Sponsorship

[mike cyrwus]

how bout waiting til a company approaches you? play hard to get.
A jersey is meaningless now. everyone has one, and no one reads em anymore. My God, its almost getting to where you gotta be a good shooter to get noticed anymore. again.

 

[jtischauser]

As Mike said there are plenty of underwhelming sponsored shooters out there. Heck I may be one of them.

Earning a sponsorship by winning consistently is gonna cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Your competing against guys like Max Michel who shoot 75,000 rounds per year. The AMU who shoots until they get tired then shoot some more. Heck even a slacker like me shoots over 20k a year. It's just like any good professional career. You gotta spend $50-100k on college and then you still gotta go out and sell yourself to a company to get them to hire aka sponsor you.

The best way to meet potential sponsors is to attend SHOT show, shake hands and make friends. Very few people get paid to simply shoot competitively. All of the actual cash I earn is for traveling to film commercials or do photo shoots or talk to customers at shows. The competitive shooting is my way if being a pseudo expert at something in the industry.

 

[runawaygun762]

Both very good points. To clarify, I wasn't talking about wearing a jersey just to wear a jersey. I think most of the folks I see wearing the shooting shirts that aren't actually sponsored like the Top Guns(?) wearers look silly, because most of them suck. I'll be wearing a Boomershooter shirt throughout next year if the program is still going because one, I actually like many of the companies that sponsor this site, and two, because there are prizes possible for doing it. Normally, I wear a plain shirt or one of the overly-motivated, ridiculously cheesy rah rah military shirts from 762 Design. I think for the steel shoot this weekend, I'll wear my Big Bang Theory "Vote Dr Sheldon Cooper for President" shirt. I know jerseys are so cluttered nowadays and so prevalent that nobody really cares, but my desire for one is because it tells the wearer that a company or companies think the shooter is the right type of person to represent their product, which, as Jesse said, includes going to trade shows, putting on demos, and so on. That's the part I'm really looking forward to. I live and breathe shooting and everything it entails. It is irritating to the nose to breathe the dust after tumbling brass, though. I think I went overboard on the mineral spirits. ADD much?

My question really comes down to what kind of things I should accomplish on my own to be seen as a potential asset to companies before approaching them. My wife, bless her, contacted Surefire to ask about sponsorship for me while I was at work one day. She said they were very polite, but with the shooters they had already, they weren't looking for any others at that time. Maybe I should revisit this train of thought after the Area 3 multigun match in November. With the exception of the hundred dollar lesson in how perishable a skill shooting really is that I learned in a previous Fall Classic USPSA match, I have always placed pretty well regardless of discipline, but that has always been local or club-level stuff. This regional match should let me know where I stand in the pecking order when the pros and semi-pros come to play.

Thanks much for the input. It helps to have such direct interaction with pros and industry business owners.

 

[Travis Colford]

I don't know how your town is set up but I come from a rather small town and my local gun shop that I go to picked me up for a local sponsorship where once a month they toss me the ammo I would need to compete in a local match as long as I wear their hat, shirt, and talk about their shop. Which I did any ways to begin with.

I think Jesse and Mike hit it right on the money. Though we all know Jesse spends all his sponsor money on sex, drugs, and rock n roll aka Suntan lotion, hair care products, and sunglasses.

I mean to want to jump out and have a major sponsor right off the bat isn't a rational thought. I think you have it right go do a Area 3 gun match go spend some time at the Shot shows and other convention areas.

As for my advice I would start small after you get some matches under your belt with some higher grade of competition in it look see how your doing and maybe start local with your sponsor search.

 

[runawaygun762]

That's very good advice. I suppose I worded things wrong when I discussed the major companies. I assumed it was a given that shooters start lower down and then eventually look to the big boys, kind of like college athletics to the pro teams, with the rare exception of the shooter who either wows or knows the right people and ends up with a big sponsor right away.

