Clark Bartram
WPM's Summer 2011 Cover Model
Interviewed by: Angela Moreno
Photos by: LHGFX
Known as, "America's Most Trusted Fitness Professional", Clark Bartram has no doubt left his mark in the fitness industry. With over 100 covers, movies, books, gyms, speaking engagements, multiple endorsement deals and now starring in the hit Sci-Fi film Hunter Prey, the name Clark Bartram is definitely synonymous with fitness and entertainment.
With such an illustrious career we wondered what this guy could do next and it seems he has set his eyes on helping others navigate the frustrating waters of the fitness industry by starting an event series called FMI, so it seems that Clark is still leaving his mark.
"...I do this because it's who I am, not because I want to be famous. I was doing this before cell phones, internet, facebook and social networking. I built a solid brand by returning hand written letters, making random phone calls and being 100% real. What you see is what you get; don't ask me a question if you don't want an honest answer. I always have people's best interest in mind, even if I seem "serious" or "intense". I've heard people use those words about me before, so that's why I chose them. I have a love/hate relationship with this industry. There are so many things I feel so blessed to be a part of, yet, other things I see and hear make me cringe. I'm approachable. I won't waste my time on people who want things handed to them, but I will always give my best to those who will give their best in return."
WP: Hello, Clark! Thank you so much for taking the time for this interview. Tell us a little about yourself!
A little...Hmmm. I guess if we cut to the chase, I'm a father of 2 amazing kids; Taylor, who is 20 years old and Mitch, who is 16. I've been married to Anita for 22 years and I must say she is amazing. She supports me, puts up with me and keeps me in line. I am so blessed to have such an amazing wife. Did I also mention she is super hot? What else...Oh, I am in the fitness industry. I imagine we'll dig deeper later on in the interview, so I'll leave it at that for now.
WP: As a professional fitness model you've been on the covers of countless fitness magazines. How did you get your start in the Fitness industry?
I guess it all started when I saw James DeMelo on the cover of a national magazine way back in the day. The caption said, "World's Most Handsome Bodybuilder" and right then I thought to myself, "I look better than this guy. I can do that"! Common people, you know you've said the same thing about me! After that, I started to compete with the intention of "getting noticed" by someone; a photographer, agent, or anyone that could help me get into the magazines. Then, one day, I got a small opportunity and that's where it all began.
WP: What initially sparked your interest in fitness?
People bugging the crap out of me, "Clark, you have a great physique! You should compete." That was the last thing on my mind, as I didn't want to "get big" and freak people out by being a monster. That was my idea of what it was back then. In 1988, there were no "fitness models".
WP: Are you still personal training clients?
No...I kinda lost the spark to train people one-on-one. Now, I am a coach at Escondido High School and do the strength and conditioning program and absolutely love working with my guys. The Cougars are the best and I can see the impact I'm having on kids' lives on a daily basis; where sometimes PT clients are just too hard to deal with. Coaching gives me a passionate outlet for my desire to help people become healthier through my years of knowledge in the health and fitness world.
WP: You mentioned you competed. What was your first show like?
In 1988, I was the Muscle Mania Middle Weight and Overall Champion. After that came a string of 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishes in The Mr. San Diego, Palm Springs, Excalibur and more Muscle Mania's. Men's Fitness divisions didn't exist then. I competed against some pretty good guys back then, Tito Raymond, Adi Rei, Kenneth Etta, and a bunch more. It was a fun time, but bodybuilding, for me, seems like a lifetime ago.
WP: You are also co-owner of Fitness Model International (FMI). What made you want to start your own company representing fitness models?
FMI doesn't represent models; we educate them on how to navigate their way through this frustrating industry we are all involved with. Basically, FMI is a weekend event that involves many relevant, educated and in the trenches speakers that teach from all aspects of the entertainment industry. We are not limited to fitness alone and we try to help these "talents" understand that there is WAY MORE to this industry that getting on a cover or in a magazine. I've made a very good living from fitness alone for over 20 years now because I figured out the game early and now I want to teach all of that, and more, to others to help them avoid some of the pitfalls that are out there.
