $150 not bad bro! "Er..well I popped a tire as the finale it was almost new like $120 my cost" ****...well you made what...like $30?! "Uhh...bad news man...my rear pads are cashed! $30 EBC pads!" ****...you broke even?! Wow don't sound so good anymore! "Uhh well....I ate lunch, had 3 Red Bulls and I'm wore out so I may have to get a hotel tonight before heading home tomorrow!" thats almost $150 more! Damn dude it COST you $150 to do the show "well worse that that I had to work today...I lost $200 in OT pay to ride here" **** that sucks you lost money on a show that MADE them money! **** that's a RAW deal dude!!

Realistically they made $10 / head that walked in the doors! Lets say 500 people came out! ($5000 gate) They charged the racers to enter in the classes $15/ driver per class 9 classes 10 drivers per class = 90 total.($1350 entry fees) The concession does food at like $5 per burger and $2 per coke $5 beers etc.. They do with 500 people there like 350 of them get a burger and a coke and 150 of the guys have to have a burger and a beer! ($2450 for the coke and burger people) ($1500 for beer guys with the burger) Not to mention the people who had chips, fries etc.. you get the point right?

$5000+
$1350+
$2450+
$1500=
_______
$10,300

They paid you $400!!!

Accounting for pots, cost to run the place and etc... they still made on the upside of $6,000 after paying out prizes and electric etc...

This is NOT including the sponsors, and all the other things, this is based on ONLY 500 people in the crowd! and minimal expenses for food and race classes!

Are you worth more than 4%?! $400 is Four ******* percent of the draw?!

if it was 1000 its 10% (give or take)

You think bands come play at the amphitheater for 10% of the draw?! NO! They DON'T!!

You think FMX guys are willing to take the risk they take for a measly $400?! NO!

Why the hell are we letting people take advantage of us?! I hate to see people do that!

Another scenario:

You get a show for a motor sports arena, they are filling the house 5000 people for a monster truck show! They pay you like $1000 each (all 4 of you) and you go out on the slippery as ice painted concrete or polished concrete and risk your *** for the crowd! You are killin it as usual and the crowd is diggin it, flash bulbs pop all over as you murder a straightline combo and slow to a highchair circle and ****!! Your tire steps out and you and up with your leg between your cage and the polished concrete! You hear that sickening "SNAP" and know your leg is broke as ****! You can't get up, medics rush you into the ambulance and off to the hospital you go! $65,800 later you have some new metal detector material in your leg and a hospital bill that will haunt you forever! That $1000 can be the down payment on the hospital bills right? but you still broke the Brembro HB master, your HoHey rear set, bent the DB bars and fucked your tank up. Not to mention that you won't be able to walk for 3-4 months and will possibly limp for life!

The show filled the stands, 5000 people paid $25 each to see you They made $125,000 that day, they paid the monster truck guys what they were worth to be there, the MX guys who were there got paid what they were worth to be there, but the Freestyle stunt guys got the shaft again!


You say:

"We aren't big enough to demand anything yet, this sport is too new!"

I say: It'll never grow if you allow yourselves to get taken advantage of all the time! Why does a nice BMW cost $40,000+ I mean is it really any better of a mode of transportation that a $15,000 Chevy? Well technically all BS aside no! It still will get you from A to B and do it in relative comfort but the Bimmer you are paying for the name! They put that cost on BMW's etc.. because people are ******* willing to pay that price! If you don't want to pay $40k don't buy it we don't care! That's the attitude! The value of the BMW has been set by the folks who are demanded to pay it. If BMW dealers started selling them at $10,000 OTD everyone would expect to pay no less than that! However the market value has been built by the manufacturer demanding that price for their product!

No less than you guys should DEMAND to be paid what you are worth! I mean if they can't afford to pay you what you deserve to be paid they shouldn't have a show. "That's cutting off your nose to spite your face dude, that's not going to get us anywhere its going to hurt us!" No its not, if you refuse to work for peanuts they'll have to start feeding you steak! People are starting to see that stuntriders are valuable, they draw a crowd and provide a lot of entertainment! Obviously they can see that or they wouldn't want you out there at all! Truth is that crazy things and exciting things attract attention, attention fills seats, full seats = full bank accounts! It's a loop!

Ok ok enough of this BS lets get to the brass tacks!

I propose that we ALL..ALL unite!! Union style!!

ALL of you, hate or not we have to unite for the good of the many!

Any union members among us? Know how it helps you out in what you do?

This proposed "Stunters Union" will be about the negotiation of wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of riders, rider benefits, rider safety and policies.

Bottom line is that we NEED a Stunters Union!! We need to seriously ALL get together and say do we want the BS "undercutting" and "stolen shows" etc... Do you want to worry about what they will pay you to do the shows you do? Do you want to be paid what you are WORTH?!!?! Stop getting fucked around and lets all take a stand!! Enough is enough!! From East to West North to South we need to agree to stand firm and get paid! Its a new idea but it can work! Why can't we have local unions where we have union reps that get riders paid their worth to perform! Why cant we have reps that make sure shows are booked evenly so that all members in that area get a shake at it!

