help with sponsorship

[thatdrifterguy]

i want to try getting sponsored but dont know exactly how to organize it:duh:

heres what theyre asking for

k basically what they want is:
-a hard copy proposal: (as in binder right?) not an actual book hard copy?
-photos of my car: stock but planning to go fo'show by the end of summer
-complete list of mods and their dates: my car is stock http://www.240sxforums.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif
-calender of events i plan to participate in: had a few drift days, car show events for the rest of the year but the organizer effd up recently so i needa wait for a new schedule
and,
-coverage ive recieved: -got two 1st place in drift events. both judged by katsuhiro ueo
-two 2nd place drift events. judged by local judges who dont even drift. tch!
-2nd place stock class in a 5 race series
-3rd place stock class in a 3 race series
-i have a page on the april07 edition of drift tengoku. for getting 1st place

any help from anyone?:love:

[status:one]

You have to prove to them (in your formal proposal) that by them sponsoring you, it is as beneficial to them as it is to you.

[ALTRNTV]

It's pretty hard to get sponsored, when your car is stock.
What company are you trying to get sponsored? Remember, a ton of people send in proposals to the different companies, but only around 1-2 actually get picked.

[status:one]

It's pretty hard to get sponsored, when your car is stock.
What company are you trying to get sponsored? Remember, a ton of people send in proposals to the different companies, but only around 1-2 actually get picked.

Mainly because most of the people who send in proposals are dreamers.
Like AkademikONE said, with your car being stock, its going to hard to prove to a company that you and your car will be able to give enough positive exposure to the company. They could give two shits about what "plans" you have in the future, unless you can prove great media exposure with any previous builds.

[S14DB]

It's basically like a report that you would do for school/college. Just take it to staples/office despot/kinkos or any other copy/office supply store and have them bind it.

Your car is stock but you have exposer going for you.

Front cover is your name, car make and model and a picture.
Next page is all you contact info and a table of contents.
Page 3, a Brief proposal of what you have done what you are planning to do in the future. Both what you have done and need to do to the car and what you have done and are planing on doing with the car. What you need to reach those goals from them and what benefits they will get in return.
Page 4, Events and shows, publications your car has appeared in in chronological order. Put notes to pages later in the proposal of the pictures of your cars in these events and reprints of publications. Also, note any awards or Placings received.
Page 5, Events and shows you plan to attend in the next "season." Note don't get to outlandish. Events may be canceled. But, don't put events you have no intention of going to because the company may put in the contract that you have to attend that event.
Page 6,7,8,9 Full size Front, 3/4, Side and Rear shots of your car.
Page 10,11,12... Pictures of you car at events you listed. Best to have one event per page with multiple shots of the car and Text of the Event, Date, awards. Get creative with the layout, This is how the company will envision their product being sold.
Page... Reprints of publications featured.


Spend some time at this. If you don't have a color laser, take it to the shop to be printed. I like Plastic covers with clear front(to see your cover page) and the color of your car rear. Use the thin plastic strip binding as spirals will get crushed.

Act professional at all times but keep it real when it comes to car talk. They want someone that will keep a schedule to help them market their product yet keep it real to sell their product.

Print out as many as you need for the companies you want and a couple extra for companies you may meet at shows and events. Update every year and keep the company updated with coverage. Some if this is self explanatory and some may be required by the company. But, it is important to keep the company excited about the exposer your car is getting their product in the hope that they will give you more next year and/or tell other companies about you that they do business with. Also, like any job you may need references for new sponsors and new sponsors may call old sponsors to see how you work out.

You are using your car to sell their product. You car is basically a model for the company. Don't do anything stupid that would comprise you ability to fulfill the contract.

[status:one]

And dont send off proposals to rivaling companies at the same time...

Just keep in mind that you should think of it as a partnership...your proposing to help them and not just getting "free stuff," in return they will help you. That is one of many key differences in those who will or will not get sponsored.

[Brian]

I pretty much deny everybody.

[Creizai]

Just let it come to you when the time is right. Make lots of friends with everyone stand out from the crowd. Never burn bridges.

[A Spec Products]

I pretty much deny everybody.

Ditto.

