Sponsership

[Rapier9mm]

Have any of you guys tried to get sponsership? and if you have, who did you try. I need sponsers, otherwise i just cannot afford to compete overseas, even though my coach thinks i should.

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Reuben
"Le singe violet laveur de vaiselle"

[Gavin.com]

Rapier,

One of the guys in our club is sponsored by a bakery (!!), though he's the only one I've seen (that's obivious) - helped him get to the Olympics though!

If you have them in NZ - he was sponsored by "Bakers Delight"

Cheers

[Rapier9mm]

thanx gav, bakers delight eh? they make the nicest cheese & bacon pull aparts :P yeah, we got em

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Reuben
"Le singe violet laveur de vaiselle"

[Zelda]

Gav, I have to ask.... who was it???? BTW you going to Nationals?

[EastWing]

Reuben,
Did you know Bakers Delight also helped nzaf(by donating bread) with the foundraising BBQ outside Warehouse?
BTW when are you planning to seek sponsership?

[Rapier9mm]

EastWing-

actually i didnt know that, and i am a member of the NZAF!!!! Ahh, basically, anytime in the past. In other words I am trying as we speak, collating addresses etc.

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Reuben
"Le singe violet laveur de vaiselle"

[Lumberg]

What might help is if you spelled sponsor and sponsorship correctly.
But seriously, it is difficult to get a sponsor for an amateur sport that won't benefit the sponsor in anyway except for a tax break. If you look at it from their end, they are giving money to you for travel, food, and lodging and they are getting nothing in return. It's as if you are asking for a free European vacation. Seriously.
If your coach is so adamant about going to international tournaments, he should be trying to help you get sponsorship.

[Rapier9mm]

i have been told that it is a good idea to try local governments, so i'm trying to pull a few strings there.
And anyway, who actually cares how it is spelt!?!?!?! you know what i was getting at so do others, can you honestly tell me there are not a few words in the english language that you just cannot spell correctly?

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Reuben
"Le singe violet laveur de vaiselle"

[Lumberg]

In your best interests, if you wrote a business manager a letter that had to do specifically with sponsorship and being a sponsor, wouldn't it be good to spell those words correctly?
Unless you're a child who is fencing on the cadet level, that spelling error may come off as cute. If you're over 14, you come off as an idiot. Nothing personal. Hope you find the financial support you need.

[This message has been edited by Lumberg (edited 11-08-2000).]

[Rapier9mm]

yeah i know what your talking about, thats why i have a spell checker on my typing programmes (I spell things like this because i speak UK english). But this is my last year at Cadet Level (17) So now its into a whole new grade.....but I am just waiting now for my letters of reccomendation and all will be good (I hope)

[Gavin.com]

Hi Guys,

Sorry - work has taken me out & about - so I don't get a chance to hop on the site as much as I'd like.

No Nationals for me this year Zel ... you going? If so, knock 'em dead.

BTW, Dave Nathan was the fencer I was refering to. I believe that he treatened to retire after the Olympics - so maybe there's an opening for sponsorship???

Cheers

[Zelda]

Yeah I'm going Gavin. Had first lot of state squad training on Thursday.....muscles are protesting today. thanks for the info re the fencer who had sponsorship. Had a sneaking supision it was him, just wasnt sure!

[Lumberg]

How old are you and where do you fence?

[Rapier9mm]

Lumberg-

I am 17 and I fence at the New Zealand Acamdemy of Fencing (NZAF) based at the Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand

[davidwating_64]

isnt a sponsors reason for sponsoring a chance to put the name of there product on a champion or soon to be ... but in fencing it not like they cant write their name on your jacket...

(am i wrong i dont like looking stupid) although i do most the time..

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you cant expect to rule because some moistend bink lobbed a scimitar at you

[Rick]

David:

Yes, you are correct... it's form of advertising. I ran into the same problem here in Chicago where I tried to get a local bar/pub to help pay for our club warm-up jackets (no tournament fees nor travel expenses). And the manager wanted to know how shelling out the money would benefit his bar/pub. Since Fencing does not have a huge following, and not that visible here, I was at a loss to persuade him to help us out. I offered putting his bar's name on the warm-ups, but that didn't cut it either. He was willing to accept an arrangement where all fencing club members go to the bar after practices and bring in some business (i.e. drink a lot). But I couldn't guarantee that.. so... no dice.

[scarlet_woman156k]

Rick, nope, that wouldn't work...I think you're the only one that really drinks in the club.

[Rick]

My dark secret revealed to the fencing community... Thanks Scarlet, much appreciated.
So, do you want to kick my dog while your at it? How about burning down my house, too?

[veeco]

If you want to get sponsorship, you need to prepare a real sponsorship demand.
I mean you'll have to give the person you are talking to an image of professionalism.

Prepare a document that includes your results over the last 3 or 4 years, your accomplishments. Include the sections about sponsorship from the rule book as a reference. Come up with a budget (saying I need that much, and I am going to spend it like this). Itemize as much as possible. People who sponsor athletes like to know where there money go. Also, you need to include a section on why sponsoring you will increase that company/person's business. Write a contract that states that you will wear the sponsor's gear for specific things. Like the finalists presentation, the awards ceremonies, etc.

In your case, Rapier, you could state that the sponsor will associate their image to a clean, fair sport, that they can associate their image to that, and that you are a young and promising athlete, that people will see the image of the sponsor the same way, and that could bring them customers.

Give an explanation of what fencing is in your dossier. The more extensive the better. Include pictures of yourself. You will have to sell yourself. Maybe you can get a local fencing equipment vendor to sponsor you through fencing equipment, that's a start. You can also maybe try to negociate a deal with an airline to have discounted tickets, if you finish in a certain brackets at an international tournament. Work with your national fencing association.

The road to sponsorship is hard, but there are people who did it, so there is no reason you could not achieve it. It just takes a lot of time and dedication. Don't expect someone to cough up big money just like that when you show up to their place with empty hands.

[This message has been edited by veeco (edited 01-31-2001).]

[Rapier9mm]

I already have a cv made up & have presented it to a couple of places, my boss at work said i could get $500 from them which i have to chase up.
also we have no fencing gear venders
our national association has not, and never will give out money to help, i know of only a mere handful (around 2 or so) who have gotten anything out of FeNZ.
Hopefulyy though my school will also be able to help me out, as they relish in the fact of students attending world championships events. [this was told to be by a master]
also my coach is busy trying to get us financial support to help ease the financial burden since we live so far away the airfare is high...