Want Sponsors?

[b.Lee]

Off the Bat, people wants sponsors simply because they want free stuff and paid expenses.  You all can disagree, but what else does a sponsor do beside provide for you so you can be the face of their company so people like us can buy their crap.

I have no experience in fishing sponsors, but I do have experience in a sport where sponsors are probably impossible to get if you are not good.

I started out in paintball, going into my junior year of college I co-founded our schools first ever Paintball Collegiate Team. In doing so we had no support from the school and no support from sponsors. Our first year out we played every tournament we could and practiced as much as a could, honing our skills. We lived and breathed paintball. We never focused on sponsors or anything. Everything out of pocket, and this especially being hard for college students on a budget, with school to focus on as well... Fortunately we had a core group of guys and one girl which we always stood by each other, helped each other with expenses whenever we could.

In the end we made it the Collegiate Nationals in Grape Vine, Texas and in a two day tournament won our first national title and won the tournament itself. An even bigger accomplishment, we were the first team to ever do this West of the Mississippi, cause you see at that time all of the collegiate teams were from the East with full funding from schools and well established history of paintball.

In my senior year, we were contacted by all the major companies for them to sponsor us. We ended up fully geared and ready to go and with money from our school for travel expenses and supplies. Because we proved ourselves to be great we won again our second year out.

Moral of the story, don't go looking for it. Focus on what is important and the good stuff will follow. KVD, Skeet, Mike I don't think they got where they are asking people to give them stuff. They did because they became the best at what they do.

I am at the bottom left. No Guts No Glory, we flew to Texas not knowing what to expect and kicked butt.

[JT Bagwell]

Wow, in just over 2 months it will have been 3 years since I started this thread.  lol

Glenn,

What is the longest running (non-sticky) and most read thread we have had on here so far?

JT Bagwell

[bassattackerdad]

I think there are numerous reasons teenagers want sponsors, not least of which is to defray costs of very expensive bass fishing equipment like quality rods and reels, a multitude of lines, hard & soft plastics, hooks, tungsten weights, etc, etc.. Just like adults, this stuff costs! From club membership, national memberships, state memberships not to mention tournament fees, fuel costs, repairs & boat upkeep. I would say that the large percentage of those kids looking for sponsorship are pretty serious about their competitive fishing. Many of them desire to reach for the pro ranks. And once you've used high quality gear, you know there is a big difference between it and run of the mill stuff. Many of these "kids" are darn good fishermen, rivaling many adults who have been fishing much, much longer. As I said, it's an expensive sport and junior sponsorship helps defray costs. It's not just a one way street. Manufacturers know that these kids are the next generation of bass fishermen and some of them will actually become pros and some will actually become big names in the bass fishing world. What company wouldn't want to get in on the ground level of the next KVD or Skeet Reese? It's a gamble for them when they give out gear, but not really because it's all part of a comprehensive marketing strategy. Just like cigarette companies who want to "hook" the next generation of smokers, fishing equipment manufacturers & bait companies want to "catch" the next generation of bass fisherman. The earlier the better. On the flip side of this, there are guys who own fishing companies and people in the fishing industry who just like kids and enjoy seeing kids out there following a good clean passion like fishing. These companies are very generous about giving gear to youth who have a passion for bass fishing. I've seen this first hand. My advice to any teens who are seeking sponsorship: Don't just send out resumes. Try to arrange a personal meeting with the decision maker: such as Director of Pro Staff, Marketing Director, or the owner of the company if it is small. Some companies want a formal contract which will require an adult's signature and others will approach it in a much less formal way. Have your parent/s involved either way since you are a minor and your parent will always be looking out for your best interest. In my opinion, nothing beats talking one on one with your potential sponsors. This is the real business part of it. While a resume may seem important and it is to a certain degree, the personal interaction is more so. I have hired and fired many people in my life and my decision to hire always came after the interview, not before.

[basspro96]

Do you think when I am looking for a sponsor. For example I just sent my resume and everything to strike king. Which they told me to send in a resume. To tell them that my father has been in marketing almost 15 years now? And that he is head of US operations of a company...(He runs the US side of the company)

[Grey Wolf]

Do you think when I am looking for a sponsor. For example I just sent my resume and everything to strike king. Which they told me to send in a resume. To tell them that my father has been in marketing almost 15 years now? And that he is head of US operations of a company...(He runs the US side of the company)

I don't believe they care what your father does . You've got to sell yourself not your daddy.

