How Do Sponsors Decide On Anglers

[emjaysmit]

What makes sponsors choose individuals in the US? How does one go about getting a sponsor and what sort of are requirements should be met? Should a foreign people wish to compete successfully in the US how would one go about this...you can win as many comps as you like in SA but it will still still not warrant sponsorship in the US for a non US citizen...

[Sam]

1. If you win or do well in an Open, such as the Northern or Southern B.A.S.S. opens they will notice you.

 

2. If you win your state's Federation championship.

 

3. If they belirve you have potential to be a good bass fisherman and stick with it.

 

4. If they think you don't look like an idiot with a beard, long hair or tatoos so you can represent them in a professional manner and not look like a jackass who is on drugs.

 

5. If you have a good control of the King's English; don't chew tobacco or smoke; don't show your draws; are a good sport win or lose; dress nicely; stand out; encourage others; TALK TO THE PROS AND OTHERS AT TOURNAMENTS; be an outstanding sportsman on the water and not delibertly interfere with others in the tournament; have a nice boat that can take heavy seas like on the Great Lakes; and smile. The smile is the bait. Be polite and humble. Say yes sir and yes mam. Look the pros, tournament people, competitors, friends, family and others right in their eyes and concentrate on what they are telling you. Clean up the area without being asked. Arrive early for tournaments and leave late. If you are a nonboater pay the nonboater fee without being asked and before blastoff. Thank everyone for their help. Do these things and the sponsors and others will notice you.

 

6. If you go directly to a sponsor the chances of them supporting you with money, product or discounts is from slim to none. You have to offer something in return and represent them in a way that will make others want to purchase their products. You can always try for sponsors but why should the companies sponsor you without a strong resemue?

 

7. Sponsors don't care if you are an Eagle Scout; play sports; pay a musical instrument; are class president; are fantastic on an X-Box. They want you catch fish and do well in tournaments. Like winnning your club's tournaments and advancing to your Federation's Six-Man Team and becoming your state's Mr. Bass and competing in the Opens and other big tournaments. Still no guarantee they will want to sponsor you. But the odds increase in your favor as you prove yourself.

 

8. Your age. Are you still in high school or college? Not a good prospect. They want guys with their own nice boats and equipment who have the money to travel around the USA to fish as many tournaments as possible and are mature and will work hard to be successful. The monetary investment is around $60,000 a year for all expenses. Do you have $60,000 laying around?

 

9. For local support you may get a tackle shop or other commercial venture to sponsor you if you can prove to the company that by putting their name on your shirt you will be hitting their target market. What I mean is if you are an inner-city fisherman then maybe a gun shop or bail bond shop will sponsor you. If you live in the burbs how about a nice clothing store or retial auto sales company. If you live and fish in the country a tractor repair shop or feed store may be your best bet. See where I am coming from? WHAT DO YOU OFFER YOUR POTENTIAL SPONSOR TO GET THEIR NAME IN FRONT OF THEIR MARKET?

 

10. Put patches on your shirt with the manufcturer's permission and without asking for anything in return. If you love Shimano put a Shimano patch on your shirt. If you think Pure Fishing and Zoom are the best put their patches on your shirt. And send them a letter telling you want to do this and not asking for anything in return.

 

11. If you catch a nice bass put on your tournament shirt showing the sponsors' patches and have your buddy or mother take a few photos of you holding the big fish with the sponsor's patch showing distinctly. Send the pictures to the manufacturers shown on your shirt and let them know you caught these fish using their products. Now, are you using their products? Probably not but if you want to impress Zoom change the bait to a Zoom product and have it sticking out of the fish's mouth. If you want to impress Abu, have one of their Abu patches on your shirt and be sure to show the Abu rod and reel in the pic, even if you caught the fish on an Ugly Stick with a Zebco reel. Get the drift??? Advertise yourself to your sponsors showing them that you are catchnig quality fish on their products. Do the same with any local sponsors to prove to them that you can do well and promote their products in a professional manner.