I really wish I'd found this site sooner. Hah. Hah hah. I said "sooner" and a lot of members here are from Oklahoma. God, I hated driving in that state with the toll booths. Now my vehicles have been branded with the Pike Pass sticker, though, so it's not as frustrating. I just wish the damned interstate names wouldn't be changed into Turnpike names. Seriously. "Am I still on I-44, or am I on the Creek Turnpike, or is this the Will Rogers, or what? Damn it all to hell, how'd I end up on the north side of Tulsa when I want to be in Broken Arrow?" That state is confusing as hell, especially for someone like me, a kid dumb enough to grduate at the bottom of his class in a state where banging your cousin is an acceptable passtime. Anyway, thanks much for the advice. This is much better interaction than I'd get from the other forums I used to pollute with my stupidity.

 

[jtischauser]

Starting small is the way to go. My first sponsor was a no name gun smith. I helped out him on the map and now he owes me for life.

 

[jtischauser]

The things I brag about on the shooting resume I send to sponsors lists the finishes I'm proud of, a calendar of big matches I plan to attend around the country, and the things I do with social media. It's all about exposure. The more people you interact with the more exposure you can get a sponsor.

Heck the best way to get noticed by anyone including sponsors is to make product videos reviews and funny stuff that goes viral. Pro tip match videos don't go viral unless you're a 13 year old girl and you're shooting a machine gun.

 

[runawaygun762]

The things I brag about on the shooting resume I send to sponsors lists the finishes I'm proud of, a calendar of big matches I plan to attend around the country, and the things I do with social media. It's all about exposure. The more people you interact with the more exposure you can get a sponsor.

Heck the best way to get noticed by anyone including sponsors is to make product videos reviews and funny stuff that goes viral. Pro tip match videos don't go viral unless you're a 13 year old girl and you're shooting a machine gun.

But I am a 13 year-old girl. Okay, one of us in my head is, anyway. The rest are sick, twisted old Hungarian men with big mustaches.

 

[hunter_dmw12]

i am in no way a sponsored shooter but the one thing i have learned in the years of growing up watching every gun show and attending/participating in matches is that for one most sponsored shooters have a deep love for the sport. for two you have to believe in what (product and company) you are promoting and representing. and 3 you cant be an asshole to the new shooters that have all the questions for you. hell my 6 year old son idealizes some guy name Jesse Tischauser. And the most important thing is to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

 

[Wall]

i am in no way a sponsored shooter but the one thing i have learned in the years of growing up watching every gun show and attending/participating in matches is that for one most sponsored shooters have a deep love for the sport. for two you have to believe in what (product and company) you are promoting and representing. and 3 you cant be an asshole to the new shooters that have all the questions for you. hell my 6 year old son idealizes some guy name Jesse Tischauser. And the most important thing is to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

Sorry Mike but I have to disagree with some of this. If this were true we wouldn't see things like STI's with a Taurus logo on them. Also, I've been to a few big matches & (with a few exceptions) its not likely you'll be rubbing elbows with the big names. They're usually squadded together & shoot on a day the rest of the match doesn't. IMHO, in general they could definitely do a lot more to be a face for their sponsors. Again, there are exceptions & this is just my opinion.

 

[hunter_dmw12]

good call tony i agree super squads suck however there are people like lady Di, pat kelley, ryan muller lance dingler and jesse t to name a few that will sometimes go out of their to way to say hi and give you the time of day. and to me those are the real pros that make the sport go. it is too bad that the others cant do this.

 

[45recoil]

how bout waiting til a company approaches you? play hard to get.
A jersey is meaningless now. everyone has one, and no one reads em anymore. My God, its almost getting to where you gotta be a good shooter to get noticed anymore. again.

Thats what im doing. Accurate Ron is my hero and one day......

 

[Bob Sanders]

Sorry Mike but I have to disagree with some of this. If this were true we wouldn't see things like STI's with a Taurus logo on them. Also, I've been to a few big matches & (with a few exceptions) its not likely you'll be rubbing elbows with the big names. They're usually squadded together & shoot on a day the rest of the match doesn't. IMHO, in general they could definitely do a lot more to be a face for their sponsors. Again, there are exceptions & this is just my opinion.

