Getting sponsored can seem like an extremely daunting task, especially if you have no idea where to start. This article will outline the main elements of your video and what you need to do to get sponsored the RIGHT way.
Your video
#1: Include as little “park” content as possible.
Team managers love to see real street skateboarding and they will help you progress a lot in your career. Not only does it show that you’re much more dedicated to your passion, but it also shows that you can skate on more terrain than your local park and in places you’re not used to. Prove that you can skate almost anything thrown at you. In my experience, this is also a deal breaker. Some park content is fine if you must include it, but the majority of your video should be made up of street content because the TM sees that it’s all park football, there’s a good chance he won’t even see more than 30 seconds of your video. video.
#2: Mix up your tricks
There is nothing worse than watching a video where the rider just flips for over 3 minutes and trust me the company team managers feel the same way. Even if your video is a bit shorter, try to limit the number of tricks you repeat to 3-4 max as a general rule of thumb. Making them knock down different obstacles is another way to keep cool too. If you go up a curb in a line and in the next clip you push it up a ladder, no problem. What you want to avoid is doing, for example, a popup nudge on every line I’m your video. Try throwing different combinations of routines, ladder sets, manuals, etc. Lines are a good way to show your consistency, so if you can hit a ledge or hand pad and then do a trick or something else in a set, you should get the TM’s attention.
#3: Keep your video short
Almost all TMs are busy people, so the fact that they are even watching your video is a hit, so make your job easier and keep it short. A minute and a half to two minutes is all you need to make an impression on them and it also allows you to keep it short enough to only use your best clips.
#4: Use a decent quality camera
Cameras are so cheap now, don’t try to film a whole part with your mom’s digital camera. Even an older model Go-Pro camera will only set you back $100 and trust me, it’s worth it. If the team manager can’t see your skateboard properly, he won’t bother to watch your video. It also shows that you’re more dedicated to what you’re doing if you’re investing in your own team because if you’re selected for sponsorship, you’ll be required to submit more images on a monthly basis to ensure you’re making use of the free stuff being sent to you.
#5: Skate fast
One thing I can guarantee is that you will always feel like you are skating faster than you actually are in the video. So with that in mind, if you feel like you’re going slow, you’ll probably look even slower on video. Skateboarding faster also conveys a sense of confidence and style on camera that TM loves. Within reason, of course, you don’t want to be shredding uncontrollably on a ledge.
#6: Use Online Video Providers
The internet is a big place nowadays and trust me TMs scour the web for the top rated videos and they will see the comments and the number of views and sometimes people can be contacted based on this. It’s also much easier to send images this way by placing a link in an email instead of sending a video through the postal mail as was done not so long ago.
#7: Get your name out in contests
The best way to be sponsored by a lot is by winning or participating in contests. A little harder to do, but enter as many as you can to build confidence in the contest and you may soon be on your way to the podium. Winning contests almost always guarantees you patronage from local stores, whether they run the contests or just watch. Also in larger cities and contests, some events will have scouts looking for people to ride for them. Keep in mind that winning a contest doesn’t guarantee you a sponsorship for sure, but if you consistently place in the top three, your odds increase incredibly. Winning contests also gets your name out there with the locals, who will likely be talking about it for the next few moments at the park, skate shops, etc. any publicity is good publicity.
#8: Last but not least
Have fun!! At the end of the day, you should be having a lot of fun with what you’re doing. Crew chiefs will pick up on this too, no one wants to ride with the guy who always gets mad and throws his board away and gets stressed out to the point where he’s not even likable anymore. In my experience, I have met several people who have been exceptionally good and have been rejected because they have a bad.
Following these 8 steps will increase your chances of landing that sponsor, but it’s important to enjoy what you’re doing. So go out and have fun.
happy skateboard