Fusion Hack: How To Pick a Show with Erin Kamm
Hey, FitFam!
You’ve decided you want to compete. You’re training hard, following your nutrition, practicing your posing, and dreaming about that moment when you finally step under the stage lights.
Now comes another big decision: Which show should you actually do?
On today’s Fit Body Lifestyle Fusion Hack, Jami and Greg sit down with IFBB Pro and Fit Body Fusion coach Erin Kamm to unpack a part of competition prep that doesn’t always get enough attention—choosing the right show.
Because not every competition is created equal, and picking a show shouldn’t simply come down to which date looks best on the calendar.
From deciding whether to stay local or travel, to evaluating the judging panel, class sizes, athlete experience, and level of competition, Erin shares why your show selection should align with your bigger goals. The team also dives into warm-up shows, national qualifications, and one of the hardest lessons for ambitious competitors to embrace: sometimes the smartest move is to stay off the stage and grow.
Whether you’re choosing your very first competition or mapping out a path toward a pro card, this episode is your reminder to compete with intention—not impatience.
5 Key Takeaways from the Episode
Choose a Show Based on Your Goal, Not Just Convenience
For a first-time competitor whose goal is simply to experience the stage, a local show can be a fantastic option. You may be able to sleep in your own bed, avoid flights, reduce expenses, and have more friends and family there to support you.
But if your long-term goal is to become nationally competitive or eventually earn your pro card, the strategy may need to change.
A larger regional show with a strong competitive field and experienced judging panel can give you a much clearer picture of how your physique compares to athletes who share those same goals.
Before choosing a show, ask yourself: What am I trying to learn or accomplish by stepping on this particular stage?
Bigger Shows Aren’t Always More Overwhelming
It’s natural to assume a smaller show means smaller classes and less competition—but Jami, Greg, and Erin explain why that isn’t always true.
Larger competitions may offer more height and age divisions, while smaller shows sometimes combine competitors into fewer classes. For a Masters athlete or someone near the edge of a height class, that difference can significantly change who they’re standing beside.
Instead of avoiding a show simply because it has a reputation for being competitive, look at the complete structure of the event. Sometimes stepping into a stronger competition actually gives you a fairer—and much more useful—assessment of where your physique stands.
Factor Your Real Life Into Competition Planning
Picking a competition isn’t only a bodybuilding decision. It’s a life logistics decision too.
If travel is involved, think about your work schedule, flights, hotel accommodations, meal prep, tanning, check-ins, family responsibilities, pets, and how much time you realistically need to arrive and settle in before show day.
Flying in at the last minute for a Saturday competition may save a vacation day, but it can also introduce unnecessary stress from flight delays, rushed tanning appointments, and limited opportunities for your coach to assess your physique.
The best show plan is one that considers the entire athlete—not just the date circled on the calendar.
Don’t Rush a Qualification at the Expense of Growth
This one is especially important for athletes dreaming of the national stage.
Simply qualifying for nationals doesn’t automatically mean your physique is ready to be competitive there.
If chasing an early qualification requires interrupting a productive improvement season with another dieting phase, you may actually be taking time away from the muscle development you need to reach the next level.
A well-chosen warm-up show can instead help assess your conditioning, posing, peak, and overall competitiveness before making the larger financial and physical commitment of a national competition.
Sometimes the most competitive decision you can make is not competing yet.
Learn to Love Your Improvement Season
Prep gets the spotlight, but physiques are built during the months when there isn’t a show immediately ahead.
Improvement season is where you can push training, fuel your body appropriately, prioritize recovery, build muscle density, and establish the habits that will make your next prep more successful.
The discipline doesn’t disappear just because you aren’t dieting.
Protein still matters. Hydration still matters. Sleep still matters. Recovery still matters. Training with intention still matters.
If you want longevity in bodybuilding, learning to enjoy the building phase instead of constantly chasing another show may be one of the biggest mindset shifts you can make.
