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KIM "KONG" FARRISON
The Voice, The Suits, The Man on the Mic
KimKong.net | Facebook
If you have ever been to a show in the Northwest, Hawaii, or other bodybuilding shows.. You may have had the chance to be entertained by the best emcee in the sport. Kim Farrison brings so much talent, vibrancy, and we all know about the stylish suits at every show he emcees. Not only has Kim been the voice of Bodybuilding, he has also been a champion on the stage. Check out his profile to lean more abou the Voice, the Suits, the Man on the Mic!
1. When and did you get started emceeing shows?
In 1984, a show now defunct, called the Washington Gold Cup, that use to be held at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. I had been announcing high school wrestling for a few years, when Joe Dawson, the MC, of the Gold Cup who was also doubling as a guest poser that night, approached me, and asked me if I ever had any experience MCing a bodybuilding show. I told him no, but he was aware that I was a sought after wrestling announcer, so decided to let me take over the mic when his posing time arrived. Promoters approached me that night, and asked me my fees to MC their shows. As the saying goes the rest is history.
2. What is the best part of your job onstage?
The best part of being on stage are the fans. No question. To be able to interact, and make the fans happy, and hear so fans many tell me that my antics made the show for them. I don't think of myself as an MC in the general sense. I am an entertainer first, and an MC second. The fans pay to be entertained. They deserve to be entertained. Fans, I love ya!
 3. What type of training do you do now even after your competitive days?
I currently train 3 days a week. I alternate between high rep work outs, and heavy work outs in eight week cycles. In other words for eight weeks I do very high reps, and then switch the next eight weeks to a heavy workout. I try to get some wrestling in when I can. I also try to do at least 20 minutes of cardio 3 times a week. I know that isn't a lot, but better than nothing.
4. Now I got to ask.. Who makes or where do you get your suits?
My suits come from all over. I have dealers in at least three cities that I mainly use. First off ATL, or Atlanta in other words. That is my suit mecca. You have to know where to look, and I do, for the PIMP suits when in that city. I have a guy in Seattle that orders some of my suits from New York. Another dealer that I use in Tacoma, orders my suits from of all places, over seas.
5. Who are some of the people that have helped you along the way to get where you are now in life or in the sport?
So many people have helped me along the way in so may different ways. The most important to me are the spiritual events in my life. In other words without God, I am without. This is the area that I would have to give the first place trophy, and overall too.
I have had some varied experiences in this area. If I had to grasp ahold of an important handle it would be in the area of spiritual maturity. I know we all mature as we get older, but don't all mature spiritually. I would have to credit Pastor Ken Hutcherson, of Antioch Bible Church, in Kirkland, Washington, for taking his time, to allow me to be educated under him in a small study group. What a blessing !
As far as the sport is concerned. My early beginnings in wrestling helped my mental toughness, enduring all kinds of encounters without giving up. I was fortunate to be an elite athlete who trained with other elite athletes, world champions, and Olympic gold medallist. As a bodybuilder this helped me have a very successful career.
MC wise, the promoters have been the ones who have helped me along the way. Just having the confidence in me to quarterback their shows was all the help that I needed.
 6. Who or what inspires you to strive for more in life?
First of all God inspires me to strive more in life. Secondly, I want to be able to leave something here on this earth for my children, and grand children when I depart one day. Let's hope that day doesn't come today at least. I am a workaholic anyways. I work 7 days a week.
7. What are some of the things you enjoy outside the sport or industry?
Outside of this sport I enjoy a few things that I can't talk about to the public. Not that they are bad things, but that their are some areas that the public can't be privy to.
What I do enjoy however, that can be shared, is unlike most guys, I like to shop. I love clothes, shoes, and jewelry, nice cars, etc. Also, because of my background, have been involved in mixed martial arts long before it became big. I like spending time with the old school music groups backstage, and on stage, in Nevada, or whatever city that we happen to be in. If you looked at some of my pictures on different Internet sites, you will see me with Earth, Wind, and Fire, Toni Braxton (pictured on the right), Tia Carrera, Chicago, etc.
8. What is your favorite memory good or bad while emceeing or competing?
My favorite memory as an MC can't be defined in one event, or with only one memory. I have had so many, in fact almost one per show.
All the inspirational stories that happen with each show. I look at all the elderly that compete on stage, and am so amazed that folks well into their eighties can look so good for that age. When I see someone who has lost 50, 80, 100, or more pounds, that is amazing to me.
Working with Arnold Schwarzeneggers stepdad for many years straight, as his favorite MC of all times. Having Jay Cutler, and so many IFBB physique stars ask me how come I'm not MCing the Olympia. To watch a first timers joy winning their first contest, the tears, the families of all the competitors. The many pictures on stage of the families with their winning athlete. Those memories, I couldn't purchase. One day when I walk away from this sport as an MC, I will take all of those memories with me. It has been a fantastic ride ! The state of Oregon has been one of the main cars on that ride.
 My worst memory as an MC is only one event. I was asked by Anthony Aponte to MC a show that he was co promoting with Derek Snelson ( this guy is a mental case ). Well apparently they never agreed to have me MC the show. So when I arrived at the show, Anthony met me, and lead me to the backstage area. When I got backstage, Derek, started to express his sentiment of not having me there. He started telling me, yelling, that he rather have his friend MC the show, and that he never wanted me there. I started packing up my equipment, me telling Derek that I was there on Anthony's behalf, and I didn't need to put up with his negativity. I also expressed to Derek that I didn't need to MC his show, and I wasn't the one who approached Anthony, or him about MCing their show, that Anthony approached me.
Anthony interceded, and pleaded with me to go ahead, and MC. That night Derek stood right next to me, just offstage in the wings, during the whole show. Very strange.
When the show concluded Derek followed me downstairs to my dressing room. He was now apologizing for his earlier behavior, then turned, and asked me if I would MC a show for him in Alaska. What ???.....drugs, don't ever do them. Needless to say, I turned down his request.
9. Any website you would like to plug, facebook, twitter, personal site, etc...
Websites? I haven't updated mine in a couple of years. It is probably time. Facebook, get ahold of me anytime folks. Love to hear from you. Kim Kong Farrison, on facebook., www.kimkong.net , also all the promoters sites that I have worked for probably has some kind of info on me as well.
10. Anything you would like to say to all the visitors to NPC Oregon?
To all the NPC Oregon visitors. You are great fans ! Oregon has some, if not the best competitors in the Northwest, and the nation. Oregon has produced several IFBB, national, and regional level competitors.
The two that come to mind that make the biggest impact, and that have in my opinion up to this point have been the best overall bodybuilders in the sport from the Northwest are the late Shelly Beattie, and Mike Christian. Both placing in the top 4 in the Olympia. Figure competitors like Mindi Sakamoto, Catherine Anderson, have made an impact by earning their IFBB cards, and top bikini competitor, IFBB, Angela Leong are from the great state of Oregon.
I enjoy Oregon every single time that I have the fortune of being in that state. Thank you NPC Oregon for allowing me to spend time with you, to share some of your life with me.
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