| Contest Stage to Hollywood |  |  |  |
When Bobby Ashhurst first competed at the '07 Model America, you knew there was something special about the guy. He only placed 27th out of 52 competitors, so the judges weren't convinced. But, with each subsequent competition including a jab at Musclemania Universe, you knew Bobby was ready to be discovered.
He's college educated, a successful athlete and real estate broker. This month, Bobby took heed of his family and friends encouragement and left the comfort of home and job for a two week chance in Hollywood. The adventure is best described in his own words.
“Be ready when opportunity comes…Luck isthe time when preparation and opportunity meet.” – Roy D. Chapin Jr.
When I competed in my first competition, at the end of 2007, my only goal was simply to get back in shape. I had been urged for years to compete by several friends and finally their constant encouragement convinced me to walk on a stage in almost no clothing and be critiqued by a panel of judges. I expected to meet self absorbed pretty boys and Barbie dolls backstage but instead met people just like me who made their health and fitness a priority and looking to inspire others to do the same. Many arestill very good friends to this day. I had such a great time that I made a point of doing more competitions just to be able to spend time with my new found friends.
Over the next couple years, I have had a few people repeatedly tell me that I can do more than just compete. I was told not to settle on just modeling and that I should also pursue TV. Now you have to understand that I’m a corporate real estate guy who never even imagined competing let alone acting or modeling. To be honest, the idea of doing either is sort of scary but if there is one thing I know about myself, it’s that whenever I’m scared to do something I tend to aggressively do it anyway in order to get over that fear.
Recently I decided to take their advice and go for it. About 2 weeks ago I went to LA with a friend, Bill Bastian, who also decided this is the path he wanted to follow. I had no real expectations but wanted to at least make sure my trip was a productive one so I called friends and mentors and asked who they felt I should meet and shoot with. By the time I left AZ I had a couple meetings and photo shoots booked. I figured at the very worst I’ll have gained some new knowledge/direction from my meetings and had my photos done for the magazine submissions I’ve been asked to do.
A funny thing happened along the way. Bill took me down to a casting agency. I was just one in a crowd of about 200 people in there registering. When it was my turn to take my headshot he kept joking around that I should take my shirt off. I don’t really like taking my shirt off in public because it seems a little like showing off but the girl taking the pictures looked at me and said, “I think you should take your shirt off.” She said it in a way that didn’t seem like she was asking but rather insisting so off went the shirt.
I began to leave and a guy came running up and asked, “Do you want to be on 90210?” I thought Bill was playing a joke on me since he did 90210 a month earlier. It certainly wasn’t a joke and that guy wound up being a casting director. He asked us to come to the back to give me the details of the job. While we were back there another casting director saw me on the monitor and asked if I wanted to be on The Ellen Show. I was completely caught off guard with the last several minutes of my life and just knew that at this moment the only answer that should come out of my mouth is yes.
Over the next couple days, one call after another came in to work on TV shows and I made the final call backs for the AbCoaster infomercial. I wound up having to cancel my photo shoots and turn down a few shows. Being on set was such a great opportunity to learn and meet new people. More importantly than that, it let me know that I really can do this!
So people have been asking me what I did. All that I did that a lot of people don’t is rather than talking about doing it, I took a chance and put myself in a situation to do it. Also, I made sure I was prepared to take advantage of the opportunity by being in shape at all times. They aren’t looking at us to play the average person because we as fitness competitors are far from average. They want us, at least initially, for our physical conditioning. We need to see ourselves as professional athletes. We may not play in the NFL, NBA/WNBA or MLB but we can get paid to do what we all love to do…live an active and healthy lifestyle.
I don’t know what anyone reading this has planned for their future but if pursuing fitness beyond competing I would like to share several pieces of advice I have been told frequently by many people in the fitness/entertainment industry. Number one: There is no off season. Always stay in shape because you never know when your chance is going to come. Number two: Be you! Don’t be fake. Eventually the real you will come out anyway. Number three: Treat yourself like a business. You are the product you are trying to sell so make sure you make that the best product you can possibly be. Number four: Network and then network some more! Whether you are at a competition, doing a photo shoot or on set filming, make some new contacts. Number five: Don’t wait for things to fall in your lap. Go out and seize your own opportunities.
I know that there are some people who are going to say that it’s easier for me because I’m already here and they aren’t. Well I don’t live in LA either. I commute between 3 states (AZ, NV and CA) in order to do everything I need to do. My job is in Las Vegas, I am enrolled in school in AZ and I will be in LA whenever I can to work and network as much as I can. Now I don’t know where this road is going to lead but I’m going along for the ride and finding out. There are going to be many people discouraging anyone trying to make it so I’m going to leave you with a thought that I took out of a conversation Bill and I had on one of our long road trips to LA. People will call you crazy for chasing your dream but will call you courageous when you succeed. Be courageous!
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