[Tin]

Do you think when I am looking for a sponsor. For example I just sent my resume and everything to strike king. Which they told me to send in a resume. To tell them that my father has been in marketing almost 15 years now? And that he is head of US operations of a company...(He runs the US side of the company)

Your dad has nothing to do with it.

[basspro96]

Well one time a guy told me to put that I have a parent that has been in marketing and stuff..But thanks

[Scorcher214]

Being age 10-16 or even 18, we just want free stuff. Its hard for kids to get all the nice stuff like a shimano curado E, those expensive swimbaits, or a G. Loomis rod. we just cant afford it. Then we see u guys with jobs and the few with sponsors, talking about your cool fancy equipment. No offense to guys with fancy equipment. We just want the fancy equipment too. And free stuff ;D.

I'm only 16 and have more important things to worry about right now. If somebody wants to offer me a sponsorship, woo hoo I'm all for it but I'm not gonna go look for one anytime soon.

[RI_Bass_Guy]

Well I had job when I was age and saved up to buy "fancy" equipment and still managed to do my school work, play sports and fish. I had my first boat at age 17 and fished my tournament at 18. Its all about desire and commitment. You sadly mistaken if you think a tackle company or other sponsor is just going to give a bunch of free stuff to people who have not done anything. I know some junior bass masters who have worked their butts off and it has paid off for them with sponsors.

If you want something bad enough, you need to WORK for it

[Scorcher214]

25 years ago, it was probably easier to get a job as a teen. I've put in at least 15-20 applications. and haven't gotten a call or anything. All the adults that have been laid off now take the jobs teens would take. Especially since i live in Michigan and live short drive from Detroit.

I know that i wont get stuff for nothing, but thats wat i believe them little kids wanting sponsors think

[TimJ]

In my early club tournament days, I was loyal to one local tackle shop. I would recommend him to others and his prices were very fair. As I started to fish the tour, he set me up with a very big rod/reel company. I could give him what he wanted (my time) and he helped me out with a pro staff deal that, even though not cash, helped me out tremendously.

As I fished the Ontario tour, a few other mfgs approached me and offered goods but didn't ask for much in return. I appreciated this very much. I was told by a rep that if I ever needed support, just ask, from a major boat motor mfg but I had to kindly refuse. I couldn't give him the time that he deserved nor could I travel the distances req'd, and I told him that. Canada is big!

I guess that the point is you should build a rep and be prepared to pay (even time) for what you get. In the end, it's better to build bridges than burn them.

TJ

[fishermantony]

Years ago a musician friend of mine played me an instructional video from Flea the bassist from The Red Hot Chili Peppers. In the video River Phoenix asks Flea about the guitar he is using, Flea proudly holds up the guitar and begins explaining why he enjoys it so much, he finishes his explanation by saying the guitar costs just a little over a hundred bucks! Fleas next comment is something I will never forget and try to apply to many situations and areas of my life........."I'm more smash than flash."  In fishing I think sponsorships are glamorous and glamour and visibility are part of the American culture.  I agree with the author, if you want to be a competitive bass fisherman your first and main focus has to be fishing.  As you evolve and become competitive at different levels you should begin to think about the possibility of sponsorship.  I'm just applying this question to myself and actually using it as a great reminder of what I need to focus on......bass....because I'm just starting out myself. 

[VersatileFuturian]

I haven't read all 13 pages of this post but I thought I would put my 2 cents in. I was one who started in the youth and worked my way and am still working my way up. I started when I was 8 years old when the Bassmasters casting kids was a big thing. I won the state championship 4 times. I got too old for it and the junior clubs became the big thing as the casting kids dwindled. I won state 3 out of 4 years and a 4th place finish in the national championship 1 year. Then I joined a men's club. Tied for second in the largest club in my state and even qualified for the state tournament all in my first year. Went to college and started a club. We won the first qualifying event, finished 5th in the regional championship, and qualified for the national championship. Aside from all that I have done well in many team tournament schedules with my father. Throughout this whole time though I would see kids actually receiving sponsorships. I couldn't figure it out. Of course some were professional angler's sons but others weren't. I didn't know how they were doing it or how much of a sponsorship it was. It may have just been a couple free baits and a logo on a shirt but 1 year in the juniors Berkley had a deal. If you wore their hat each day of competition and then won the tournament. They would give you a 1 year sponsorship. We would sit through seminars as kids as some guy in a tournament shirt would tell us that it is more important to look your best on stage and present yourself well because potential sponsors are watching. I really disagree with what they were teaching us. But just look at all the problems with the different tours right now. Who is the last person they are worried about? The angler and even more the amatuer anglers. They are only caring about sponsors. I am not saying they have done everything bad but they have priced themselves out of the everyman's market.

