Sponsorship Opportunities In The Midwest

[Missouri Bass'N]

  Hello everyone,

     I just would like to start off by thanking you for taking a look at my resume. My name is Austin Berti, my co-angler is Derrick Tyree. We are both 22 years of age, and very experienced in fishing, but always learn something new every cast. We have been fishing together competitively for about 2 1/2 years and look to continue until we start fishing with the big dogs (FLW,B.A.S.S., EVERSTART).

     Derrick is a former member of the Arkansas Tech fishing team, where he was very successful and placing top 5's in almost every tournament. I on the other hand decided to stay close to home and fish local tournaments on our "home" lake. Lake of the Ozarks. Gaining experience every time I went out on the water was my main goal, because I knew in the long run it would down the road.

     We are the young guys at every tournament and get the look like , What in the world are these kids doing here?, Until it comes weigh in time. I won't lie and tell you we've won every tournament we've fished and are unstoppable. But we have had great success in most the tournaments we fish. We are very outgoing guys, and really enjoy meeting someone new at every event. We make it a point to introduce ourselves and that alone has helped us this year, we have met what are considered to be the main "sticks" on the LOZ. Such as Dion Hibdon, Mark Tucker, Marcus Sykora, and have really became good friends with the Hulsey's who are considered professionals.

     Also, we have gained a following through our Facebook group. The Boys of Fall. We have about 600 members in that group and continue to grow weekly. The group is conditioned to hunting, because we also film our own hunts, but we are converting a ton to the fishing side of the outdoors. Not only are you sponsoring us, just so we can get the name out at tournaments but also we are active on the big social media and like I said we do have a following.  

     What are we looking for in a sponsorship? Of course, you want everything FREE. You and I know that, that is definately not possible in this sport.  All we are asking is a little help either with tackle, Rods and reels, fishing line, entry fees, and the list goes on. With this sport being the way it is and very dependent on money. We are just asking for a little bit of help to compete at a high level in fishing.

     We take this sport very seriously, and look to improve with every cast. We fish every technique and everything in the tackle storage. We have won tournamnets flipping brush, to cranking points, and back under dock cables. Asking for a sponsorship is somewhat difficult to do in regards that we ARE only 22 years old. But we know with our resources and the people we meet/ have met, can help us and you tremendously. Give us a shot and we will not dissapoint. Like I said we fish together, just until we get to the top. That's when we'll start fishing against each other. If it's plastics, topwater, crankbaits, or anything we can help you!

    Our next tournament is next weekend with Bass World Sports (100 boats) and then on to the Big Bass Bash (1500 boats). Throughout the summer we will be fishing big tournaments. Give us a chance to make our dream a reality. We'll make sure to help whoever is on board to the top with us. There are sponsorship opportunities available! With a strong following we will make this happen! We just hope that you are along for the fun ride with us. Any questions that you have or if you need our tournament schedule just PM me and I will sure to get back ASAP! Thank you for taking the time to read our resume and we hope to be in touch! - Missouri Bass'N 

 

Email : Bertia@eagles.k12.mo.us

Phone: 314-583-7977

[Missouri Bass'N]

We also fish Truman, Pomme De Terre, Bull Shoals, Kentucky Lake, and Lake Egypt.

[CKFishin]

This is more of a cover letter than a resume... But not bad.. Also the whole facebook followers thing is kind of silly because they could be all your friends combined.

[Long Mike]

Facebook?  Who cares?  Lose that reference in your resume', whenever you get around to writing it.

[jhoffman]

Please dont use colored fonts and jack up the font size like that if you ever approach a company. That almost gave me a headache.

[Missouri Bass'N]

The facebook, is a marketing tool. Companies use it to get advertisement. It's not all of your friends in a group. It is a following. It sounds to me that you guys arn't up to par with social networking. Every proffesional outdoorsman has a Facebook. Im just showing you that its already an established group...not just friends.   I agree with the font though. Thats my mistake.  To say who cares to facebook is just plain silly. Thats what you use, it'll help me. So I will just keep using it. Thanks

[CKFishin]

I know how facebook works... I guess you are ignoring the fact this is NOT a resume?

[flyfisher]

Definitely change the font and eliminate the majority of the information and turn this into a cover letter. As a person who has reviewed a few resumes, you want to be clear and concise, not long and drawn out and correct the grammatical errors too. Bullet out your accomplishments, goals etc....also, is this for you or your partner or both? Make it your résumé and your partner can make his own. Just like you don't bring a friend to an interview you don't put your friend on a resumé either. Don't name drop either unless they are references. Meeting professional anglers really doesn't amount to much as they are also paid to be nice and represent their sponsors in a positive light.

I definitely think you have some good content to work with but you need to either pay someone to write your résumé or do some more research as there are a ton of good templates out there to guide you along.

Good luck and keep fishing and performing well and the sponsorships will come.

[Missouri Bass'N]

Would any of you guys know a template or system to use when writing you resume? As far as name dropping, Do you want to tell the sponsor who you've met, or just say like professional fisherman. Thanks for the help.

[roadwarrior]

Just a reminder...

 

This section, unlike all of our others, is "No holds barred". Most of the guys critiquing your resume

have years of experience in the business world. You may need thick skin to go through this, the

reviews are usually brutally honest.  If there is just one thing I can impress upon you, it's this:

"Sponsorship is all about what YOU can do for the sponsor, not the other way around".

