What is a sponsor suppose to do?

To me, you are not sponsored unless you are getting paid or receiving free
product. Discounts are just that, something you negotiate, and I can
negotiate my own discounts without the need to feel obligated to anyone.

I also agree that sponsorship is all about salesmanship and promotion.
One's ability to help their sponsoring company sell more product. The more
product one is able to move, the more they are worth.

When I see the words bought and sponsor in the same sentence I have to
smile.
--
Craig Baugher

"Craig" wrote in message
...
To me, you are not sponsored unless you are getting paid or receiving free
product. Discounts are just that, something you negotiate, and I can
negotiate my own discounts without the need to feel obligated to anyone.

I also agree that sponsorship is all about salesmanship and promotion.
One's ability to help their sponsoring company sell more product. The
more
product one is able to move, the more they are worth.

When I see the words bought and sponsor in the same sentence I have to
smile.
--
Craig Baugher



Bought and sponsored can be in the same sentence. You may get the boat for
wholesale and a guaranteed buyback at the end of the year. Unless you are
in the top 20, you are going to be paying out for some of the stuff, but
hopefully you can show that the money they put into you is improving sales
and you can negotiate a bigger chunk next time. And a sponsor giving you a
big discount that he does not offer to the general public is money out of
his pocket. Guide I used to fish with at Lake Fork (would still fish with
him, but now I have to pay my own way to Dallas and Lake Fork is nice, but
not worth going to Dallas for) used to be on the tour. Was in the top
group. He stated that he made about 250K a year gross, with winnings and
sponsors, but after all the travel bills, other costs, etc, he netted about
$68k a year. Plus he had to spend 8 months on the road. So unless you can
get the TV show, or be in the very top, you are not getting free ride.
Fact is even at the top, you are working your booty off. Figure out all
those trade shows, store openings, fishing shows you have to spend time at
selling the products. And those seminars you give are selling the product.

I guess I have been very lucky, because every sponsor I have had the good
fortune to work with has given me free product. Yes, I did my very best to
help them move more product and in most cases sold that product before and
after tournaments. Mark Chevrolet (local dealership), not only gave me a
free tow vehicle, but also supplied me with a Champion boat.

My buddies who are at the top, also get free product, and for the most part
get paid well for appearing at shows and for conducting seminars on top of
their sponsor's contributions. It is the fact that they are invited to
appear and conduct seminars that makes them so valuable to the sponsor.
Their sacrifice is the time they spend away from home and family. But they
also know they need to capitalize on what little time they may have being at
the top. Burn out is the biggest reason most of these folks quit.

--
Craig Baugher

Wait a minute there buckaroo - didn't you work full-time for that Chevy
dealership as a salesman? And didn't your boss LOAN you the tow vehicle &
boat? His boat? And didn't he take them both back, before he laid you off?
That sounds like less of a sponsorship than the one's you "smile" at. You
were getting paid to sell cars, not to catch bass.

Before you "smile" at what many fishermen value as the true sponsorships
they are, realize this. There's about ten guys in bass fishing that are
given boats. 99% of boat sponsorships involve the pro using the boat for
one season, then having to sell it at or around cost in order to be granted
a boat the next season. They must sell the boat or pay for it. And believe
me, they appreciate this arrangement. Boat-related expenses are huge for
big-tournament anglers, and to be given boats under this arrangement is a
godsend.

Curious, who are your buddies at the top? Top of what? And who's paying
them these big bucks? Because I met a hundred guys that fished the Opens
this year that do outdoor shows & seminars for sponsors, and none of them
made big bucks doing it. There's 3 guys from your area that are upper
echelon bass fishermen - Kevin VanDam, Kim Stricker & Art Ferguson. Of
those 3 only Kevin makes big bucks just for being Kevin. Kim & Art both
have to sell their boats at seasons' end. And they need & appreciate any &
all help they get, be it via cash, product or discount.

Craiger, the very few guys that truly reach the top of the bass fishing
world are loving every minute of it, particularly the big bucks they make
fishing. These guys don't quit, and lord knows they don't burn out.

Wasn't your article on rods supposed to be in FLW Outdoors this month?

Warren



"Craig" wrote in message
...
I guess I have been very lucky, because every sponsor I have had the good
fortune to work with has given me free product. Yes, I did my very best
to
help them move more product and in most cases sold that product before and
after tournaments. Mark Chevrolet (local dealership), not only gave me a
free tow vehicle, but also supplied me with a Champion boat.

My buddies who are at the top, also get free product, and for the most
part
get paid well for appearing at shows and for conducting seminars on top of
their sponsor's contributions. It is the fact that they are invited to
appear and conduct seminars that makes them so valuable to the sponsor.
Their sacrifice is the time they spend away from home and family. But
they
also know they need to capitalize on what little time they may have being
at
the top. Burn out is the biggest reason most of these folks quit.

