WANTED: soft plastic company sponsor

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I think it is better for anglers, not just kids, who are looking for sponsorship, to learn the lesson about grammar right here by folks who will help and guide as opposed to them sending a company a letter that will embarress them.

I don't think anyone here is bashing at all. Many of us grew up with an emphasis on grammar that is quickly diminishing in todays society. In the age of text messaging, on-line chatting, etc, the english language is being destroyed but this is how the kids are learning it.

However, the professional business world is still just that.  When a corporate executive recieves a letter from someone looking for affiliation and it's filled with "lol's" , "IMO's", the word "I" used in lower case, sentences that begin with lower case letters, and words spelled like they sound, they quickly move on to the next applicant.

[Okeechobee_Cracker]

AMEN after the summers over and its time to go back to school I fell stupid because all I do all summer is text and use internet talk :-[ And I cant spell for beans

[langs15]

I do have a fishing dream, behind my hockey and swimming dreams. Just out of curiousity, how many tournaments do you win befre you could consider yourself, going to the next level to get some real cash. I enter local torunaments, as I don't own a gas motored boat, and even if I did, couldn't drive it as, I am only 14 years old. In the last year or so, I have became dedicated to fishing, entering our ''towns'' big fishing tournament, coming in first for my age group and 2nd in the whole thing, bringing in, a big amount for me, $75 bucks! Not much compared to you older guys for bigger tournaments. If I went to eneter a big tournament, where the winner brings home some $150+ would that be considered a big tournament for a non-pro? Thanks.

[George Welcome]

This thread is amazing! It appears that it is the blind leading the blind, as each person seeks to outdo the next with their knowledge of the bass fishing industry.

Realistically, no industry is going to hire a youngster to represent them, where that representation is going to have meaningful compensation. It takes far more than catching a lunker out of a local farm pond to obtain notice in this world of bass fishing.

There is no fast track to becoming recognized as a contributing member of the professional ranks of fishing. Before you can obtain a real sponsorship you will first need to obtain that status.

The real deal for you youngsters is to continue on with your education. As you grow and learn stay involved with fishing and increase your knowledge in this tremendous sport of ours. Understand, that if you do stay with fishing for bass, that sponsors come in many forms, and many levels of involvement. They have one thing in common no matter what their level of involvement: intelligent representation from those they sponsor.

Writing is an intricate part of this industry. Your ability to place on paper those words that wander about in your mind is as important, if not more important than your fishing skills. Spelling accuracy is but a small part of the writing skills that you will need to properly represent yourself or any potential sponsors.

Real sponsorship involves money, and lots of it. Get the education; learn the needed fishing skills, then think about moving up. Real tournament fishing involves tremendous amounts of money. Initially in this world of reality, you will be entering into the tournament scene with most of the contributing money coming from your own pocket. Do you have the money?

A final thought: Real sponsorship is not a few bags of worms or a discounted rod. Real sponsorship is full financial backing into the tournament scene. If all your seeking is a few bags of worms or a discounted rod, than you are not seeking sponsorship, you are seeking a handout.

[earthworm77]

Amen George! Most guys don't get it, and even fewer get that kind of deal.

[VaBass80]

If you can spare me a short amount of time to talk to the younger anglers on this forum. Like majority of people who fall in love with the sport of bass fishing, have ambhitions of becoming a pro angler. I can honestly say since was 8years old(renting that fishing video by jimmy houston at erol's and now i'm 25 ) I wanted to be a pro angler. But my parents said once you get your education you can do whatever you want with your life. If pro angling doesn't work out you can always fall back on that degree. I'm not saying if you dont get your education its end of your life, but its like plan B. I told my parents since grade school I wanted to be a pro-angler, they supported me taking me to lakes and ponds on weekends but still emphasized my education. When high school graduation was coming near they told me if I was so interested in wildlife pick something that is relevent to fishing. So I picked marine biology, after studying a year I realized I liked catching fish better then knowing what makes up a fish ( If that makes sense ). But instead of quitting school I studied my next passion US history, after graduating and having a stable job I decided to fish tourneys. I did fish smaller club tourneys and I think the experience is invaluable.

