Kris DiLorenzo is the head of Bull Riding Marketing, a New York-based company with an Austin, Texas auxiliary. She believes that bull riders are the new rock stars.
An experienced marketer, fundraiser, and publicist, Kris spent 12 years in the rock and roll business working in management, publicity, tour coordination, talent and booking, and artist relations.
As a professional writer, she has been published in more than 60 magazines and newspapers worldwide, including foreign language publications. Her writing about music is quoted in books and on many Web sites; some is archived on www.rocksbackpages.com, where she also maintains a blog.
To contact Bull Riding Marketing, leave a message on this blog or email: BullRidingMarketing@BullridingMarketing.com
Sorry for my confusion, I’ve taken too many shots to the head.
LOL– you and me both– and I’ve never been on a bull! This morning I gave someone my phone number — except that it’s the one I had 10 years ago.
Kris, I would love to read your essay. I do not know any cowboy poets in the PBR. Of course every cowboy knows Baxter Black, and I would venture to guess since Justin McBride is a singer/songwriter he may have some poetry in his reserve. Jerome is indeed a fine young man and a motivation to all those who know him. Cheyenne Frontier Days has always been my favorite rodeo, but then I was born and raised in Cheyenne and watched my dad ride there many times and competed there as well. Commenting on other news it is about damn time we see Justin McKee on TV again. I have always been thoroughly impressed with his dedication to the task, his professionalism and natural talent. On Brazilians and steroids, I say not likely. First, I am not certain they would help with the timing or the counter-moves necessary in riding rank bulls. While strength (at least relative to body weight) is important, strength alone will not suffice. When I conceived the notion of stand-alone bull riding I thought that every one who dreamed of ever riding would dedicate themselves to that purpose once it was clear a good living could be made from it. Sadly, in the U.S. that has not been the case actually quite the opposite. Perhaps mothers watching the PBR have dissuaded their young from such a dangerous profession, or common sense gets the best of ‘em. However, in Brazil you are absolutely right when you say they see bull riding as a way out of poverty. Add to that the fact that Brazil is very agricultural has the largest herds of bulls I have ever seen and it simply comes down to supply. And of course their dedication and singleness of purpose furthers their achievements. I love it. When Myrtis Dightman had to use the rear gate to get in the rodeo grounds the judges didn’t see color when they saw a fantastic bull ride and I don’t see country when I see one either.
Hi, Shaw–
It’s good to hear from you. I’m not the one who asked about cowboy poets, but to everything else in your post, I say Amen!
Email to follow…
Hi Shaw,
I’m the one who wrote the essay I mentioned about CFD and Jerome’s Invitational. I’ll send you a copy. Just need an email address. I read it at the South Atlantic Modern Language Association conference in Atlanta this past November. You can email me at memomuse@gmail.com. How long did you live in Cheyenne? Cheyenne is my hometown. Maybe we crossed paths — I went to high school at Central (Chris LeDoux, as you must know, did too). I love Cheyenne. I live in North Carolina now, but Wyoming gets into your heart and you are never the same… it will always be home.
Thanks for the info about cowboy poetry — it would be neat to get inside a bull rider’s heart and head about the subject.
Kris — I’m super excited to see your next post from this weekend! I wish I could see it on the web live. We ditched cable, so I will have to go to my in-laws to watch it. I’m pulling for JB — it’s going to be interesting. Where can I find the schedule of the televised event?
Do you go to every major PBR event? What a great job!
I wish! From your mouth to god’s ear. I’d love that job. I do this on my own, and I go to events in the Northeast, since that’s where I live. This year I’ll be attending the events of other bull riding organizations to expand my repertoire. I wish more of them would cross the Mississippi and the Mason Dixon line!
Maybe I’ll start campaigning for a job!
I feel for you! The Northeast doesn’t have that many events. I used to live in Cheyenne – so I had a press pass to the Daddy from 2001 – 2006 and 2009. I am working on a book. It is a mix of photojournalism and creative nonfiction.
There is a beauty to rodeo that unfolds through the story of rodeo. I love bull riding! I have been lucky enough to have bull snot and bull shit thrown right up on me and my camera lens — nothing quite like being back in the chutes at the Daddy of em’ All! There’s reasons they write songs about Cheyenne. Anyway, it is also home. I really like your blog and your opinionated cowgirl as kicking self! Say it sister! You go girl. I’d like to contact you via email to ask you some questions for an article I am working on. You can see some of my black and white photos here http://www.talenthouse.com/memomuse Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them. I saw someone mentioned you take photos of the rodeos, where do you post those? I’d love to see them.
