Endorsements

f'nar f'nar · #1 01-11-2009, 01:09 AM

Hey guys, recently did a pretty massive gig at a high end venue in my area supporting a well known national band and both bands seemed to impress each other. I was talking to the bassist who is endorsed by Schecter and was talking to me about possible endorsement. I was just wondering how one actually goes about getting an endorsement besides through artists contacts, do you approach the company or do they approach you?

Cheers!
Matt

santucci218 · #2 01-11-2009, 01:14 AM

you approach them, give em a call.

The Golden Boy · #3 01-11-2009, 01:23 AM

Years ago, I was talking to a guy who was in 2 "big time" bands and 1 "nobody" band (with a bunch of "legends") and I spent half the night LOVING his Schecter. He just happened to have a stack of cards for the Schecter Custom Shop... The one time I did get the nads to call, the guy told me he was in the middle of a big project, but because the dude gave me his card- to call back in a couple of days once the project was over.

Give them a holler.

I'd love to have had an actual gear endorsement deal. The only endorsement deal I was ever a part of was for a shoe company. Better than nothing, eh?

santucci218 · #4 01-11-2009, 01:32 AM

how on earth do you go about getting endorsed by a shoe company!? how much of a discount do you get?

The Golden Boy · #5 01-11-2009, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

how on earth do you go about getting endorsed by a shoe company!? how much of a discount do you get?

We heard about them doing endorsement deals- we sent them a promo pack, we got free shoes every quarter. Didn't have to wear the shoes, didn't have to put up a banner or anything... they just gave us free shoes. We wrote and recorded a radio jingle for them. I took most of the lyrics off one of their shoe boxes. No idea if they ever used it.

santucci218 · #6 01-11-2009, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

We heard about them doing endorsement deals- we sent them a promo pack, we got free shoes every quarter. Didn't have to wear the shoes, didn't have to put up a banner or anything... they just gave us free shoes. We wrote and recorded a radio jingle for them. I took most of the lyrics off one of their shoe boxes. No idea if they ever used it.

man, thats badass. you still get them?

deaf pea · #7 01-11-2009, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

how on earth do you go about getting endorsed by a shoe company!? how much of a discount do you get?

In MY particular case . . . there are some higher-ups in the company that imports Converse shoes into Mexico that are fans of our band . . . they've called us up a few times now, one time offering us some "seconds" for free (a pair of shoes for each of the guys plus a pair for our manager, too), another time outfitting us all with matching black and white high-tops for the show we did at Vive Latino 2008 . . . That second time all they wanted was a few shots of the band, ready to go on stage with the shoes on . . .

We've also got a deal with a T-shirt company ("No Problem") that provide us, at cost, several models (with the band's logo) for the merchandizing guys to sell at our shows. They also give us (free) a few T-shirts a year for each guy (NOT the logo Tees) . . . and all they ask for in return is the same as Converse . . . a couple of shots of the band wearing their stuff . . .

santucci218 · #8 01-11-2009, 01:56 AM

im pretty, maybe they will take pictures of me and give me stuff.

The Golden Boy · #9 01-11-2009, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

man, thats badass. you still get them?

No.

They stopped that program- I would have been all for putting up an unobtrusive banner or some sort of advertisement- Really, there was NOTHING we were required to do. They sent us a catalog, we picked out shoes, they sent them to us.

That was over 10 years ago, and I still have 2 pairs of shoes from them, and they're cool- I just had one pair resoled.

The Golden Boy · #10 01-11-2009, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

im pretty, maybe they will take pictures of me and give me stuff.

Do you have a band that's playing out a lot, relatively "stylish," and have a promo pack?

You too can brag all over the intArwebs that you've had an endorsement deal...

santucci218 · #11 01-11-2009, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

Do you have a band that's playing out a lot, relatively "stylish," and have a promo pack?

You too can brag all over the intArwebs that you've had an endorsement deal...

I play amazing 2 hand tapping ballads alone in my basement on gear that is far too expensive for a 19 year old with a part time job to own, so, what do you think? lol

The Golden Boy · #12 01-11-2009, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

I play amazing 2 hand tapping ballads alone in my basement on gear that is far too expensive for a 19 year old with a part time job to own, so, what do you think? lol

Get yourself a smart set of trousers, set up a gig in the park over summer, have someone take pictures and make yourself a promo pack. Be generous to yourself.

f'nar f'nar · #13 01-11-2009, 02:50 AM

What does one place in one of these "promo packs"?

santucci218 · #14 01-11-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f'nar f'nar

What does one place in one of these "promo packs"?

there are 5 essentials to promo packs

#1. Pictures of yourself in which you look desirable, either in a sexual, or popularity way.

#2. Pants

#3. A $5.00 Gift Card for Best Buy

#4. Cheeses & Wines

#5. The first season of Pee-Wee Herman on VHS

The Growler · #15 01-11-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

Years ago, I was talking to a guy who was in 2 "big time" bands and 1 "nobody" band (with a bunch of "legends") and I spent half the night LOVING his Schecter. He just happened to have a stack of cards for the Schecter Custom Shop... The one time I did get the nads to call, the guy told me he was in the middle of a big project, but because the dude gave me his card- to call back in a couple of days once the project was over.

Give them a holler.

I'd love to have had an actual gear endorsement deal. The only endorsement deal I was ever a part of was for a shoe company. Better than nothing, eh?

Shoes, huh? Hmmm... I never thought of that.

Maybe I should call Piloti. I love those shoes. And it would save me quite a few $.

SuperDuck · #16 01-11-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Growler

Shoes, huh? Hmmm... I never thought of that.

Maybe I should call Piloti. I love those shoes. And it would save me quite a few $.

I have heard this shoe jingle. Think Stairway to Heaven, only 10 times more epic.

Also, I'll be the token guy that points out that artists endorse a product, not the other way around.