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Tips for starting a new Circut

CardsFlyinHighPosted on 07/22/06 at 05:17:39

Hey all,   I just started getting back into TNM and starting to get hooked again.  I wanted to start posting a new circut and just wondering the best way to go about it.  

Which is better to use, real or fake wrestlers?  Should i try to start off with a certain group and time frame, or just hire a bunch of random guys and let it go from there?  

Also once i get it made, whats the best format to post the cards in the forums?

Just lookin for a few tips to make my new circut enjoyable for me and whoever else reads it.
CarlzillaPosted on 07/22/06 at 09:05:06

Real or fake: That depends on how much effort you want to put into it. It takes a lot of work to get people to care about fake wrestlers 'round here...but it can be worth it if you can make it work. As far as hiring workers, sign people you can think of uses for, I know personally I get caught in a spot where I've hired too many people and I have no idea what to do with some of them.

Format: I personally get bored reading long write ups, other people love em...it really depends on how interesting your writing is. I usually stick to highlights and match notes.

americamamushiPosted on 07/22/06 at 09:34:25

Real or Fake: I agree with Carzilla on this one.  It's much harder to picture and relate to fake wrestlers for anyone besides yourself since obviously they are a creation inside your head, where with real wrestlers, even if you tweak their gimmicks, it's still easy to get a grasp on them.  Also, when choosing your roster, don't get caught up only using guys you like.  Try to throw a couple guys in there that you aren't fond of as long as you think you could use them.  Also try not to get trapped within the boundries of who is big and who isn't big in real life, but don't over do it.  Finding a popular indy or TNA guy and pushing them to the top of a WWE circuit is one thing, but starting off with CM Punk beating Hulk Hogan for your world title while Triple H opened the show with a loss to <insert your favorite local indy wrestler here> is going to see extremely out of place to your readers.

Format: Just make sure you write enough for you to get your point across to someone who doesn't have the benefit of being inside your head.  You may know where you're going, but we don't unless you tell us.  If you enjoy writing, write more, if you detest writing stick to the "just enough" mentality.

All in all, just make sure that no matter what you do you do what you want and not what you think everyone else wants.  If you're not having fun then it'll show in your work and/or you'll lose interest fast.
Rick GarrardPosted on 07/22/06 at 14:58:26

no offense, but isn't this about the third post on this topic from different people this month alone?

Perhaps we can sticky note a "suggestions on starting a new circuit" thread at the top of the forum?
HugeRockStar760Posted on 07/22/06 at 18:36:01

People just need to start a circuit and go from there. It's like people want perfection from the start.
Snabbit888Posted on 07/23/06 at 20:45:40

Everyone falls into the trap of, "What do other people think?"  Who gives a shit what other people think?  There's no perfect way to do a circuit.  No matter what you do, some will like, some won't.  Who cares?  Do what you like and have fun with it.  Don't cater to us.
Rick GarrardPosted on 07/24/06 at 01:59:23

Exactly, I don't cater to Ryan and he doesn't cater to me... and both of us have had some rather successful circuits.  And for every successful one, I'm sure I've had about 2 or 3 that most of you will never ever see.
CardsFlyinHighPosted on 07/24/06 at 02:43:25

Thanks alot guys.  I think i got a good idea of how to get this started,  Look for my debut card in the circut forum in a day or so
HugeRockStar760Posted on 07/24/06 at 02:47:16

We could always use another SuperstarJimiC around here though.

As for a serious answer to the original question, if you're into the WWE or other real promotions, I say just pick a pay per view, either a past PPV or an upcoming one, like let's say SummerSlam. Book some cards going into the pay per view, and just go from there. That's what I did right before WrestleMania XXII. It's interesting as well since you can change certain events in the WWE the way you want it.

I'd like to see a really good Ring of Honor circuit that stays true to the spirit of the promotion (i.e. no sportz entertainment aspects, and if there are, it should be kept to a minimum).

Another favorite is always going to be the throwback circuits from the 80s. Whether that be Jim Crockett Promotions, WWF, Mid-South, WCCW, AWA, etc, it doesn't matter. It's just fun seeing stars from that era in a TNM circuit.

But like they've all said in this thread, have fun. If you make a circuit to impress others, you'll end up being a perfectionist like Chris Coey and you turn into an egotistical son of a bitch that is critical of everyone when he doesn't get tons of feedback.
91Posted on 07/25/06 at 22:15:53

One thing I slowly learnt in the last few years is not to pay too much attention to workrate because, ultimately, does it REALLY matter? Particularly if you are looking to garner interest from other readers. Case in point, which of the following matches makes for a better read?

1)

Chris Benoit made Kurt Angle submit to the Crippler Crossface in 0:14:40.
Rating: *****

2)

Giant Gonzales vs Greg Gagne

In Gagnes biggest test to date as ECW champion, he took on the undefeated eight foot monster Giant Gonzales. Gagne took the initiative at the start by going straight for his finisher, the dropkick - Gonzales was rocked and Gagne instantly smelled an upset, throwing a second dropkick that had the big man teetering back and forth, looking set to fall down. A third try however was met with Gonzales simply swatting him aside and going straight for a chokehold. Quickly, Gonzales threw Gagne into the corner and hit him with a series of devastating forearms across the back. Gagne was struggling and Gonzales maintained his slowly paced assault on the champion by stepping on him. Finding it hard to breath, Gagne sought refuge in the corner. Gonzales sensed triumph and swung at him with another huge forearm. Gagne somehow found the strength to move and Gonzales sort of stumbled into the corner. Using his pace to his advantage, Gagne ran at him with a series of clotheslines that Gonzales was too slow to counter. Gagne headed up and dropped a big axehandle that saw the giant stagger around the ring dramatically. Gagne tried one more but Gonzales caught him by the throat and began throttling him. Repeatedly breaking on four at first, Gonzales pushed his luck once too often by straying past five and was finally disqualified by special guest referee Timothy Well.

Greg Gagne defeated Giant Gonzales by disqualification in 0:05:08.
Rating: - *****
(Greg Gagne retains the ECW world heavyweight title.)
(Giant Gonzales retains the NJPW million dollar title.)

Before anyone asks, about three minutes.
HugeRockStar760Posted on 07/25/06 at 22:20:35

That was a match of epic proportions.

I agree with you that workrate/star ratings don't matter much. They matter, but the story behind the match, what happened in it, how it advances other storylines means more to me than seeing a ***** match without no writeup.