freaked out fridays: HOW TO GET SPONSORED!!
this week i'm going to talk about sponsorship. The wonderful thing that helps you not work and skate all the time. First and foremost , DO NOT SKATE TO GET SPONSORED. if you are skateboarding just to get sponsored just quit now, because you have no clue what skating is all about and that is unfortunate. This is commonly said in the skateboarding community. Do a lot of kids aspire to get sponsored...sure. but it can't be your ultimate goal. Don't get me wrong we all want free stuff and want to rep the companies we feel. i have tons of project 21 shirts and decks. I ride and rock those decks and shirts with pride. they took a chance on me so i give back by spreading thier name around to as many people as i can. thats why you will see project 21 gear and stickers in 36 of the 50 states. Do they pay me? no. do i not have to pay for decks and t shirts. yes. so it is worth it to me. Getting sponsored is almost like a job (the best job ever). you have to work. There are deadlines, photo opts, video parts, editing, meeting other people, finding new riders, getting your name out there.but the trade off is you are skating the whole time. I think a lot of people who step on a board and learn a kickflip think that they are ready for sponsorship. I laugh at these kids. Its called dues. You need to pay them. just because you can do a sloppy ass mov kickflip 1 inch of the ground that you land on ,not catch doesn't mean you are ready to ride for Girl. Here are somethings you can do ,if you are good enough and have the drive, to have some people notice. First learn a few more tricks than that mov kickflip. Get the tricks clean and consistant because it doesn't matter if you can tre flip a 20 set if its ugly forget it. also, photographers, myself included , don't like to watch someone try the same trick 150 times only to not land it and waste a whole bunch film. Now that you have a solid selection of tricks and can do them on a regular basis we are ready for step two. Enter every contest you possibly can. People will start to know you and you will become friends with the kids on the contest circut in your area (who may be sponsored already, connections people!!!) These people can be good at dropping your name to the local shops and photographer and filmers. "Oh have you heard of this J-holla kid..he got third in the best trick contest at bren-mar...yeah thats him...yeah hardfliped the whole funbox." this is music to sponsors ears. step three get about 2 mins. worth of your magic on film. Edit it wih music too. you don't have the equipment , one of the kids you met at the contests will (see i told you connections). And dudes film with a proper camera, don't use moms over the shoulder VHS recorder. Keep in mind when making your little video to do tricks that set you apart from the rest and make you stand out. keep the non-skating stuff to a minimal. as they will be more interested in the skating then how many beers you can drink or how many bong hits you can take. Step 4 go to the local shops in your area (avoid mall shops if you can as they suck, no offense to the towns that only have a mall shop, then you have no choice) don't be pushy..but like "you guys sponsor riders?" "i got this footy". also put that shit on theberrics.com and you tube and tell your boys to hit it everyday. the more hits the better! if the shop wants to peep your footy thats right on, if not DON'T GET DICOURAGED.theres more than one shop out there. try sending it to small and big companies.....here on the berrics there are companies..there you go. do you think Koston was always the poo-poo? no he started out just like all of us. keep filming, compiling footage and entering contests. The sponsors will find you if you truly have what it takes. now that i have given you the blueprint try to keep in mind skateboarding is fun. its supposed to be fun. you might find trying all the time to get sponsord might sour you on how fun skatebording is.....always have fun roll forever homies. J-holla OUT!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Samuel Robert Mitchell on -
I have a shorter version, Get really good. Skate a nice big popular park for a while, people will notice you. That's how Windsor James started out in Colorado Springs
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Permalink Reply by John Holland ( aka J Holla) on -
it's that simple right on. I'm on it then.
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Permalink Reply by Alberto Trevino on -
believe it or not there is an even more simple answer to getting sponsored (or flow'd).
1. film a 2min video (short and sweet no messing around) portraying your style at best!
2. give it to your local skate shop. (try to go for the longest lasting shop in your area, they are the most trusted)
3. when your handing your video over (DVD Format would be best) mention all the great things you can do to help promote selling the shop in your area. its not just about you, the point is to be a walking/skating advertisement/rep for your shop.
4. [assuming you made it on your shop team] start looking at what brands your shop carries most. in my case, my skate shop carried a ton of Globe items; shoes, shirts, pants, socks, stickers, posters, random items. this should give you the signal that your shop has i good connection with that certain company. now, when your shop owner orders alot of the stuff he/she usually has to go through a rep from that company to get certain things he may want for the shop. the next person you want to impress is the rep. he can get you the flow with that company.
5. ask your shop/team manager if you can give him a new video to send to the rep ...in my case i didnt have to ask. (this is how i found all this out) my shop manager was very impressed with how much i got the word out about his store. i would spray paint the shops name on all my boards grip-tape, wear the shop t-shirts, made the shop a new myspace, created all kinds of banner graphics for his shop, edited videos promoting the shops name, ect... and i got a txt from my team manager one day asking "hey albert, how do you feel about Globe Shoes?". thats how i found out about the connection between shop managers and company reps.
6. if all goes well (and your actually a really good skater) then the rep should pick you up no problem. see, the company reps look at sponsor me vids more if they were sent in by a shop owner rather than just some random kid.
hope that clears up things for those of you who dont really know how it works ..i mean there are plenty of other ways to do it ..but to me that seems like the best bet, and your having so much fun while doing it! just remember that its not all about you. you get as much out of this as you put into it. im just lucky i ended up helping all the right people along the way.
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Permalink Reply by John Holland ( aka J Holla) on
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A very good list of things and steps to take...pay attention kiddies!
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Permalink Reply by David on -
i say being a goid skater isnt the only factor u can b insane but if ur a dick or cocky then chances of a shop wanting u reppin them isnt good or atleast around here it is
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Permalink Reply by John Holland ( aka J Holla) on
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Proper. That is so true. Guys like Harold hunter (RIP) and terry kennedy aren't really that good but they have magnetic personalities, they get along with the team, they are almost like mascots for the team, and hey they can skate too. great reply. thanks homie.
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Permalink Reply by jeremiah allen on -
yeah being good isnt everything. the are a million kids in this world now that can hardflip 7 stairs. you think that because you can do a rail or a big gap that you will get sponsered that your wrong. its all about how you are with other people and the shop. if your good friends with guys from a shop your much more likely to get sponsered than if you can just 5-0 15 stairs because thats becoming a regular thing to see these days.
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Permalink Reply by John Holland ( aka J Holla) on
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another good point. I think you have to be a cool person and get along with the team well to get sponsord. You have to fit in with the image of the team. In my blog i put do tricks that are you. show your individualtiy and what sets you apart. thanks for the reply homie.
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Permalink Reply by Ross Tyler on -
There's a few companies out their that actually want bad boy skaters that ARE good. I'm not a bad boy, but I read it in a skateboard magazine.
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