How much do managers generally make?

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xtremebadass

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Breaking into the wrestling business to start, you would maybe make about 30 per show tops. Every Indy star has a job on the side, you need another job until you hit OVW type promotions atleast.
 

Soulpower

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Listen to Montana, Dstebbins.

Pretty much every indy wrestler either studies, or has one or two jobs on the side because the pay in the Indy scene just isn't that good. Unless you get booked to manage people in Japan (While still working in the US a manager) you might, might make enough money to get by.

Hell, even the "bigger" Indy feds don't really pay all that much. If you want to be a manager (or anything else wrestling related), you NEED to have a fallback plan. Otherwise, you're screwed.
 

dstebbins

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Didn't anyone see my last post? I do have a job. Well, not really a job, but a source of income nonetheless. It's my SSI. I was asking if I could arrange to be paid under the table so that my SSI isn't penalized.

Also, I'm interested in being a referee now, not a manager. In case you're worried about my vision, I've already cleared it up with my local wrestling school that it will be a hurdle, but nothing that is impossible to overcome. So please, and I'm intending to say this as calmly and politely as I can, forget the manager thing, I want to be a referee now.
 

Bigfella

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When i used to chat with Andrew Thomas on myspace (he hasn't gone on in ages :( ) He said that he only got in because he knew some people and they talked to those people and he got into Pro Reffing. He used to be a Indy Ref, he said it was good fun because Indy ref's are the best at selling it.
 

dstebbins

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Didn't anyone see my last post? I do have a job. Well, not really a job, but a source of income nonetheless. It's my SSI. I was asking if I could arrange to be paid under the table so that my SSI isn't penalized.

Any help on this?
 

eternalpaw

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A real job is required

I have been working the indys in NC for 2 years. Various indy's will pay differently based on how well they are able to do through ticket sales, consessions, etc. However, you can expect to get $10-$20 per booking. You are 99% of the time paid in cash so that is under-the-table. I would suggest contacts or finding some way to fasten your glasses to your head. Another suggestion would be to play a "blind" referee gimmick where when your glasses get knocked off you are temporarily blinded to any action that goes on until you have put your glasses back on. As the previous people have told you, you will not be able to survive as an indy worker and would need a real source of income. If you are still interested in working for an indy promotion then go to one of their shows and after the show is over, talk with the promotor. Be forewarned though, many promotors who offer shools for training have high costs. I have friends in the business who pay upwards of $200/month in training costs. So the real question is, what kind of financial commitment are you willing to make to be a part of the wrestling entertainment world?
 

dstebbins

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I have been working the indys in NC for 2 years. Various indy's will pay differently based on how well they are able to do through ticket sales, consessions, etc. However, you can expect to get $10-$20 per booking. You are 99% of the time paid in cash so that is under-the-table. I would suggest contacts or finding some way to fasten your glasses to your head. Another suggestion would be to play a "blind" referee gimmick where when your glasses get knocked off you are temporarily blinded to any action that goes on until you have put your glasses back on. As the previous people have told you, you will not be able to survive as an indy worker and would need a real source of income. If you are still interested in working for an indy promotion then go to one of their shows and after the show is over, talk with the promotor. Be forewarned though, many promotors who offer shools for training have high costs. I have friends in the business who pay upwards of $200/month in training costs. So the real question is, what kind of financial commitment are you willing to make to be a part of the wrestling entertainment world?

I recently started my training, and my trainer, who is the top face and owner of my local fed, said referees are in much more demand than wrestlers are. He says wrestlers are a dime a dozen, while no one who breaks into the business think to become referees. His assistant trainer actually told me face to face, and I quote, "If you're a referee, we can get you booked anywhere because everyone needs them. You really have the best spot."

Eternalpaw, are you a wrestler or a referee? I'd prefer to get some advice from someone who has been reffing instead of wrestling.
 

Jay Cal

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Can I get some numbers? I know numbers have already been given, but you make it seem as if I can actually make a full-time living off of managing.

Also, what about a referee? The main reason I don't want to be a wrestler is because of the pain. Referees take bumps, but not as frequently as wrestlers do, and they're rarely injured legitimately. I can take the occasional bump, just not fifty of them per night like a wrestler does.

Also, I have glasses. Will that hinder my ability to referee matches? What if I switch to contacts?

I'd say as a referee or as a manager that you should invest in some perscription goggles. You'd get so much heat just for those damn goggles. Remember how everyone hated Big Game James Worthy.
 

Degeneration_X2008

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Hey guys, formerly DX06 here. I hate to revive this thread but it sparked my interest. Listen, dstebbins I've been working the indy feds now for about a year and a half. I started out as a manager and worked my way up. Let me tell you something, managers get paid NOTHING. Nothing at all, face or heel. I disagree with Eternalpaw with the whole "you can expect $10-$20". It's a load of bullshit, in the Indy's you DON'T expect anything because for one, because you're new for two because again, management gets nothing and ref's get shit pay as well. The only reason you should be managing is because you are in training. What managing does is it teaches you ring psychology while you are learning the basics behind the sceens. Referee's are shit. They get shit on in the business more than any others that I know of. They don't get paid shit either. Just because you might get booked you MIGHT get $5 per show. Also, not to bitch but what in the holy hell are you talking about when you said you don't want to wrestle because of the pain? You have got to be joking me. Brother let me tell you something, don't get in the business thinking you have "dreams" of being a manager because for one that makes you nothing more than the wrestler's personal bitch. You will have to drive them to shows, pay for food, hotels, gas and all that good junk. I know, I've been there. You get into the business by wanting to wrestle. If you've never taken a bump or never taken a chop then by God don't go saying it's gonna hurt before you do it. I actually take offense to that comment. I'm one of the only few women wrestlers in my general area and it took a lot to get me to where I am. It takes more dedication than anything to be in that ring and to work your ass off for a measly $20 a show. And honestly that's about all you make in the Indy's untill you're in the business for about 10+ years.

You need to have a base job before anything because think about it, how are you going to feed yourself, get a hotel, and buy gas?

If you want to be a referee or manager the rest of your wrestling career then by all means do it, but you also have to look at the repercussions that follow it. You get shit on big time and I don't mean the fore mentioned above. You have no literal idea how bad managers and refs get abused.

The best thing that I can reccomend for you is that you go through a good trainer (not a wrestler that was trained by another wrestler) I'm talking someone like Kato (P.A.) or Rip Rogers (O.V.W.) Those guys are the best of the best. Mind you, you have to pay for training. You train your ass off and you learn all that you can possibly ever learn. If you have to bail out because you think it's too hard then go for it, but remember this, you're bailing out of something a woman can do.

As far as the glasses go, you can wear contacts easily in the ring. I don't reccomend glasses or goggles for two reasons, one, practicality, they look dumber than hell and could possibly hurt another wrestler. Two, they're probably going to come off anyway even if you have a massive band around them. Wear contacts, I know like 40 wrestlers that do it with no problem.

I hope that I helped a little. If you have any questions, PM me.
 

edgehead09

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yea man, i just say this threas dso here is my input...

If you wanna do the whole manager thing you need to come up with a charecter and start writing promos for him now.. COme up wit a whole backstory about his life..basically act like that person is your best friend...once you do that..do it agiain for another character until you can do it for any gimmick you are given...

EDIT: Also, Eternalpaw...whats ur ring name and where do you mostly run in NC Indy's...and do u ever go to VA
 

Degeneration_X2008

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Good advice edgehead... one thing though, don't get too into one gimmick. Always have two gimmicks with you at all times just in case they want something different. Always bring your gear with you EVERYWHERE even if you are going to wal-mart for twinkies. You never know who you'll run into and where. Keep in mind that you should pursue wrestling and see if its something you're going to dedicate yourself to. And I'm through! lol.
 

edgehead09

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yea man...i kno since i have started runnin with the boys in the business it has been crazy...like i am in the VA.NC area so there is a show literally every saturday..whenever you go to an event even to watch like DX said..rign your gear..if someone gets hurt you could step up...when u are green dont worry about pay...it will eventually come