1st step in getting sponsored?

[bijan gxe]

Anyone want to share info?

Im looking to maybe get performance related sponsors...

[ATK_Designs]

First steps is puttin $40K worth of mods on your car already

1. Detail planning - like 20 pages long of REALISTIC GOAL.
2. Attention to detail
3. Atten all shows
4. Must be semi heavily modded.
5. Must spread reputations.

[dereksi]

First steps is puttin $40K worth of mods on your car already


5. Must spread reputations.

agreed

[Kelly_Rene]

Yea I'm kind curious as well, Because I'm looking into getting sponsers just don't know how to go about it.

[Dominic49]

its all about getting noticed.... and advertising whose products you are already using... and not by just slapping on stickers and shit like that... List where you bought your parts and what the parts are... have a nice binder at the shows so that people can look at pictures of your car though its stages and what parts it has.... detail detail detail...

[HiPSI]

you need a resume, plain and simple. you need to let them know what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. if you really don't have much to offer a company then don't expect much (if anything) in return.

[93H22ACX]

you'll have to finish your car first and attend tons of events before you will even get noticed. this is called dedication and most important of all.... sponsors might see you as a marketing tool for them..... just maybe

[Dominic49]

you need a resume, plain and simple. you need to let them know what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. if you really don't have much to offer a company then don't expect much (if anything) in return.

+1

[bijan gxe]

you'll have to finish your car first and attend tons of events before you will even get noticed. this is called dedication and most important of all.... sponsors might see you as a marketing tool for them..... just maybe

Finish the car? I thought sponsors were to help you mod your shit to THEN go to shows...(within reason)

I want my car to remain a daily driver, not 100% show car....

Do shops sponsor people? Or is it all aftermarket companies?

[Julio]

if you built a hot car, proposal is not even needed.

Sponsors are really not there to help you... Is more of what they can get out of you.

Oh if you have tits it helps to.

[93H22ACX]

Finish the car? I thought sponsors were to help you mod your shit to THEN go to shows...(within reason)

I want my car to remain a daily driver, not 100% show car....

Do shops sponsor people? Or is it all aftermarket companies?

yeah pretty much finish your car. i mean if you think about it.... if your car is not done, what good is it for sponsors? They will have to spend alot of $$ to get your car done. with the time and money on someone who isnt too well known in the industry, they could have spent it on someone who is looking for a second project or two that has proven themselves for a while LOL....

sponsors will help you on your 2nd or 3rd car but in realility, the first car will most likely be out of your own pocket.

its pretty tough....but every little bit helps.... my car and alot of my friends cars arent sponsored at all and we spent alot of money and go to as many races as we can "afford", but not likely to get any full sponsorships...maybe a little help here in discounts but nothing free.

[JASONBALL]

yes some of your local shops will more likely sponsor you with a partial. but you have to show them there name will be represented an awsome way. Not just stickers. go there and be honest and true on how much you will carry there name in the show world or racing scene tthat you can. Plus you should have a car that will stick out and impress the industry that your looking into. I have 16,000 into my car over the years from the first versino to the second. I have two local shop that help me out partial. My car is completely done. But i don't really have a shot for a sponsor due to the fact that i have a 2000 mercury cougar which was only produced for 4 years. So parts on not really made for it. universal yes put wheels and actual kits and what not won't sell or draw attention useing a car that never really made it big by itself.

[speedminded]

I think Tracy did a good write-up on here about getting sponsorships (but i can't find it ) and on Jtuned.com is a page giving tons of info too...you will be dissapointed.

sponsorship is hard to get. I unfortunately think that it's more about who you know and not what you do to your car. That's been my experience anyways. Dan had the 3rd fastest Supra in the world on street tires at one point and never got 1 sponsor out of it. Now that we have been around a while and have contacts...it's getting much easier. I'm sure there are exceptions...but you defiantely need to start working on your car before you get sponsors...they won't take a stock car unless you just know the right person.

