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Endorsements?

#21
Kwin Smith said:
I would figure that there would be lists, as you say, for accounting and tax purposes. I believe an email agreement could be used for your tax purposes, but I don't know.
Why would Warwick keep records, and others not?
I'm just looking at this from several different angles. Exploring if it is something that I would like to pursue, other than for bragging rights on the Internet.
My question about the use of the word "endorsement" comes from what I understand to be proper wording, vs what I see used more commonly, especially on the web.
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The vast majority of endorsement deal isn't so much getting taxable income, but gear at a greatly reduced price. This isn't something you need to declare for tax purposes (since it's not income), and the companies often include endorsement deals in the cost of doing business (e.q. advertising).
 
#22
alembicguy said:
So if your profile says endorsing a product would I be able to go to their website and see you listed as one of their artists or is it just your way of saying you like their gear?
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Sometimes. In my case you can, but I endorse a small company. I believe in their products, and we have a relationship based on mutual benefit.
 
#24
alembicguy said:
Are you asking if they have a actual relationship with a company or is it just their way of saying they like the product. Sometimes that line gets blurred around here.
Just because you like a companies product does not mean you are endorsed.
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The more I read, the more I guess I'm starting to question if a large margin of people claiming endorsement deals, actually have real ones.
 
#25
Kwin Smith said:
The more I read, the more I guess I'm starting to question if a large margin of people claiming endorsement deals, actually have real ones.
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You'd be surprised. Especially with things like string companies and accessories, etc, companies do this a LOT. I'd expect people here are pretty honest about it.
 
#26
Kwin Smith said:
Edit: ...and do endorsements even effect your tax status in any way? I would think they would from the manufacturers' standpoint, but what about the artists'?
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They affect my taxes only in that since I get gear at reduced prices, the amount that I can claim as expenses is thereby reduced, as opposed to buying it full price and claiming the full price as an expense. So in that way, having an endorsement actually hurts you come tax-time.


Pacman said:
You'd be surprised. Especially with things like string companies and accessories, etc, companies do this a LOT. I'd expect people here are pretty honest about it.
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Exactly. GHS Strings/Rocktron doesn't have me on their website, but any time I send them a demo of a pedal of theirs, they post it on their YouTube site with "Rocktron endorser" right by my name.

There's honestly no incentive for me to list the endorsements I have; I have nothing to prove, but have no problem following TB terms regarding it.
 
#27
Pacman said:
You'd be surprised. Especially with things like string companies and accessories, etc, companies do this a LOT. I'd expect people here are pretty honest about it.
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I totally believe it with the accessories world, i had a modest "deal" with a pick company.

I know that TB is also a bit of an oasis in the musicians' community. In North Texas, you can practically throw a rock up in the air, and it will land on someone claiming they are "endorsed by" Jackson, Ibanez, Charvel, etc.
 
#28
One Bad Monkey said:
They affect my taxes only in that since I get gear at reduced prices, the amount that I can claim as expenses is thereby reduced, as opposed to buying it full price and claiming the full price as an expense. So in that way, having an endorsement actually hurts you come tax-time.

Exactly. GHS Strings/Rocktron doesn't have me on their website, but any time I send them a demo of a pedal of theirs, they post it on their YouTube site with "Rocktron endorser" right by my name.

There's honestly no incentive for me to list the endorsements I have; I have nothing to prove, but have no problem following TB terms regarding it.
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Thanks, OBM (can I call you that) :-)
 
#33
The way I always considered it:

An endorsement deal is just that. You endorse the product. Get seen with it live, maybe pose with it/in an ad for it, talk about how great it is (potentially in magazines or online) etc and you often times get a discount or something in return.

I think of a sponsorship much like an athlete. You are a figure with a following, so a company will sponsor you. They might give you a new amp head to test run, and I imagine (pure conjecutre) that you'd be required to use it a certain number of times or send it back/help them fix it if you didn't like it. I know a guy who I think was sponsored by Gibson... both guitarists played Gibson guitars and their tour bus was emblazoned with it. They want you to show it off and be seen with it. It seems to me like a step further.

Again, that's just conjecture based on what makes sense to me
 
#34
Pacman said:
You'd be surprised. Especially with things like string companies and accessories, etc, companies do this a LOT. I'd expect people here are pretty honest about it.
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I don't think honesty is the biggest component to my observation. It's more about knowledge, I think.

That's why I'm trying to educate myself about it from more than one angle.
 
#35
oniman7 said:
The way I always considered it:

An endorsement deal is just that. You endorse the product. Get seen with it live, maybe pose with it/in an ad for it, talk about how great it is (potentially in magazines or online) etc and you often times get a discount or something in return.

I think of a sponsorship much like an athlete. You are a figure with a following, so a company will sponsor you. They might give you a new amp head to test run, and I imagine (pure conjecutre) that you'd be required to use it a certain number of times or send it back/help them fix it if you didn't like it. I know a guy who I think was sponsored by Gibson... both guitarists played Gibson guitars and their tour bus was emblazoned with it. They want you to show it off and be seen with it. It seems to me like a step further.

Again, that's just conjecture based on what makes sense to me
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This is more or less how I think of it, too.
I would expect some sort of contractual obligation is in place, too, to make sure both artist and company comply. Maybe I'm just too old school?
 
#36
Kwin Smith said:
That's why I'm trying to educate myself about it from more than one angle.
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I learned a lot just from reading the 3 page contract from Warwick about what they consider an endorsement. Any pre-conceived notions were gone, and it was spelled out in black and white.

I'm a big fan of how Pro Tone Pedals spells out what they consider for an endorsement, which you can find Invalid Link Removed. Very simply put, plain and simple. Dennis is a real cool guy to boot, and makes some killer pedals.
 
#37
One Bad Monkey said:
I learned a lot just from reading the 3 page contract from Warwick about what they consider an endorsement. Any pre-conceived notions were gone, and it was spelled out in black and white.

I'm a big fan of how Pro Tone Pedals spells out what they consider for an endorsement, which you can find Invalid Link Removed. Very simply put, plain and simple. Dennis is a real cool guy to boot, and makes some killer pedals.
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I will check that out, thanks!
Is the Warwick contract on their site, or is it something I would request from them? I would love to have a Warwick made for me, but I'm pretty much a Fender guy. I'm also fairly certain that they (Fender) wouldn't be interested, but I'm not changing any time soon.

I'd still like to read the Warwick contract, though.
 
#38
Kwin Smith said:
I will check that out, thanks!
Is the Warwick contract on their site, or is it something I would request from them? I would love to have a Warwick made for me, but I'm pretty much a Fender guy. I'm also fairly certain that they (Fender) wouldn't be interested, but I'm not changing any time soon.

I'd still like to read the Warwick contract, though.
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I'm fairly certain that you can't get a copy of it on their site. They are pretty good at what they are looking for on their website, as well as EBS.
 
#40
Kwin Smith said:
Mesa is, too.
I think I *might* shoot for DR first, if I get my boss' CD out soon enough.
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What are you bringing to the table? I can't tell you the number of times I've just *heard* about someone emailing Roscoe with a "I've got a CD coming out, gimme a free bass" schpeil. DR sells a TON of strings, so in order to start a relationship with them, have an idea of how you can benefit them.
 

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