How to get sponsered

[Madeye]

Ahhh i remeber the days.
Back when tornment breaming was just getting started. Thinking to myself "i wish i could get sponsored" imagining sleeping on a bed of lures... well you get the idea.

I used to wonder "what do i have to do to get sponsererd"
There has been a bit of talk around latley about sponsorship and what is expected.
Now the shoe is on the other foot. And now i am the one looking to market my products through sponsering events and anglers.

Well for all you young budding angler here is MY VEIW on what i would look for/ expect when sponsering an angler. I am a drop in a large sea so my veiw will vary from the big guys but im sure the principles are the same.(not speaking for anyone else or trying to rub anyone up the wrong way).

Rather than thinking what can i get out of getting a sponser you need to think "what can they get out of me". Sponsership works both ways. Its all about marketing. As sad as it is fishing is a business and companys are looking for the maximum $$$ for thier outlay. But remember if there was no money to be made no one would get sponsered.
One way of looking at it is that you are a living breathing advertisment paid for in product.

Number 1: Win comps. Its a real shame i am placing this above number 2 but its the way things work. If you get up on stage and say you one comp X using lure Z every man and his dog goes out and buys that product. However dont think that because you cant afford to enter all the comps you will never get sponsered.

Number 2: Catch fish .I would love to have this as number one but its a close second. You know it amazes me how much time people spend talking about going fishing (forums) but very rarley do much fishing. Get out there catch fish and then let others know about how you went. Nothing like reading a good report. Dont worry if you didnt catch and monsters not every trip ends in 40cm fish. Its often all the other days that allow you to catch that horse. Dont let me confuse you though. You will need to be catching big fish to stand a chance but posting about any trip will win you browny points.
Also liven up those posts. Some of the best reports i have read arnt of big fish. Writting "went out today caught 3 30-38cm 1 42cm and lost a monster" doesnt allow us to see and feel you passion and thats what a company will be looking for. Example of a post with no photos and no fish but still a great read http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34845

Number 3: Post pics. This runs hand in hand with 2#.A picture paints a thousand words but it can also sell a thousand lures. No use catching fish if no-one knows about it. Not just any pics either but quailty photos that make you wish it was you holding that fish.
Check out some of drors photos (hope you dont mind) http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34220
These arnt monster fish but they make we want to run out grab my rod grab some of thoose lures and hit the river .
And please dont post pics with the background blured out. For one they look like crap and 2 they dont make people want to go out and buy the product . If someone see a big fish caught with X lure at X spot they will want to go out and buy that lure and try it there. We all catch fish we dont want others to know where .If you have caught a stonker at your secret spot take the photo so there are no land marks, do head shot, keep the fish close to the water so thats the only background.
Really want to get browny points. Send your pics to the company in question. Tell them they can use it in thier gallery/promotion

Number 4: be a nice guy. What is with all the agro latley. Seriously guys i dont understand all the hate flying about. We are all here because we love fishing. So why are there so many threads getting closed due to fights.
Although lower on the list if you were sponsered by me and i noticed you ebing rude to others i would drop you faster than a sack of bricks.
Be helpfull to others. Remeber there was a time when you didnt know everything you did. It amazing what a little bit of kindness can do. I am in debt to my neighbour who taught me the ropes. His willingness to help me had payed divendedns with free trips on the boat whenever im out, rods and reels when i upgrade and i share any info i have.
By being a nice guy the company that sponsors you comes across in the same fashion.
This works in reverse though. There is one company i refuse to by product from because of the way a sponsored angler treated a friend. Even though i know this product is very effective i refuse to be accociated with it.
You dont have to go out teeling every tom dick and harry your seccret spot. It can be as simple as showing someone how to tie a new knot. Or pointing out a good bargin you saw. You would be amazed if you knew who was watching these forums
Dont talk yourself up. Nothing worse than someone who loves them self. I dont care if your the #1 bream fisherman in the contry if you act like a tool people will treat you like one (like that spade i keep out the back for shoveling dog...). And by listening to others you will also learn more and become an even better angler.
I bought a sounder from one onf the top 5 tornment anglers in the contry. I didnt realise it was him till after. Yet he was the most down to earth guy who had no heirs about him. Let me tell you he is worth every boat/car/rod/reel he gets given.

A new trend i am noticing that is bugging me is people questioning others reports. Who are you to say Bob didn't catch ten 40+ cm bream under said bridge. You must have been there right????
It wasnt that long ago that small cameras wernt around to take pics and yet people still caught fish and posted about them without photos.
Im not trying to brag here. But i have caught many large snapper. Unfortunatley i dont have the pics to prove it. I always forget my camera or am to excited and forget to take a photo. I dont see the point of taking a photo once i get home as i know i caught it and dont need to brag to anyone about it. Even if had taken a pic i would never post it as land marks can be used to find my spots and dates can also be used for info. However this doesnt mean i havnt caught any just because i dont have a photo.
And what does it matter if he is lying. Its not like his lies will cause money to fall from the sky into his lap.
If this continues no one will ever right a report without pics because no-one will belive them
You should be greatfull for any info. If you dont belive it, read it and shut up.


Number 5: Belive in your product. Dont take stuff for free just because its offered to you. This will only end up hurting both parties in the long run.
If you belive in your product this will show when you talk to others and make them want to buy it. Dont expect a sponser to be happy with you if they find out you very rarley use their products. However this shouldnt mean (my veiw) u can only use there product and no one has a product for EVERY occasion. I do belive it should be your "go to"

No 6. Age; 2 fisherman simalar tornment placings, helpfull posts on forums ect one older one younger. Older person wins every time. Sorry guys but few people are humble enough to take advice from someone much younger than they are. But if you meet all the critera above the issue of age can be over come. If you get rejected because of your age. Dont get down heartned. If you keep up the good work you will be imposible to ignore

Number 7: Dont lie. If i sponser you and happen to use someone elses product dont lie and dont substitute my lure for thiers and take a photo. A company is built on reputation and if people suspect you of lying you will destroy that repuation. You never know who is watching and its easy to lets secrets slip in the heat of the momenet.