[Tracy]

Ok. So now I've got a little more experience on getting sponsors. I'll tell you a little more about what I think.

obviously...it's hard to get noticed. So you have to be different and a pioneer and well rounded all at the same time. Altho my Evo is pretty quick, no one will put it on the cover of their magazine because it's silver and the interior is stock. The engine has mad work done but in their eyes...it's still mundane (that's a word I have heard over and over )

If you are trying to get sponsored, it takes a lot of time and persisitance. I am on the phone 5 hours a day talking to people about our cars. It's almost a full time job. You have to think of it this way....these people that you are trying to get to sponsor you hear from a million people a day just like you. They get busy, they travel, they forget about you...unless you bug the crap out of them You have to do it in a civilized way, but you have to constantly follow up so that one day finally when you call, they will remember you.

When I go somewhere I am constantly talking about our cars and what we do. You never know who is who. It's called networking. At first it feels kind of strange to constantly be talking about yourself, but if you don't do it...who will? Every person I talk to at every race or event...I ask them for a card and give them mine. I write on the card where I met them. Then when I get home I immediately e-mail them and tell them how nice it was to meet them at the place I wrote on the card (this way even tho they might not remember you, they still kow that theywere at this particular event so they must have met you there). Then they are on my mailing list! Every place that we go we take pics and vid of our cars being there. I send out probably 200 e-mails a day to people in the industry...even if they aren't my sponsors. This way they know that we are out there doing our thing and marketing for ourselves.

You always have to dress decent when you are at these events. If you want to be sponsored you have to realize that you are basically trying to get yourself employed by this company. You want to be part of their marketing team and that means you have to be presentable. You have to have confidence and you have to act like you know what you are doing. No one likes a noob

You also have to have a kick ass package (pics, full color, examples of logo placement, and price packages help. Also, events that you have attended and events that you plan on attending this season along with any awards or accomplishments or time slips, etc.) and you have to have your package in the form of a PDF and printed out. Most companies like to see your package via e-mail at first, but then they usually want a hard copy. So be prepared.

Like I already said, you are trying to get thses companies to hire you. You have to pick the things out about yourself that are marketable. Don't expect them to do it for you. Everyone has something. We have several things that we pitch (and this is going to be waaaaaaaaay different for most people). We have had a shop for 5 years so we use that as our pitch. We state that we are self sustaining and can sell the companies products. The 2 matching cars don't hurt. We also have the big thing of me being a woman

In the end, there are a lot of variables that all have to come together at the same time. Being in the right place at the right time, being marketable, being persistant and staying in touch with the right people that you meet out and about.

[speedminded]

^^^^ I think you just broke alot of peoples hearts that plan on getting sponsorships

You also have to have a kick ass package

..but i've been told i do have this! woohoo, my package can get me sponsored!

[93H22ACX]

first sponsorship i need is a car wash sponsorship.... i never wash my car and its white

[speedminded]

first sponsorship i need is a car wash sponsorship.... i never wash my car and its white

Will wash & detail for parts!

[93H22ACX]

Will wash & detail for parts!

i have a b-series fuel rail can u buff out the paint drips too

[speedminded]

i have a b-series fuel rail can u buff out the paint drips too

AEM in silver and it's almost a deal...need the fittings for my VDO fuel pressure gauge to go on it too...and a silver aem fuel pressure regulator

[93H22ACX]

AEM in silver and it's almost a deal...need the fittings for my VDO fuel pressure gauge to go on it too...and a silver aem fuel pressure regulator

lol..guess it aint..its a painted str with no fittings and paint is coming off

[Tracy]

^^^^ I think you just broke alot of peoples hearts that plan on getting sponsorships

..but i've been told i do have this! woohoo, my package can get me sponsored!

Awww I didn't mean to break anyone's heart. Just trying to help.

By package, I meant marketing/sponsorship package...but your package may work.

[JASONBALL]

tracy you explained all that in a kick ass way. very good reps to you.

