Promoting And Getting Sponsors For New Tournament Series

[AaronG]

I am a new tournament director for a relatively new series that focuses on anglers around Lake Erie. The founders started the new series with a couple things in mind. 

 

1. Getting anglers to work together on the same boat rather than compete against each other like in Federation tournaments

2. Opening up an untapped market in a fishery that is mostly focused on smallmouth bass.

3. Maintaining a high level of competition while keeping a friendly atmosphere for rookies and people new to the sport.

 

With everything being so new to me, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about where to start? I have a lot of options, but with a full-time job, a wife, and two kids, I would like to hear what has worked for other tournament directors in the past?

 

Sponsors seem hard to come by and I had no idea that so many small tournaments (like ours) are fighting for the bass anglers in my area.

 

I already have my permits and the events are scheduled for this summer/fall (2013). I have some connections in the area that I am using for a new website and the visitors bureau is issuing a press release to the region.

 

Any advice is helpful. Thanks!  

[slonezp]

I am a new tournament director for a relatively new series that focuses on anglers around Lake Erie. The founders started the new series with a couple things in mind. 

 

1. Getting anglers to work together on the same boat rather than compete against each other like in Federation tournaments

2. Opening up an untapped market in a fishery that is mostly focused on smallmouth bass.

3. Maintaining a high level of competition while keeping a friendly atmosphere for rookies and people new to the sport.

 

With everything being so new to me, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about where to start? I have a lot of options, but with a full-time job, a wife, and two kids, I would like to hear what has worked for other tournament directors in the past?

 

Sponsors seem hard to come by and I had no idea that so many small tournaments (like ours) are fighting for the bass anglers in my area.

 

I already have my permits and the events are scheduled for this summer/fall (2013). I have some connections in the area that I am using for a new website and the visitors bureau is issuing a press release to the region.

 

Any advice is helpful. Thanks!  

Payouts and well run tourneys

 

For a lot of guys it's not worth the price of admission. It's a double edge sword with some clubs. On my home water there were 2 bass trails for a long time. Both attracted the same anglers. One was run better, and slowly the membership of the other dropped hence payouts dropped. To continue to attract fishermen they raised entry fees to keep payouts high, it backfired and the club has all but dissolved. In the mean time 2 other clubs started up with entry fees $50 lower per boat than the club I fish hence lower payouts. What these clubs have done to attract more teams is change the payout schedule to include more boats (standard is 1 place for every 6 boats) which lowers payouts even more.(They are paying out 1 place for every 4 boats) They attract the same teams but are not growing with a 12-15 boat field on tourney day. The club I fish has a 50-60 boat field on tourney day throughout most of the season. It is well run and affordable and a team could potentially walk away with over 2k for 8hrs of fishing, whereas the other clubs potential is $400. In my club there is also the potential to win  bass boats if a team makes it to the TOC. For me, after entry fees, ramp fees, fuel for the boat and truck, including the prefishing costs, it's not worth it for $400. There are other clubs I have thought of fishing in NW Indiana and SE Wisconsin, again cost being a factor.

 

The NW Indiana club fishes Lake Michigan and weather plays a huge roll with tourneys being cancelled at the last minute. I don't know if that is a factor where you're at on Erie. For me to drive 2 hours to turn around and come home plays a big factor in my decision making

[Fishes in trees]

I don't know if this is on point or not, but I'm not a big fan of small club tournaments.  I haven't fished tournaments for a few years, due to some minor health issues.  Never mind that right now.   When I was fishing tournaments I only got a limited time off work every month.  (I'm scheduled to work nearly every weekend, weekends off need to be scheduled, often a couple of months or more in advance)

 

Anyway, by the time I figured gas, driving time, lodging, meals, etc. the only difference between a small club tournament and BFL was the slightly higher entry fee for the BFL.  The smaller organizations and club tournaments were basically trying to re-invent the wheel.  BFL has their organization down, and they present a professional, well run tournament every time.  It was a no brainer for me.

 

I don't mean to discourage you, and I don't live near you anyway, so I'm not a candidate for your tournament schedule,  but that's my current thoughts on the subject.   A new tournament organization would have to offer something significantly different for me to consider it.

[AaronG]

The tournament format offers a few different things. This is just my opinion based on tournament fishing in my area for 1 year. I could be WAY off.

• We run on Sundays. Most Federation tournaments around here happen on Saturdays. I am hoping this allows guys to do both without conflict.
• All events are team tournaments. You get to fish with your buddy/friend/son/daughter/wife. This what what drew me to participate last year.
• The Championship is participation based and has a large pot guaranteed. So even if you aren't a very good angler (like myself), you can still be part of a big event.
• We work with sponsors to giveaway valuable prizes after every weigh-in. You leave with a $10 giftcard to help with gas, or meal on the ride home. Also some good tackle sponsors give us items for anglers too.

Either way, I am happy to run this series in my area for a couple years so that my wife lets me keep fishing! Sponsors would help make everything run smoother, so hopefully my efforts to draw the big guys in pays off sooner than later.

 

We should have higher participation (bigger payouts) now that the tournaments have made the local news.

 

GoErie Article     YourErie Article

[tbone1993]

I don't know if this is on point or not, but I'm not a big fan of small club tournaments.  I haven't fished tournaments for a few years, due to some minor health issues.  Never mind that right now.   When I was fishing tournaments I only got a limited time off work every month.  (I'm scheduled to work nearly every weekend, weekends off need to be scheduled, often a couple of months or more in advance)

 

Anyway, by the time I figured gas, driving time, lodging, meals, etc. the only difference between a small club tournament and BFL was the slightly higher entry fee for the BFL.  The smaller organizations and club tournaments were basically trying to re-invent the wheel.  BFL has their organization down, and they present a professional, well run tournament every time.  It was a no brainer for me.

 

I don't mean to discourage you, and I don't live near you anyway, so I'm not a candidate for your tournament schedule,  but that's my current thoughts on the subject.   A new tournament organization would have to offer something significantly different for me to consider it.

The point of a club tournament rather than a BFL is that they are closer and you dont have to worry about the same thigns as you would as a BFL. I know that in my college club we have tournaments all across the country but when we have small tournaments we keep them within 30-60min away.  I wouldnt join a club after this that had their tournaments hours away.  

[slonezp]

Have you tried contacting major boat mfgs or motor mfgs or electronics mfgs or trolling motor mfgs  or BPS or Cabelas etc? You may be able to attract more anglers than having Joebobs Bait and Tackle as a sponsor. The club I fish has contingency programs with many sponsors. Basically what that is, 1st place gets "bonus" money if they are using and advertising the companies product. Power Pole who is a sponsor of this site has such a program http://www.power-pole.com/JLMarine/ProStaff/CaptainsCash.aspx and you may want to contact them to find out how your club can participate. I think most of the major boat mfgs also have similar programs. Legend Boats will give 10k to a first place winner driving and advertising a 2013 Legend Bass Boat. We have a sunglasses company and a fishing jersey company doing something similar.