Want Sponsors?

[JT Bagwell]

After reading what seems like hundreds of posts on BassResource.com

I am curious to know why kids these days are so infatuated with getting

sponsors?

I did some "Ask A Pro" stuff for a childrens fishing program and I got asked,

by kids that were 11 or 12 years old, how to get sponsors.

In reality "most" people (regardless of age) shouldn't even be concerned

with trying to get a sponsor. That energy should just be focused on fishing.

I want to hear from the 18 and under crowd as to why they are looking for

sponsors? I am also curious as to why they would even think that a company

would even be interested in dealing with someone with little to no business experience?

I would also like to hear from some of the over 18 group as to why they are looking

and why they think they are worthy of a sponsorship deal?

This topic is something that I have thought about numerous times.

JT Bagwell

[squid]

GREAT TOPIC...YOU GONNA WRITE UP AN ARTICLE ON THIS?

WOULD MAKE FOR SOME GOOD READING!!

[basspro05]

I just turned 20 years old a couple of weeks ago, and I too have realized that I need to concentrate on my fishing skills more than gaining sponsors.  People will respond by saying that they read how much more important it is to be marketable than a skilled fisherman, but honestly when it comes to tournament fishing I am out to be the best, not the most popular.  I want to be the best bass fisherman I can be, and then I will market myself.

I am not putting sponsors on the wayside, I have worked in retail and wholesale sales since the age of 15, so I have five years of sales experience.  I also am starting my second year of college.  I have completed courses in public speaking, marketing, accounting, business, and interpersonal communications in order to complete my bachelors degree in business administration.  

Eventually I will pursue sponsorships to enable myself to compete on a national level, but for now I will keep fishing.  When I find products I use and have confidence in, I will pursue them.  One thing I will not do is pursue companies I don't believe in, maybe it is just me, but I can not promote a company and sell product for a company that I don't believe in or use myself.  I will put as much as I can into the business relationship my sponsors and I have.  This means promoting products through media exposure, and just standing behind what a company has to offer.  

I think that most of the young anglers out there have the same mindset I used to have, and that was, I get to wear a cool shirt and get free product.  Well that is not how it happens.  Sponsorship is a business that is what young anglers do not understand.  You as an angler are working for whatever company may be sponsoring you, and believe it or not you can get fired, if you do not promote the product or help in there sales, you will not be sponsored.

I guess when it all comes down to it, you can pursue sponsors your whole life and never be a competitive fisherman.  I want both, I want to be the best bass fisherman, while at the same time I am helping companies I believe in sell there product.

[JT Bagwell]

GREAT TOPIC...YOU GONNA WRITE UP AN ARTICLE ON THIS?

WOULD MAKE FOR SOME GOOD READING!!

It may have crossed my mind.  lol

JT Bagwell

[Root beer]

First off I'm 17 and I have experience in sales.  

Reason why I want to be sponsors is because I really love fishing. I want to compete in these tournament and since nobody hiring around here it hard for me to come up with money to get baits, gas, etc. All I wanted to do was do something for the company in exchange equipment to fish with.

I love business and sales I was hoping if I could gain a sponsor at this point in life it could look good on my college resume and future jobs. Even thought my future job is professional fishing, but I got to pay for that somehow so when I'm trying to get a job in marketing, advertising, or sales and they read that I've been sponsor or I'm currently am sponsored. My sponsor could tell them I do an excellent job in sales and marketing. Basically I'm doing this to learn business for future jobs, and to gain relationship with companies in the fishing business for when I get older and ready to pursue a career in Bass fishing on professional tour.  

I'm just looking to gain long term relationship with companies for near future.

Am I making sense or should I try to re-exlain?

[Hale]

From everyone I have ever talked to about this (youth) its a badge of status. They believe that it is the industry's seal of approval on being one of the best. They very much want people to look up to them as they look up to their heroes. Its not just happening in Fishing. Take any indiviudal sport (skateboarding, surfing, biking, etc) and its the same misguided ambitions.

Its sad that most people dont understand that they could just get a job with the same company they are seeking a sponsor from. Being the regional sales manager for Shimano looks way better on any resume than being 'sponsored' does.

[ABA CAST CHAMP 2006]

I am 24 years old and a student.  Like many others, I've felt the pressure to acquire sponsors but have not pursued any as my studies have become more important to me at this time than fishing.  I realize that competing at a national level, such as BASS or FLW, that the fees for the events can be quite high, and there is just not enough time or money during the week to work a regular 40 hour job, travel 1 or more days to an event, practice, and do well in a competition.  That, perhaps, is a reason why many anglers from the younger generations feel as though sponsorship is an absolute necessity.

