Being Sponsored..

[KeysKid]

I know a guy that recently got sponsored by Pelagic and he gets everything they make for free..

Does anyone know anyone sponsored by spearfishing companys like Riffe, AB Biller, OMER, etc?


I know this is a weird question, but the windy weather has kept me away from spearfishing for a couple days..



Jeremy

[keezdiver]

# 1 - have a reputation as a world class spearo
# 2 - contact them


best chance is to have a small time shop or company start out. probably won't get everything, but sometimes they'll suppliment your needs.

[Spearchuckerz]

I know one sponsored "Spearfishing Expert", but I think he lives in his truck.

[Mattedhead]

Originally Posted by Spearchuckerz

I know one sponsored "Spearfishing Expert", but I think he lives in his truck.

...in a van down by the river....Come on now...don't be modest You hosted another one on the "Mighty White" just a few weeks ago. But I think he splits time between his truck and dorm room, he's not completely homeless...yet.

It seems to be working though, I got a text of a pair of 140# groupers he and another sponsored spearo shot in mex this weekend.

So what have we learned here:
Keyskid...move out of your parents house and into your car IMMEDIATELY!!! Learn to subsist off PBR and Pork Rinds...at some point you need to enroll in the Merchant Marine Academy, seems all 3 have this in common. Oh and DO NOT be afraid of very large, unattractive women...this also seems to be something these guys have in common. They are nearly always willing and will keep you warm on those chilly nights in your car. I personally only know one diver that is sponsored that did not follow this strict regimine...Balta took the easy way out and won nearly every comp he entered.

Go forth and conquer!!!!!!!!!

[KeysKid]

Ha, Alright, Thanks for the info..

[apnea_beast]

why don't you contact some companies and ask them what the qualifications are?

[KeysKid]

I don't really think I'm going to get sponsored.. I just wanted to know what it takes and stuff...

I'm not nearly good enough to be sponsored.. I'm only 15!

[Scott]

I'm not nearly good enough to be sponsored.. I'm only 15!

Guess again, you've always been sponsored - MoMMy Dive Shop!

but when you do move into a dorm or something you could use one of the most popular ways to be sponsored or get "flow" as they call it in other industries (There is a huge difference between a salaried Pro and someone who is "sponsored" LOL:

1.Make a "Sponsor Me" video with kills and pics and shit and sent them to all the brands, and being 15 only would make it easier since you are so young.....
2. Win the next 10 spearfishing competitions in a row
3. Make real good friends with the dive shop owner
4. Open a dive shop and sponsor yourself..

[greg1]

You can also be a charter captain.

A freind of mine is an inshore guide (trout, reds, flounder) etc. and he is "sponsored" by all sorts of companies. When the season is slow he sends emails to different companies telling them what he does and they usually will give him a $1,000 gift certificate or a 50% off all merchandise up to $2,000...etc.

He gets Patagonia and North Face wear for half off. He gets fishing tackle at dealer cost not retail. He gets a lotof free stuff too. But mostly it's discount. Rods, reels, and line at half price.

Some companies want him to put a sticker on his boat, others don't really care.

If you work around people and claim to wear their gear a lot they may give you a deal. Itr's generally not very formal though.

[albaguppy]

Originally Posted by greg1

You can also be a charter captain.

A freind of mine is an inshore guide (trout, reds, flounder) etc. and he is "sponsored" by all sorts of companies. When the season is slow he sends emails to different companies telling them what he does and they usually will give him a $1,000 gift certificate or a 50% off all merchandise up to $2,000...etc.

He gets Patagonia and North Face wear for half off. He gets fishing tackle at dealer cost not retail. He gets a lotof free stuff too. But mostly it's discount. Rods, reels, and line at half price.

Some companies want him to put a sticker on his boat, others don't really care.

If you work around people and claim to wear their gear a lot they may give you a deal. Itr's generally not very formal though.

Over here on the west coast Charter Captain = Broke.

[greg1]

Originally Posted by albaguppy

Over here on the west coast Charter Captain = Broke.

Y'all must not get as many yankees and yum-yums as we do.

Charter captains don't exaclty "rake it in" over here either, but they can usually make enough money to support their pot smoking.

[albaguppy]

Originally Posted by greg1

Y'all must not get as many yankees and yum-yums as we do.

Charter captains don't exaclty "rake it in" over here either, but they can usually make enough money to support their pot smoking.

"Yankees and yum-yums"? man I need to travel more. As far charter captains over here, the only ones who make REAL money are the ones that run whale watching trips. Sponsorship for anything involving fishing or diving is pretty hard to come by on this coast. It just too saturated of amarket with too little money. "derail over"

[Muay Thai]

Become a National Champion.

Last years women's champion was only 15!

Scott

[fizisition]

Generally sponsors seek out who they sponsor, atleast thats how it works in our case. Almost every letter we get goes in the trash, because every letter starts out "We are the hottest fishing team", " we placed 56th in a 400 boat tournament" " we caught a 16lb kingfish" etc. etc. If the person or team is good the sponsors already know who they are. Sponsors will seek out the individuals or teams that will get them the exposure they are looking for. If you are looking to retain a sponsor you better have a damn good reputation, not saying you have to always place high but you do have to be respected and display an image congruent to the companys lifestyle or market. You have to ask yourself, how can the sponsor benefit from the agreement? Are you a trend setter? do you have a following? Are you a leader? Are people likly to purchase those products simply because your seen using them? etc.

[pirate_diver]

at my job we can have the option of becoming a costa del mar pro (not quite sponsored but close enough for me). We get select merch (glasses, hats, shirts, swag, etc.) for dealer/vendor cost. It's not as posh as being a sponsor but when you are saving close to 50% on things you use regularly it helps save money.