I think the biggest thing are people looking for handouts

You gotta put IN something to get something

Can't roll a stock car and ask for free parts, no one is gonna give you any

Also, IF you are sponsored, you really have to work at generating for the person sponsoring you

If your return in investment is low, then you're not a very good sponsee

And no, "I will run your stickers" is not a convincing pitch

[chmercer]

aint gonna get shit with a stock car bro

[status:one]

Apec Products nailed it.
I am sponsored by Dunlop, Meguiars, valvoline, audiobahn to name a few... some require written contracts and a lot of time must be invested to keep the sponsors happy. Season progress reports, travelling long distances and having to take off from work, running booths, lending your car out to the sponsors etc. etc. Like A Spec Products said... its not just "sporting stickers," there is a lot more to it. Like I said earlier in this thread, being sponsored is like a business partnership, so what once was your hobby soon becomes quite an obligation... keep that in mind.

[Matej]

Try getting sponsored by small up & coming or local companies that no one has heard of, many times they're willing to get their name out there. A local shop sponsorship would be nice too, and probably the easiest to obtain, just go talk to the owners of some of your local shops. You might have a chance, depending on how big the drift scene in Guam is.

[pablo180]

As mentioned above, you have to convince the sponsor that their support will ultimately help them out in the end. Treat it very much as a business negotiation.

Some things to think about....
What is the benefit of you being sponsored by them?
What differentiates you from everyone else in the field?
What is your overall goal?
How are you going to measure the success of reaching that goal?
Do your goals line up with theirs?
What is it exactly that you want from them? (money,parts,support)

Its not an easy thing to do, but it is possible to get sponsors as long as you speak to the right people. Dont hand your proposal off to the secretary for them to pass it on...make sure it gets to the correct person. Keep them happy and follow through on your work.

[thatdrifterguy]

damn, everything everyone mentioned makes me rethink about even trying:faint:
i guess exposure is the strongest point i have in getting sponsored but everything else that i may have to provide, :down:
guams scene isnt that big. so i dont think it'd be enough to keep them happy. not much legit drifters here that would buy brand new tires, so i'd probly get some low azz investment. also from what shiatsu said, how my hobby becomes an obligation. i can already imagine how much stress i'll be getting cuz it just isnt as fun anymore

btw. i was gonna try getting sponsored by falken:bowrofl:
ALL I WANTED WAS TIRES!!!! lol
probly i'd benefit the company if they sold their drift tires cheap.

but thanks guys for giving me your thoughts/opinions and for helping me out. maybe i'll try later when im sure that having those obligations of a sponsoree is somthing i can handle.
T K K I K
a a u a
k r z r
e e e
:hug: :D :bigok: :spank: :wtf: :rolleyes: :ghey:

[status:one]

Sure thing... best of luck to you!

[azndoc]

I used think like the way you do. But then I started working at a shop and then I realized why everyone was saying no. Simply because it's a pretty big investment to do especially with cost of parts and such. So just save your money and buy the parts yourself. If your good then eventually the sponsors will come.

[A Spec Products]

I used think like the way you do. But then I started working at a shop and then I realized why everyone was saying no. Simply because it's a pretty big investment to do especially with cost of parts and such. So just save your money and buy the parts yourself. If your good then eventually the sponsors will come.

And people still tell you NO

LOLZ

Nah but really, me personally I do not like getting sponsored

Because you are obligated to someone else

I prefer to just save money so the only person I satisfy is myself

The only time I will ever take sponsorship is if I know I can generate like 10 x the amount that I got

[koukikat180sx]

Apec Products nailed it.
I am sponsored by Dunlop, Meguiars, valvoline, audiobahn to name a few... some require written contracts and a lot of time must be invested to keep the sponsors happy. Season progress reports, travelling long distances and having to take off from work, running booths, lending your car out to the sponsors etc. etc. Like A Spec Products said... its not just "sporting stickers," there is a lot more to it. Like I said earlier in this thread, being sponsored is like a business partnership, so what once was your hobby soon becomes quite an obligation... keep that in mind.

I totally agree with you on that what once was your hobby soon becomes quite an obligation. If sponsorship is what you're looking for, you should be prepared for this. I have made several sacrifices to keep my sponsors happy and give them the most media I can get. I've gone from missing baby showers to pissing off my boyfriend.

