Mr Bob Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 what do you even get form trials uk? cluedo pieces. I say good rider, good fun and ride for fun. Not to bothered about videos etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukasMcNeal Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 What is all this about cluedo? Cos I prefer monopoly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 What is all this about cluedo? Cos I prefer monopoly.supposedly he sent some travel cludo with an order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdmackay Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 (edited) Ali C wrote this in a topic a while back.Pretty much everything you need to know.I read quite a lot of emails sent to tarty off riders looking for sponsorship.....some are just plain awful!There is a LOT more to sponsorship than just free parts, its a two way deal. Why should a company choose to give you parts to advertise them when they could just buy an ad in a magazine or web site? There are a few key points to attract possible sponsors.1) You need to sell yourself to them! It doesn't matter if you are not a world champion or cant sidehop 56", but as long as you write a well written letter/email they will read it. Writing "I name is Billy Joe, will you sponsor me" (I have sen that sent to tartybikes as a sponsorship request! (name changed obviously)) will not get a reply.You need to tell the company anything that makes you look good. Name, age, bike ridden, how long been riding, who you ride with, where you ride.....do you travel lots? Do you enter comps? Got any results? Go on many group rides? Make many vids? Had any promotion work done like demos? ANYTHING that gets you in the public will be bonus points.If you have made vids, get them linked in, same with photos...but only GOOD quality ones please, not camera stills!Explain how you got into the sport, whats has been your riding highlight? What are your future goals? Be realistic with your goals you say, its all well and good saying you'll be world champion, but unless you have results to backup your claim then the company may think your trying to pull a fast one.A CD with your request looks proffesional, but you may find the companys are really busy and putting a CD into a computer to check you out will take a back seat.....an email is in their face as every company checks them daily. Its also worth following up your email with a phone call to check its arrived. This lets them know you are keen, but don't over do it, no one likes to be pestered.2) What do you want from the sponsorship?Theres no point asking a clothing company for energy drinks, or an umbrella company for sunglasses.....you need to ask for relavant items. If you are young or not been riding long, don't expect free bikes! You may have to sacrifice for less than you expected.....the more you give the more you can ask for.2) What can you do for the sponsor?Kind of like above. You don't get something for nothing. You need to get your name known! No company will give a free bike to a person no one has ever heard of. You may find the company will give you small items or a small discount at first....TAKE IT! This is the first step, they want you in for the long term, you need to show them you are dedicated and a worthy investment. You will often get the opertunity to improve your deal the longer you are with the company, or if you show good results in promoting them. What they don't want is to give you a good deal or free items for you to then stop riding and keep your parts...this will spoil further deals with other companies, news of this does travel.You also need to show you have a great personality. Having a wanker to promote a company doesn't work. Its not just on your bike you have to be nice, you have to be thinking of what you say off the bike and on forums too (I probably would have got banned by now if I could say what I wanted on here!). You need to talk to other riders especially kids..they look up to sponsored riders, if they ask you a question don't ignore them! Be really friendly and polite. It seems obvious, but I have seen a lot of riders ignore these last points.3) can you make sacrifices? GREAT! you have picked up a sponsor! Now lets say they will give you free bars, you are used to 29" wide high rise bars but the company wants you to run their 27" low rise bars.....could you do that? The company may want you to run parts you wouldn't choose to buy. You need t o be dedicated to them too, you can't turn your back on them just because the latest uber pimp new parts came out from a rival company, you need to be happy with what you have got and continue promoting themYou won't have the freedom you have with no sponsor to paint/ cut or drill your parts (without permission). You may be called up to go to an event or photoshoot, can you travel? Sponsorship is great, free parts really does take a weight off your shoulders that then allows you to spend more time on the bike, but you really need to think "is sponsorship really for me?" It shouldn't be the reason you are riding. Ride for fun and you may find the sponsors will be asking you to ride for them!! Also, don't forget, sponsorship should be long term. Look at Hans Rey, he has been with GT for 15/20 years!I hope these points helped and good luck to anyone searching for a sponsor. Don't be put off if they say no, just look to see what you could do to improve.And btw you better be grateful for that!Took me ages to find! Edited September 1, 2009 by hdmackay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncy H Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Ali C's quote speaks the truth I think, I have a question to ask too though. In most cases of sponsorship who aproaches who first? I would have thought it was the riders who get aproached first most of the time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickdonboy Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 trials-uk are gash, releasing videos get a good name for your self and not releasing them too early if you get what i mean. say if you release a video and have been riding for a good amount of time and people like the video its more of a "this guys ace, never heard of him, keep a look out" kinda thing but if you always release videos its a kinda "oh its another vid by him - same old same old" or whatever. but if you release not as many videos as frequent shows a increase in improvement 'n all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 (edited) Also unless the stuff you do is so big it attracts attention for its size alone, then you'll need to attract attention some other way, either with well polished video editing, smooth, creative lines, unusual locations, distinctive riding style or just out and out fun... Have a look at the tread from a while ago where people pick their favourite trials videos and see what people really remember to get an idea what I mean.The other thing is if you're one of the few riders in your area you may not need to be very good on an international or even national scale for a local business to get some benefit from sponsoring you. In this case you'll really have to make a case for how you can benefit them. You can be an amazing rider, but all that work can be ruined, especially if you're starting out, by one or two careless comments when you're having a bad day. Edited September 1, 2009 by psycholist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iLikeTheBikez Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 "sponcor"A Dictionary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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