Hopefully this gives you a little insight as to what a company is looking for. Maybe now you can see there is alot more to it than sleeping on a bed of lures.
The best way i can put it is
Do it for the love and not the reward and if you do the rewards will come witout you even seeking them

Happy fishing

[Madeye]

On a side note. Dont belive you need top quality gear to be a top bream fisherman. WA angler of the year winner uses a rod worth under $100

[cowancreekdave]

Great post.. agree with it all but from a non-tournament angler's perspective, sponsorship sounds like a commission-based job. Probably a lot different if you're already in the comps, placing well etc. but somewhat off-putting for someone on the outside of the scene contemplating tournament angling and the subsequent gunning for sponsorship. I guess a reality check here and there can do no harm.

[Madeye]

Comps arnt the be all and end all. But they are very important.
If your already doing the next 6 things MAYBE someone will snap you up and organise for you to reprsent them and pay your entry fees.

Commision based........No.
But like i said it not just about sleeping on a bed of lures.
I have already offered sponsership to one angler i highly respect however he declined beacause of many of the reasons you are eluding to.
I still hook him up with free plastics though as he does a great job promoting my lures even though i dont ask him to.

The more i think about our relationship the more i like the idea. Rather than sponsering anglers i might just "reward" people that i feel have promoted my products.
IE if i see a nice photo posted i might send over some freebies.

[phil jagger]

Might also be worth diverting your attention away from the tournament scene and more onto the media one. Ten fold more people read magazines than follow what's going on within the tournament scene.

So hooking up a fishing photojournalist would be an even better way to go.

Phil

[Alex]

Originally Posted by MiSh

Number 1: Win comps. - Check!
Number 2: Catch fish . - Check!
Number 3: Post pics. - Check!
Number 4: be a nice guy. Check! (ask my wife)

Number 5: Belive in your product. Check! (I am about to sell 95% of my lures that don't start with "D" and "P")

No 6. Age; Older person wins every time. Check! (old enough on the outside, buyt young at heart)

Number 7: Dont lie. - That's a difficult one. Even the best in the business are not a 100% but still are sponsored

Where do I sign ?
Cheers,

[Chamelion]

Originally Posted by Alex

Where do I sign ?
Cheers,

I was under the impression you were already sponsored. Learn something new every day.. Can't be long now, surely?

[ar-elbers]

Originally Posted by MiSh

On a side note. Dont belive you need top quality gear to be a top bream fisherman. WA angler of the year winner uses a rod worth under $100

On my First comp we managed to get in the top 5, at that stage I had a collection of about twenty hard bodies, half of them baby Vibes, lol, and four packs of soft plastics. My rod and reel combo would have been about $250 all up, which I still use. I have got to say it was a bit daunting when Ben pulled out his lure bag and then on top of that I saw his collection of rods and reels .

We had heaps of fun and got along well with each other, I have been lucky enough to join for him most other comps since then. So don't be afraid to enter because you have not got the latest gear or sponsorships most of them don't. Just get out there and have some fun.

Saying that this year I am hoping I can pay off my Stella in time for Feb. Hopefully I get a bonus from work .

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

I was under the impression you were already sponsored. Can't be long now, surely?

No mate, I am not sponsored as an individual angler.

Our Vicbream Classics team "Damiki/Pontoon 21" is sponsored by Searing Tackle. Rob takes great care of us, (thanks Rob!).

But when I fish ABTs I enter as a non-sponsored angler as there is no formal agreement between me and any other tackle company/sponsor (I am not complaining, very happy with how things are now. I am bit old to worry about things like that).

However, the other (younger) half of the team is sponsored by Searing Tackle. - Just wanted to clarify.


Cheers

[punchanello]

I would like to put an open offer out there to any potential sponsors.

I am without a doubt a rank, blow-in novice but will fish my bum off at any given occassion in any conditions to pull a Bream.

The greatest advertisement any of your products can have, is that they can help this hack with a rod, turn in to a reasonable angler. Think about it. It proves nothing that a pro-angler plugs bream on your gear. But me landing a 35cm+ pan is nothing short of a miracle.



All offers welcome. PM me.

[bender]

thats honesty for sure....

[ISS A SQUID!!!!]

great post

[Fishigan]

Great post MiSh, I like the way you think.

[seamonkey]

Number 1 - Learn how to spell "sponsered".

Will help you every step of the way.

[Bear]

Originally Posted by MiSh

Comps arnt the be all and end all. But they are very important.
If your already doing the next 6 things MAYBE someone will snap you up and organise for you to reprsent them and pay your entry fees.

Commision based........No.
But like i said it not just about sleeping on a bed of lures.
I have already offered sponsership to one angler i highly respect however he declined beacause of many of the reasons you are eluding to.
I still hook him up with free plastics though as he does a great job promoting my lures even though i dont ask him to.

The more i think about our relationship the more i like the idea. Rather than sponsering anglers i might just "reward" people that i feel have promoted my products.
IE if i see a nice photo posted i might send over some freebies.

This can be a dangerous line to take as I, and many others, like to know any associations when comments are made. As we should.

Product for comments is not something I would like to see encouraged.

JMO.