Good luck!

[azndoc]

Yes they do tell me NO, but hey I sponsor Logan's paycheck once in a while.

[Dousan_PG]

fuck sponsors
100% out of pocket
helped but not sponsored. thats it
nothing is free imo

anyways
i buy my own damn tires.

[azndoc]

Like the people who dropped me off in the states on the boat said.

"No free lunch in America son, you work for you lunch."

Okay, that didn't really happen but yeah that's what I say.

[chmercer]

Yo shiatsu your front bumper is falling off

[status:one]

Yo shiatsu your front bumper is falling off

Bodyshop is fixing that small fitment issue.

[Edgar]

zipties would work :)

[sikkk240]

You should just try to go to like a small time shop in your area, and ask for their sponsorship, then start collecting small place sponsorships.

Dont just go to the top is what im saying.

[thatdrifterguy]

yeah i got a small sponsor. nothing free though. lol
but im just gonna do what some people said. to wait for them to ask me. just like how i got the one i already have. i like it because hes allowing me to do whatever i want. i dont HAVE to join a car show, i dont HAVE to join an event. i just have to promote his business in a positive way and try my best to get him customers.

i wasnt trying to go for all the big companies but i just thought falken might be an easy one cuz they have so many cars. lol
and the only thing im worrying about with my car is tires since i love drifting. everything else, like suspension, aero, rims, i dont mind paying those myself. more hardwork dedicated to my baby :) but having free parts doesnt sound too bad. haha

i finally got the chance to talk to a friend thats sponsored by a bigger private business and it does sound shitty to me. he sounds like he enjoys it but i wouldnt.

[S13SilviaGirl]

Here is a link. Read it.

http://www.jtuned.com/content/templates/tune.aspx?articleid=290&z..16

[thatdrifterguy]

^good info!
"Once you get the free product then that’s it!!
False. Sponsorships don’t stop at receiving free product. With it, comes the responsibility of representing the company, featuring and recommending their product, gaining exposure (ie Jtuned.com articles and other media appearances), and keeping them up-to-date on your progress. Some people see this as a big hassle, so before you push send on that proposal, make sure you can commit your time and effort into it!"

thats what i feel

[Frosty_spl]

My friend andy sapp drifts a dope BMW, does really well in the events he enters. He sends a really sick designed proposal with driver profile DVD to alot of companies too. PLUS he has been on Speed TV numerous times.

And still can not get sponsored by anyone other than local shops.

[ramblux]

Sponsorship has gotten out of hand these days. It's to the point where before anyone will spend a dime, they want to try to get sponsored first.

And people who talk too much about their sponsorships get to me too. Companies don't want people telling the world that they're sponsored, they want people to say, "Hey, that guy bought XXXXX for his nice car, I should too."

Instead, when people blab you get, "Hey, that guy got XXXXX sponsored for free for his nice car, I should too."

[thatdrifterguy]

Instead, when people blab you get, "Hey, that guy got XXXXX sponsored for free for his nice car, I should too."

thats what im feeling. damn you jealousy! why cant i have a nice car like someone i know!?!?!?!?:mad:
:bowrofl:

[backroadtouge]

well as nice as im sure a major sponsorship is, know the differnce between hook-up prices and like full blow free stuff. always give props to people who help you out, even if they do no more than give you tire discounts! id say, start hanging out at local shops, make friends, and get your name out as being not just another poser kid. I get real annoyed when kids talk and are all like " blah blah ya im a drifter i race i blah blah blah" and ive never seen them at one event, which for our area makes up going to mineral wells or houston. and then i see thier stock car. my car is nothing too exciting but i can tell a difference between a stock 240 and one that has atleast some suspension work. dont just be all talk. you have to be at events if that is the path you want to take to pull bigger sponsors

basically, dont worry about sponsors, that comes with time (i guess ?:) ). set your self a budget and stay close too it. cars break and account for that. have fun!

p.s.- all of the people i see dedicated to the sport are in it for the fun of it. look at like all the cars who went to All-Star Bash. majority of those nice nice cars came out of pocket or hook ups. just get out there and have fun!

[fromxtor]

I'm going to try and get a sponsor to help with gas and oil, I wont be drifting my car so tires wont be as big an issue for some here.