To all you fishermen looking for sponsors/pro staff positions...

[Radical Conservative 4]

Hey guys.

I see tons of posts on here about anglers attempting to get sponsored and/or hook up pro-staff positions. I thought I would shed some light from a bait company's perspective.

I get a lot of emails from people wishing to get sponsored. Most just want free stuff.. and trust me.. we can very easily identify what it is you are really looking for, so be careful when communicating with a company.

Also, what many of you may not realize, is that companies are in constant communication with one another. I am personally friends with many bait company owners, and most are not even remotely located close to me. We communicate daily and often talk about people who have approached all of us, looking for the same thing. Keep this in mind when you send emails or letters to companies of the same products. Once we find out you contacted all of us, most likely you will be dismissed.

What not to do:

-Don't send emails with bad grammar. This is the BIGGEST no-no you could possibly do. Not capitalizing letters or use of incorrect punctuation will dramatically decrease your chances.

-With current technology the way it is, Facebook is not an unprofessional way of approaching a company. I interact with many anglers via facebook. And although some companies will frown on this, many don't care on what form of communication you use. HOWEVER, do NOT contact a company on facebook, when your page contains beer, girls, and disorderly conduct. That includes inappropriate statuses, pictures, etc. This will NOT help your cause. So if you feel your facebook page is not up to par, do not contact anyone through facebook.

-Do not email or write a company and immediately tell us what kind of discount you want. If we work out a deal, that part will be considered and decided by us.

-Do not approach a plastics company and include a resume saying you are sponsored by a plastics company!! I know you guys think that is obvious, but you would be surprised!

-Do not contact a company when you have no interest in their product. If you are a spinnerbait fisherman and have never fished a jig, don't contact a jig company.

Now things you should ALWAYS do:

-ALWAYS be familiar with the company's product. Include something in the email/letter about one of their products and something that you like about it.

-ASK QUESTIONS!!! Ask about our products. Be interested!

-List all the ways you will help us. I know this has been said before but the main question we want answered is, "How does sponsoring you help bring us more business?"

You have to 'wow' us. How do you stand out from everyone else? When we read your resume, we want to be impressed. Don't make up anything in the resume.. We do check. It also doesn't hurt to attach attach a few pictures. We want to know what you look like.

Once you do make Pro Staff, constantly keep in touch. If we can't get a hold of you or haven't heard from you in months. You might be forgotten about.

Also, if you really really really want to suck up. Hooking up a deal with a bait company and a local tackle store will grant you Pro Staff for life. That is the ultimate.

Last but not least, BELIEVE IN THE COMPANY! Please don't just try and rack up as many as you can. Contact the companies you truly believe in. You will help them a lot more than a company you don't.

I hope this has helped somebody. And if anyone wants to try your resumes on me, let 'er rip!

sweetwaterbaits@yahoo.com

Good luck and happy fishing!

[RobbyZ5001 3]

I personally don't seek any sponsorships, but I just wanted to say Thanks for the post. I enjoy reading what the business folks in charge of sponsorship look for when supporting fishermen.

[EasternPAfisherman 0]

Thank you for the tips. I have been recently looking for sponsers lately so I might send you a application.

Thanks,

Easternpafisherman

[fishguts 1]

Thank you for the tips. I have been recently looking for :-/sponsers :-/lately so I might send you a application.

Thanks,

Easternpafisherman

Eastern,

Please read Radical's first "Don't."

Sheesh...

[Bass XL 13]

Thank you for the tips. I have been recently looking for sponsers lately so I might send you a application.

Thanks,

Easternpafisherman

Good try!

[ChazfromVA 4]

Besides all the jokes that was a pretty entertaining post. Thanks Radical. I never really thought about the exec. perspective concerning sponsorships... glad to see I followed most of the guidelines though! ;D

[Radical Conservative 4]

Thanks, guys. Just tryin' to help some guys out and maybe lead them in the right direction.

[Captain Obvious 19]

Great post, we could use more like this one.

Capt.O

[Mike Z 1]

I enjoyed reading the first post and especiallty liked the take on sites like Facebook. It used to be that communication not in writing was frowned upon and considered non professional. With the internet these days I guess it is a good thing to be hooked up to these sites because customers and fans alike can easily reach someone with questions and comments.

BELIEVE IN THE COMPANY! Please don't just try and rack up as many as you can. Contact the companies you truly believe in. You will help them a lot more than a company you don't.

This is probably one of the biggest things that can be said. if you don't belive in the products and use the products you are asking to be involved with, don't expect much.

If the people who are responsible for the products you use see you talking up the product and helping others in any way you can, all while not being paid, they take notice. They will start to watch you and see how you do and when the time is right, a relationship can be formed. This is not based on the fishing industry, but with a hobby I had many years ago in which I became very good at what I did.

Anyway, thanks for the post.

[JGraham 0]

I would like to say Thank-you for your time in posting that. I found it very informative and enlightening.

I'm not a GOOD fisherman I think but I do fish over 250 days a year and have a few good friend s at some of the local bait shops on the lake but I probably want get sponsered.. I really don't want free stuff. Maybe one of those patches for my new shirt would be nice..lol

~JGraham

[Bass Junkie 93]

  Thanks for taking time out to post this. It is really informative.

[Taylor Fishin 4 life 4]

That was a great post!