We also do a photo, video and public speaking training because if you cannot do all of those, and do them good, you will lose out on work. Being a "fitness model" is way more than standing in front of a camera. I like to use the term "fitness entrepreneur" because if you don't think like that, you'll never even launch a career, let alone sustain one for any period of time. To learn more about FMI logon to http://www.fmievents.com.
WP: You inspired millions of television viewers as the co-host of Kiana's Flex Appeal on ESPN. Can you tell me about your experience on the show?
Kiana is an amazing person and I am honored to have been a cast member for 2 seasons and even got called back for a 3rd, but I had my own show by then and couldn't. She taught me a lot about being on camera and I met, and worked, with some amazing people on that show like Monica Brant, Sherry Goggins, and more. I love to look back on the old tapes of the show; they make me smile.
WP: You also shared your knowledge on exercise and nutrition as the host of American Health & Fitness that broadcasts internationally. I hear you've even had Jack LaLanne on your show! Tell me about it!
Yes, from the exposure and connections I made on Kiana's show, I ended up with my own, American health & Fitness and that show ran, very successfully, for 3 season on Fox, Fox Sports Net, FX and Fit TV. It also had a successful foreign run around the world. It would be fun to redo some of those shows, as I still have some great ideas that I know people would love.
Jack LaLanne was on with me about 6 times and I am so blessed to have had the fortunate opportunity to work with a true legend. People are throwing that word around these days way too easily for all the wrong reasons, but Jack truly is a legend for all the right reasons. I love him and will miss him very much.
WP: Let's talk about your website! You offer an amazing array of articles and fitness tools. What do you want your fans to know about it?
My site is designed for people to really have fun seeing me in many different situations from traveling the world to joking with my kids. I was once told, "That stuff won't produce any traffic" but I said, "too bad". My site is something I enjoy doing. I love making the videos, I appreciate the people who blog and especially those of you who visit. I plan on changing the site soon and adding some coaching on many levels. I'll be providing coaching on the fitness industry, lifestyle stuff, and so on. It should be fun.
WP: You regularly contribute articles to major national fitness magazines. What is it like to have your material in nationally distributed magazines?
It's cool. I appreciate the fact that these major publications would think that what I have to say is important enough to put into their magazines, especially when there are so many qualified people out there could probably do better. I just try to provide content that is relevant, inspirational and written in a way that the reader can almost hear me speaking. I can remember just trying to get in the magazines and now they are calling me for advice, consulting and for models; pretty cool when you think about how your career can evolve like that.
WP: You've also authored two books. Can you tell me about your how-to guide, You Too Can Be A Fitness Model and most recently, Spiritually Fit, A Fitness Program You Can Have Faith In?
You Too Can Be A Fitness Model is the only book of it's kind and has been read, from what I've been told by some of the top people in the game today. It came as a result of a conversation I was having one day after a photo shoot with Jason Ellis. He said, "You should write a book on how to be a fitness model". I thought, "Who in the heck will read that and it will only be three pages long". Long story short, I ended up with a publishing deal and it has been translated into Italian even. Spiritually Fit is a book written for Christians, or the spiritually minded, who may feel that being fit is a vein pursuit. It's full of great mental, physical and spiritual advice and testimonials from others who have had lot success and struggles in the personal efforts to get healthy with balance. I highly recommend both books.
WP: We heard that you were in a movie recently; can you tell us a little about that?
Yes, Hunter Prey is the title and it is a Science Fiction thriller. I play Lt. Orin Jericho and I had the co-starring role in the film, and from what I'm hearing, it is doing quite well around the world. It sold out in all foreign territories, had a few theatrical releases and went straight to DVD here in the states. You can see it "On Demand" and it had a run on ShowTime this past April. I appreciate the support of those of you who have already purchased a copy and would encourage those of you who haven't to please go to amazon.com and pick a copy up today. It really is a good movie, especially if you like Sci-Fi. Can't say much about the plot, but if you Google or You Tube the name Hunter Prey, you can see the trailers.
WP: Have you been in other shows or movies?