We can all honestly realize that it is impossible to become a professional angler without a significant amount of money. Most young anglers who turn pro, that are in their early 20's, have to pay their own way. I don't know of any 21 year olds with $50,000 boats and hundreds of thousand dollars  socked away from mowing grass and summer jobs to pay for the entry fees and travel expenses to fish these tournaments now days. I know I cannot afford it. A lot of really good fisherman young and old, some better than the guys you see on TV, cannot afford to fish professionally. So how is a person supposed to capture this dream? I have no idea. If anyone knows, then please tell me. There may be a guy out there that can beat KVD 6 out of 7 days a week but cannot afford to fish the elite series. So who's autograph do you everyone will want? So yes kids look for sponsors and that's what we were always taught is that you cannot do it without sponsors. But sponsors are not just going to hand you money and say "here go fish every tournament and finish last place, it is all on us" but these kids don't realize that. You have to work on you fishing skills and the sponsors will fall in place. To make it pro though you either need a big break or a family that is rich enough to back you. I am 21 and am on 2 "pro staffs" of 2 different companies. 1 a rod company and the other a bait company. I'll get some free baits every once in a blue moon and a percentage of every sale I make. I get 50% off rods and a percentage of every rod I sell and when I reach a certain sale amount I get a free rod. Nothing big but that little bit helps and it is a start. I did not look for sponsors. I did not know how. I fished and work my butt off every day to get better and better. Those just fell in place. I am one of those guys looking for 1 big break.

[ttufishinman]

I am currently a freshman at Tennessee Tech University I am majoring in Agribusiness Management and I am also a part of the fishing club here. One of the main struggles for our club is having the money to participate in the numerous tournament trails available to the fishermen on the collegiate level. I can think of six off the top of my head and most of the tournaments we participate in are out of state. This creates a problem for the everyday college student because as you could imagine, money is tight. The University here does not really help us out as much as we would like, but that is understandable due to the economy and other circumstances. So as a team we must find a way to HELP with our money situation (notice i said HELP not fix) and as we all know this sport would not be anything without sponsors and the actions they take to make fishing as great as it is today. So who do you think we ask for help?............SPONSORS!!!!!!  Some people may want sponsors for a badge of pride or for a higher social status, but there are people out there (including my teammates and I) that truly need the help of sponsors to participate in the sport we love. We have a handful of sponsors now that are specifically product sponsorships, which in my opinion is GREAT. I cannot complain with a box of jigs and and a handful of six dollar spinner baits for free, but as you could imagine it is very hard to fill your truck or boat up with fuel with a box of jigs. Are newest mission as a team is to find a sponsorship that will pay for our new jerseys for the team which I estimate being around eight hundred to a thousand dollars. Of course the companies logo would be the biggest patch on the jersey and will be on the chest for everyone to see. We are not a very large university so you could imagine how tough it is trying to get sponsors when there are schools you compete against such as the  University of Tennessee Knoxville, the University of Alabama, and the University of Georgia just to name a few. These are very prominent schools that are well known all over the country. You could imagine how hard it is to get media coverage when the schools you compete against are powerhouses in the SEC conference. This just gives us the motivation and will power to go out to every tournament ready to win and project our TEAM (notice I said TEAM) as a candidate to sponsors in the field. We project ourselves in a very professional manner because sponsorships are not just received by sending in resumes and making phone calls, but it is also by word of mouth. College fishing is going to explode in popularity in the next few years and I am anxious to see how it turns out. This is a dream come true for me to fish on a college fishing team because not only will you fish tournaments against great competition, but it is a great way to make a relationship with sponsors especially if you plan on trying to fish professionally once you graduate. I plan on making an attempt to fish professionally after I graduate, but if that does not work out then I will have an education and a back up plan. Nothing will ever keep me from fishing tournaments whether I am fishing for the forest wood cup, in my local bass club, or just a friendly competition against my dad for a little bit of bragging rights.

[StingerJon11]

If you're looking for material for this article still, I'm 24, a professional, and never thought about acquiring sponsorships until now.

While turning a hobby in to a profession is the life-goal of every soul that has ever existed, I've never toyed with the idea of becoming a professional angler. Many consider making money a hobby to fuel other hobbies.

Being that I don't have a resume or game plan to become a pro angler, here is an outside input: sponsorships are viewed as a free ticket to stardom.

I've played professional paintball years ago and sponsorship hunts were part of the game that made things seem worth while. When spending countless hours on the road, time in hotel rooms, and money that should be used towards rent; you expect the industry to give something back to you. This isn't a "true" notion, however, as the individual is nothing.