[James Williams 0]

Thank you

[Fishing Cowgirl 96]

Thank you, great post. I'd like to print it out and give it to my step-son.  He could benefit from this.

[Nova Kaw 650 0]

Thank you for the tips. I have been recently looking for sponsers lately so I might send you a application.

Thanks,

Easternpafisherman

Try this:

"Thank you for your tips on writing a resume.

I have begun the search for sponsers, so I will send you a resume for your consideration.

  Thank you,

  Easternpafisherman"

Everyone should have a second person read over an application/resume for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  Find someone that is an avid reader, perhaps a business person, and over 35 years of age.

   

[SoFlaBassAddict 211]

Thank you for the tips. I have been recently looking for sponsers lately so I might send you a application.

Thanks,

Easternpafisherman

Try this:

"Thank you for your tips on writing a resume.

I have begun the search for sponsers, so I will send you a resume for your consideration.

Thank you,

Easternpafisherman"

Everyone should have a second person read over an application/resume for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Find someone that is an avid reader, perhaps a business person, and over 35 years of age.

Ahem.  Ahem.

Yeah.    ;D

[suicidenemesis 3]

Thank you for the tips. I have been recently looking for sponsers lately so I might send you a application.

Thanks,

Easternpafisherman

Try this:

"Thank you for your tips on writing a resume.

I have begun the search for sponsers, so I will send you a resume for your consideration.

Thank you,

Easternpafisherman"

Everyone should have a second person read over an application/resume for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Find someone that is an avid reader, perhaps a business person, and over 35 years of age.

You are absolutely correct with that comment!  Not enough people actually have the self confidence to seek constructive critisizm.  One thing I tell my wife to do is to type her posts/resumes on a word document and have the grammar and style checked along with the spelling, then I will read it to see what it says and how it could be said better.  I would do that with my own stuff too, but I am very much in the middle of my career and have another ten years before I start looking for a new job.  One thing people forget to ask themselves when looking for a job or new position is, "What benefits the sponsor/employer if they hire me instread of someone else?"  Somone who actually believes in the product, or someone who is trying to accumulate sponsorships?

Radical, thanks for the post.  I hope you find the anglers you need to promote your goods! 

[Lund Explorer 932]

Thank you for the tips. I have been recently looking for sponsers lately so I might send you a application.

Thanks,

Easternpafisherman

Try this:

"Thank you for your tips on writing a resume.

I have begun the search for sponsers, so I will send you a resume for your consideration.

Thank you,

Easternpafisherman"

Everyone should have a second person read over an application/resume for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Find someone that is an avid reader, perhaps a business person, and over 35 years of age.

You are absolutely correct with that comment! Not enough people actually have the self confidence to seek constructive critisizm. One thing I tell my wife to do is to type her posts/resumes on a word document and have the grammar and style checked along with the spelling, then I will read it to see what it says and how it could be said better. I would do that with my own stuff too, but I am very much in the middle of my career and have another ten years before I start looking for a new job. One thing people forget to ask themselves when looking for a job or new position is, "What benefits the sponsor/employer if they hire me instread of someone else?" Somone who actually believes in the product, or someone who is trying to accumulate sponsorships?

Radical, thanks for the post. I hope you find the anglers you need to promote your goods!

I see what you mean!   

[suicidenemesis 3]

Thank you for the tips. I have been recently looking for sponsers lately so I might send you a application.

Thanks,

Easternpafisherman

Try this:

"Thank you for your tips on writing a resume.

I have begun the search for sponsers, so I will send you a resume for your consideration.

Thank you,

Easternpafisherman"

Everyone should have a second person read over an application/resume for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Find someone that is an avid reader, perhaps a business person, and over 35 years of age.

You are absolutely correct with that comment! Not enough people actually have the self confidence to seek constructive critisizm. One thing I tell my wife to do is to type her posts/resumes on a word document and have the grammar and style checked along with the spelling, then I will read it to see what it says and how it could be said better. I would do that with my own stuff too, but I am very much in the middle of my career and have another ten years before I start looking for a new job. One thing people forget to ask themselves when looking for a job or new position is, "What benefits the sponsor/employer if they hire me instread of someone else?" Somone who actually believes in the product, or someone who is trying to accumulate sponsorships?

Radical, thanks for the post. I hope you find the anglers you need to promote your goods!

I see what you mean!

HA!!!  You got me! Yup, no one else read that before I posted!  Now that is funny.

[BassIdiot 1]

That is some great info there!

One other thing is to not expect FREE stuff. Expect to start out with a discount. I had free stuff at one time but got out of fishing for a while. Back into it now and I have sponsors for line, reels, rods and two bait companies where I get a 50% discount.

Be truthful in your resume because they WILL check it.

[janb 0]

Great post and helpful tips!

Thanks.

[Crankenstein Crony 12]

Is this a spelling, grammar, and arithmetic forum or a bass fishing forum...?

[Glenn 3,833]

In this particular forum, we look at everything to help out the person as much as possible. As mentioned a few posts up,

Everyone should have a second person read over an application/resume for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation

[YoungProdigy19 24]

And one thing alot of people don't realize.... getting sponsored doesn't make you a better fisherman. There just nice to have. Keep that in mind.

[NCbassmaster4Life 25]

And one thing alot of people don't realize.... getting sponsored doesn't make you a better fisherman. There just nice to have. Keep that in mind.

No but in the professional world, it's how to make a living.