Example:

Same motor sports show mentioned earlier with union in place:

 

Event Promoter sees "Joe Stuntrider" at the local spot and says "I have an event coming up would you like to come out and ride, I think people would really like what you guys are doing!" Joe says "Yea man that would be great! Here's my local reps # give him a call with the details and it'll go off without a hitch!" The promoter says to himself "Maybe these guys are a little more professional that I though!" He calls your rep who arranges that you get the proper pay rate, the proper per diem for fuel expense and lodging, etc... and books the show with a contract! A contract that allows you to be paid a % of the event's gross profit, and in the event of a rain out etc that you will receive your per diem and ensure that you will be paid an amount no less than $____ for your time. He says to your rep "Well I will check around and let you know, thanks for your time!" He goes to a practice spot and sees Rick Stuntrider killin it and says "Hey, how'd you like to make $500 tomorrow night! I'm putting a show together and I'd like to make you a part of it!" Now Rick Stuntrider says "Sure man, but you'll have to talk to our local rep, here's his card he'll get you set up!" Promoter guy thinks "Damn, what the hell" He trolls a message board and finds a stunt section where he posts he needs riders. They all post the same local rep's # and tell him to contact him! The promoter at the end of his rope sees a kid at a 7-11 with a 12 bar on a beat up bike and offers him $500 to come ride. The kid not knowing about the union says "yea man!!" posts it up on gayspace and tells all his buds and he gets another squidly rider to go with him. They get to the event and Capt. Squid loops a stoppie at like 30mph. He breaks his back and the bike takes out a track worker landing him in the hospital! Whoops!! Damn Mr Promoter, you should have just went with the local union rep, he'd have gotten you the right talent for your venue by matching the rider to the course and viola you wouldn't be getting sued by 2 people who's lives have been drastically changed by that event! You wouldn't be bankrupt facing restitution for the next 20 years to pay for the crippled kid's treatment and medical care! Guess who the next promoter is calling?!

Ok the cliff's notes....

You are worth more than people want to pay you guys! A union can fix that by forcing event promoters to have to deal with the union rep when negotiating price, per diem etc... If you all can agree and unite you will be an unstoppable force! I mean as a promoter its either pay what the reps ask...or ******* figure it out yourself...stunting isn't hard right?

Let them get a bike and figure it out!

Just an idea, I didn't want to post it but a friend told me that it was an excellent idea and that more people should hear it. I mean it may be a turning point in our sport!!

Just have an open mind about it and don't flame too bad, I am just trying to figure out how to get you guys paid what I know you are worth!!


Thanks for listening!

Sincerely;

Mr. Nobody.

 

You just spent entirely too much time on that

 

Thank you Nags, but you read it so it was worth it! It don't matter to me bro, I got a great job, own my own business, get whatever I want etc. I get and get rid of bikes like most people change clothes bro. It no matter me! I just wanna see people maybe get the recognition they deserve. I know I'll never EVER see it, **** I'm nobody... I jus wanna do it for those out there who ARE somebody!

 

I actually didn't read a single word of it lol

 

You...are a douche! LOL

 

i made it 4 paragraphs and quit.....i never follow through with anything

 

You hiring? lol.. I need a new job

 

Can you run an excavator? Demolition work is fun as hell man!

 

I think that there are valid points to be made. If you are serious about getting your name out, doing shows and events for REAL money, you need to be PROFESSIONAL. Have a pay scale, stick to it, turn down people who dont want to pay. In the last year we have increased rates by up to 200% than the previous year. It is as simple as he stated.... a $200 show is just not worth my time....Riders who invest years of practice, broken parts, broken bones, and legalities deserve more than $100 for a day of riding. Market yourself and make yourself worth it.

Here is a great quote from someone I discussed a booking with...

"From a business standpoint it just doesnt make sense" (in regards to price)

and he was absolutely right.... it didnt make sense to do it for a penny less.

 

Not sure what an excavator is, but I'm not scared to hit buttons till I get it

 

Thats the spirit!! Nothing says "oh ****" like someone hittin random *** switches in a 15 ton track hoe!


Thank you!

 

Thats hilarious...

 

wow ..good thing i didnt read whole thing.....this is gettin real old calin another riders out blahhh yada yada yada this and that ..keep goin and when will it ever end...never.

 

The **** are you talking about? Where did I "Call anyone out"?!

Maybe read it! No one was calling out anyone! Jeez guys what the ****! Forget it, if people are too lazy to read something that could potentially help their future there is no way they will do what is needed. Forget it!

 

....... seriously, try reading it

 

Great point I think. If everyone doesn't get on the bus though, it will never work. Some people can't add and that's just how it is. Also some don't have enough common sense to see that they spend more than they make. There is no set price on stunting. But, if you want to cover your *** then come up w/ a price and once you think it is fair then double it and you should be good. That is, unless someone gets hurt.
But, as long as there are people doing shows for $200 then they are going to be the ones getting paid. Economy is down and people are looking to hire $8 workers for $15 jobs. Don't think a business isn't doing the same thing when looking to hire entertainment.

 

^ You are right bro! But what my plan does is make it impossible for people to cheat riders out of the real pay they deserve! I mean if promoters cant find anyone willing to work for peanuts chances are they will either fold up shop or start cooking up some ******* steaks!

 

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA...BUT WHO EVER WAS THE UNION REP WOULD HAVE TO NOT BE A RIDER. BECAUSE THEY WOULD GIVE THE SHOWS TO WHOEVER THEY WANT. BUT THIS IS A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE THE CUSTOMER WOULD LOOK AT US AS MORE PROFESSIONAL. THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE TO MANY SCABS FOR IT TO WORK THOUGH.

P.S. IF YOU HAVE HO HEY REARSETS ON YOUR BIKE THEY WOULD NEVER BRAKE! TRUST ME I'VE SLAMMED MY **** A THOUSAND TIMES AND NEVER BROKE ONE YET!!!

GRAHAM

 

+1 for sure....

but this would be like me starting a "national" don't buy any gas week so we could try to force gas companies to lower prices...