 

Listen to the pros hawk their products, especially Ike. He will hawk his newest bait at the Classic but if you listen carefully he does not say he caught the fish using that bait. As for VanDam, does he really use his own crankbaits or just say he does and change them out for the photos? Think about it. I know for a fact that Kevin and Ike modifies their baits and do not tell us what they do.

 

There are thousands of kids out there who want to be sponsored. In what ways, who knows? Your goal is to fish in your state's tournaments; win a few; make your state B.A.S.S. or FLW Six-Man Team. Meet as many other fishermen you can and ask them for their advice. And win, win and win.

 

But first may I suggest you either get a college degree or learn a trade so you can support yourself and fish as many tournaments as you can.

 

The more everyone sees and reads about you the better the probability in your favor to get sponsors.

 

And by the way, at the tournaments ask the guys with the patches all over their shirts, caps and pants how they got them and if they are getting money or just a discount on purchasing the products? Everyone wants to tell you their story so listen.

 

One more suggestion. Go to Amazon.com and purchase Ike's book: Fishing on the Edge. He tells you how he got to be one of the top bass pros and coming from New Jersey that was one fantastic journey.

 

Good luck. And take it slow. You have a long life ahead of you and enjoy every day and your successes.

[Sam]

Scrapbook. I forgot the scrapbook.

 

Start a scrapbook with your photos and details about your adventures and the products used.

 

You can share your pics and stories with future sponsors.

 

And be #1 in South Aftrica.

 

Fish as many tournaments as possible and get known within the South Africian bass fishing industry.

[JayKumar]

If you are an unknown, first win tournaments and make a good impression...on everyone. Then take that resume and explain how you can help those companies in ways/areas they are not already being helped. Be persistent and polite -- do not pester them. Big help if you can find someone already "in" with a company to vouch for you.

[etommy28]

1. If you win or do well in an Open, such as the Northern or Southern B.A.S.S. opens they will notice you.

 

2. If you win your state's Federation championship.

 

3. If they belirve you have potential to be a good bass fisherman and stick with it.

 

4. If they think you don't look like an idiot with a beard, long hair or tatoos so you can represent them in a professional manner and not look like a jackass who is on drugs.

 

5. If you have a good control of the King's English; don't chew tobacco or smoke; don't show your draws; are a good sport win or lose; dress nicely; stand out; encourage others; TALK TO THE PROS AND OTHERS AT TOURNAMENTS; be an outstanding sportsman on the water and not delibertly interfere with others in the tournament; have a nice boat that can take heavy seas like on the Great Lakes; and smile. The smile is the bait. Be polite and humble. Say yes sir and yes mam. Look the pros, tournament people, competitors, friends, family and others right in their eyes and concentrate on what they are telling you. Clean up the area without being asked. Arrive early for tournaments and leave late. If you are a nonboater pay the nonboater fee without being asked and before blastoff. Thank everyone for their help. Do these things and the sponsors and others will notice you.

 

6. If you go directly to a sponsor the chances of them supporting you with money, product or discounts is from slim to none. You have to offer something in return and represent them in a way that will make others want to purchase their products. You can always try for sponsors but why should the companies sponsor you without a strong resemue?

 

7. Sponsors don't care if you are an Eagle Scout; play sports; pay a musical instrument; are class president; are fantastic on an X-Box. They want you catch fish and do well in tournaments. Like winnning your club's tournaments and advancing to your Federation's Six-Man Team and becoming your state's Mr. Bass and competing in the Opens and other big tournaments. Still no guarantee they will want to sponsor you. But the odds increase in your favor as you prove yourself.

 

8. Your age. Are you still in high school or college? Not a good prospect. They want guys with their own nice boats and equipment who have the money to travel around the USA to fish as many tournaments as possible and are mature and will work hard to be successful. The monetary investment is around $60,000 a year for all expenses. Do you have $60,000 laying around?

 

9. For local support you may get a tackle shop or other commercial venture to sponsor you if you can prove to the company that by putting their name on your shirt you will be hitting their target market. What I mean is if you are an inner-city fisherman then maybe a gun shop or bail bond shop will sponsor you. If you live in the burbs how about a nice clothing store or retial auto sales company. If you live and fish in the country a tractor repair shop or feed store may be your best bet. See where I am coming from? WHAT DO YOU OFFER YOUR POTENTIAL SPONSOR TO GET THEIR NAME IN FRONT OF THEIR MARKET?

