***confusion about sponsorships***

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

what do you think being sponsored consists of?
free gear?
discounts on gear?
i think a sponsorship is 100% support financially and free gear, in exchange for bringing attention to your sponsor in a posative way. anything less than this is not a sponsor imo. if your sponsored, what can you pull? and what do you recieve?

RUSSIAN · Posted: Feb 06, 2003 10:40 pm Post subject:

look at the skate industry for your answer, tons of ams. that don't get paid by their sponsors, they get free gear & travel. A sponsorship is when a company gives you free product in exchange for promotion, to get paid for that promotion makes you a profesional. A discount is just a hookup.

Sean OBrien · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 165 City: Orlando, FL

In my opinion, a person is not really sponsored unless they are receiving free gear. In exchange, the individual is obligated to do everything that they possibly can in order to promote their sponsors.
However there is a step prior to receiving what I consider to be a sponsorship. This is discounted prices at pro shops. I see this as being hooked up. A person with this status gets great prices on everything but since they still have to pay I don't consider this to be a true sponsorship.

I finally got some great sponsors within the last six months (see below links). I'm not going to go into what I receive from my them, but I will say that they treat me very well and support me with my riding.

If you haven't seen my video it is at

http://www.wakepics.com/media/sean_compressed.mov

This has a lot of the tricks that I have landed.

Sean O'Brien

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

its about time sean, you earned it! grabbed osmosis 540 is truly sick. keep it up.

Premier135Chick · Guest

That video is tight!! Just curious. Is this the video you submitted to your sponsors? My friend wants me to make a video for him of his riding so he can start submitting to possible sponsors. Was just wondering what they were looking for in a video.

chubby · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 487 City: NC

if people are just givin you percents off the crap at the shop, i think, i know, that alotta kids that ARE sick riders and have this kinda of "sponsorship" and have to rep for that store constantly we'll find some where better to go that will hook them up with waht they deserve. Also having a sponsorship is like having a girl friend, once you got one th the others want you more.

Funkster · Posted: Feb 07, 2003 8:28 am Post subject:

There are different levels of sponsorship.A sponsorship is like a job. In most cases you dont start off at the top,you have to work your way there. It is just like that with sponsorship. If you are just starting out and placing at local events at a novice level,you are not going to get free swag. They will start you off with a % off of there product. Stick it out and they will start throwing free swag your way.

*chris* · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 982

holy $hit sean...nice video, osmosis 5 is insane...good riding man Very Happy

Seth Martin · Moderator Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 891 City: Orlando

remember, sponsorship is not about what you can do on a wakeboard. Its about what you can do for a company or shop.

George · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 552 City: Chattanooga

What do you think about when a shop gives you everything at cost price, pays for you to go to events and gives you free shirts and stuff. Do you consider this a hook up or sponsorship?

WakeMeUp · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 125 City: Sherbrooke, Qc

IMO, sponsorship begins when you're getting support from a company even if it's just discounts or receiving free stuff... on the other side, you have to get some exposure for the company or shop you're representing... of course there's many levels of sponsorship... but to me, it means that you're dedicated to help the company getting some more exposure whatever you get in return...

Do not ride to get sponsorship but to promote the sport... if you get the chance to promote a company you like, grab it and be thankful of the help you get from it...

Tyler*Moore · Guest

I think it has to do with the owner of the company. If they think of you as a "team" rider then I think your sponsored. If they are just "hooking" you up, then your just getting the "hook up"...IMO

jb · Criminal Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 83

I have found in the past that sponsors don't mean that you are a good wakeboarder. I know a guy that has four or five sponsors for everything from boards to sunglasses, and he sucks. He can do a back roll, a tantrum, and an ugly front roll. But he knows what to say to get stuff out of people. And I know that he really gets the stuff for free because I'm there when he opens some of the packages. Plus, look at that Sean guy. He ripped for a long time, and just now got a sponsor that takes care of him. Another reason that wakeboarding is one of the most screwed up markets in the world. Too many people worry about sponsorships and the ones that don't deserve them are stealing them from the really good riders. With less than par riders running the show, there's not much progression.

I know ths wasn't really on the subject 100%, but it bugs me.

