Believe me, you don't want to get sponsored. "Are you crazy? Of course I want to get sponsored!" I hear this a lot. My first response is...why? What's in it for you? "Free yoyos man!" Really? A few free yoyos? Get a part time job at McDonald's and you'll get far more return on the time put in. Here are some reasons why. 1. Being sponsored is a job. You have obligations, deadlines and tasks. The company expects you to work for them! You have been sponsored as an advertising agent. This takes effort and time that you could be spending having fun yoyoing. Companies generally look at two main areas in a sponsored player. Contest wins and Internet activity. 2. Regular production of videos showing off the product. This may be something you love to do, but when it's final exams or that big project at work is due, and you need to put out a promo video tomorrow, it can turn yoyoing into a job. You need to be constantly pushing yourself to make up or learn fresh material. Are you sure you want to commit to monthy finding a cool place to film, and having fresh material to film? 3. The Internet. You are expected to spend time daily promoting your company on the Internet, in forums, on Facebook, the works. You are no longer free to talk about how much awesomer (yes that's a word) another company's yoyo is, your job is to show the world that the only Yo-yo they need is the newest one by your company. 4. You only ever get to use their gear. Want to show off the cool new yoyo you got that's perfect for your style? Sorry, you can't. Want to enter an online contest where you have to make a video using another company's logo? sorry, you can't. And you are doing all this for a couple of free yoyos? That's a terrible idea! So why do people chase a sponsorship? I have met a variety. I have met many for whom representing a company and promoting them is a joy. I have been In a room with someone who got sponsored, then sat in a room talking about the company and their piece of crap yoyos, then refused to use the company's gear on stage. I have also yoyoed with someone for whom it was almost irrelevant that he was sponsored, he just loved to throw. Obviously there is the prestige factor "I'm super awesome, I'm on team yoyo tiger snake and you aren't *sticks out tongue*." I'm kidding, I have yet to meet anyone in the yoyo community that thinks like that, and I don't expect to, it's one of the joys of yoyoing. Having said that, it is cool being on a team. It does lead me to the reason I enjoy being sponsored. Being part of something. Humans are community animals. We like being part of a tribe. Being on a yoyo team means you have people in your court. For me personally I like the promoting 'work', that's part of the fun for me, and far less a job. I honestly don't think I would have done nearly what I have, or gotten to where I am on my own. So yeah, being sponsored isn't all bad. But it's not a goal worth aiming for, unless you think that thee work will be a joy for you. It's not worth it for any other reason. Find your passion within the yoyo world and enjoy that, and if you get sponsored by a company you can stand behind and enjoy being a part of, all the better.
8 Comments
Tyler
9/15/2013 12:52:00 pm
Ya I kinda agree. I think the reason I would want to be sponsored it to feel like I accomplished something. If that makes sense. I've always wanted to be sponsored in something. I can see how it would be hard to do something like that. But I know if I was sponsored I would have a lot of love to give to that company. Thanks Jeremy for the blog posts I really enjoy them!
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Mr Yoyothrower
9/15/2013 01:57:45 pm
You have the right mentality. My post was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, and very over the top. The point was that you needed to be wanting it for the right reasons. I hope you get there one day.
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Tyler
9/15/2013 02:52:34 pm
Oh ya. I get that. Not for the faint of heart eh?
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Owen Gary
9/19/2013 05:38:06 am
#4 is incorrect. I am sponsored and entered the Yoyojam Surge video contest which was fine with my sponsor (NOT YYJ) Maybe some companies are stricter than others, but I know mine (Square Wheels) and General Yos (Both James Reed and Ty Goldman, 1st and 2nd in the contest) are fine with the video contest type things. Sponsorship has been great for me and my sponsor doesnt do any of that "pressure you into making videos" crap. They just appreciate the videos I put out often anyways. Im sure there are some people that havnt had the positive impression sponsorship has had on me, but all i know is that it has been great and I dont plan on quitting.
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10/11/2013 07:51:35 am
I have been trying to tell this to people for a long time. Mind if I use this post to tell people about why sponsorship is not as good as they make it seem?
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Mr Yoyothrower
10/11/2013 09:30:40 am
Go for it.
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2/23/2015 05:15:21 pm
i would like to be sponsored for my masters degree in clinical psychology phone number 0752284141
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11/21/2017 04:13:31 pm
Can't help you there, but if ever you need to rant about how hard the masters program is feel free to drop me a line. Mad respect for people that take their passion that one step further.
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