 

10. Put patches on your shirt with the manufcturer's permission and without asking for anything in return. If you love Shimano put a Shimano patch on your shirt. If you think Pure Fishing and Zoom are the best put their patches on your shirt. And send them a letter telling you want to do this and not asking for anything in return.

 

11. If you catch a nice bass put on your tournament shirt showing the sponsors' patches and have your buddy or mother take a few photos of you holding the big fish with the sponsor's patch showing distinctly. Send the pictures to the manufacturers shown on your shirt and let them know you caught these fish using their products. Now, are you using their products? Probably not but if you want to impress Zoom change the bait to a Zoom product and have it sticking out of the fish's mouth. If you want to impress Abu, have one of their Abu patches on your shirt and be sure to show the Abu rod and reel in the pic, even if you caught the fish on an Ugly Stick with a Zebco reel. Get the drift??? Advertise yourself to your sponsors showing them that you are catchnig quality fish on their products. Do the same with any local sponsors to prove to them that you can do well and promote their products in a professional manner.

 

Listen to the pros hawk their products, especially Ike. He will hawk his newest bait at the Classic but if you listen carefully he does not say he caught the fish using that bait. As for VanDam, does he really use his own crankbaits or just say he does and change them out for the photos? Think about it. I know for a fact that Kevin and Ike modifies their baits and do not tell us what they do.

 

There are thousands of kids out there who want to be sponsored. In what ways, who knows? Your goal is to fish in your state's tournaments; win a few; make your state B.A.S.S. or FLW Six-Man Team. Meet as many other fishermen you can and ask them for their advice. And win, win and win.

 

But first may I suggest you either get a college degree or learn a trade so you can support yourself and fish as many tournaments as you can.

 

The more everyone sees and reads about you the better the probability in your favor to get sponsors.

 

And by the way, at the tournaments ask the guys with the patches all over their shirts, caps and pants how they got them and if they are getting money or just a discount on purchasing the products? Everyone wants to tell you their story so listen.

 

One more suggestion. Go to Amazon.com and purchase Ike's book: Fishing on the Edge. He tells you how he got to be one of the top bass pros and coming from New Jersey that was one fantastic journey.

 

Good luck. And take it slow. You have a long life ahead of you and enjoy every day and your successes.

you are 98% right, the one place that you made a mistake is with the Eagle Scout. I have had companies who targeted that to a reason to work with me, it shows work ethic, honesty and other traits that companies are looking for, but overall i think you are very much on point. I think you could have summed it all up by saying win, represent your self as a sportsman, an adult and professionally at all times and dont go begging people for anything.

[Swamp Johnny]

1. If you win or do well in an Open, such as the Northern or Southern B.A.S.S. opens they will notice you.

 

2. If you win your state's Federation championship.

 

3. If they belirve you have potential to be a good bass fisherman and stick with it.

 

4. If they think you don't look like an idiot with a beard, long hair or tatoos so you can represent them in a professional manner and not look like a jackass who is on drugs.

 

5. If you have a good control of the King's English; don't chew tobacco or smoke; don't show your draws; are a good sport win or lose; dress nicely; stand out; encourage others; TALK TO THE PROS AND OTHERS AT TOURNAMENTS; be an outstanding sportsman on the water and not delibertly interfere with others in the tournament; have a nice boat that can take heavy seas like on the Great Lakes; and smile. The smile is the bait. Be polite and humble. Say yes sir and yes mam. Look the pros, tournament people, competitors, friends, family and others right in their eyes and concentrate on what they are telling you. Clean up the area without being asked. Arrive early for tournaments and leave late. If you are a nonboater pay the nonboater fee without being asked and before blastoff. Thank everyone for their help. Do these things and the sponsors and others will notice you.

 

6. If you go directly to a sponsor the chances of them supporting you with money, product or discounts is from slim to none. You have to offer something in return and represent them in a way that will make others want to purchase their products. You can always try for sponsors but why should the companies sponsor you without a strong resemue?