Well, thanks– and I was thinking I’d softened up lately!
I’ll send my email address to your gmail address for private communication.
I have photos on my blog attached to all the posts for New York, Worcester, Hartford, and Mohegan Sun (Uncasville), including the Times Square event a couple of years ago. Some are mine, but if they’re not, I put the other person’s credit on them.
PS – I went to college at PC and people there actually thought I rode horses to school (being from Wyoming). But they had never met anyone from Wyoming before, let alone even know where it was on a map. “No, it is not near Wisconsin or Alabama.” Anyway, my nickname was “Cheyenne Meg” — it would crack me up hearing parents calling out, “Go Cheyenne!” as I dribbled down the soccer field (I played Div. I soccer there — uh oh — I am getting my 8 seconds of ego bravado on!) I look forward to reading your blog. I also found the blog, “Turn Him Out!” — I like that style, creative form of journalism. I like it when writers use epistolary form. Now I am being a grad student snob! Well, I did go to undergrad in the Northeast, there’s gonna be a little literary elitism. But down to my core, I am a Wyoming cowgirl who loves her some wide open spaces and bad ass bull riding!
Your photo of Kenny Chesney is outstanding! That image, no matter who it was, is the essence of rock & roll. (Said the former rock critic.)
Glad you found the Stockyard Queen’s blog. Apparently she and I were separated at birth. Pearl DeVere, who posts on her site, kicks ass, too.
What’s PC?
Providence
Thanks for the compliment on my photo of Kenny. That means a lot coming from you.
Bull Riders Only was the start of the stand-alone bull riding league. Created by Lane Frost and I, Lane passed just days later and after two years of development we kicked off in 1991 in Tacoma Washington. Our BRO Champions were Mark Cain, Tuff Hedeman, Terry Down West, Cody Custer, Adriano Moraes, and Michael Gaffney to name just a few and Tuff won his title on J31 Bodacious for 95 points which sticks out as one of the best rides I have ever seen. I still have the shows and have repackaged them from time to time (a series called Bullmania for Versus) and a special on Bodacious. But haven’t done anything with them in a while.
And, while I can respect any competition, curling (as you mentioned) or rhythmic gymnastics one of my least favorites they’re far from exciting to watch.
Interesting and heart breaking Shaw. Lane is a treasure and a tragedy. That’s the thing about rodeo — it is a life or death sport and the bull riders love it, just as much as the bulls love kicking the cowboys ass. Man vs. Beast.
Shaw, do you have contact info? I’d like to follow up with you.
And we hold no malice toward those bulls who when performing at their pinnacle may end up ending our careers, our lives, or our ability to function normally. It’s as much to understand it’s what they (the bulls) do as it is to understand it is what we do. During Bodacious’ last year of bucking, Terry Don West and I had a discussion of just how terrifying he may have been to get on. Terry pointed out quite bluntly that I couldn’t know since I had never been on him (Terry had been on him four times at that point, two resulting in wins, two resulting in trips to the hospital). And though I had not been on a bull in over three years, I agreed with Terry; I could not accurately comment on Bodacious without getting on him….so I did. Just for fun a couple of weeks later in Denver the first night of our three night championship event, as you say Man vs. Beast as it will always be. I came out on top in the sense he did not knock me out, and I rode him past the usual roll and head whip back into your face. No matter the outcome it was me and him. Two nights later Brent Thurman nearly rode him and of course later at the PRCA finals Brent was killed. He had no regrets, Lane had no regrets, I have no regrets, when it comes to laying everything on the line and going for it. We would only regret had we not the courage, and convicion to try.
Beautifully said, Shaw.
I have a couple of questions for you that I’ve been meaning to ask for ages. I’ll be in touch.
Kris
Well said Shaw.
Do you know any PBR cowboys who write cowboy poetry about the terror, guts, and glory? This is the guts of why I love this sport. There is such intensity to it. Most people walk around for 8 weeks or months at a time waiting for something exciting to happen.
8 seconds! For the fans, it’s a series of 8 seconds. For the cowboys, it’s that short little frame of time — so small — so intense.
