Totally agree. When I saw my first RMAC and EBR video I kept telling myself “one day”. Then in all the vids you see people getting interviewed saying “come on out! Bring what you got! It’s about having fun!”
Then we see vids on supposedly “pro” shooters being asked what would they tell a newbie coming into this and what would they tell a seasoned vet. Like they were some form of royalty, or a Tom Brady or something. Some of these guys getting asked weren’t even in the top 50 of their class, but so what, right? Take from them their suggestion of “just come do it!”
Well, no one told me it would be like pulling teeth. Registration is actually stressful, as you do everything right, you practice, put in the time, then on registration day in the first minute into it you’re told FULL! SOLD OUT!!! Better luck next time!
I meet this guy last year at my first RMAC. He’s sighting in on the Wednesday at the pro field after registration. I asked him what he placed the year before to make it to pro. He says this is his first time. I asked him “snd you’re competing in pro? Why?”
His words- “Mo money, baby, Mo money”
I’m not used to that type of competition. To be at the top, you gotta earn it.
So now when someone says they shoot pro, that doesn’t mean anything to me. At one time I was in awe of these guys in the vids, but now I’m wiser.
I’m gonna end my frustration with this- how about hosting a vendor or sponsored shoot out, like this EBR, and put all the sponsored and YouTube actors in one place for the great shoulder rub, then actually have a separate “for reals” competition where the real pros compete, and to be able to attend you must have prior winnings in past events. Put the big prize money in that, just like they would a World Series or super bowl event.
Meanwhile more folks would be allowed a place to participate, like a novice level, then the sportsmans, then the pro, with no worries of spots getting taken up by folks doing YouTube vids of regulator installs or bling bling reviews for a vendor