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Fixing the Indies: Saving Independent Pro Wrestling from Itself
In high school gymnasiums, VFW halls, and bingo parlors all across the country, young pro wrestlers are risking life and limb to entertain crowds where there are more empty chairs than paying customers. It doesn't have to be that way. Norm Kaiser's Fixing the Indies is the definitive, step-by-step blueprint on how to transform independent pro wrestling from a struggling fly-by-night sideshow into a thriving, mainstream cash machine. In this book you'll learn how to develop your brand, establish a winning identity, tell engaging stories that keep fans coming back for more, make record sales at your concessions stand, and much, much more. Whether you're a promoter, booker, worker, or even just a fan, this is the single book you can't afford to miss.
- GenresNonfiction
354 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2012
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 2, 2018
I've had a review copy of this book for ages, and finally skimmed it to see what pearls of wisdom it contains. And there's actually a good bit of useful information about how to run a modern version of Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling (of course, Kaiser hates the idea of holding people suspended for too long on brainbusters and vertical suplexes, and Watts, for all his love of realism, enjoyed that because he or Boyd Pierce could say "the blood is rushing to his head!").
I'm on the board of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and have written extensively about the subject, but I have zero idea who Norm Kaiser is. He's apparently the guy on the cover and in the workout pictures in the back, and his Facebook indicates he's run or appeared on various indie shows over the years.
That said, despite occasional intrusive political conservatism that I find annoying, he's got a pretty good vision for how to work a simple match around a tieup-wristlock-armdrag-clothesline-punch comeback-vertical suplex/body slam sequence. He also makes good points about the inanity of high spots, why hardcore is bad for growing an audience (watching men roll around on fluorescent lights is indeed strange, but to each their own), and how simple fixes to promotional signage and the concessions stands can earn a promoter extra money. Kaiser grew up a fan of the AWA product, much like I did, and his fondness for Larry Zbyzko is a recurring theme in the book.
I'm on the board of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and have written extensively about the subject, but I have zero idea who Norm Kaiser is. He's apparently the guy on the cover and in the workout pictures in the back, and his Facebook indicates he's run or appeared on various indie shows over the years.
That said, despite occasional intrusive political conservatism that I find annoying, he's got a pretty good vision for how to work a simple match around a tieup-wristlock-armdrag-clothesline-punch comeback-vertical suplex/body slam sequence. He also makes good points about the inanity of high spots, why hardcore is bad for growing an audience (watching men roll around on fluorescent lights is indeed strange, but to each their own), and how simple fixes to promotional signage and the concessions stands can earn a promoter extra money. Kaiser grew up a fan of the AWA product, much like I did, and his fondness for Larry Zbyzko is a recurring theme in the book.
February 13, 2022
Wrote a lengthy review of this book on my website:
https://theserioustip.blogspot.com/20...
Summary: Overall, Fixing the Indies is like an independent wrestling show. There is some good content, some bad content, some cringy attempts at humor, and some outdated content that the promoter wants to shove in there because he likes it. For all it’s flaws, however, there are nuggets worth keeping and it is money well spent.
Would I pay to see Kaiser’s promotion? Probably once or twice. More if I knew some of the performers.
Would it have personality? No.
Would it be tighter, cleaner, and more professional than 90% of independent wrestling shows? Yes.
Does Norm Kaiser need to get with the times, stop insulting people, include women, and better understand the audience of modern professional wrestling? Absolutely.
https://theserioustip.blogspot.com/20...
Summary: Overall, Fixing the Indies is like an independent wrestling show. There is some good content, some bad content, some cringy attempts at humor, and some outdated content that the promoter wants to shove in there because he likes it. For all it’s flaws, however, there are nuggets worth keeping and it is money well spent.
Would I pay to see Kaiser’s promotion? Probably once or twice. More if I knew some of the performers.
Would it have personality? No.
Would it be tighter, cleaner, and more professional than 90% of independent wrestling shows? Yes.
Does Norm Kaiser need to get with the times, stop insulting people, include women, and better understand the audience of modern professional wrestling? Absolutely.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews