CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE May/June Issue | Page 37

The Parallels Between
Tara Laviolette
Competitor and Promoter
We are living in an unprecedented time. The climate
and energy around us are unsettled. We are seeing
decisions that are fear based, cause a fear-based reaction.
Information is uncertain and information has been unclear,
although gaining clarity as time progresses.
As a CPA Director and Promoter, I have talked directly to
coaches and competitors. I am reminded why I love this
community and I applaud the positive, driven mental
state as the conversations speak to the human spirit with
resiliency and tenacity. A couple of times, I as Promoter felt
like I had a coaching session. Providing renewed vigor to
push through as far as possible to keep our event alive. My
co-promoter and I get fired up and inspired by coaches and
competitors alike. We truly want to deliver.
All Promoter’s want to deliver, and TNT Muscle Showdown
is not alone in attempts to construct back up plan, after
back up plan, considering variable after variable. Several
supportive conversations with President Ron Hache, other
Promoters and Directors across the country made that very
clear. We have a pivot plan for each considered variable. We
shared ideas to help make back up plans viable pushing us
to think in directions we wouldn’t have otherwise.
Understand that Promoters are all considering a host of
potential variables, delivering to the competitor/ sponsor/
vendor/ spectator, working with potential but undetermined
governmental mandates such as distancing or numbers for
gatherings, venue restrictions, potential loss of deposits/
loss of revenue, the economic hardships of competitors
and personal/professional hardships. Mental health and
wellbeing have come into play for ALL these players. Sleep
has been lost, stress incurred, tears shed, husbands/wives/
friends/family snapped at for no reason, it’s taking a toll. We
all feel a huge sense of potential loss towards the end goal
of what we are building, similarly to what the competitor
feels with that potential loss of opportunity to showcase
what they are building. We both want to have the stage! We
are truly connected in this. The stress of uncertainty is there
for both of us.
The massive information overload on Covid19 is a train
wreck of evolving facts, speculation and projections that
may or may not occur. New information may continue to be
revealed to derail any projection. One thing we are certain of
is there will be a continued impact to events within the next
months through distancing and/or gathering requirements
with potential cancellations. When what is out of one’s
control is massive in comparison to what is within one’s
control, planning a viable event becomes inevitably
impossible. We hold out hope for stabilization leading
into an event, to proceed as planned. We will go through
a reverse quarantine. We are not going to turn a corner in
one day and have the ability to have a full event with zero
restrictions and/or concern. Just know this, Promoters are
doing everything within their power to hold events. We are
all on the same team.
We want to be fair to the competitor. Does the competitor
want to have an event prepped for to be cancelled weeks
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