I wrote an essay, “Back Where I Come From,” about what you touched on with the relationship of the bull and the bull rider and the faith the cowboys have. The essay is a creative nonfiction piece that goes back and forth between “The Daddy” and Jerome Davis’ PBR Invitational in Archdale.
Jerome is another example of cowboy core. I was lucky enough to watch him coaching kids at his bull riding school. And to sit down and talk with him.
I was blown away at his humility, genuineness, and (well, I am still trying to find “the word” to describe Jerome). There’s magic at his ranch and he is the source, he and Tiffany both.
Kris,
I enjoy reading your blog and your genuine enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport is a credit to its growing popularity.
Shaw Sullivan
Thank you so much! I found out you’re the director of the TV series I missed in the ’90s, and I’d love to see it. (I was out of the country a lot.) Is it available on DVD? I think you were ahead of the curve; now that the PBR has been all over the media, maybe it’s time to re-release it?
I intend to make noise until the media covers bull riding on a regular basis like it does with other sports… and maybe even pester the Olympics Committee about including it. It’s sure more exciting than curling and a million hours of bicycle riding.
I would like to get with you on doing more to get the Junior Bull riders in the sport more noticed also… Please drop an e-mail to me if interested..
I agree with Kris, its not steroids, it’s that the PBR pays a whole lot better in the USA than what it does in Brazil.
BTW, last year we were in Dallas visiting family and we went to Marchi’s Brazilian steak house. The meat was great, I recommend it to all!
Excellent reporting on the NYC event. Loved your insights and the photos!
Hello Kris!
As I told you, he PBR event @ Madison Square Garden was my first bull riding event. Thank you for explaining all the rules to us and for all your tips.
If you need pictures from the event, drop me a line.
Cheers,
Alex
Hi, Alex!
So glad you enjoyed your first bull riding event. It was the first stop on the “major league” tour, the Built Ford Tough Series, so there are plenty of other events to watch on TV almost every weekend.
I’d love to see your photos, if you can email them to me. I may be able to post them on the blog. And if you’d like to write your impressions about seeing bull riding, I think people would like to hear that someone from Europe enjoyed it.
I love PBR but what is going on with the Brazilians? Steroids is my guess. They are really nice guys, but it is getting to be too much when NONE of them fall off. If it is just strength, then Austin and McKennon would stay on just as long.
I doubt it’s steroids. If they were taking steroids, the Brazilians would be having rage outbursts and eventually bulk up too much to be good riders. A lot of them are taller than the American riders, and steroids can’t make you taller. They do buck off, though–I’ve had many “Oh, no, Valdiron!” moments, saw Wesley Laurenco get shut out in New York, watched Marchi buck off more times than I can stand, etc.
What I see is that they practically sit on their riding hand, with the elbow tucked in against their bodies, and the bigger guys have a very sticky center of gravity. You hardly ever see daylight between their butts and the bull. As for Renato, he’s a featherweight, but he has more determination than anyone else, even Austin. Poverty is a great motivator.
I don’t know why it took so long for your comment to come through on my blog, but better late than never.
I doubt it’s steroids. That would make the riders subject to “‘roid rage,” and the only riders I’ve ever seen display any temper are J.B. Mauney, Ben Jones, and once in a while somebody else letting slip a colorful word. (I don’t blame ANY rider for being pissed at being bucked off.) But that’s not the same as ‘roid rage– I’ve seen that in action, and it’s frightening, because the guy is completely not in control of his behavior.
The Brazilians are extremely motivated because most of them grew up in poverty, without much education, and they want to create a better life for their kids. We can’t imagine being brought up in a shack with a dirt floor (Adriano Moraes), for example, or coming from what we would consider a jungle (Robson Palermo, I think). Those guys work their asses off between events, too, working out, which only recently has caught on among more than a few American, Canadian, or Australian riders. Austin Meier has been working out all along, which is why he’s always in the top bunch.
Great articles on Bull Riding… This is an event that I would never consider, until I read your article. Now I am interested. So keep me posted!!!!!
Rgds,
Kathleen
Thanks, Kathleen. You can watch bull riding on Versus, the cable channel, on weekends almost year round. Right now there’s not much happening until July, but if you’d like to know the touring schedule for the Professional Bull Riders, go to http://www.PBRnow.com
Seeing an event in person is even better than on TV!