Those of you seeking sponsors

Motodrew295
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Kennewick, WA, USA
12/15/2010 8:40pm
Shouldn't you be glad there are some bad resumes out there? If they were all good wouldn't you have to sponsor everybody?

I mailed one in and never heard anything back, not even a resume critique, must have went straight to file G.
wardy
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Location
USA
12/15/2010 9:46pm
my 2 cents may be a little different. Although I agree with most if not all of what mr dave says here.

Remember something. ALL racing is local first. Don't be intimidated if you aren't some of the chosen few that get to travel all over the country and race the "big" events.

Here are some local racers tips that may help you.

1. Get your hair cut, cover up as many tatoos you can and take out the majority of your peirceings. Then go to your local dealer with a well written resume and walk in and see if you can talk to the owner. Take less then 5 minutes of his time, look him in the eye and hand him your resume. Then short and sweet tell him why he should spend his hard earned money on you, look him in the eye shake his hand and go on with your business so he can go on to his.

2. Have a plan. Tell him what you have done, what you plan to do, and how that will help him bring customers to his door. Be simple like Mr Dave says, but keep it real.

3. WD 40 is not a sponsor because they sent you stickers. Don't expect the world but if you truely have something to offer don't just run everything and anything. It cheapens your product which is your effort. But if you are the local hot shoe C rider don't expect much, thats irratating.

4. Make sure you take advantage of every track type promotion you can. If they have a race program get in it. If there is a photo journalist make sure you get a photo taken and speak to them. If there is a writer there talk to them to write about your class. YOu can win every weekend and if it's not in the paper or online, who cares no one knows. If they do interviews after the races or during, go get interviewed. The more your name is out there the more you will have chances of help.

5. There are thousands of sponsors out there, don't simply think that it has to be MOTO or Motorcycle based. Local racers can do very well with the local pizza place,or the local jiffy lube.

Don't think only the "big boys" can be sponsored because they only go to the "BIG' races thats bullshit. A rider can do very well locally and regionally if you work at it. I have for 30 years.

BobbyM
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21437
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Location
USA
12/15/2010 9:46pm
flarider wrote:
1. It's "sponsors" not "sponcers" and yes, spelling counts. No one wants to sponsor an illiterate moron. Have someone proofread your resume or whatever letter you...
1. It's "sponsors" not "sponcers" and yes, spelling counts. No one wants to sponsor an illiterate moron. Have someone proofread your resume or whatever letter you send a company.
2. No company wants to hear excuses, they want to hear successes. Don't tell a company you got last "Because it was dusty" or "Because it was muddy." Just leave it off. Better to leave off crappy results than make excuses, dumb excuses, as to why you had a bad day.
3. If you're of school age, INCLUDE your grades and maybe a letter from a teacher about how good a student you are. Companies want to help racers, but we also know there is life after racing and only a minute fraction of you will become the next MC or RC. School is important.
4. Stick to a single color and a single font. You might think it looks cool to do half in purple and half in hot pink, but it's not, it hurts the eyes and usually gets trashed right away.
5. K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Stupid. Don't need a 20 page resume, don't need a bunch of out of focus pictures of you doing "Bitchin' one leggers over the finish"
6. Speaking of photos, if you feel the need to send some, put them on a single sheet and try to keep it to one action, one of the bike on the stand (to see how neat and clean you keep your equipment) and one of your race trailer (again to see how neat and clean you keep everything)
7. Little Johnny does not make a "team," so to send a resume for "Awesome Super Sick Killer Racing Team, Inc." for little Johnny is silly.
8. You will get NOTHING free, except maybe stickers. If you do get an offer of free, you'll still likely pay freight. If you're so fast you get everything free and pay no freight, you stopped reading this a long time ago.
9. Stickers mean shit, talk means everything. Sponsors want to know and want to hear that you are SELLING our product to your friends and other riders, so they go into the local dealer to buy it. Just because you have a sticker on your bike doesn't mean your job is done. You're a representative of all your product sponsors, sell product. Get your friends to buy your product.
10. The more bigger events you go to, the more support you will get, that's the way it is. A kid who goes to every Am. National and gets 10th will likely get more support than a kid who races one track and smokes everyone every week. The more Nationals you attend, the greater the likelihood your support will increase. The reason for this is the greater commitment made to the sport, which is rewarded by the industry through sponsorship.
NP301 wrote:
Thanks for the self confidence burner on rule ten...... i win 90% of races......but hit no big races besides Kawasaki race of champions....which i got second...
Thanks for the self confidence burner on rule ten...... i win 90% of races......but hit no big races besides Kawasaki race of champions....which i got second at with a broken foot! Cool
leave out the whiny ass excuses..can't you read?
BobbyM
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Location
USA
12/15/2010 9:48pm
jndmx wrote:
I'm guessing that you don't know who Renner153 is do you......
RACEGUY wrote:
Oh, but I DO know. That's why I can't believe he wouldn't know who Dave is.
yer a dumbass...no?