I did two short films as well, one of which was a tremendous success a few years back. It was called Batman Dead End and I played The Batman. There were literally 10's of millions of views on You Tube and I still get e-mails today of people telling me how much they loved it. The purpose in making it was to show off to Hollywood, WB and DC Comics mainly, how talented Sandy Collora is in directing films. Well, we got their attention, but Sandy didn't get the job he was hoping for, but he will be huge in Hollywood eventually. Sandy is whom I did HP with and we have more projects in the pipeline. I have two other films I'm signed on for, one is a comedy and the other is a thriller, so we'll see what happens.
WP: What other ventures are you currently involved in?
That's like asking the Pope how many times he says the Hail Mary. Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm always involved in so many projects. I can't remember half of them. I think that is part of my problem; I try to do way too much. I think, create and try all the time. If I just did one thing I would probably be doing way better than I currently am but I honestly have no complaints.
Well, I am coaching, developing new web properties, growing FMI, modeling, acting, writing, consulting, endorsing, traveling, speaking, writing...is that enough for you?
WP: You are so busy! What do you like to do in your downtime; when you have any, that is!
Coach kids, hang with mine, sit on the couch and watch Tosh.O, figure out more things I can do to keep even busier. Seriously though, FMI and coaching kids are both very important to me, I love mentoring people and I feel most comfortable when I'm around football kids who are lifting heavy and hard and also around aspiring fitness talent looking to further their careers. I guess the mentor/coach gene is a part of my DNA.
WP: You are a devoted family man. What do you like to do with your family?
I like to be involved in their passionate pursuits. My daughter is a talented photographer, so I love to assist her on shoots. I love to see her create and succeeded. She has been published many times; a few covers, supplement ad campaigns, and more. My son is a football guy, so I will estimate I've thrown over a million passes over the last 6-7 years or so, and like I said I love being involved with that; it keeps me young. My wife is hot and I like to...well, we'll leave that one alone.
WP: What does your daily training regiment consist of?
It's pretty packed. I wake up at 5, train a body part at 6, do about 30 minutes of cardio then I head to the High School Weight Room where I will do various lifts and drills with the kids. I need to show them I'm still pretty capable even though I'm getting old! After that I head to the gym again for more cardio and ancillary body parts like calves, abs, and such. Then I come home do my work on the computer and head back to school for more time with the kids training and just hanging out; it keeps me young and fresh.
WP: How do you motivate yourself to stay on track with your training and nutrition?
Now, honesty, it's keeping up with these high school athletes, or trying to at least. I still do photo shoots (like this one) and my ego won't let me get too far out of shape if I'm being totally honest. I want to be an example, the next Jack LaLanne if I can be so bold as to say that.
WP: How do you eat healthy when you're on the go?
I just ask...we all know most everyone will accommodate the needs of the healthy minded. It's not like I'm the only guy who ever walked into a restaurant and ordered boring, bland food that pisses off the chef.
WP: To what do you attribute your success?
Drive, determination, discipline and knowing that this is what God created me to do. There is nothing more powerful in life than when you are operating within God's plan and purpose for your existence. Not getting all preachy here just answering the question truthfully.
WP: What other fitness endeavors are you taking on?
I have several sites I'm creating all that will focus on helping people in one way or another. I'm collaborating with many great companies and designers and marketers that all want to see me take the Clark Bartram Brand to the next level and that's what we are collectively doing. Keep your eyes open for some cool stuff starting with my site http://www.clarkbartram.com.
I also work with TLC a network marketing company; we have a great cleansing and detox tea that is awesome for fitness models, competitors and average everyday people looking to flatten their stomach. You can see more about that at iasotea.com.
Hmm, in addition to that, I am in charge of a marketing team for Sci-Fit Supplements. I've been sponsored by them for the last 3 years, and most recently, I came on board with www.NtionSupplements.com in the same capacity, so I'm always looking for good people in the industry to either sponsor or work with.
WP: What would I find if I raided your fridge right now?
97% fat free ground turkey, turkey bacon, tons of eggs, non fat milk, lots of water, apples, pickles, chicken, oranges off my tree, carrots, salad, green beans; I actually just went and looked in there, so you got an exact representation of what I have (or had) at this very moment. Just like Cribs, but only in a magazine and 6 months after the question was actually asked.