Sean OBrien · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 165 City: Orlando, FL

jb- I definitely agree with you about the whole sponsorship situation in wakeboarding. A lot of it really isn't based on talent and I find that very frustrating. I have found that wakeboarding sponsorships, for the most part, are based on who you know. It's all about connections.

Premier- Yeah, that was the video that I sent to sponsors. In order to make a good "sponsor me" video you want to make sure that you show different aspects of a person's riding. There should be a good mixture of hard tricks (mobes, other handle-pass inverts, and big spins) as well as style tricks (grabbed spins and inverts). If you have access to any sliders or kickers, I definitely recommend putting some of that in the video (eventhough it is not in mine). As for the filming, try to get different angles (another thing that we didn't do for mine). Get creative. This makes it look more professional. When you are at the point of actually editing the video there is one thing that I want to stress. Avoid repetition of tricks. If you are going to show the same trick try to have some variation to it i.e. a different grab on a flip or spin.

This is what I focused on for my video and it worked for me. I am not saying that this format for a video is necessary by any means. It is what I personally recommend for riders looking to get sponsored.

I really hope this helps and if there are any more questions just ask.

Sean O'Brien

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

Not being an ass (really, I'm not), but how many board companies did you send your video to?

I only have one word to describe your riding...

Daaayyyummmm...you're freakin' bad ass and companies not signing you are missin' a great rider and person on their team!

Wakeboy551 · Posted: Feb 08, 2003 11:12 am Post subject: what is sponsorship

I dont' nkow if this was said already I didn't read every post, but I think sponsorship is when a company wants you to promote their stuff. They give you stickers and permission to post them on your board and what not. They either pay you buy giving you discounts or free stuff. Its a partnership on both sides, you give the place publicity (and your like a sales rep) and then they look after you by helping you get to comps or suggesting you to larger companies (ie like a board shop would to a board company). I don't think you can sit and say your only sponsored if you have such and such backing, there is no answer.
Its almost like a relationship, both sides give and both sides win. And depending on how serious you are (friends, hump budies, or b/f g/f) depends on how much you give

JER

derrick · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 723 City: Orlando

Also, another thing about sponsorships, it is about who you know, but also, it's half ability, half image. If you don't have the image for the media it can be kinda tough. I know of a few people like that.
peace
Derrick

Wakeboy551 · Posted: Feb 08, 2003 11:30 am Post subject: what is sponsorship

I dont' nkow if this was said already I didn't read every post, but I think sponsorship is when a company wants you to promote their stuff. They give you stickers and permission to post them on your board and what not. They either pay you buy giving you discounts or free stuff. Its a partnership on both sides, you give the place publicity (and your like a sales rep) and then they look after you by helping you get to comps or suggesting you to larger companies (ie like a board shop would to a board company). I don't think you can sit and say your only sponsored if you have such and such backing, there is no answer.
Its almost like a relationship, both sides give and both sides win. And depending on how serious you are (friends, hump budies, or b/f g/f) depends on how much you give

JER

Sean OBrien · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 165 City: Orlando, FL

I actually took a backpack full of videos to the surf expo and walked around for a day looking at all of the new products, trying to decide what companies I would be willing to ride for. I didn't want the company to choose me, I wanted to choose the company. I took into consideration the boards, bindings, and all sorts of other things including the number of riders on the company's team. I only gave out two videos at the expo, one to CWB and the other to Core. Both companies wanted to sponsor me, but I chose Core because I love their boards and I like the idea of being on a small team. It's really nice to know the owners. I am able to voice my opinion and give recommendations on products, advertisements, and other things. For me it isn't about just receiving product, I actually want to be involved with the company. If I had decided to go with a bigger company I wouldn't have this opportunity.

Sean O'Brien

Premier135Chick · Guest

Sean-You took all the words out of my head!! I am taking a post production class this semester. My big project this semster in my class is to make a video for my friend to submit to possible future sponsors. I told him that I wanted to catch the "essence" of his riding. Everyone has their own style and his is not only very high in skill but unique. He can do all the hard and style tricks. We even plan to get a slider session in there as well. Plus there are a few cool editing effects I want to throw in. Should be fun.