Personally, I don't believe that anyone should be paid to go fishing. The idea is silly to me. For such a cheap sport that you can spend hours with well in to age, who needs sponsorships? Fish to fish. The sport gives you enough without having to be paid.

In regards to myself, I think people should pay me for everything. I'm marketable (musician with speaking presence), well versed in speaking and writing, and my intentions aren't ill. Sponsor me.

[Grey Wolf]

If you're looking for material for this article still, I'm 24, a professional, and never thought about acquiring sponsorships until now.

While turning a hobby in to a profession is the life-goal of every soul that has ever existed, I've never toyed with the idea of becoming a professional angler. Many consider making money a hobby to fuel other hobbies.

Being that I don't have a resume or game plan to become a pro angler, here is an outside input: sponsorships are viewed as a free ticket to stardom.

I've played professional paintball years ago and sponsorship hunts were part of the game that made things seem worth while. When spending countless hours on the road, time in hotel rooms, and money that should be used towards rent; you expect the industry to give something back to you. This isn't a "true" notion, however, as the individual is nothing.

Personally, I don't believe that anyone should be paid to go fishing. The idea is silly to me. For such a cheap sport that you can spend hours with well in to age, who needs sponsorships? Fish to fish. The sport gives you enough without having to be paid.

In regards to myself, I think people should pay me for everything. I'm marketable (musician with speaking presence), well versed in speaking and writing, and my intentions aren't ill. Sponsor me.

I really think you are full of 

[StingerJon11]

If you're looking for material for this article still, I'm 24, a professional, and never thought about acquiring sponsorships until now.

While turning a hobby in to a profession is the life-goal of every soul that has ever existed, I've never toyed with the idea of becoming a professional angler. Many consider making money a hobby to fuel other hobbies.

Being that I don't have a resume or game plan to become a pro angler, here is an outside input: sponsorships are viewed as a free ticket to stardom.

I've played professional paintball years ago and sponsorship hunts were part of the game that made things seem worth while. When spending countless hours on the road, time in hotel rooms, and money that should be used towards rent; you expect the industry to give something back to you. This isn't a "true" notion, however, as the individual is nothing.

Personally, I don't believe that anyone should be paid to go fishing. The idea is silly to me. For such a cheap sport that you can spend hours with well in to age, who needs sponsorships? Fish to fish. The sport gives you enough without having to be paid.

In regards to myself, I think people should pay me for everything. I'm marketable (musician with speaking presence), well versed in speaking and writing, and my intentions aren't ill. Sponsor me.

I really think you are full of

which part?

[Grey Wolf]

If you're looking for material for this article still, I'm 24, a professional, and never thought about acquiring sponsorships until now.

While turning a hobby in to a profession is the life-goal of every soul that has ever existed, I've never toyed with the idea of becoming a professional angler. Many consider making money a hobby to fuel other hobbies.

Being that I don't have a resume or game plan to become a pro angler, here is an outside input: sponsorships are viewed as a free ticket to stardom.

I've played professional paintball years ago and sponsorship hunts were part of the game that made things seem worth while. When spending countless hours on the road, time in hotel rooms, and money that should be used towards rent; you expect the industry to give something back to you. This isn't a "true" notion, however, as the individual is nothing.

Personally, I don't believe that anyone should be paid to go fishing. The idea is silly to me. For such a cheap sport that you can spend hours with well in to age, who needs sponsorships? Fish to fish. The sport gives you enough without having to be paid.

In regards to myself, I think people should pay me for everything. I'm marketable (musician with speaking presence), well versed in speaking and writing, and my intentions aren't ill. Sponsor me.

I really think you are full of

which part?

The part above your shoulders.

[Tin]

whiskey tango foxtrot

[etommy28]

If you're looking for material for this article still, I'm 24, a professional, and never thought about acquiring sponsorships until now.

While turning a hobby in to a profession is the life-goal of every soul that has ever existed, I've never toyed with the idea of becoming a professional angler. Many consider making money a hobby to fuel other hobbies.

Being that I don't have a resume or game plan to become a pro angler, here is an outside input: sponsorships are viewed as a free ticket to stardom.

I've played professional paintball years ago and sponsorship hunts were part of the game that made things seem worth while. When spending countless hours on the road, time in hotel rooms, and money that should be used towards rent; you expect the industry to give something back to you. This isn't a "true" notion, however, as the individual is nothing.