 

I am sure there are exceptions, but every long-term relationship I know about has been initiated by

the sponsor. That means do your best and always present yourself professionally. The money will find

you. 

 

[jhoffman]

I am sure there are exceptions, but every long-term relationship I know about has been initiated by the sponsor. 

That means do your best and always present yourself professionally. The money will find you. 

 

Yep, my first ever sponsorship came from me creating tutorials online.

 

Sponsors can also come from many places. I work for a university, I approached said university with an opportunity to sponsor our bass club. They sponsor us, get their name out locally and a link from our side, a win for both.

 

My point with that last sentence is you dont have to be fishing related to be a fishing sponsor. Look at the pros, heck look at my clubs sponsors.

[Missouri Bass'N]

Thank you for all the positive criticism

[Teal]

I agree with almost everything said about it so far.

Its clear you can fish competitively, but what do you do outside of fishing? College or work? Is it relevant? Are you working as a salesman or in marketing. (Just an example of a field of work that can be in your favor)

Do have any experience in being sponsored or representing a company or promoting their products?

What can you do to help the sponsor? a thousand other accomplished fishermen are probably asking for sponsorship also. So what sets youand apart?

These companies probably "file 13" dozens of sponsorship request daily. Set yourself apart but be honest, punctual and brief.

Three parts that of the resume that turned me off immediatly was the name dropping and the facebook thing. The first thing that popped into my mind was "grow up" i do not say this to be mean, i certainly think you,ve got something to work with. The third part that was a turn off was, doing a "double resume" by using your partner. The first thing that came to mind was the movie "Step Brothers" when Will Ferrel and John Riley did several job interviews as a team.

Keep working at this resume and post up here again. I wish you all the luck in the world.

Just remember, SET YOURSELF APART.

[jhoffman]

I took the embeded video down due to language

 

[kevfishin]

Facebook and Twitter are tools to add to your profile.  A lot of older anglers do not  understand generation cycles or demographics.  So there is nothing wrong with Social Media.  The bigger question is what is your Marketing Plan with Social Media? 

 

I do not see your Facebook group The Boys Of Fall.  Potential Sponsors should be able to find that group very quickly.  I spend 5 minutes and I gave up.  Don't waste your sponsors time. Throw a link in there so they can get there quickly.

 

Why did you put your co anglers name down?  is this a joint Sponsorship?

 

Never refer yourself as a kid.  It downgrades you.

 

Your Resume needs some work but its not bad.  Learn some skills in Marketing yourself better. 

 

Good Luck!

[jhoffman]

Facebook is a VERY VERY powerful tool if you know how to harness it. In fact, facebook changed internet marketing forever. Surely you didnt think that all the websites you visit the ads just happen to by chance tailor to things you enjoy did you?

 

Here is how it works. You go on facebook and you "like" things. Companys buy into the statistics of the likes based on your account facebook implants a cookie in your browser to differentiate you from john. You go to a new website, you might be on a baking website, but that company with its tie to facebook knows that you are a fisherman, you get a fisherman ad.

 

Facebook also gives you things like demographics so you can tailor your advertising. If all of your likes are lets say 4 year olds, you know you need to have cartoons in your advertisement.

[Missouri Bass'N]

Thank you for all the criticism and hopefully I can use it to write one hell of a resumer, until then I'm gonna keep fishin'!! Good luck everyone

[lmoore]

I'd like to provide a point just to expose you to what the other guys mean about resume versus cover letter.  While I do not have a whole lot of fishing resume experience, I do have a lot of resume writing experience.  I know many of the finer points in resume writing because I took a class on it in college.  I've also written many resumes in job searches during and after college.  It was a well written resume which allowed me to gain the career I currently enjoy.  One of the biggest things I've learned, is that people don't really care.  That should be pretty evident to you because it's likely by now you're skimming through this, barely reading it.  It will take something really different (such as the last sentence, or these parentheses) to get your attention back. 

 

A cover letter-type format does the same thing.  A company representative may start to read, but he's heard the story a million times.  "I want X product because I'm special in the following ways..."  Give him a resume with the things you want him to see most.  You'll likely never actually get a sponsorship just from a resume, but you'll get an opportunity from one.

[Missouri Bass'N]

Thank you! Really appreciate it, Im working on resume now. It will take some time, but hopefully it'll get an opportunity.

[mjseverson24]

Here is some advice. If I were seeking sponserships I would pick the company or companies that I believe in the most. I would do some research on products that the company has, not just the ones that I use. I would then do research on the types of anglers that they currently sponser. Do your homework on the company history and new innovations being made by them. Once you have this information available to you, come up with areas that your own skills and abilities can help generate new/more exposure and ultimately revenue for this company. Have a clear cut plan on how you can expand their market share. These guys that do the sponsership hiring are probabily not fisherman they are either HR guys/gals or marketing. These people talk and respond to numbers, with a dollar sign in front, and not how big your PB bass is. Once again I believe the single most important thing when trying to get sponsered is have a resume and cover letter that is specifically designed for the company that you are submitting to, a broad generic resume will just get brushed aside. Another Idea is start out with sponserships that are not necissarily in the fishing industry, they are the easiest busnesses to help increase sales, and  exposure. 

 

 

Mitch

[Missouri Bass'N]

Thank you for all the advice.