I did get to touch Jesse's hand once at the pro am

 

[jtischauser]

 

[runawaygun762]

One part of the shooting sports I love so much is the camaraderie between competitors. My first three gun match I went to, people were sharing gear with each other or giving tips on stage planning and whatnot. I wish someone had shared the tip with me that 3" 00 Buck is not allowed in a normal course of fire. That was a good time, except I short shucked the gun and caused a malfunction. I also forgot to do a mandatory rifle mag reload, ran out of rounds in the middle of the stage, and failed to engage a couple pistol targets. It was a great time, but when the MD walked up and told me no bigger than #6 shot was allowed, I felt a little disappointed that I hadn't read the rules first. Anyway....

I would love to see the shooting sports take off even more than it has in the last few years so the pros can really be recognized for the time, effort, and money they put into the game, but until then, the small community of competitors we have makes it common to see GM-level shooters giving tips and pointers to new people, which is amazing. I'm sure the pros do it too, but I've never shot with a "big name" pro shooter so I don't know how approachable those folks are. They're probably all big douchebags who are full of themselves and have ridiculous demands at each match they show up at, like only green M&Ms in the candy dish and every round in the crystal ammo case has to have the headstamp facing alternating directions.

 

[Spiff]

Dude if you sling as many bullets as words, you'll be a GM in no time.

 

[jtischauser]

One part of the shooting sports I love so much is the camaraderie between competitors. My first three gun match I went to, people were sharing gear with each other or giving tips on stage planning and whatnot. I wish someone had shared the tip with me that 3" 00 Buck is not allowed in a normal course of fire. That was a good time, except I short shucked the gun and caused a malfunction. I also forgot to do a mandatory rifle mag reload, ran out of rounds in the middle of the stage, and failed to engage a couple pistol targets. It was a great time, but when the MD walked up and told me no bigger than #6 shot was allowed, I felt a little disappointed that I hadn't read the rules first. Anyway....

I would love to see the shooting sports take off even more than it has in the last few years so the pros can really be recognized for the time, effort, and money they put into the game, but until then, the small community of competitors we have makes it common to see GM-level shooters giving tips and pointers to new people, which is amazing. I'm sure the pros do it too, but I've never shot with a "big name" pro shooter so I don't know how approachable those folks are. They're probably all big douchebags who are full of themselves and have ridiculous demands at each match they show up at, like only green M&Ms in the candy dish and every round in the crystal ammo case has to have the headstamp facing alternating directions.

First big match I shot I was on Jerry M's squad. I think I asked him what choke and what magnification he was running on ever stage. You know what he said?




Got any green M&M's?

 

[hunter_dmw12]

One part of the shooting sports I love so much is the camaraderie between competitors. My first three gun match I went to, people were sharing gear with each other or giving tips on stage planning and whatnot. I wish someone had shared the tip with me that 3" 00 Buck is not allowed in a normal course of fire. That was a good time, except I short shucked the gun and caused a malfunction. I also forgot to do a mandatory rifle mag reload, ran out of rounds in the middle of the stage, and failed to engage a couple pistol targets. It was a great time, but when the MD walked up and told me no bigger than #6 shot was allowed, I felt a little disappointed that I hadn't read the rules first. Anyway....

I would love to see the shooting sports take off even more than it has in the last few years so the pros can really be recognized for the time, effort, and money they put into the game, but until then, the small community of competitors we have makes it common to see GM-level shooters giving tips and pointers to new people, which is amazing. I'm sure the pros do it too, but I've never shot with a "big name" pro shooter so I don't know how approachable those folks are. They're probably all big douchebags who are full of themselves and have ridiculous demands at each match they show up at, like only green M&Ms in the candy dish and every round in the crystal ammo case has to have the headstamp facing alternating directions.

WOW I will leave that one alone

 

[toothandnail]

While I have not "shot with" any of the big name guys I have RO'd many. They have always shot on the same days as the rest of the shooters.

Almost all were regular guys, who just happen to be fast. JM has consistently been one of the nicest guys at a match.

One time he got close to a "time" call. After ULSC, he says "man that was a lot harder than I expected, that was fun" ( I beat him on that stage :boast: )
He's always been that kinda guy.

I can only think of 2 who tried to use their "status" to get favorable treatment , didn't work. Many more no name guys have tried the same, it's just some peoples personality.

 

[Tech]

Matches are WAY better for me now that I found the party store sells bags of green only M&M's!