Also, I've noticed the hard work ethic of professional anglers.  The stories of how they came to be professionals are not always puppy dogs, unicorns and four-leaf clovers.  They've all worked very hard in the past and that hard work has proven to be economically viable for them.  Some of us want to be the best, and we can be, but we're going to have to take the ride.  Some of us will get there faster than others, and some of will get there less scathed than others, but if we work just as hard as the professionals to get where we want, then we will.  Someone will notice.

[Jarodgb]

J.T.,

My desire to get sponsored comes from years and years of hard work and sacrifice. As a freshman in high school I was asked by my counselor, what I wanted to do after school. Without hesitation, I looked him dead in the eye and responded I want to be a professional bass fisherman!

I'll never forget that look on his face; he quickly changed the topic by asking me if I had a backup plan in mind. Since that day, I have done all I could to create a back up plan. In a previous post (Advice Please) I've listed some of my recent accomplishments.

I believe whole heartedly, that a company would be silly not to see worth in someone with my credentials.

In no way do I want to paint a picture of myself as better than everyone else, I'm just a former kid who listened to the advice of past pro's and feel like now is the time to make my move.

P.S. I currently have 0 sponsors.

Jarod

[Banor]

I just turned 20 years old a couple of weeks ago, and I too have realized that I need to concentrate on my fishing skills more than gaining sponsors. People will respond by saying that they read how much more important it is to be marketable than a skilled fisherman, but honestly when it comes to tournament fishing I am out to be the best, not the most popular. I want to be the best bass fisherman I can be, and then I will market myself.

I am not putting sponsors on the wayside, I have worked in retail and wholesale sales since the age of 15, so I have five years of sales experience. I also am starting my second year of college. I have completed courses in public speaking, marketing, accounting, business, and interpersonal communications in order to complete my bachelors degree in business administration.

Eventually I will pursue sponsorships to enable myself to compete on a national level, but for now I will keep fishing. When I find products I use and have confidence in, I will pursue them. One thing I will not do is pursue companies I don't believe in, maybe it is just me, but I can not promote a company and sell product for a company that I don't believe in or use myself. I will put as much as I can into the business relationship my sponsors and I have. This means promoting products through media exposure, and just standing behind what a company has to offer.

I think that most of the young anglers out there have the same mindset I used to have, and that was, I get to wear a cool shirt and get free product. Well that is not how it happens. Sponsorship is a business that is what young anglers do not understand. You as an angler are working for whatever company may be sponsoring you, and believe it or not you can get fired, if you do not promote the product or help in there sales, you will not be sponsored.

I guess when it all comes down to it, you can pursue sponsors your whole life and never be a competitive fisherman. I want both, I want to be the best bass fisherman, while at the same time I am helping companies I believe in sell there product.

I could not have said this better myself.

I'll resort to "ditto".  My only regret is that I did not start this journey 14 years ago when I was 20.

B

[earthworm77]

Basspro05- You my friend have the right idea or at least a good plan. I appreciate reading this type of post from someone your age. You know what your priorities are. I honestly believe if you do well with your fishing, you will find a way to make yourself marketable, don't underestimate the importance of that. In my experience, my tournament success and marketing went hand in hand. One relied on the other. Start off small and let it manifest itself. Good luck with that.

Kevin, your explanation sounds like you are interested in a sales position at a lure company. A sponsorship will most liklely require you to promote your companies products to some degree but the marketing we are talking about is how you prepare to portray yourself to a sponsor. The package you put together will allow the sponsor to base his decision on picking you up. If you are marketable, meaning appealing to the many aspects of representing that company through but not limited to public speaking, moral and ethical issues, responsibility, dependibility, enthusiasm etc. then you may find yourself in the thick of things.

[basspro05]

Thanks Earthworm77, I still have alot to learn about the fishing industry, I am glad that others think I have my priorities straight.  I guess my plan is sending me in the right direction.

[Root beer]

Kevin, your explanation sounds like you are interested in a sales position at a lure company. A sponsorship will most liklely require you to promote your companies products to some degree but the marketing we are talking about is how you prepare to portray yourself to a sponsor. The package you put together will allow the sponsor to base his decision on picking you up. If you are marketable, meaning appealing to the many aspects of representing that company through but not limited to public speaking, moral and ethical issues, responsibility, dependibility, enthusiasm etc. then you may find yourself in the thick of things.

