Endorsement

Mike, I've recently found out something interesting:

The easiest way to get an endorsement deal is to be a teacher with a bunch of students. Endorsement deals come in a variety of shapes and sizes. I have 3 friends who have endorsements with various companies. Teachers are high on the list, but that one won't get you a high-profile ad campaign, but it will get you a bunch of free or very cheap stuff (like direct access to factory blems, etc.). Ironically, all my buddies say that STRINGS are the most difficult deal to get lined up...only big names get those.

It appears also, that in some cases, it's as easy as contacting the company and making your case.

 

Well, make sure not to tell them that you're not just doing it for the free gear!

I would suggest that you actually like the stuff from the companies that you approach. It's much easier to endorse something that you like, and you'll also have a clear conscience about it.

My band is on an indie label and I guess I'm an artist endorser for Brubaker Guitars, but it didn't happen until they realised that I was fanatical about their basses and had already bought a few of them. Which means that I was out of luck with regard to free gear. But I'd much rather play something that I love and had to pay for, than something that I kind of think is okay and got for free. That's just me, of course.

 

I have 3 deals, and 2 pending. I'm kind of against free gear, because, sometimes it means that you have to do clinics, a la Stu Hamm, Mike Manring, etc. I have gotten some things for free, but mostly, I get my stuff for about 60-80% off dealer cost. My Stage1 5 cost me a little over $900, shipping included. My Steramer LX 5 cost me about 645.00 with shipping. On the other side, my friend is touring with India.Arie, and he said that companies are throwing stuff at him. He's gotten about 4 new, free basses.

 

My mom's boy friend toured w/ Iggy Pop and drank about $500 dollars worth of their beer a month for free, thats not really relavent or anything but who cares...

 

I currently have a deal with Zon guitars. What I did was called them up and talked with Mark (he is there no more) about endorsements. He asked me to send in a promo pack of the current band that I was playing with. I sent it in and Joe liked the stuff we produce and threw me an offer.

That is how I went about it. You will need to contact the curtain party and figure out what is needed to send to them.

Then just go from there

By the way My name is above Nick fyffe on there site.

 

I just got endorsed. I'm a local musician playing in clubs and this particular Bass manufacturer endorsed me. We agreed on terms last Friday and I havent recieved anything yet, so I'm not gonna say more yet. But, I'm very psyched!!!!!!!

 

This has always confused me. If you are an artist endorser, doesn't that mean that YOU endorse the company's products? I hear people explain it backwards and I don't understand why.

 

I dunno, a guy I used to study with has a few endorsement deals going now but his very first one (and only one for a while) was for strings.

 

Just get a copy of your bands cd..
get some decent photo's of yourself..

send it to some companies and include a letter of who you are, how long you play, why you think you need to be supported, etc..

but chances are slim to none..

 

Good point. I guess when you're huge the company has a clear gain by having you seen with their product, but for most of us we have to beg and prove ourselves worthy.

 

My guitar teacher (former) is endorced by Fender, GHS, and some others, which i dont remember. He doesnt neccesarily get "free stuff" but the stuff he gets is just as valuable. He orders his strings at a discounted price, by ordering in bulk. (i dont recall if he gets it at cost or what). With fender, he had a pretty neat deal. It was like he had custome shop abilities, but not quite. I dont know how it worked but it was super cool. Like he wanted an Aztec gold strat, with lace sencors (gold), with a v shaped neck. Magicly he go away with paying the deluxe series (mim) price. He ordered a EC sig. strat, and asked for a different profile neck, and got it at no upcharge. He was able to order direct from the factory... and a few other thigns. He said that in order to get, he had to send them all promo packs, and basilcy explain his beliefs, and his influence on all of his students with fender gear, and GHS strings. (He literaly had pretty much only fender gear... but good fender gear, Deluxe Reverbs (BF), BF twins, and various other great vintage gear.

 

When you are an endorsing artist, most companies want that artist to solely use their product. A lot of people get confused about the whole endorsement thing....When you are an endorseing artist, you esentualy promote their product by using it. With that they will give you a discount, or even free in some cases, on their product. A lot of new comers will say they want endorsements to get free stuff. It doesnt work that way. A lot of companies like it when the person has already had their product and love their product.

So all in all...you must like the product first. Second, most companies will not give it for free unless you are touring with a well known act. But companies will work with you. Just talk with them...let them know who you are and what you do...how long you have been doing it....and the past tour schedule and upcoming events....it is also a plus for them to see you live.

good luck

 

I got mine by playing golf,I get all the strings I ask for and they send me new products,some they want back after I have tried them and they are going to put my name on the pack liner along with a million other people,that way really really really board bassplayers can see my name and go "who the hell is flipper??" now if I could just get a golf date with Stewart..

 

No, what I mean is that to say "I am endorsed by xxxx" doesn't seem to make much sense grammatically. A product can't endorse a human being.

 

The PRODUCT isn't the endorser, the product's MANUFACTURER is. The product is designed and built by the manufacturer, which is comprised of multiple HUMAN BEINGS. Jeesh!!

I gave you a serious answer to what I thought was a good question. I'm not so sure of your intent now.

 

The USER is the endorser.

Check your Funk and Wagnalls, will ya?

 

I apologise for coming across that way. I truly am confused about this terminology, which I've heard before. It's always made more sense to me to think that a person endorses a product, and not the other way around. But I dunno--either way, I'm glad that you endorse or are endorsed by a bass company.