Amp and String Endorsements?

nickfurst · #1 07-14-2010, 02:08 PM

I heard a few people say it's pretty easy to get amp/string endorsements. I was just wondering, how is it done?

6jase5 · #2 07-14-2010, 02:24 PM

Look at it from their standpoint, what do you offer? The usual answer is exposure to their brand name in a positive manner by your connection to their product either live or in some marketing opportunity.

If you play out 20 times per month, it may be interesting to them. If it's at the local VFW, not so much. On the opposite foot if you play twice a month at the Enormodome, you are attractive as a billboard.

nickfurst · #3 07-14-2010, 02:28 PM

Yeah, I understand that. My band plays out quite a bit, unfortunately only in the North Florida area so far. However, it was enough for our drummer to get endorsed.

alexwittscheck · #4 07-14-2010, 02:32 PM

The worst they can do is say no. IME it is much easier to get discounted equipment than free equipment.

nickfurst · #5 07-14-2010, 02:41 PM

Well, thanks for the advice.
Oh, and btw, i'm liking Hello August's music (;

alexwittscheck · #6 07-14-2010, 02:47 PM

Thanks man. I always wonder if anyone clicks on my link. haha.

bertbassplayer · #7 07-14-2010, 02:53 PM

It's kind of hit and miss. Sometimes I think it has more to do with luck than it does anything else. Very few people get free stuff, but you can get some really nice discounts... but hey it helps to get discounts. A lot of times it takes asking, send them your stuff... if they like you then your in. Sometimes you have to ask more than once... the downside is sometimes they'll take that as you being annoying, sometimes they like persistence.

bertbassplayer · #8 07-14-2010, 02:58 PM

P.S. It's more important to use what you like, than it is to go chasing endorsements. Plus companies kinda like to see that your using their stuff already.

mccartneyman · #9 07-14-2010, 03:46 PM

It seems that drum manufacturers are easier to deal with -- I know several guys who have drum or cymbal endorsements. I imagine that any manufacturer would rather have an endorsee who paid for the gear, even at a discount, than one who got it for free because the "free" angle kinda undercuts credibility.

MNAirHead · #10 07-14-2010, 03:54 PM

Have a following within their demographic

An endorsement means I'm their field sales guy.

Tim

bertbassplayer · #11 07-14-2010, 04:02 PM

I know around here there's this one drum company that's pretty notorious for giving out endorsements to almost anyone... most of the guys who get it are amateurs who are happy to get it, most professionals I've run into kind of laugh about it. From what I've heard most of them are like at a 10% discount.

MNAirHead · #12 07-15-2010, 12:42 PM

I bought my stuff at production cost.. like working at a clothing store, I was required to play current models in excellent condition.

JimmyM · #13 07-15-2010, 12:46 PM

considering most endorsements at our level are just good discounts, i have no interest. wouldn't mind free strings, though the likelihood of that is small. but i'm not willing to lose my freedom of choice over my gear just to get discounted stuff. besides, nobody is making vintage fenders and ampegs anymore.

billfitzmaurice · #14 07-15-2010, 12:54 PM

It depends on what you consider an endorsement. Real endorsements are when they give you the product and pay you to use it so that you'll endorse them. To get that deal most sources won't even talk to you if you're not in a national act and/or have a recording contract. OTOH some are so desperate to sell anything that they'll give anyone and everyone an 'endorsement' deal, which is in reality a discount, and if anyone can get it that means that no one is getting a deal, it's just another sales tool.

svtb15 · #15 07-15-2010, 01:06 PM

I know a few National acts out playing and headlining arenas this summer that dont get paid for their "endorsement" but they do get the free gear...
It is real rare that you would get paid these days.. unless you are a Victor wooten, marcus miller, will lee.. type...My buddy did a bunch of date at 02in UK.. only free gear..and out with a major major ...pay is real rare as i said..

some get good discounts others no charge.. depends on the amount of folks you can market to.. its a sales tool where each party makes out..... nothing wrong with it unless you are not being true to yourself... if you are not being true to yourself you cant do the gear any good...

i_got_a_mohawk · #16 07-15-2010, 01:17 PM

I know a few people who have them or have been offered them.

Some of which got them by sending a covering letter giving some details of the band and a CD. For the most part it's discounts, as has already been said.

You'd need to be pretty big to get a freebie, and even then, not all companies go down that route.

JimmyM · #17 07-15-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svtb15

some get good discounts others no charge.. depends on the amount of folks you can market to.. its a sales tool where each party makes out..... nothing wrong with it unless you are not being true to yourself... if you are not being true to yourself you cant do the gear any good...

totally agreed. life's too short and gigs are too long to take gear you're not happy with just because it was free or you got a discount. and if you're getting it for free, you can probably afford to buy it anyway since only those who are making money get offered those types of endorsements.

svtb15 · #18 07-15-2010, 01:56 PM

My first full endorsement i had to chase down at first..It was a learning experience and a good one at that in self marketing.. it took me a few months of homework and hitting the NAMM shows etc.. This was PRE INTERNET era..
.. i was there in LA so i figured why not go market myself... and i got no call backs. this was in the late 80s....

Finally the record that i was prepping to start touring for hit billboard #1 for 3 weeks.. Think it went 5 weeks total..
suddenly the phone was ringing off the hook..... literally.... Company scheduled a photo shoot with Mark Weiss.!!!. I mean Mark Weiss !! HE is the biggest R&R photographer in the world... the shoot must have been 10 grand..I was humbled..
But i was fortunate enough to be on world tours with alot of TV exposure .. If i were doing smaller gigs the deal would have been much less or I would have had to pay.. It all depends.

And i was able to choose the stuff i wanted.. the truck showed up at my house one week later with lots of cabs and heads small practice amps, swag etc.. used it all till just a few years ago when i changed companies.. but i still have the gear in my garage..

some jokers get gear for free and sell it.. that is not cool to me.. only take it if you would go buy it yourself to use on gigs... just my way of doing bizz...

The band im with now has String endorsement but i choose to buy the type i like to use another brand and not just use free strings... nothing is worse than strings that you only use because they are free.. its like the interface to your instrument . .almost like a crappy mouse on your computer. the interface has to feel good.. My old man .02

heath_r_91 · #19 07-15-2010, 06:05 PM

Most on here so far are very correct:

TONS of crappy companies will be willing to give you 15% off or so.

Some give you a discount worth while like 50-75% off.

A smaller number give you free products.

Next to none pay you actively for it.

With all of my sponsors/endorsements they are non-exclusive. If I want to use my Orange amp one night and use an Ampeg the next it's fine. There is kind of a courtesy thing there where I wouldn't play another brand in front of a large audience, but I just wouldn't do an exclusive deal.

Long story short, you won't ever (unless you have some serious market) have companies coming to you. If you want a shot at any of these deals you just have to call and/or email the companies. Like they've said on here earlier: The worst they can tell you is no.