What’s the point in endorsing a product if you get no remuneration?

Its great, I get SX basses at substantial discounts.

I know its a win win situation...

 

It's like, Alembic always say Stanley paid for his basses. I don't doubt that, but it was him whom they presented a free 30th Anniversary Alembic! I really think he's earned it though for being such a brilliant player and doing so much for the Alembic name.

 

I think one of the main things overlooked here is repair work. One of the main perks of being an endorsing artist is getting all repairs and or replacements done for free. For a professional touring musician doing 150-250 shows a year free repairs come in REALLY handy. No matter how well gear is made, road wear happens.

 

hardly... it's in the right spot IMO.

I am an Endorsing Artist (need to update my profile) for Bee & Benavente Basses , Delano Pickups, and Bag End.

All but Bag End is by my own declaration. I get nothing back but a little recognition from companies I love. I get a link back to my site from theirs... and gladly answer questions about the products as best I can when asked. I love the gear, maybe it is mostly bragging rights, so what.

Do I pay full price? not quite... but I never pay full price for any negotiable priced stuff.

Now Bag End is different. We were discussing a set of custom cabs (I used them exclusively in the 90s) and the Engineer asked is I wanted my info sent to the Artist Relations people. With them it's a contract. I get 35% off, the ability to buy direct and a lifetime warranty.

Being on the manufacturers side, I've seen all the ignored emails of nobodies and somebodies begging for free stuff. Artist endorsement that requires stuff to still be bought means A LOT more than a bunch of free stuff given to beggers that don't dig the stuff anyway.

 

Ever get something for nothing? How much did you think of that something?

If I pay you you're my whore - if I discount we're equally invested.

 

When you talk about endorsments, are you also talking about people who will wear tee shirts with a compan logo.

Like wearing a Fender or Guiness shirt with no compensation?

 

the three companies i've been lucky to have endorse my bands have always given us a great discount...and free shirts...

 

I was listed before the new webguy butchered the site in puke green and left it half finished.


[edit]
here is an www.archive.org shot of the old family page
http://web.archive.org/web/20060505000554/www.benaventeguitars.com/gallery/family.php
[/edit]

 

If you need to simplify it down to that and that's all that happened, I might agree with you.

OTOH why do you look at endorsing without getting free gear as strictly a negative? Is that really all you can think of as far as that relationship might go? Endorsement = free gear or you're just bragging?

The comment about who might care is amusing... if you endorse a bass, who besides other bassists do you really want to care?

Way back in the dark ages, before Mike Tobias became a (bass) household name, he put people in touch with me to see his work in my area. No stores carried them and that was the most logical way to do it. Why did I do it? To help. Simple as that. Mike has always been a great guy so why wouldn't I do what I could to help him succeed? That success means he'l be around and for selfish reasons, if he's around I can get more of his products. I don't equate generating good will with being a chump.

I endorse Brubaker basses, I own several that I purchased new or used. As a repeat customer I do get attractive pricing but I know as a small builder giving away gear isn't really an option. I wouldn't ask him to anyway. Over the years Kevin has become a friend and I like helping him when I can. If that's somehow looked upon negatively, that's on the viewer, not me.

I don't ask for a cut on any sales even though I assist people, when time allows, by letting them check out my basses, taking them by the shop and answering questions as objectively as I can. If he needs something to show a customer because everything is already shipped I let him use my basses. He's taken them to trade shows and sent one to Bass Player magazine as a review subject. So do I get bragging rights for that? Not knowing what the reviewer would say before I sent it, it wasn't exactly a given.

As far as artist pages, they just show who's using whose products. If you see someone on an artist page who uses something you're interested in, you can sometimes contact them. Will they be objective? Who knows. the funny thing though is that most bassists will talk about their gear ad nauseum with no thought of financial renumeration. Why?


Maybe because they like what they have. If you don't feel as strongly, don't talk about the gear you use. Put some black tape over the logos.

I honestly don't get the attitude.


So what do I get? I already have some of the coolest basses I've ever played. Just like with Mike, if I help and he succeeds, more cool basses for me. A win-win for me.


I think one other thing that usually missed in these discussions is that not everyone is depending on music related things as their main source of income. I know I'm not.

 

somethin' like that.... donated the hair a couple years back though.

 

Okay, you both have attitudes.


I don't own a Sadowsky so I doubt I'd launch into anything... but nice anticipation

No attitude there.

So you've reduced this down to bragging rights again.

I'd think you'd have a more serene take on this, given the last sentence