Endorsement deals

[ndrly]

I have a couple of questions about endorsement deals.

So, can you get an endorsement deal with a company even if you only own ONE of their products?

If you're endorsing a company, does that mean you get whatever you want from them for free?

[Spector_Ray]

Do a search for endorsements. It's been talked about to death here especially within the last month or so!

[KeithBMI]

You have to prove that you have something to offer... not just the desire to get free gear.

[adam on bass]

Nothing is free. Big misconception...

[Joey3313]

Originally Posted by ndrly

If you're endorsing a company, does that mean you get whatever you want from them for free?

No.



I never understood the big deal about endorsements. Truthfully, there are so few people that are "endorsed", even having it in your thoughts is a waste of time. Play. If you are in a band that is good enough/big enough, that sort of thing will sort itself out.

[adam on bass]

Originally Posted by Joey3313

No.

I never understood the big deal about endorsements. Truthfully, there are so few people that are "endorsed", even having it in your thoughts is a waste of time. Play. If you are in a band that is good enough/big enough, that sort of thing will sort itself out.

The big deal is the artist price break. If you play out every night like I do it is nice to have several rigs to take to different rehearsals or gigs. The true endorser is the artist not the company. As to say I endorse Spector and Aguilar not Spector and Aguilar endorses me.

Make your press kits and keep track of gigs and you'll get there. It had taken me 15 years or so for the deals and there is work to be done.

[phat daddy]

Many big companies don't do full endorsment deals anymore. Sadowsky doesn't do them. Lakland only does them for their signature artists. The ones that do the deals insist that you be a very visable bassist-- usually at least at the national level. I played 5-6 nights a week locally for 11 years and was never an endorser for anyone. Most of them are looking for hardcore TV exposure or national touring bassists.

[Joey3313]

Originally Posted by firkinahsoul

The big deal is the artist price break. If you play out every night like I do it is nice to have several rigs to take to different rehearsals or gigs. The true endorser is the artist not the company. As to say I endorse Spector and Aguilar not Spector and Aguilar endorses me.

Make your press kits and keep track of gigs and you'll get there. It had taken me 15 years or so for the deals and there is work to be done.

My only point was, every person who plays local shows seems to have this pipe dream of getting some massive company to back them and provide them with cheap/free gear, when the only people that get that sort of thing are rock gods.

[bluestarbass]

Ive heard the best way to do it is start with a string endorsement. I have a few friends who started that way. Usually youll get a box of free string a year, then you establish a track record.

The vibe ive gotten is that you only get a discount, not free gear. It would depend on the gear, strings are probably free, basses and amps you get some sort of discount. Im pretty sure its about the same discount youd get working at music store. I got some amazing deals while working at sam ash during college.

[mike_v_s]

Endorsements can be cool as long as nobody emails your endorsee in an attempt to sabatage your buseness deal because they are a jealous prick. If that were to happen to anyone, even someone I barely know, I'd have no respect for the offending individual. Hypothetically peaking, of course.

Mike

[Techmonkey]

meh.

my mates band have an endorsement deal

(shameless plug: http://www.myspace.com/architectsofvictory )

the bassist is endorsed by basson bass cabs, and all the guitarists are endorsed by knucklehead strings.

they just get strings and cabs for cheaper when they want them. it's as simple as that. they're not huge, although they are very good.

[JAUQO III-X]

There really is no set way to get an endorsement.

[The Golden Boy]

I had an awesome endorsement deal with a band around 10 years ago. We were endorsers of a shoe company.

Every quarter they would send us a catalog and we could pick out a set of shoes and they'd send them to us. They didn't have any expectations of us- no banner to display, we didn't HAVE to wear the shoes. I wrote a really kickass jingle for them and we recorded it. I don't think they used it because our jackass singer tried to SELL it to them. My song, he tried to sell it.

How's that for awesome?

The program ended after half a year- I still got 2 sets of shoes out of the deal.

How did we get it? We sent them a promo pack and asked.

[Lost Drummer]

I believe most drum companies do give their big artists free gear. Probably because the big kit's attract more potential customers.

[Joey3313]

Originally Posted by Lost Drummer

I believe most drum companies do give their big artists free gear. Probably because the big kit's attract more potential customers.

I know that DW pays two of their endorsers (this is right), and gives their other endorsed drummers discounts based on the size of the artist. Mapex used to do this as well, although I suppose that would consitute a sponsorship and not an endorsement.

According to Pearl, an average artist discount is 50%. That of course varies on the size of the artist, with the handful of super big names getting it for free, and entry level endorsers getting less.

As it stands, the majority of artists on both Pearl and DWs roster DO NOT GET FREE GEAR. There are exceptions, but most are just discounts (and pretty good ones at that).

Once again, my bad, maybe I'll fact check next time before I post.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Joey3313

I know that DW only gives 2 drummers free gear (out of their entire roster), the rest get discounted drums. Considering the size of DW, that is pretty crazy.

Pearl also gives discounts and rarely, if ever, gives them free sets.

To get it all completely free almost never happens.

None of the above is true.