I was just curious as to if anyone is currently sponsored or has ever been or tried. It seems like a win win, you get to do what you like and all you do is promote a brand. If anyone is sponsored, how did you go about it and what are the pros and cons to it. Thanks in advance.
yea, just go to your local pro shop and ask for a new bow for free but make sure they know youll tag them in your Facebook post. then let us know how it went
I have no desire to be sponsored. There was a time when I saw deer, shot deer (including bucks), and self filmed with hopes of being on BHOD. Once I realized it was killing everything i loved about hunting, I stopped. In 2005, I was a operations manager at a paintball field. It was a dream job for me. I was playing in tournaments at the national level, travelled to play in California on huntington beach, Florida, and chicago. Getting the job got my team heavily sponsored. Basically we just had to pay for hotels and food. Then it started becomming like a job, there were expectations of us to place in tournaments to represent the sponsors. It completely ruined it for me, and I haven't played paintball since 2006. Be careful what you wish for.
Don't bother to ask. Just expect it. When they ring it up, and it's full price, just get all whiney and pissed off at the world because they're treating you like a nobody. Oh, right. It's the way of the world now. People feel entitled to make a big living off of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, OnlyFans and other Social media. Then, if that fails, they think they can just get a six figure job, chit for free with absolutely Z-E-R-O experience.
It's all about how you present yourself. There are some damn fine companies in the archery and hunting business and if you represent them in respectful and hoenst manner I dont see a problem providing both parties feel like there is benefit to the agreement. But if your willing to be a shill for some half price arrows people will see though you soon enough. Bowhunting is my hobby, I would rather keep my business separate from it. I will howver gladly promote companies that i see giving back to wildlife, conservation and public lands.
We worked for a waterfowl company for a couple years.. At first it was a lot of fun, the program was set in such a way that if you attended events, shows, held seminars etc you got points. Those points could be used in exchange for free gear. To be honest, it was amazing all of the gear we were able to get out of working for this company. I found myself ordering gear I didn't even need, just to use the points. The connections we made with other people and other companies opened a lot of doors for us that may have otherwise never been opened. That being said, there was a point when a lot of companies were being bought up by some parent companies and we were then asked to attend events promoting products that we did not use. That is a really hard thing to do, try to answer questions on a product that you have no experience with and have only read a powerpoint on.. people see right through that. To top it off for me... this became a second job.. once the excitement wore off from going to the shows and when you realized you were still the same hunter you were to begin with.. just with less time to hunt, I started to not enjoy any of it. If it is something you are truly interested in, I say go chase it.. put out content that gets you noticed by whatever company you want to work for and grind for them. You do it well enough and long enough, they will notice you. Just remember free swag and free gear is not all its cracked up to be after the excitement washes off. I loved the company we worked for, I had a blast doing it.. I just learned some lessons along the way. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Thats more or less what I meant. I don't care to get paid, but it would be nice to promote smaller business to help out and to try things other than name brand.
