Advertising & fencing

[Rapier_wit]

[QUOTE=prototoast]Personally, I feel like the best way for fencing to get more exposure is to remove the restrictions on advertising on the uniform. Fencers should have uniforms covered head to toe with various company brandings. This would actually bring in some outside money to fencing, and it would be advertising that would be designed to reach an outside audience. It would make it much easier for people to identify who the fencers are, and the best fencers would become associated with their sponsors.QUOTE]

Personally, I'm a fan of not having any logos. I prefer having the all-white uniforms, but that's just my preference. I can understand what you're saying though.

By the way, is there a fencing magazine out there?

[Larrison]

Think there are two issues here, and perhaps we're confusing them..

There's advertising -- where someone like the USFA places promotional ads in order to promote fencing, general more sponsorship dollars, or increase the public awareness of fencing. Similarly a private company can place an advertisement for their product using fencing in order to increase their sales -- such as Keith Smart's Soy Milk commercial, and several others over the past few years. But they don't need to pay USFA for that.

But how realistic is that someone would want to increase their product sales by putting an advertising logo on a fencer's uniform at a competition? Not likely, IMHO.

Then there's sponsorship -- where an outside company puts financial backing into an event or team or individual competing, and in the process gets to display their logo. This may be something like the "Virgina Slims Women's PGA Open", or "Team Dell NASCAR racer", or "Staples Sports Center" (home of LA Lakers), of the like. Folks like Nike will pay big bucks to folks like Tiger Woods in order to have them wear their clothes, use their equipment, and appear in their commercials -- hoping to have some of the success of that winner rub off on their product sales.

Is it reasonable for USFA or fencing teams or elite fencers to seek out sponsors? For the USFA, probably not -- with out having the ability to demonstrate there is some way through increased product awareness or positive product positioning by having something associated with fencing, its pretty much a long shot. For fencing teams or elite fencers -- perhaps. Certainly an Olympic Medal winner might have some success -- and might generate some additional publicity for fencing as a by product. But even that is limited by the lack of public awareness of fencing in the US in general.

I think what's needed is for someone at the USFA to give some thought as to how to increase the positive demographics for fencing. There are a couple of ways to do this..

First, I think the expenditure of a little money doing some basic demographic research and product placement association might be very interesting. Fencing typically has a "cool" "sophistiated" "high class" aura around it, and is seen as an elite sport. This could link well to folks trying to sell high end products -- such as Mercedes, high end jewelry, sophisticated electronics, etc. But you need some basic associational research done by someone with a reasonable reputation to support this position.

Secondly, USFA needs to put in place a way to generate local exposure for fencers, of which I've suggested a publicity linkage with visits by elite fencers to local clubs or salles. This should be fairly inexpensive, since you can focus on major metropolitan areas. But imiagine the headlines such as "Olympic medalist visits local fencing club"... But this will need some cpprdomatopm and both some advance publicity and coordination to pull off.

What this does is give a sponsor a channel to support and a way to get their product placement out to the population. You can see things similar to "Nike fencing hats" or "Adidas key rings with a fencing logo" or etc. Using sponsor's funds gives a big leverage to USFA's activities, and expands both the public awareness of fencing, and helps build a large demographic base for fencing.

At the higher end is big-name sponsorship of fencing events -- things like "Duel in the Desert" could use a sponsor, or perhaps a National Championship, with the "Acme Championship trophy". Once you see sponsors coming on board, then TV and other sports entertainment channels start to pay attention -- they figure that if Mercedes is sponsorting the event, they'll probably also pay for some advertising, so they'll be more likely to cover it.

But $5K for unspecified advertising?? .....

[RITFencing]

At the higher end is big-name sponsorship of fencing events -- things like "Duel in the Desert" could use a sponsor

Actually, DitD already has sponsors. They give away door prizes at the big saturday night "exhibition" and have their logos appear on the back of the shirts fencers recieve. I think other big tournaments (the LBI springs to mind, although I haven't been there and so I couldn't say if it has a similar set up) could benefit from this example.

I totally agree on getting fencing in general more publicity, though. National TV campaigns are prohibitively expensive, but I think having divs and sections budget money towards things like public demonstrations might be a very cost effective way to go. It doesn't cost much money to have an hour of time at a local mall, but that money can go a long way in terms of interest generated.

[Larrison]

Actually, DitD already has sponsors. They give away door prizes at the big saturday night "exhibition" and have their logos appear on the back of the shirts fencers recieve. I think other big tournaments (the LBI springs to mind, although I haven't been there and so I couldn't say if it has a similar set up) could benefit from this example. [ ... ]

DitD does? Cool.. I haven't been so I have to confess I was flying blind there. I was at the LBI this year (wandering around and watching the competition), and other than a couple of vendor tables, and one of the local clubs selling food there wasn't any real sponsor logos apparent. (I didn't see a LBI t-shirt though...)