The Shop

RonSkj
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2902
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Location
Radiator Springs, CA, USA
Fantasy
12/15/2010 10:23pm
E.I Dave

Please disregard my recent resume sent to your company. I have no use for a sponsor that would have me sitting on a bus for 14 hrs. at a time. I deserve first class travel after getting two third place finishes, while riding with an sore left thumb.

Thanks,
mxbile131
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Location
University Of Southern California, CA, USA
12/15/2010 10:24pm
Jesus. If you think this is hard, try getting ready for investment banking recruiting....

Starts in 3 weeks! FML
flarider
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Daytona Beach, FL, USA
12/16/2010 4:35am
Shouldn't you be glad there are some bad resumes out there? If they were all good wouldn't you have to sponsor everybody? I mailed one in...
Shouldn't you be glad there are some bad resumes out there? If they were all good wouldn't you have to sponsor everybody?

I mailed one in and never heard anything back, not even a resume critique, must have went straight to file G.
11. If you don't hear back from a company you sent a resume to, call and follow up. Do you just mail a resume to a prospective employer without any follow-up?
12/16/2010 6:35am
You should proofread you own stuff Flarider. The proper way to begin a sentence is also important. I'm just suggesting that you proofread your own stuff before you criticize others. I do not claim to be an expert on the subject but it was just as easy to spot your mistakes. Turbo
avidchimp
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EGL, MN, USA
12/16/2010 6:42am
"The more bigger events you go to..."

That was nice, Dave!! Wink
Hman144
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York, PA, USA
Fantasy
12/16/2010 7:55am Edited Date/Time 12/16/2010 7:56am
If youre homeschooled is a parent written note about your good school work acceptable
Once more, in English, S'il vous plait? Punctuation is a terrible thing to waste.



H
Renner153
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Mulberry, FL, USA
12/16/2010 8:07am
jndmx wrote:
I'm guessing that you don't know who Renner153 is do you......
RACEGUY wrote:
Oh, but I DO know. That's why I can't believe he wouldn't know who Dave is.
BobbyM wrote:
yer a dumbass...no?
Since I've ran engine ice since it came out, I think that gives me permission to mess with Dave atleast once a week
zookrider62!
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Plano, TX, USA
12/16/2010 8:13am
If youre homeschooled is a parent written note about your good school work acceptable
Hman144 wrote:
Once more, in English, S'il vous plait? Punctuation is a terrible thing to waste.



H
If you're homeschooled, is a parent written note about your good school work acceptable?
wardy
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USA
12/16/2010 9:38am
If youre homeschooled is a parent written note about your good school work acceptable
Hman144 wrote:
Once more, in English, S'il vous plait? Punctuation is a terrible thing to waste.



H
If you're homeschooled, is a parent written note about your good school work acceptable?
if your home schooled it's not a problem cause you would only go to the "big" races...... Smile
scooter5002
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Nanton Alberta, CA
12/16/2010 9:45am
Ok, I'll pony up to being a dumb-ass. I read the opening to the thread and while I would have to say that it makes TOTAL sense, I don't have a clue who Dave is. Someone want to let me in on the secret? (Go easy on me BobbyM, if it's you who nails me to the cross)
Torco1
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Corona, CA, USA
12/16/2010 9:51am
Ok, I'll pony up to being a dumb-ass. I read the opening to the thread and while I would have to say that it makes TOTAL...
Ok, I'll pony up to being a dumb-ass. I read the opening to the thread and while I would have to say that it makes TOTAL sense, I don't have a clue who Dave is. Someone want to let me in on the secret? (Go easy on me BobbyM, if it's you who nails me to the cross)
He's the one controlling the radio..........

