to those who are endorsed

Fishbrain · #1 03-02-2007, 02:54 AM

to those who are endorsed...

who is it by?
whats it done for you?
and how did you get it?

thanks =D

saxnbass · #2 03-02-2007, 05:40 AM

I'm curious too.

Spoiled Grape · #3 03-02-2007, 11:32 AM

You don't "get endorsed." You endorse a product. An Endorsement Deal is when you endorse the product for a specific return. A sponsorship is where a product or company will sponsor you. Often times this involves road support above and beyond the actual product being endorsed.

I endorse a clothing company called "Konfus3d Ink." The line is available in almost every skate shop in California. I endorse no other clothing line, and I put up a banner at every show that will accomidate it. In return, I recieve a ton of clothes, free graphic design, tour merch support, and we've gotten support with instrument repair money if necessary. On tour, I probably bring 90% of their clothes.

Instrument endorsement deals are usually different than any other, since the musician is their customer, it is very rare to get a "freebie." Artist discount is usually at about 30%-70% depending on the deal.

In order to get most endorsement deals, you or your band needs music recorded, a decent press pack, and most importantly *TOUR DATES.* Not many companies want to cut a deal with an artist who only plays locally, unless he is a big shot studio cat like Will Lee.

With younger acts, they especially want touring groups, because opening bands will often aspire to be like the headlining group.

bassist 4 life · #4 03-02-2007, 01:18 PM

Jauqo here is endorsed by Deadn and Lakland i think...

mattq · #5 03-03-2007, 01:52 PM

my band is sponsored by curt mangan strings and not of this world clothing

tplyons · #6 03-03-2007, 04:32 PM

I personally endorse the companies in my signature. I get no kickback but satisfaction that I recommend a good product.

saxnbass · #7 03-03-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

I personally endorse the companies in my signature. I get no kickback but satisfaction that I recommend a good product.

It's a special type of endorsement. You use their equipment, they use your money.

tplyons · #8 03-03-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

It's a special type of endorsement. You use their equipment, they use your money.

Very true.

Aaron · #9 03-04-2007, 01:12 AM

I wonder if I could get Stanley Clarke to endorse my bass playing.

deaf pea · #10 03-04-2007, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoiled Grape

You don't "get endorsed." You endorse a product.

True.

The guitarists in our band - and I - have formal, signed contracts with Seymour Duncan/Basslines pickups. We buy pups at great savings . . . I pay about 35% of list price (or 65% OFF list price) for my pups and now have 12 SMB-5 pups (all of them AlNiCo except one ceramic one - but I don't use that one at all!).
I also have an informal agreement with Hipshot Products (I pay 50% OFF list price on their products).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoiled Grape

In order to get most endorsement deals, you or your band needs music recorded, a decent press pack, and most importantly *TOUR DATES.*

Also true. The companies want you to be "visible" . . . or, actually, they want THEIR PRODUCTS to be "visible" . . .

Multiple CD´s on a major label . . . and tour dates at "important" venues . . .

ldiezman · #11 03-04-2007, 01:35 PM

I endorse LowEnd basses, Schroeder Cabinets, and S.I.T strings, but I don't believe i'm actually supposed to talk about what the Endorsement does for me specifically. I do know I can say I have amazing gear and I didn't come close to breaking the bank to get it.

deaf pea · #12 03-04-2007, 04:46 PM

Idiezman, the contract that I have with Seymour Duncan/Basslines doesn't say ANYTHING about not talking about the benefits obtained. Do you have endorsement contracts with LowEnd basses, Schroeder Cabinets, or S.I.T strings? What does the contract FORBID?

My contract ONLY forbids re-selling the products . . . the agreement is that I, myself, will be using all of the pups that I buy . . .

JAUQO III-X · #13 03-04-2007, 04:47 PM

I don't do contracts.

ldiezman · #14 03-04-2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaf pea

Idiezman, the contract that I have with Seymour Duncan/Basslines doesn't say ANYTHING about not talking about the benefits obtained. Do you have endorsement contracts with LowEnd basses, Schroeder Cabinets, or S.I.T strings? What does the contract FORBID?

My contract ONLY forbids re-selling the products used . . .

Well. S.I.T specifically asked not to discuss matters of money with anyone... so I kind of use it as a universal Rule... whether i'm getting "free" gear or buying it for Dealer cost or below, I just assume that every company keeps their dealings private so i should do the same

ldiezman · #15 03-04-2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

I don't do contracts.

Yeah I don't sign contracts either... but I have a good working relationship with those companies.

theshadow2001 · #16 03-04-2007, 05:18 PM

To those who endorse. Was it you who approached the company or the company who approached you to endorse them?

emblymouse · #17 03-04-2007, 06:02 PM

Got a major label deal. That'll do it. Superficial BS, you're the same player w/ or w/out but there it is.

I approached Phil Kubicki-no artist endorsements with Phil-John Taylor in Duran Duran had to pay, so I did too.

I called Bag End and sent a press kit and I'm still part of that family 20 yrs. later. I get stuff at slightly above cost and great service. I think everybody gets great service though. I did sign a release that allows them to list my name and such. So far they haven't ruined my public persona.

Sent a kit to Washburn, I was looking for a fretless AB10. They let me pick one from their stock and never produced any papers to sign. Got it at cost. Later, when my band was shooting a video in LA, the local rep brought 6-8 guitars to the shoot hoping we might use one. We didn't.

I bought a Lakland off ebay and later visited the Chicago shop. I bought a bass from Dan Lakin, and later e mailed him a link to my web site bio page and told him to use me if he wanted, I loved my Laklands. So he put me on the Lakland site on the Artists page. No formal thing. I'm between Bob Babbit and Geezer Butler though, very cozy!

I'd say once you get the first one, the next comes that much easier. Like if you get booked on the Tonight show, suddenly the Letterman folks will return your call.

To answer your question' What's it done for me?' Aside from some good deals and meeting with some interesting industry folks, I honestly don't know. One endorsement begets another. I guess I 'd ask you to answer that one. Am I a more credible player in your eyes? I only list it here in my signature becuse it is proper protocol and requested by Talkbass.

I hope this is helpful.

theshadow2001 · #18 03-04-2007, 08:37 PM

From my point of view as a non endorsing person. I wouldn't mind being listed as a user of instrument or amp. I wouldn't mind using the bass in a video if its what I actually use at the time. But I would hate to have an advertisement over my setup. Especially if it was non music related.

Does being an endorser make you a more credable player? Absolutley not. Your playing does. To me it just means you get or got the stuff your endorsing cheaper than the rest of us.

I was told a story of a guy who had an endorsment deal with some amp company. He used to set up all their amps on stage. Then off stage he would mic some old fender amp and use that for his amp. The other amps were just dummies. So buying endorsed amps/basses might not even get you a similar tone to the artist

Fishbrain · #19 03-05-2007, 04:06 AM

i've just been asked to send a company a press pack, what should i be lookin to put in it? cds, a bio, pics that kinda thing?

thanks again

ldiezman · #20 03-05-2007, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishbrain

i've just been asked to send a company a press pack, what should i be lookin to put in it? cds, a bio, pics that kinda thing?

thanks again

Yes all of that is good. Tour dates would also be a good thing. Companies are more willing to endorse you if you are out on the road a good bit. So sending them a list of dates would be very benificial.