Personally, I don't believe that anyone should be paid to go fishing. The idea is silly to me. For such a cheap sport that you can spend hours with well in to age, who needs sponsorships? Fish to fish. The sport gives you enough without having to be paid.

In regards to myself, I think people should pay me for everything. I'm marketable (musician with speaking presence), well versed in speaking and writing, and my intentions aren't ill. Sponsor me.

I really think you are full of

which part?

The part above your shoulders.

Them be fightin words!

[J Francho]

Impressive internet muscles!

[ttufishinman]

If you're looking for material for this article still, I'm 24, a professional, and never thought about acquiring sponsorships until now.

While turning a hobby in to a profession is the life-goal of every soul that has ever existed, I've never toyed with the idea of becoming a professional angler. Many consider making money a hobby to fuel other hobbies.

Being that I don't have a resume or game plan to become a pro angler, here is an outside input: sponsorships are viewed as a free ticket to stardom.

I've played professional paintball years ago and sponsorship hunts were part of the game that made things seem worth while. When spending countless hours on the road, time in hotel rooms, and money that should be used towards rent; you expect the industry to give something back to you. This isn't a "true" notion, however, as the individual is nothing.

Personally, I don't believe that anyone should be paid to go fishing. The idea is silly to me. For such a cheap sport that you can spend hours with well in to age, who needs sponsorships? Fish to fish. The sport gives you enough without having to be paid.

In regards to myself, I think people should pay me for everything. I'm marketable (musician with speaking presence), well versed in speaking and writing, and my intentions aren't ill. Sponsor me.

if you dont believe people should be paid to fish do you believe any professional athlete should get paid? fishing is a sport just like everything else there is an elite group of people that are considered "pros" and for that they should be rewarded. when you say a "cheap sport" it makes me think you have never seen a twenty dollar luckycraft jerkbait or a 300 dollar gloomis rod heck skeeter has a new boat now that i think is around $70,000 although i may be wrong on that exact number but this sport is not cheap at all especially if you want to compete on a higher level

[StingerJon11]

If you're looking for material for this article still, I'm 24, a professional, and never thought about acquiring sponsorships until now.

While turning a hobby in to a profession is the life-goal of every soul that has ever existed, I've never toyed with the idea of becoming a professional angler. Many consider making money a hobby to fuel other hobbies.

Being that I don't have a resume or game plan to become a pro angler, here is an outside input: sponsorships are viewed as a free ticket to stardom.

I've played professional paintball years ago and sponsorship hunts were part of the game that made things seem worth while. When spending countless hours on the road, time in hotel rooms, and money that should be used towards rent; you expect the industry to give something back to you. This isn't a "true" notion, however, as the individual is nothing.

Personally, I don't believe that anyone should be paid to go fishing. The idea is silly to me. For such a cheap sport that you can spend hours with well in to age, who needs sponsorships? Fish to fish. The sport gives you enough without having to be paid.

In regards to myself, I think people should pay me for everything. I'm marketable (musician with speaking presence), well versed in speaking and writing, and my intentions aren't ill. Sponsor me.

if you dont believe people should be paid to fish do you believe any professional athlete should get paid? fishing is a sport just like everything else there is an elite group of people that are considered "pros" and for that they should be rewarded. when you say a "cheap sport" it makes me think you have never seen a twenty dollar luckycraft jerkbait or a 300 dollar gloomis rod heck skeeter has a new boat now that i think is around $70,000 although i may be wrong on that exact number but this sport is not cheap at all especially if you want to compete on a higher level

don't forget the $30-50k for a truck to haul the boat..

What i'm trying to say, as its on topic, is that sub 18-yo kids shouldn't be looking for handouts. I believe fishing is a fun leisure activity and if competition is your thing, enter them on your own dime. You'll get the recognition if you deserve it. Making a name for yourself isn't difficult on the local level. I feel marketability comes by making a name for yourself on a local level. If you deserve it, things will snowball. If you can't make a name for yourself and be in that network of people who know you locally, do you really deserve a sponsorship because of your resume?

People also consider poker a sport.

[Carrington]

i feel that you should fish for fun.  if i get noticed and some guy offers me a sponsorship then good for me, but im not going to go around asking for them.

[chris090981]

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

sponsors?

Because when they think sponsors , They think FREE ! They picture a 60 lb. tackle bag full of FREE lures sitting inside their FREE $70,000 boat awaiting blast off to fish their FREE tournament that their sponsor picked up ! I would recommend letting them learn just like you and i did ... Nothings FREE , But feel FREE to dream kids ! And also respect this sport and teach newcomers to respect it as well !