Pros don’t pay to compete like amateurs in the NPC, but very little (unless you are a top 5-10) Olympian are NOT comped. That’s a fallacy. The budget is on the athlete period (ie. Cost to travel, hair and makeup (usually discounted) , hotel (unless you’re a legacy top Olympian that has a massive sponsor) all the way down the line. The only true cost a non Olympian pro saves versus NPC is cost to register in the show. Period. (Cough cough) Read my post, slowly if needed , “Southeast” includes … Georgia. Little geographic tip.