Thank you Gilps and Louigi (Sponsorship Plea)

[TP#12]

Cheeky gits, I just wasn't sure why the two posts needed to be combined.

In my view they were totally separate and now I've lost my individual voice asking for help (sponsorship) ?

[harriebird]

we're not cheeky gits we're nice you have a PM by the way.

[RodH]

Originally Posted by TP#12

Cheeky gits, I just wasn't sure why the two posts needed to be combined.

In my view they were totally separate and now I've lost my individual voice asking for help (sponsorship) ?

Reading the first part of this thread, it doesn't seem like you're doing too badly, especially being basically given a bike.....something most other DD'ers would surely be extremely grateful for. Out of interest, apart from posting on here and DSC, what else have you actively done to seek additional sponsorship to have your racing paid for you??

[Herb]

Sponsorship is a two way thing. Perhaps spelling out what you can offer in return, as its not always obvious, might help your cause.

Free tickets?
Press coverage? (Local and free papers are desperate for copy, my sons Rugby team have a column and they get to mention their sponsors in every article. The paper fills another couple of inches)
Write ups?
Benefit of your IT experience?

My company sponsor a Swedish motorcycle race team and in return the riders work extremely hard to promote the companies that sponsor them. That in itself is almost a full time job on top of their normal vocations.

[TP#12]

Originally Posted by harriebird

we're not cheeky gits we're nice you have a PM by the way.

Ha, I wasn't referring to you I was referring to Zimbo and Ollie's posts down there

[TP#12]

Originally Posted by RodH

Reading the first part of this thread, it doesn't seem like you're doing too badly, especially being basically given a bike.....something most other DD'ers would surely be extremely grateful for. Out of interest, apart from posting on here and DSC, what else have you actively done to seek additional sponsorship to have your racing paid for you??

I am grateful for what I've received so far, please don't think that I'm not.

I have approached local businesses and my own employer with the idea of doing talks at company events about racing and displaying the racebike. I've offered to get framed prints of me on the bike signed, showing their logo on either my suit or on the bike, and put them up in the company offices. Also writing race reports for the company intra/internet sites.

I can do all of these and if there is a specific request from a sponsor then I'll be happy to be flexible as well.

I also have two spare tickets for every round that will be available for any sponsors to come and watch. At the round I'm happy to talk to sponsors and their guests about what is going on, tactics, other race series and generally help them enjoy the experience.

[TP#12]

Oh and it has been suggested that I could do a sponsored 'shave' by shaving my head (well, number 1 with the clippers) and shave off my beard. I'm currently sporting a full beard for those who don't know me.

If there's enough interest I'll do that at one of the rounds!

[RodH]

Originally Posted by TP#12

I am grateful for what I've received so far, please don't think that I'm not.

I have approached local businesses and my own employer with the idea of doing talks at company events about racing and displaying the racebike. I've offered to get framed prints of me on the bike signed, showing their logo on either my suit or on the bike, and put them up in the company offices. Also writing race reports for the company intra/internet sites.

I can do all of these and if there is a specific request from a sponsor then I'll be happy to be flexible as well.

I also have two spare tickets for every round that will be available for any sponsors to come and watch. At the round I'm happy to talk to sponsors and their guests about what is going on, tactics, other race series and generally help them enjoy the experience.

I guess perhaps you need to look at how you sell yourself to potential sponsors and the volume of companies you approach.......when I raced (yeah OK, I know it was a few years ago now, but the last 2 of my 5 seasons were fully sponsored except for suppling the actual bike, so it did work) I sent out my prospectus to over 250 companies during my second season and got a reply from maybe a dozen, and that was replies, not offers of sponsorship.

Remember that in reality you are asking people to pay for your hobby, for which they will get little if anything in return, apart from your gratitude. At this level I believe you are only going to get sponsorship from people who are genuinely nice people, or those who want to be involved and for whatever reason can't do it themselves.

Whichever it is, those people will respond better IMO if they see the work that you've put into chasing sponsorship, and ESPECIALLY if they see that you have put in yourself........why should they help you unless you demonstrate that you have put your own cash into the venture........that's just taking the ****.

I'm not trying to teach you to suck eggs, just maybe offer some advice which I hope you'll take at face value and find helpful.

[TP#12]

Thanks Rod, all help is appreciated