[{X}Echo419]

...Every person I talk to at every race or event...I ask them for a card and give them mine. I write on the card where I met them. Then when I get home I immediately e-mail them and tell them how nice it was to meet them at the place I wrote on the card (this way even tho they might not remember you, they still kow that theywere at this particular event so they must have met you there). Then they are on my mailing list!

E419<------does not feel "special" anymore.

[Tracy]

E419<------does not feel "special" anymore.

[gobraves00]

last year i picked up sponsorships from Katzkin, Optima, Bostwick, and Batcap. What Tracy said is exactly true. Optima was probably the easiest, just a lengthly process of filling out forms, sending pics and talking to a few people.katzkin was a partial sponsorship so it was sorta easy as well just alot of correspondence with the rep. batcap was alot of telephone correspondence. bostwick was the hardest. i had to go thru randy at sound proof, it probably took about 2 months of going back and forth using randy as the middle man. after nopi 2004 i went home and began writing my resume. i had only done one show which was nopi that year with an unfinsihed car.
i had probably sent out over 100 emails or letters from september to january. i got real lucky with what i got. but in my resume i explained everything i planned on doing, what shows i plan on attending for the 2005 season, and pretty much just talked up a real big game. funny thing is is that the 4 sponsors i had required me to send them photos of all the events i went to and to keep in touch, but i didnt recieve one email back from them the entire year.so if i had to give someone advice on how to get a sponsor, it would have to be dont give up, dont let rejection after rejection get you down. keep doing shows and be seen. when u go to a showfind the nicest car and park next to it, everyone will be going by to see it and they will look at yours since it is right there. talk to everyone and anyone, pay attention to peoples shirts, look for logos on their shirts, more than likely if they are wearing a polo shirt with a logo they have some imprtance. and like tracy said, just keep sending emails with updates and when u see that the company is accepting applications for sonsorships be the first to send it off.good luck, hope this helps some.

[JASONBALL]

last year i picked up sponsorships from Katzkin, Optima, Bostwick, and Batcap. What Tracy said is exactly true. Optima was probably the easiest, just a lengthly process of filling out forms, sending pics and talking to a few people.katzkin was a partial sponsorship so it was sorta easy as well just alot of correspondence with the rep. batcap was alot of telephone correspondence. bostwick was the hardest. i had to go thru randy at sound proof, it probably took about 2 months of going back and forth using randy as the middle man. after nopi 2004 i went home and began writing my resume. i had only done one show which was nopi that year with an unfinsihed car.
i had probably sent out over 100 emails or letters from september to january. i got real lucky with what i got. but in my resume i explained everything i planned on doing, what shows i plan on attending for the 2005 season, and pretty much just talked up a real big game. funny thing is is that the 4 sponsors i had required me to send them photos of all the events i went to and to keep in touch, but i didnt recieve one email back from them the entire year.so if i had to give someone advice on how to get a sponsor, it would have to be dont give up, dont let rejection after rejection get you down. keep doing shows and be seen. when u go to a showfind the nicest car and park next to it, everyone will be going by to see it and they will look at yours since it is right there. talk to everyone and anyone, pay attention to peoples shirts, look for logos on their shirts, more than likely if they are wearing a polo shirt with a logo they have some imprtance. and like tracy said, just keep sending emails with updates and when u see that the company is accepting applications for sonsorships be the first to send it off.good luck, hope this helps some.

Sounds like it worked for you too. why don't you post your resume to show those that have not written one before what one should look like that actually worked. excluding personal info. just an idea

[alpha auto t]

have a good plan and go to the shops and dont be shy. I mean i run a small upholstery shop but am always looking to take in sponsor inquires and i like to do a few cars here and there

[premier/lizard]

i just received my first sponsor from auto rnd as a partial. but it saved me more than two grand on the wheels & tires together. just a couple of phone calls did this. my way was by personal affiliation with previous feature car owners from modified mag. i was told from a couple of top shops who are helping me sculpt my street car into what it should be for advertisement and magazine car, that the car has to be a proven racing platform and car that brings attention. yes mods are critical for performance and looks but it needs to be tastefully done. cutting a long story short, if you have a car truly worth sponsoring (you be the judge of that) and if you plan on acually commiting to showing the car at southeast events (not just local ga. stuff) then you might have a shot. connections are the key. ive personally been working on knowing the right people for over five years, and planning on shooting a feature for modified in the two year range. magazines are where sponsors names live forever