12/16/2010 9:55am Edited Date/Time 12/16/2010 10:00am
flarider wrote:
1. It's "sponsors" not "sponcers" and yes, spelling counts. No one wants to sponsor an illiterate moron. Have someone proofread your resume or whatever letter you...
1. It's "sponsors" not "sponcers" and yes, spelling counts. No one wants to sponsor an illiterate moron. Have someone proofread your resume or whatever letter you send a company.
2. No company wants to hear excuses, they want to hear successes. Don't tell a company you got last "Because it was dusty" or "Because it was muddy." Just leave it off. Better to leave off crappy results than make excuses, dumb excuses, as to why you had a bad day.
3. If you're of school age, INCLUDE your grades and maybe a letter from a teacher about how good a student you are. Companies want to help racers, but we also know there is life after racing and only a minute fraction of you will become the next MC or RC. School is important.
4. Stick to a single color and a single font. You might think it looks cool to do half in purple and half in hot pink, but it's not, it hurts the eyes and usually gets trashed right away.
5. K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Stupid. Don't need a 20 page resume, don't need a bunch of out of focus pictures of you doing "Bitchin' one leggers over the finish"
6. Speaking of photos, if you feel the need to send some, put them on a single sheet and try to keep it to one action, one of the bike on the stand (to see how neat and clean you keep your equipment) and one of your race trailer (again to see how neat and clean you keep everything)
7. Little Johnny does not make a "team," so to send a resume for "Awesome Super Sick Killer Racing Team, Inc." for little Johnny is silly.
8. You will get NOTHING free, except maybe stickers. If you do get an offer of free, you'll still likely pay freight. If you're so fast you get everything free and pay no freight, you stopped reading this a long time ago.
9. Stickers mean shit, talk means everything. Sponsors want to know and want to hear that you are SELLING our product to your friends and other riders, so they go into the local dealer to buy it. Just because you have a sticker on your bike doesn't mean your job is done. You're a representative of all your product sponsors, sell product. Get your friends to buy your product.
10. The more bigger events you go to, the more support you will get, that's the way it is. A kid who goes to every Am. National and gets 10th will likely get more support than a kid who races one track and smokes everyone every week. The more Nationals you attend, the greater the likelihood your support will increase. The reason for this is the greater commitment made to the sport, which is rewarded by the industry through sponsorship.
11- (the most important one when writing a racing CV) you need to think about what you can do for the sponsor, not the other way round- then make sure your covering letter (that you send with your CV) is geared towards that attitude.

12- Make your own website, update it regularly with results- race calendar etc

13- Make sure you are easily approachable in the paddock/ at race meetings

14- Always present yourself well if you get any meetings with prospective sponsors (be polite, shake everybodys hands, maintain eye contact)



try local businesses- not sure how it works in the states but here in the UK of a business buys you a bike and you run their graphics they can claim the vat back and it writes some money off their tax bill (for advertising)
offer to do any promotional work for said business- whether that is handing flyers out, putting their name in the race program, running their graphics/ hats on podium etc
you dont need to be winning nationals to get a sponsor- if you do all the above then you stand a better chance than 99% of the kids infront of you.
scooter5002
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Location
Nanton Alberta, CA
12/16/2010 10:39am
Lol Ok, so who's the dancer? Ddavis?
kaw rider9
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East Peoria, IL, USA
12/16/2010 10:47am
Ok, I'll pony up to being a dumb-ass. I read the opening to the thread and while I would have to say that it makes TOTAL...
Ok, I'll pony up to being a dumb-ass. I read the opening to the thread and while I would have to say that it makes TOTAL sense, I don't have a clue who Dave is. Someone want to let me in on the secret? (Go easy on me BobbyM, if it's you who nails me to the cross)
He's a big fat guy that doesn't give out hats! True story.
flarider
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25496
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Location
Daytona Beach, FL, USA
12/16/2010 11:46am Edited Date/Time 12/16/2010 11:47am
And an asshole too!



Oh, as for any grammatical errors on my part, I'm not applying for sponsorship anywhere and I wrote it in 10 minutes
whoopsrider
Posts
56
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Location
Keller, TX, USA
12/16/2010 12:00pm
Holy Shit was that Tony Alessi or what? Poor Mikey but he can jam the box!
TeamGreen
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37340
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Location
Thru-out, CA, USA
12/16/2010 12:02pm
Wow.

Good stuff.

If ya want to ague with these points...?

Knock yourself out; however, other than the fact that I don't see a direct reference to the KISS principles (Keep It Simple, Stupid)...Dave's nailed it!

I can promise you: This is Prophecy.

Feel free to tell my how full of shit I am...Dave is...etc.

However, jus' take a moment and guess "what" it is a guy like Dave, or myself, is trying to accomplish by posting this stuff...for you.

Factoid: There are plenty of Hotel/Motel rooms, Plane tix, Rental cars purchased by those of us who are "Jus' Looking" during the Am. Nat's. I know: That's where I introduced Martin's agent to Bobby Hewitt...

I'm jus' sayin'...
(^added for Dave's benefit!)
mxknowitall
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Clearwater, FL, USA
12/16/2010 12:04pm
mxbile131 wrote:
Jesus. If you think this is hard, try getting ready for investment banking recruiting....

Starts in 3 weeks! FML
Nice to see another finance guy in moto. I start my msf in June.

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