The Industry Nice Guy
Dave Tate, the nicest of them all
After one day at the Arnold Expo I decided that I've had enough. A zoo of an event, the Expo floor was like walking in an incredibly crowded bar with all of the usual people: tanned douchebag guys who wear sunglasses inside, skanky women who wear too much makeup, big fat dudes who won't have a chance getting laid, and a few hot, intellectually-challenged chicks thrown in for good measure.
Was it fun? Sure. For awhile. But when I got an invite to drive an extra 30 miles to attend a seminar hosted by Dave Tate I jumped on the chance.
If you're not familiar with Dave (which would surprise the hell out of me), he's regarded as one of the best powerlifting coaches and great fitness businessman in the country. His line of strength equipment is the best in the industry. His writing is some of the funniest shit I've ever read. And he really practices what he preaches.
But most of all, he's just a really nice guy. And that's why he's so damn successful.
I've done over four interviews with Dave in the past two years and we always stay on the phone for at least half an hour longer than needed to talk about business and what I'm up to. He gives me advice. I give him advice. Then I get all giddy that I'm talking with Dave Motherfucking Tate.
But in those interviews he never talks shit about anyone else. Sure, he disagrees with a lot of people and isn't afraid to attack their words. But he never attacks them. He's above it. And he's "come way too far to get into any petty shit."
When I showed up to his place in London, Ohio, I only gave him a day's notice. He happened to have a seminar going on at the time. He didn't charge me. I listened to him, Justin Harris, and Shelby Starnes talk for over five hours about program design, carb cycling, supplements, and proper lifting technique.
Then Dave bought everyone lunch.
Then, after every other single person had left, he had a two hour conversation/lifting critique for Matt McGorry (my travel buddy) and me.
Dave Tate is a perfect example of what every single successful fitness businessman should be: passionate, intelligent, caring, and not willing to put up with bullshit or anything less than his best.
Sure, I had some fun at the Arnold. There were a ton of weird new supplements (caffeine-infused beef jerky?), gadgets, and some of the top bodybuilders in the world.
But I gained an education in the middle of Nowhere, Ohio from a dude who told me my deadlift form was "fucking horrible" and then spent half an hour giving me tips.
And it was totally worth the trip.
Comments for This Entry
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It's very cool that you had such a great time hanging with Tate... but where are those booth babes?!
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I'm writing an article about the Arnold for T-Nation that will be filled with pics.
-Nate -
Nate i was also at the expo but would most likely have done the same for a seminar like that. One of my highlights of the trip was having a not b.s. conversation with a buddy of mine, eric borser, and troy johnson two top natural poineers of the bodybuilding and pros. How would I go about finding similar seminars?
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Sounds fucking sick, man. I got to see some cool people at the Arnold (Kroc is the man. Very nice guy, indeed), but hanging with Dave Tate would have trumped everything.
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Hey Nate, could you talk about the tips Dave gave you on improving your deadlift technique?
Thanks -
HAHA NATE! I'll have to get my hands on the 'special' beef jerky - Sounds like you had a blast, looking forward to hearing more about it -
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Yeah, I'd really like to hear whats so bad about your deadlift form too..
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In terms of the deadlift, I was just sitting a bit too far forward over the bar. All Dave had me do was to pull the slack out of the bar and get my shoulders back.
I have a 515 deadlift right now, but I bet his tip will help that quite a bit.
-Nate -
The Arnold was just as Nate described it, it's kinda worth it to just walk around for a few hours and see some of the people and 'new stuff' presented there.
Definitely jealous you got to hang with Dave and listen to him give some advice.
I, however, got to meet Nate Gree, Just as everyone already knows, Nate's a class act; down to earth and willing to chat. Hope to run into him again.
Keep it coming Nate.
-Doug -
I've heard nothing but great things about Dave Tate, so this is great to hear.
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Dave is a great guy, I havent met him personally (a bit hard to do when I live in Australia) but I have contacted him through email and I believe that he is one of the finest examples of what a fitness professional should be (just as you mentioned). It would be cool if you could get him to write a quest blog or something.
Keep up the great work Nate.
Also could you get an interview with Justin Harris. -
You gonna share those tips Nate? There must be a lot of us out there with horrible deadlift form.
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Looking forward to your write up for at T-nation, it is a zoo, thats the only way to describe that expo, but its something that everybody should go to at some point.
I need to go see Dave talk at some point seeing as im only in Cincinnati so it wouldnt be too much trouble to get there. -
Pretty cool post. I just came by your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your posts.Thanks for sharing such a nice post here...
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Really great post, very informative and interesting.
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Keep posting. Thanks for sharing.
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Jeremy Flint 1:56pm Mar 9, 2009