 

7. Sponsors don't care if you are an Eagle Scout; play sports; pay a musical instrument; are class president; are fantastic on an X-Box. They want you catch fish and do well in tournaments. Like winnning your club's tournaments and advancing to your Federation's Six-Man Team and becoming your state's Mr. Bass and competing in the Opens and other big tournaments. Still no guarantee they will want to sponsor you. But the odds increase in your favor as you prove yourself.

 

8. Your age. Are you still in high school or college? Not a good prospect. They want guys with their own nice boats and equipment who have the money to travel around the USA to fish as many tournaments as possible and are mature and will work hard to be successful. The monetary investment is around $60,000 a year for all expenses. Do you have $60,000 laying around?

 

9. For local support you may get a tackle shop or other commercial venture to sponsor you if you can prove to the company that by putting their name on your shirt you will be hitting their target market. What I mean is if you are an inner-city fisherman then maybe a gun shop or bail bond shop will sponsor you. If you live in the burbs how about a nice clothing store or retial auto sales company. If you live and fish in the country a tractor repair shop or feed store may be your best bet. See where I am coming from? WHAT DO YOU OFFER YOUR POTENTIAL SPONSOR TO GET THEIR NAME IN FRONT OF THEIR MARKET?

 

10. Put patches on your shirt with the manufcturer's permission and without asking for anything in return. If you love Shimano put a Shimano patch on your shirt. If you think Pure Fishing and Zoom are the best put their patches on your shirt. And send them a letter telling you want to do this and not asking for anything in return.

 

11. If you catch a nice bass put on your tournament shirt showing the sponsors' patches and have your buddy or mother take a few photos of you holding the big fish with the sponsor's patch showing distinctly. Send the pictures to the manufacturers shown on your shirt and let them know you caught these fish using their products. Now, are you using their products? Probably not but if you want to impress Zoom change the bait to a Zoom product and have it sticking out of the fish's mouth. If you want to impress Abu, have one of their Abu patches on your shirt and be sure to show the Abu rod and reel in the pic, even if you caught the fish on an Ugly Stick with a Zebco reel. Get the drift??? Advertise yourself to your sponsors showing them that you are catchnig quality fish on their products. Do the same with any local sponsors to prove to them that you can do well and promote their products in a professional manner.

 

Listen to the pros hawk their products, especially Ike. He will hawk his newest bait at the Classic but if you listen carefully he does not say he caught the fish using that bait. As for VanDam, does he really use his own crankbaits or just say he does and change them out for the photos? Think about it. I know for a fact that Kevin and Ike modifies their baits and do not tell us what they do.

 

There are thousands of kids out there who want to be sponsored. In what ways, who knows? Your goal is to fish in your state's tournaments; win a few; make your state B.A.S.S. or FLW Six-Man Team. Meet as many other fishermen you can and ask them for their advice. And win, win and win.

 

But first may I suggest you either get a college degree or learn a trade so you can support yourself and fish as many tournaments as you can.

 

The more everyone sees and reads about you the better the probability in your favor to get sponsors.

 

And by the way, at the tournaments ask the guys with the patches all over their shirts, caps and pants how they got them and if they are getting money or just a discount on purchasing the products? Everyone wants to tell you their story so listen.

 

One more suggestion. Go to Amazon.com and purchase Ike's book: Fishing on the Edge. He tells you how he got to be one of the top bass pros and coming from New Jersey that was one fantastic journey.

 

Good luck. And take it slow. You have a long life ahead of you and enjoy every day and your successes.

 

 

 

This is an amazingly accurate representation of what sponsors want and look for. I have a small Crank painting business and these points Sam has given you are spot on. I sponsor 2 semi-pro's- (who should be winning some money this weekend- cross your fingers- check my website for further info)- and I esp look for :

 

A. People that win or come in the money

 

B. People that have a good attitude and are willing to work (not just walk around with your hat or jersey on and think thats all they must do)

 

C. People that ........

 

Just read Sams!(LOL) He nailed it!