WP: What is your favorite part of leading a healthy lifestyle?
Looking good! Feeling Energy! Having a physical prowess of someone half my age. Walking around my wife naked and acting like she is so lucky to even know me, let alone be with me. I play a lot; I'm really not in love with myself, but I am very confident...big difference.
WP: What advice would you give to someone to encourage them to take on a healthy lifestyle?
It's all very personal. My general advice is for each individual to determine his or her "why". This isn't a question you ask once and that's it, you really need to drill down and find out the true emotion behind "why" you want to get in better shape. It's not because you want to look or feel better, it goes way deeper than that and only you can get to the heart of the matter and find the true motivation that will carry you through the times you want to give up and throw in the towel.
WP: What is one personal fact you want our readers to know about you?
I do this because it's who I am, not because I want to be famous. I was doing this before cell phones, internet, facebook and social networking. I built a solid brand by returning hand written letters, making random phone calls and being 100% real. What you see is what you get; don't ask me a question if you don't want an honest answer. I always have people's best interest in mind, even if I seem "serious" or "intense". I've heard people use those words about me before, so that I why I chose them. I have a love/hate relationship with this industry. There are so many things I feel so blessed to be a part of, yet, other things I see and hear make me cringe. I'm approachable. I won't waste my time on people who want things handed to them, but I will always give my best to those who will give their best in return.
WP: Tell me, who are some of your idols in the fitness industry?
Well, I already mentioned Jack LaLanne, and honestly, that is about it, other than Mike O'Hearn. I love that guy. We have a special relationship and I consider him a brother. He has accomplished so much and he is always so real with his fans.
WP: What's next for you? What are your future plans for your career?
Develop FMI into something huge along with my amazing partner Gary Warren. Do more movies as they come my way, continue to coach and encourage young people with the platform I have been given.
WP: Anything else you'd like to talk about?
I think the readers may be sick of hearing about me by now, that is if they even made it this far.
WP: Any shout outs before we wrap up?
I really need to mention my family in Ohio. I feel so blessed to have the love and support of all of them. It is neat when you can say your biggest fans and supporters are your Mom and brothers and sister.
My older sister Mish is such a sweet person who never forgets birthdays, anniversaries and things like that. She works so hard and everyone who meets her loves her.
My older brother Rocco just came to visit me recently in California and to see how proud he was of me brought tears to my eyes. He was so complimentary of my kids, my home, and the things I do on a daily basis. Seeing that makes me feel really bad for the time when I was 15 years old and knocked him out cold! Don't forget that Rocco!
My little brother Jason, not so little at all 6'1" 280 lbs of Fire Captain and father he doesn't say much but I know he brags about me all the time at the Fire Station. My Mom runs around with magazines to complete strangers and screams, "look at how handsome my boy is" No seriously she does. "The apple don't fall far from the tree" is her next line and I can image what these innocent bystanders are thinking.
I love you all and thank you for loving me back the way you do.
Also, my wife Anita is truly amazing for being able to be married to a guy who has a career like mine. She has put up with so much and I feel truly blessed to have her as my wife and the mother of my children.
Thanks to Obi Obidike for asking Tammy to allow me to be on the next cover she planned to give to him...Thanks Obi, that was very thoughtful of you.
I want to give a shout out to my hair stylist Stephanie O'Dell at D Hair Spa in Escondido, Ca. Stephanie does a great job on my haircuts and I put a lot of pressure on her by telling her..."This haircut is gonna be on a front cover of a magazine, so you better not mess up!" If you are in my area and want a great cut be sure to look her up.
WP: Thank you for sharing your story with World Physique! You are truly a wealth of knowledge in the fitness industry! Best of luck in your fitness career!
Thank you so much. I do want to thank Tammy and her desire to help unknown fitness entrepreneurs, as well as well-known names, make their way into a magazine. She is opening doors and creating opportunities that otherwise might not be available to many of you. I will continue to support her and let's get WPM to the next level.
