Opinions on "free sponsoring" so to speak?

[bassboy1]

I am 14 right now, and know that I am at an age where I can be easily influenced by a single remark or something, and not paying attention to the big picture of things.  So, instead of relying on the two posts I saw this in, I thought I would try to get a wider view of perspectives.  

I LOVE bass fishing, and am on the edge of being eccentric (either that or extremely redneck) in certain aspects.  I generally don't care what people think of me, for the most part, but do advertise my love for bass fishing by wearing some sort of bass Tee shirt.  Often (not always) this is a BPS shirt, due to the fact that they are easy to come by, cheap, and there is a large variety of them.  Would this be considered as free advertising, and a no no, or what?  What are yalls opinions on this?

[squid]

Wearing a t-shirt is the best free advertising out there.  Don't think of it as a no no until you are sponsored by Cabela's...then you shouldn't be wearing a BPS shirt.  If ya do...don't get your picture taken in it...lol

I wear fishing t-shirts all the time where I work...free advertising for them.  So it is no big deal.

[armesjr]

Your not sponsored by anyone so wear what ever you want.  I am not sure why anyone would ever say it was a no-no.  That doesnt really make any sense.

[Guest Bountiful_Waters]

Don't get all caught up in the remarks you have heard about not wearing a certain logo. If you like the companies product, there is nothing wrong with wearing it. Do you not notice that just about every piece of clothing you wear has some sort of ID or name tag. The kids all are wearing American Eagle or Hollister. Those shirts are insane in price just for you to have their name on the shirt, like a status symbol. Fishing companies are no different. Go on Ebay and check out how much Triton or Ranger Jerseys go for. That is no different than wearing name brand clothing. If you wear Wrangler Jeans, are you sponsored by them? I personally don't see the need in paying extra for a shirt because it has a big brand logo on it. People know I am a fisherman when they see me in a boat fishing. No need to pay extra so that people know I fish with XYZ company unless I am marketing for them, which I don't. I do wear clothing with my company name and logo, because it is my company. Keep it simple my friend.

[Sam]

I wear my college tees and sweats and even have a fishing shirt with my college name on it so I advertise my alma mata.

I also wear my Big Johnson tees (only place wife lets me wear them).

You can wear what ever you want as the guys above have stated.

Just make sure it is in good taste and not offensive.

Oh, by the way, my school is LSU.

Geaux Tigers!

[fishfordollars]

You are free to wear whatever you like. It will only become a problem after you enter into a binding contract. Why do you think all of the manufacturers sell the cheap shirts with their logo all over it. They recoup their cost and can write it all off as advertising.

[mayassa]

I agree the BPS tees are always free at an event get as many as you can, at one time or another we have all picked up something from an advertisement in our lives

[Tin]

Just attend a Bassmaster Classic weigh-in or a Forrest L. Wood Championship, you walk out with so many clothes, hats and other things you have will have a different tee-shirt hat and key chain for all 365 days of the year. It is crazy the $$$ they must spend for things like that they just give away, but its advertising for them.

[mayassa]

Just attend a Bassmaster Classic weigh-in or a Forrest L. Wood Championship, you walk out with so many clothes, hats and other things you have will have a different tee-shirt hat and key chain for all 365 days of the year. It is crazy the $$$ they must spend for things like that they just give away, but its advertising for them.

I wear an XL if you have any leftovers  ;D

[JT Bagwell]

I don't think the scenario that you mentioned is a bad or negative one. I have been known to wear a BPS shirt (or 5) when I am out cutting wood or shopping at a guy store. I think the whole "advertising for free" thing comes into play when you are fishing competitively and pay large sums of money for tourney shirts, truck/boat decals and high dollar jackets that all have a specific logo on them.

JT Bagwell

[George Welcome]

Companies have put their logos on their products forever. Do you feel you are advertising for free when you drive a chevy? - their name is on their vehicles. Do you feel you are advertising for free when you wear Nike sneakers? - their name and logo is there.

If it has a logo, don't worry about it.

The gist of this subject is those that go out of their way to pretend they are or are doing what they aren't. For example someone buys a wrapped boat, which the boat manufacture will remove for free, but that someone leaves the wrap on and goes around pretending that they are sponsored by that manufacture. This industry has more pretenders than you can shake a stick at. The term Pro-Staff used to mean something, but now it simply means that you bought a product.

You will know when you are sponsored when the company tells you that they want you to talk about their product. You will know when you are sponsored because they will send you all necessary tools to help them move product. Anything less is BS. You will also know when you are sponsored because you will get a 1099 at the end of each year.