Personally I rather want the sponsor to want my services then the other way around, anyone can be a yes man but few can demand the services of sponsors. Once you have some success and you ask for sponorship, they will be there. But it seems people expect services before you really offer anything to the company. I dont want to seem like i'm trampling over your dreams, but I once was there with your type of expectations, but reality is different, and should be realistic. When reading the fishing resume forum I see a lot of young people deciding they were ready to become pro. This might be true for some but vast majority wont reach there goals right away and you will need financial stability to pursue your goals. I'll be the first one to say set your goals real high, but have things you can fall back on in case you can't achieve those goals, thats not selling yourself short but being savvy about your future.

[earthworm77]

The bottom line here is this: Some anglers feel that just because they like to fish, occassionally catch a fish, maybe even win a tournament or two, they are entitled to some sponsorship deal with a company.

HOGWASH!

If you can market yourself, actually spell sponsorship correctly, you are on your way to perhaps getting your foot in the door if you make the right decisions. Coming on a website and asking to get sponsored in an open forum is not one of those correct decisions.

[FiveAlive]

I don't think age has a whole lot to do with it, you just have to show a sponsor that you know what you are doing, you are respectable, and you can market yourself.  

[Guest whittler]

Begging your pardon, I do not think too many sponsors are looking for someone, underage, who needs a note from their parents to appear at tackle shows or enter a tournament.

[earthworm77]

Whittler, that is another excellent point. Not to discourage young guys but as a custom tackle shop owner, I don't like to think that any demands I put on younger staff will affect their school/home responsibilities.

[BASS fisherman]

I brought this post back to the surface for two reasons. 1. I believe this is a great thread that everyone looking for sponsors should read. and 2. I'm sick of seeing the post that I moved back with putting this one up front.  

[7magJake]

Well just reading the first couple of replies all I can say about what these guys have learned is Dont post on this darn site.

[Gatorbassman]

You've got to realize that this section for Resumes is not here to get someone a job or a sponsorship. It is used to fine tune a resume, and to get ideas on how to prepare yourself to work in the fishing industry. If you post a resume and it is junk then we don't hold back. But if you take the criticism and use it you will come out better in the end.

This is the only section that we alow this kind of criticism.

[7magJake]

well okay but some of the things I read were just nut busters but I guess I am just different. I think its pretty ridiculous though that someone uses a spelling joke and he just gets a mudhole stomped in him but I guess Im just whining because I am just a lil girl or something someone would say except for fear of being kicked off the site but I do understand the criticism for the resumes( I spelled it completly wrong and I dont care thats why word has spell check) So call me a :'( I dont care. But anyway I hope somebody replies on my question.

[Gatorbassman]

There is no reason to be scared of getting kicked off of this site. I can count on one hand how many we have booted in the last two years.

Oh and this is also the least visited section on the forum so it sometimes takes a while before you get a response from somebody who is in the know. Be patient it will happen.

[7magJake]

If you write it they will come?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

well okay but some of the things I read were just nut busters but I guess I am just different. I think its pretty ridiculous though that someone uses a spelling joke and he just gets a mudhole stomped in him but I guess Im just whining because I am just a lil girl or something someone would say except for fear of being kicked off the site but I do understand the criticism for the resumes( I spelled it completly wrong and I dont care thats why word has spell check) So call me a :'( I dont care. But anyway I hope somebody replies on my question.

This section is here for

A. Advice on sponsorships.

B.  Criticism of your resumes.  We are the proof readers,...the critiques.  If you post it, you are asking us to point out what is wrong.  Thusly, someone who just pops in and reads without knowing this, may view it as harsh.  It is,...but it is "requested" harshness.