Some years ago I had the chance to observe a big-money sponsorship event (big sailing race) and the difference is like night and day, and every year at the local beaches there are lots of sponsored surf and volleyball competitions. Lots of sponsor tables, ranging from publicity giveaways (Coke visors, Hurley T-shirts, Billabog bags, Quiksilver bags, free samples of foods, sunscreen etc.) and at the high end events some impressive venues and big trophies and expensive pieces of hardware sitting around to be admired (Cars, electronics, etc.)

I really think fencing has a very good image and association in the public's mind -- and if the demographic associationals are developed to verify that then it might be really attractive to some sponsors. If the sponsors could see a path to getting their products out in front of the public though, and if they could see a way that their sponsorship could help sell more product. Which isn't there today

[counterattack]

Actually, DitD already has sponsors. They give away door prizes at the big saturday night "exhibition" and have their logos appear on the back of the shirts fencers recieve. I think other big tournaments (the LBI springs to mind, although I haven't been there and so I couldn't say if it has a similar set up) could benefit from this example.

I totally agree on getting fencing in general more publicity, though. National TV campaigns are prohibitively expensive, but I think having divs and sections budget money towards things like public demonstrations might be a very cost effective way to go. It doesn't cost much money to have an hour of time at a local mall, but that money can go a long way in terms of interest generated.

At the LBI this year there were certainly some banners of spnsors up on the wall, as well as lots of door prizes from sponsors, though I don't think any were on the shirt.

The Sierra Nevada Open, as well: http://www.sierranevadaopen.com/sponsors.htm

As an aside, I am not the biggest fan of Sierra Nevada beer (though many people are), but when I am loading up for a party I make sure to buy some Sierra Nevada because I appreciate that they sponsor a fencing event.

I think any money flowing in to fencing that doesn't come from other fencers is a good thing. If the high level fencers can offset some of their costs by putting a couple of logos on their jackets, I would want them to be able to do it. I know how much it hurts my wallet every time a BF FIE breaks in my hand, or a hole appears on the toe of my fencing shoes, and if someone can convince a company to pay for some of that, more power to them. Don't let the aesthetic sense in your head keep someone else from financing their hard work.

[rcmatthews]

The Sierra Nevada Open is about the coolest thing I have ever seen. It would almost be worth it for me to fly out to California.

[RITFencing]

Sierra Nevada Stout is not bad at all, which is saying somerhting for beer brewed in the US.

[rcmatthews]

There are plenty of good bears brewed in the US, you just have to look hard. Lots come out of California too. Anchor and North Coast come to mind.

[Zilverzmurfen]

There are plenty of good bears brewed in the US...

Are you sure?
Poor Oso!

[rcmatthews]

We have a few good beers too.

[RITFencing]

They're there, but they are hardly the norm. Beers, that is. We have plenty of great bears. In America, good beer is the exception rather than the rule. In, say, Germany or Ireland, I think bad beer might be grounds for the death penalty.

[Rapier_wit]

They're there, but they are hardly the norm. Beers, that is. We have plenty of great bears. In America, good beer is the exception rather than the rule. In, say, Germany or Ireland, I think bad beer might be grounds for the death penalty.

Got that right. It's kinda like having an Irish wife who can't cook colcanain. It could mean grounds for divorce!

[RITFencing]

Got that right. It's kinda like having an Irish wife who can't cook colcanain. It could mean grounds for divorce!

I have no idea what that is, probably because despite my heritage, Irish food and I don't get along. Irish beverages, however... there's nothing like a glass of Old Middleton on a summer evening on the porch with a good book and good music. NOTHING.

[Rapier_wit]

Colcanain is an Irish dish of potatoes, cabbage, and cheese. Typical home meal at my house. Old Middleton? Not too shabby, Bass is the best, though.

[RITFencing]

Ummmm... Middleton is Irish Whiskey. 25 year old blend. Bass is British Ale, and it's ok, but for my money the best beer is Dinkel Acker. Personal preferences, though.

[fencergal33]

I particularly like Old Speckled Hen.

[RITFencing]

Never tried it. Is that a beer or whiskey?

[fencergal33]

Beer......I believe it's brewed in Oxford. Sorry...I'm not a whiskey drinker.

[RITFencing]

Then you've never tried a good brand.

Do yourself a favor and buy a bottle of Jameson if you're in America, or Powers if you're in Ireland/the UK. In other parts of the world, I wouldn't know what to recommend on the cheap end.

[Rapier_wit]

Ummmm... Middleton is Irish Whiskey. 25 year old blend. Bass is British Ale, and it's ok, but for my money the best beer is Dinkel Acker. Personal preferences, though.

Oh I know, but I had a neighbour from Dublin who was convinced that the Irish invented Bass. He had a pretty convincing arguement too. Granted, I don't even drink, so my opinion's not that valid. (I occasionally have a sip of my parent's port or cherry, but that's about it) I've tried drinking whiskey, but little ol' me just couldn't hack it. Imagine my shame in trying to down a shotglass of Jameson at military post-banquet. Yikes!