Has anyone sold their band's soul to Sam Ash?

[NicJimBass]

So, I see that Sam Ash will sponsor bands to the tune of $3k a year for accesories, and all they ask for in return is for you to pimp their name all over town. My question- has anyone done this, and if so, how does it fell to lose your soul for a set of strings every now and again?

Seriously, what is everyone's experience with this?

[WalterBush]

Really? Where do you see this? What are the requirements? I want to sign up right now! 3k a year just for advertising Sam Ash? Sounds great!

[The_Ryst]

Hmmm all it is is putting up a banner for 3k, I read the rules I don't htink you can buy a new axe, but still. You'd be set!

[steveksux]

No, but my soul IS on lay-away.

Randy

[jenderfazz]

It's just for accessories, which means strings and stuff. Not as fun as buying new guitars and amps. I don't really like the idea.

[beyondhairy]

wireless units and pedals are considered accessories arent they? lol

and honoslty.. even if it is jsut strings, batteries, strap locks, straps.. and all other little stuff... u could probably sell it off and everything will be profit.. u could probably get atleast half for everything.. so thats $1500 of actual money that u could use for real gear..

[Eric Moesle]

There was a lengthy thread on this a few months ago, I think it was started by Joe Nerve. You might want to search for it, plenty of details on the "deal", which is almost all exclusions, monthly limits, etc. Bottom line was that it was NOT a deal in the end.

[Joe Nerve]

We were offered the deal at a gig, I questioned it, discussed it here, and then finally realized the only thing that was keeping me (us) from doing it was a silly sense of pride. Sam Ash has been very good to me since I first picked up my first guitar many years ago and I've decided I'm proud to hang their banner at our gigs. The benefits have been great, and thus far there's been no down side to it. We got to play a great outdoor festival they had, and we get lotsa free stuff. Thus far I've gotten my first really good set of headphones, a cool distortion box, few sets of my favorite strings, lotsa batteries, some picks, cables, and even a Neil Peart DVD to give to my brother this X-mas. I'm like a kid in a candy store whenever the new month rolls around. Only 3 of us in our band too, so we're getting about $1000 each. They seem to have let me go crazy since we started, not exactly sure why yet. Maybe the other guys in my band are stupid?

You can't get guitars and amps, and I didn't think I'd be able to spend the money - I was pleasently surprised. Next up is a synth pedal.

[beyondhairy]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

We were offered the deal at a gig, I questioned it, discussed it here, and then finally realized the only thing that was keeping me (us) from doing it was a silly sense of pride. Sam Ash has been very good to me since I first picked up my first guitar many years ago and I've decided I'm proud to hang their banner at our gigs. The benefits have been great, and thus far there's been no down side to it. We got to play a great outdoor festival they had, and we get lotsa free stuff. Thus far I've gotten my first really good set of headphones, a cool distortion box, few sets of my favorite strings, lotsa batteries, some picks, cables, and even a Neil Peart DVD to give to my brother this X-mas. I'm like a kid in a candy store whenever the new month rolls around. Only 3 of us in our band too, so we're getting about $1000 each. They seem to have let me go crazy since we started, not exactly sure why yet. Maybe the other guys in my band are stupid?

You can't get guitars and amps, and I didn't think I'd be able to spend the money - I was pleasently surprised. Next up is a synth pedal.

so im right, u CAN get pedals, right?

how about wireless units?

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by beyondhairy

so im right, u CAN get pedals, right?

how about wireless units?

me thinks so. can't get mics though.

[chaosMK]

I could probably go through $3000 of strings in one year.

[Suckbird]

Originally Posted by chaosMK

I could probably go through $3000 of strings in one year.

60packs of elixir a year?

[syciprider]

Nothing to lose from displaying SA banners. I'd do it. It's not like I'm in Dream Theater.

[RLT]

Wonder if you could do like the racers and have Sam Ash, Guitar Center, Music 123, Musicians Friend and all the others on the same stage?

[superbassman2000]

i'd do it!

[JimmyM]

Selling your soul...geez, someone doesn't have a very tight grasp on what selling your soul is.

[SuperDuck]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Selling your soul...geez, someone doesn't have a very tight grasp on what selling your soul is.

If it really was your soul, you'd probably at least get a few basses out of it.

[Bard2dbone]

I had a friend who was in law school write up essentially a blank contract for me and carried a few on me most of the time a few years back.

They were pre-written with everything but the signatures and what you were getting on return already filled in. So if someone asked to borrow, say, a dollar, or soda money or some such, I would whip one out, write in 'one dollar' or whatever and say "Sure. Sign here."

The contracts stated that in return for whatever I wrote in the blank line, the undersigned gives me their eternal soul.

Nobody ever stiffed me on one of those contracts. I got every penny back...and a few good laughs.

[Bassmanbob]

Originally Posted by Bard2dbone

I had a friend who was in law school write up essentially a blank contract for me and carried a few on me most of the time a few years back.

They were pre-written with everything but the signatures and what you were getting on return already filled in. So if someone asked to borrow, say, a dollar, or soda money or some such, I would whip one out, write in 'one dollar' or whatever and say "Sure. Sign here."

The contracts stated that in return for whatever I wrote in the blank line, the undersigned gives me their eternal soul.

Nobody ever stiffed me on one of those contracts. I got every penny back...and a few good laughs.

That's both clever and funny!

I see not problem with the concept of a sponsorship. In fact, we have a local store (not a music store) that wants to sponsor my band via clothing and some gigs that normally wouldn't pay or pay well. None of the details have been worked out, but it's no big deal to thank your sponsor for making it possible to perform that night, or for the clothing you're wearing.

One hand washes the other, and together, they wash the face. Everybody's happy.

[jimbob]

Glad I tripped on this thread. My band just got into a promotional agreement with a Beer Distributor and we are waiting on some promo now. We figured there would be nothing to lose. The SA deal seems pretty sporty and worth the time.