PS- Check your spell checker, it ain't workin'

[roadwarrior]

"Tough Love"

Critiques in this section are BRUTALLY honest. If you expect to make it at the professional level, get over it and address the issues. No, it's not always nice and never sugarcoated.

[7magJake]

Well none of my english teachers have told me I was butchering the english language or made me feel like a complete idiot. But i geuss your right I was just having a bad day that day and was just venting.

[BassChaser57]

Don't let some tough love get you down and keep your dream alive. You must practice, participate, promote, and proof read.

Practice your fishing skills and take lots of photos.

Participate in activities to get to know people and help yourself get noticed.

Promote yourself as you go with an album of achievments.

Of course what you write shows who you are so be careful with your writing, your speech, and your portfolio.

This sounds like alot but stay on track and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up your dreams. Good Luck!!!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Well none of my english teachers have told me I was butchering the english language or made me feel like a complete idiot. But i geuss your right I was just having a bad day that day and was just venting.

Not an issue bud, now you know to be more aware, that's all

[Guest muddy]

Keeping it simple: You can't run with the big dogs, if you are going to pee with the poodles

[Buzbait88]

After reading this entire thread.  Everyone has some very good points.  One I would like to make to people who may not know is that lure companies aren't going to just throw money at somebody unless maybe they are pro's who regularly get on TV.  After getting a sponsor its a lot of work and usually you actually have to buy so much of that companies product to get into the pro-staff, sometimes several hundred dollars and after that you only get money or free lures buy establishing sales lead to sales rep and generating sales.  For instance my parasite pro-staff for the first 300 I sell I get 30 dollars of product.  When I get sales of at least 1000 I get another 25.00 in product and at 2500 dollars of sales I get a tourney shirt and I am required to work 8 hours at a store promoting the product each year or one show.  Its not all fun and games and it might end up costing you more in the long run.  I was contacted by essox fishing rods and in order to be a pro-staff I had to buy somewhere between 3 and 5 rods, I don't remember, but each rod cost a couple hundred dollars.  My advice to youngsters is go to college and get a degree for plan b.  

[Tin]

I was contacted by essox fishing rods and in order to be a pro-staff I had to buy somewhere between 3 and 5 rods, I don't remember, but each rod cost a couple hundred dollars.

That is not a pro-staff or field staff offer. That is a sales pitch imo. It seems like a lot of people are becoming suckers to this "buy in" thing that is happening more and more. How is buying a 5 rods, working a couple of weekends at a fishing shows, in order to get a discount or a few free products that doesnt cost much to make a good deal for me? It isn't!

Most will do anything to say "I'm sponsered" or wear a patch or hat of their sponsered company. :

[Jay_G]

I was contacted by essox fishing rods and in order to be a pro-staff I had to buy somewhere between 3 and 5 rods, I don't remember, but each rod cost a couple hundred dollars.

That is not a pro-staff or field staff offer. That is a sales pitch imo. It seems like a lot of people are becoming suckers to this "buy in" thing that is happening more and more. How is buying a 5 rods, working a couple of weekends at a fishing shows, in order to get a discount or a few free products that doesnt cost much to make a good deal for me? It isn't!

Most will do anything to say "I'm sponsered" or wear a patch or hat of their sponsered company. :

First, if you have ever handled an Esox Carbon Fiber Rod, you would love to have the discount.

Secondly, I fully understand a company wanting a commitment from a possible rep. Throwing money and product at  just anyone is a poor business plan and a recipe for failure. I personally feel the Esox approach is right on. I use their product because "I" think it's a good product, not because I get to wear their hat, which I don't.

I would really like to hear why this is a bad plan by Esox. I have been approached by guys wanting a sponsorship from El Grande Lures. My first question is; "Have you used any of my lures, and what do you think of them" I keep a customer list, so I am pretty sure I know who has bought from me as I don't sell retail. Why would I want anyone representing my company who has never used my product?