The 2014 NPC Music City Muscle competition will take place on November 1, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve covered hundreds of events over the last 10 years and without a doubt this is one of the best shows in the USA. Promoters Brandy Leaver and Brandon Curry do a tremendous job from start to finish and provide the competitors with an unforgettable experience. They’re both IFBB Pros and they’ve “been there done that” as competitors and I think that plays into their show. Brandy’s passion showed last year when she was running the event at 9 months pregnant, yes she was due at any time. Brandon gave local fans a rare glimpse at his stage ready physique by guest posing. He won the inaugural Arnold Classic Brasil and had just competed at the Olympia.
The venue is one of the best you’ll find for any event, amateur or pro. Last year the event sold out in the Polk Theatre and this year they’ve moved to the Andrew JacksonHall in the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. The place is awesome and has three levels of seating. A backstage that is the size of a football field and a pump up room that is the size of a gymnasium. Competitors will be spoiled after competing on this stage because there are few shows that have anything like it.
I caught up with Brandy for a bit more info on the event in a quick Q&A:
HARDBODY (HB): How many years have you promoted this show?
BRANDY LEAVER (BL):This is our 4th year!
HB: Any women who have competed in the show and turned pro?
BL: Yes, Hanna Hallman went pro just a couple of weeks after competing in our show last year. Ecko Johnson was just 1 spot away from earning her pro status 2 years ago after winning our show.
HB: Numbers expected this year vs the first year?
BL: Our first year we had 96 total, and this year we are hoping to hit the 400 mark! We are already past 300 in pre registration! (not to mention we are still a non National Qualifier! That is, until next year! Woohoo!)
HB: Venue change?
BL: Same building, but this year we are going into a bigger theatre in the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Our old theatre held around 1500 people and we sold the last ticket at finals just 7 minutes after opening the doors last year and had to turn a lot of people away. So this year we were ready for the big one and are heading into the Andrew Jackson Hall which seats 2500 spectators. It’s just beautiful.
HB: What separates your show from others?
BL: Brandon and I wanted to put on a show that focused on the competitors, not ourselves. To be honest a lot of people know the show but they don’t realize that we run it. And we are cool with that! We create a positive environment for competitors backstage and even have a good old homemade Red Velvet Cake waiting for them the second they get off stage at the Finals! I think people like to do our show because we care about the competitors and make them feel comfortable no matter their age, or if it’s their first time competing or if they are a very experienced competitor. We have people competing from ages 16-76! Last year we even had a BLIND woman compete and she placed in the top 5! It’s inspiring and it’s all positive! We want people to celebrate and feel rewarded for the journey that they have been on. Not everyone will become an IFBB Pro but I want to give everyone a place to be able to compete comfortably and be satisfied with themselves no matter what the outcome. It’s a show for everyone to have a good time!
We also like to make it entertaining for spectators. We run it as a production during the Finals so it’s not just an award show! We have such an amazing venue, why not take it all the way! LOL! A lot of people come to the show that have never been to a Bodybuilding event before so we try to entertain them too!
SHOW INFO:
WHERE:
Tennessee Performing Arts Center / Andrew Jackson Hall
505 Deaderick St.
Nashville,TN
WHEN:
November 1, 2014
Prejudging: 8:30am
Finals: 5:30pm
More info: MusicCityMuscle.com