Well, yeah I know that. But I want to be involved with a company in a way of helping them come up with products and technique with that new products.  Problem with me is I cant tell a company everything about me on a single application they just have to talk to me more, etc. Until they learn about all of my quality before they are giving a decieson about me. I'm just one of those person that cant explain all of my qualities and reasons why I would be a good person to sponsor on one piece of paper.

I'll try to work on putting everything into one resume. I just feel you can learn more about me better while talking to me rather then reading about me.

But back to my explanation being part of a sales is also like being sponsors (well not exactly) But hey if the guys that are sponsors are not promoting anything then you aren't making any profit.

To me that almost same thing as being in sales. You got to promote and tell everything about the product in the end if they buy you are pretty much person responibile for that sale.  Am I right?

Anyway I'll try to work on my resume when I'm out of school on president day and see what happens. I hope one day get a chance to prove my worthy. ;D (I hope that didnt sound cocky)

[CSB]

I think a lot of the 18 and under crowd sees sponsorship as "the cool thing". Free stuff and a status sysmbol.  What they dont see is the hard work it takes to attract and maintain business partners. I compare sponsorship to having a credit card. Yes you get some things up front, like money, product, etc.. But you have to pay for it somehow, spending about 20% of your yearly budget on promoting your partners, traveling to to promotional events, etc. and if you dont pay back the debt in a timely fashion, bad things happen like losing your partners.

My advice to the younger crowd if you're serious about fishing for a living is to fish for the purest of reasons - because you love it. Go to school, get a degree in marketing. Save up some money, stay out of debt, enter some mid-sized tournies and learn.

[earthworm77]

I think the biggest, most misleading thing about the sponsorship game is that most anglers assume they are entitled to something just because they fish. This simply is not the case.

[jcbass1]

I think the biggest, most misleading thing about the sponsorship game is that most anglers assume they are entitled to something just because they fish. This simply is not the case.

I think I'd probably have to agree with that.

In my case, I've yet to approach anybody about a potential sponsorship, simply because I don't feel like I've earned that right.  I've been fishing since I was old enought to hold a rod, but have only been tourney fishing for 2 seasons.  I've yet to win a single tournament (other than club T's), let alone more than one, so who in their right mind would sponsor me anyway??

I guess my opinion stems from being a business owner myself.  Although my industry isn't fishing, the advertising side of things is similar.  When I look at myself as an angler, I ask myself if my company would sponsor someone with my qualifications.  So far the answer has been "no", and until it is "yes" I believe I'll continue to be "self-sponsored".  

On another note:  I was at a fairly large tournament last year, and saw exactly how NOT to attract a sponsor.  This fellow happened to catch the big bass of the day, and when he got on stage he flat-out cried for someone to pick him up.  He had to have talked for 2 minutes about how "hard" it was trying to compete, and how he "needed" a sponsor or two, blah, blah, blah.  If I was in the market for an angler, this guy would have fallen off the bottom of my list right then and there.

-J

[Root beer]

Not to sound cocky, but I understand that business side I really do. I just wish I can make a decent resume and get notice. Anyone wants to email me what a good resume should look like for attracting sponsors?

What exactly are the sponsors looking for? Looking for what I can do for company, exposure I recieve, my maturality, and personality? Is that what sponsors looking for?

I'm stuck on trying to type and have a good organize resume. I've just written down rough drafts and stuff, but it not ready to be offical.

[senko_77]

Not to sound cocky, but I understand that business side I really do. I just wish I can make a decent resume and get notice. Anyone wants to email me what a good resume should look like for attracting sponsors?

What exactly are the sponsors looking for? Looking for what I can do for company, exposure I recieve, my maturality, and personality? Is that what sponsors looking for?

I'm stuck on trying to type and have a good organize resume. I've just written down rough drafts and stuff, but it not ready to be offical.

All sponsors see when they look at you is a large $100 bill.  The goal of them sponsoring you is to get them more business.  IMO, angling skill has nothing to do with it.  Selling yourself has everything to do with it.  If you cant throw anything but a zebco, but you can sell 1000 packs of GYCB senkos at a trade show, then your going to be sponsored over the guy who can put a jig in a thimble 20 yards away, but doesn't have marketing skills.  If your hellbent on sponsors, concentrate your efforts on how to effectively sell yourself.  

[JT Bagwell]

Senko77,

You got it man!!!