--
Craig Baugher

Boy a lot to respond too.
Q:Wait a minute there buckaroo - didn't you work full-time for that Chevy
dealership as a salesman?
A: Yes (Internet Manager & Sales)

Q: And didn't your boss LOAN you the tow vehicle &
boat?
A: Received a new truck or SUV every week, and yes they were owned by the
dealership. Did I pay for it? No. Did I always have a vehicle? Yes

Q: His boat?
A: Again, I picked out the boat, the Dealership bought it and owned it. Did
I pay for it? No. Did I have it all the time? Yes

Q: And didn't he take them both back, before he laid you off?
A: No, I had the boat a good six months after being laid-off because of the
9-11 slow-down. Again, did I ever pay out a dime for the boat or insurance
or its maintenance? No.

I believe Due-Bill Boats and Tow Vehicles are getting something for Free,
because as you know, these guys sell their boats & trucks to people before
they ever pick them up, or at least the guys I know. So they get Free Use
for each season. What more could you want or expect?

Q: Wasn't your article on rods supposed to be in FLW Outdoors this month?
A: Yes, the December Issue. I already received & cashed my check, so I
assume they published it, but I have yet to receive a copy of the magazine.

As far as who are my friends, I have always kept that a secret to some
degree. But you can talk to Steve if you want to know a couple, as I have
lined them up to do his SHOTV show if he gets it on the air, and I will line
him up with a lot more once he is rocking. Realize I know some of these
guys like I know you. We talk, share stories, share advice, but haven't
broke bread at each other's homes. I consider you a friend, although we are
not close friends. I think if I asked you for something reasonable, you
would respond, as I would for you. Some are closer friends, and a couple
are good friends. But I will never mention their names here.

--
Craig Baugher

"But I will never mention their names here."


Why not share "friends" names here... sounds like we all have VD or
something !

--
God Bless America

Josh The Bad Bear

For for the record, Kevin might get paid "just for being Kevin", but he
works his @$$ off doing so. To spend 200+ days away from home - a home that
includes a pretty understanding wife and a couple of kids... How many of us
would do that??? I'm fan to be sure, but I don't envy the man.

DK

"go-bassn" wrote in message
...
Wait a minute there buckaroo - didn't you work full-time for that Chevy
dealership as a salesman? And didn't your boss LOAN you the tow vehicle &
boat? His boat? And didn't he take them both back, before he laid you
off?
That sounds like less of a sponsorship than the one's you "smile" at. You
were getting paid to sell cars, not to catch bass.

Before you "smile" at what many fishermen value as the true sponsorships
they are, realize this. There's about ten guys in bass fishing that are
given boats. 99% of boat sponsorships involve the pro using the boat for
one season, then having to sell it at or around cost in order to be
granted
a boat the next season. They must sell the boat or pay for it. And
believe
me, they appreciate this arrangement. Boat-related expenses are huge for
big-tournament anglers, and to be given boats under this arrangement is a
godsend.

Curious, who are your buddies at the top? Top of what? And who's paying
them these big bucks? Because I met a hundred guys that fished the Opens
this year that do outdoor shows & seminars for sponsors, and none of them
made big bucks doing it. There's 3 guys from your area that are upper
echelon bass fishermen - Kevin VanDam, Kim Stricker & Art Ferguson. Of
those 3 only Kevin makes big bucks just for being Kevin. Kim & Art both
have to sell their boats at seasons' end. And they need & appreciate any
&
all help they get, be it via cash, product or discount.

Craiger, the very few guys that truly reach the top of the bass fishing
world are loving every minute of it, particularly the big bucks they make
fishing. These guys don't quit, and lord knows they don't burn out.

Wasn't your article on rods supposed to be in FLW Outdoors this month?

Warren



"Craig" wrote in message
...
I guess I have been very lucky, because every sponsor I have had the
good
fortune to work with has given me free product. Yes, I did my very best
to
help them move more product and in most cases sold that product before
and
after tournaments. Mark Chevrolet (local dealership), not only gave me
a
free tow vehicle, but also supplied me with a Champion boat.

My buddies who are at the top, also get free product, and for the most
part
get paid well for appearing at shows and for conducting seminars on top
of
their sponsor's contributions. It is the fact that they are invited to
appear and conduct seminars that makes them so valuable to the sponsor.
Their sacrifice is the time they spend away from home and family. But
they
also know they need to capitalize on what little time they may have
being
at
the top. Burn out is the biggest reason most of these folks quit.

--
Craig Baugher