[Kathryn]

Ok. So now I've got a little more experience on getting sponsors. I'll tell you a little more about what I think.

obviously...it's hard to get noticed. So you have to be different and a pioneer and well rounded all at the same time. Altho my Evo is pretty quick, no one will put it on the cover of their magazine because it's silver and the interior is stock. The engine has mad work done but in their eyes...it's still mundane (that's a word I have heard over and over )

If you are trying to get sponsored, it takes a lot of time and persisitance. I am on the phone 5 hours a day talking to people about our cars. It's almost a full time job. You have to think of it this way....these people that you are trying to get to sponsor you hear from a million people a day just like you. They get busy, they travel, they forget about you...unless you bug the crap out of them You have to do it in a civilized way, but you have to constantly follow up so that one day finally when you call, they will remember you.

When I go somewhere I am constantly talking about our cars and what we do. You never know who is who. It's called networking. At first it feels kind of strange to constantly be talking about yourself, but if you don't do it...who will? Every person I talk to at every race or event...I ask them for a card and give them mine. I write on the card where I met them. Then when I get home I immediately e-mail them and tell them how nice it was to meet them at the place I wrote on the card (this way even tho they might not remember you, they still kow that theywere at this particular event so they must have met you there). Then they are on my mailing list! Every place that we go we take pics and vid of our cars being there. I send out probably 200 e-mails a day to people in the industry...even if they aren't my sponsors. This way they know that we are out there doing our thing and marketing for ourselves.

You always have to dress decent when you are at these events. If you want to be sponsored you have to realize that you are basically trying to get yourself employed by this company. You want to be part of their marketing team and that means you have to be presentable. You have to have confidence and you have to act like you know what you are doing. No one likes a noob

You also have to have a kick ass package (pics, full color, examples of logo placement, and price packages help. Also, events that you have attended and events that you plan on attending this season along with any awards or accomplishments or time slips, etc.) and you have to have your package in the form of a PDF and printed out. Most companies like to see your package via e-mail at first, but then they usually want a hard copy. So be prepared.

Like I already said, you are trying to get thses companies to hire you. You have to pick the things out about yourself that are marketable. Don't expect them to do it for you. Everyone has something. We have several things that we pitch (and this is going to be waaaaaaaaay different for most people). We have had a shop for 5 years so we use that as our pitch. We state that we are self sustaining and can sell the companies products. The 2 matching cars don't hurt. We also have the big thing of me being a woman

In the end, there are a lot of variables that all have to come together at the same time. Being in the right place at the right time, being marketable, being persistant and staying in touch with the right people that you meet out and about.

Couldn't have said it better! Welcome to the game.

[Kathryn]

Also, if anyone is needing an intake sponsor...I am still accepting applications.

[Twinnos]

But i don't really have a shot for a sponsor due to the fact that i have a 2000 mercury cougar which was only produced for 4 years. So parts on not really made for it. universal yes put wheels and actual kits and what not won't sell or draw attention useing a car that never really made it big by itself.

if i can get sponsors with my 95 Ford Probe, then anyone can

[JASONBALL]

you make a good point. thanks

[Kathryn]

Don't forget to add my as your myspace friend

www.myspace.com/spectreperformance

[green91]

http://www.carsponsorships.com/index.html

haha.

[gobraves00]

everyone i have ever heard of that has done that has gotten part at wholesale(not bad) and you get to pick free body graphics, and thats it. 89 dollars seems like alot to start up an account.

[JASONBALL]

Don't forget to add my as your myspace friend

www.myspace.com/spectreperformance

hit me up on spectre forums. I'm on there also soon the blog page.