JT Bagwell

[squid]

ALL THAT FROM A KID......... ........SMART KID........ 8-)

[Banor]

Well said, Senko.

JT,

For me, when/if I ever begin actively seeking sponsorships I would hope that I wont need a blanket resume or have to introduce myself to a complete stranger and hope that he might be looking for an extra staffer.

When I do approach a prospective sponsor I want them to already know that I use their product and recognize me (even if only faintly) from some venue where I was already associated with their product.  I would hope that I had crossed a stage somewhere with a limit of fish and the MC asked me how I caught the limit and this prospective sponsor had seen it.  

I also dont believe in free advertising.  You wont see me with a logo plastered all over me hoping that company will pick me up.  If I wear a logo or actively talk about a product it will be because I have used it and am confident in it to the point that it has won me some money or given me a good measure of success.

This is why you have not seen me post a resume on this board or any other board for that matter.  When I write a resume I will know my target audience and tailor it so that they know it was written for them.  My mission statement will be wholeheartedly emphasizing how I will or have marketed THEIR product.  Not products in general.

Let's take a rod company for instance.  In my cover letter you wont see words like "your product" or "your baits".  You will see something like "this past season I won two tournaments caught on a limit anchored by the big bass for one tournament using your UXLC701MH.  When asked what contributed to my success I confidently gave credit to the sensitivity and power of this rod."

etc etc etc.

In a perfect scenerio I wouldnt be writing a cover letter I would be shaking a hand and asking "Dave" or "Bob" how his season is going this year and verbally communicating in a face to face what would be on my cover letter.

Just my take,

B

[basspro96]

I am twelve years old first year in a bass club and I am looking for sponsors. For one I know the responsibilty it is to have a sponsor. Like senko said you have to know how to talk have good personality to in fishing terms "Get the fish to bite the bait" meaning the customer take your sales pitch. Ray Scott for example I do not know if any of you have read his book,but he is a perfect example he could sale anybody anything. He is a perfect candidate for a sponsorship. Bottom line is I would love to be a sponsored jr. angler. At my age to get sponsored you have to like to talk know what you are talking about and be a good sales person.Personally I can get anyone to buy anything.

[RobbyZ5001]

The question you have to ask yourself is what can you do for the company. What can you offer them worth them spending time/money/effort in you? Why would they give you a second sniff? Show the companies that you can provide answers to those questions and you should have a sponsor.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I am twelve years old first year in a bass club and I am looking for sponsors. For one I know the responsibilty it is to have a sponsor. Like senko said you have to know how to talk have good personality to in fishing terms "Get the fish to bite the bait" meaning the customer take your sales pitch. Ray Scott for example I do not know if any of you have read his book,but he is a perfect example he could sale anybody anything. He is a perfect candidate for a sponsorship. Bottom line is I would love to be a sponsored jr. angler. At my age to get sponsored you have to like to talk know what you are talking about and be a good sales person.Personally I can get anyone to buy anything.

The issue here is age.  Most sponsors do not want to enter into a contract with a minor.  

In all brutal honesty, a sponsor won't usually consider a youth till they make it to the JWC's.  This is the route I would take if I were you... but be prepared to have your parents handle the details and contracts.

[Tin]

I am twelve years old first year in a bass club and I am looking for sponsors. For one I know the responsibilty it is to have a sponsor. Like senko said you have to know how to talk have good personality to in fishing terms "Get the fish to bite the bait" meaning the customer take your sales pitch. Ray Scott for example I do not know if any of you have read his book,but he is a perfect example he could sale anybody anything. He is a perfect candidate for a sponsorship. Bottom line is I would love to be a sponsored jr. angler. At my age to get sponsored you have to like to talk know what you are talking about and be a good sales person.Personally I can get anyone to buy anything.

The issue here is age. Most sponsors do not want to enter into a contract with a minor.

In all brutal honesty, a sponsor won't usually consider a youth till they make it to the JWC's. This is the route I would take if I were you... but be prepared to have your parents handle the details and contracts.

Yup, because JWC's equal publicity and LOTS of it. Some companies are even having an age limit. I talked to guys from the whole Booyah/Bomber comapny a few years back and they wont sign anyone till they are 21.

[basspro96]

well i have made it to both states this year won state in casting kids went to the semifinals I am determined to go to the JWC I am the president of my jr bass club so ya i do have alot of publicity i know i semi pro or pro i guess fisherman he could help me find some siminars and trade shows to advertise