How To Get Sponkerd
Lately I have been asked this question more than ever: How do I get sponsored?
Don't get me wrong, I am stoked to help aspiring young skaters find support. But, it seems like after I tell a lot of sponsor-seeking riders what will help them they sound disappointed. The simple truth is no "easy button" exists for getting sponsored. The good news is, you don't have to be the best skater in the world, country, or even on your block to get sponsored. If that was the case I would not be sponsored myself (I ride for Black Dog Longboards and Motion Boardshop). So for all of you kids looking for a kick-down, here are some tips for getting your first sponsor:
1. Skate A LOT.
Surprise! You have to skateboard a lot to get a skateboard sponsorship! I don't mean you have to be REALLY good. I actually mean you have to skate a lot. You have to put in a lot of hours. Even if you aren't the gnarliest skater in the world, people have to see you skating and spreading the stoke often. If you are seen skating often, that means a company's product will be seen often if it is under your feet, on your hands, on your head, etc.
Also skating a lot helps you be a good skater. Being good helps getting sponsored.
2. GO TO EVENTS!
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| Example of larger event to travel to. |
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| Example of local event. |
When I tell kids they need to go to events to get sponsored that is usually when I hear the tone of disappointment. They usually say "Well, I don't have any events near me...". To that I say "Well, have you looked?". There are A LOT of events these days. As someone that plans skate events, it is getting harder and harder to set a date for your event without bumping into someone else's.
GOOGLE IT! LOOK UP EVENTS ON FACEBOOK! LURK #TEAMFUN!!! THEY ARE OUT THERE!!! I promise.
Going to events not only gives you the opportunity to be seen by companies, but it shows that you take the initiative to skate and be a part of the community.
To be fair, some places really don't have any events. But that brings me to my next point.
To be fair, some places really don't have any events. But that brings me to my next point.
3. Plan Your Own Events
A great way to catch the attention of companies is planning events rather than winning them. By planning events you help grow the scene, proliferate stoke, and meet lots of new interesting people. These are all things that companies LOVE to see out of any rider.
Planning events is also a great way of catching the attention of law enforcement. So make sure to do everything on the up and up or on the super DL. The video below is from the first race I ever put together. It was super low key but tons of fun. It was probably the start of my involvement in the skate industry. As you can see, it was a really small event. Nevertheless it was a start!
Spokane Showdown from John Bergman on Vimeo.
Planning events is also a great way of catching the attention of law enforcement. So make sure to do everything on the up and up or on the super DL. The video below is from the first race I ever put together. It was super low key but tons of fun. It was probably the start of my involvement in the skate industry. As you can see, it was a really small event. Nevertheless it was a start!
Spokane Showdown from John Bergman on Vimeo.
4. Produce Media
The internet is a powerful tool. Use it.
Make a Youtube channel and post videos of you skating. Post your videos on a couple Facebook groups, forums, or submit them to websites like SkateSlate.tv, Longboardism, or SkateHouse Media. You may get trolled or your videos may not get posted. But at least you are actually doing something. That is better than most people in general.
Here is one of the first videos my buddies and I made back in the day:
As you can see we were total kooks and sucked at skating. The dirty little secret is that everyone sucks when they start. Have fun getting better at making videos and learning how to skate better.
Post pictures of you and your buddies skating. Don't be entirely focused on getting photos. Put the camera down and skate. But a picture or two a session goes a long way.
***Don't spam people with your videos. Submit to a few websites and post on a couple groups / forums. If you overdo it people will ignore you.
Make a Youtube channel and post videos of you skating. Post your videos on a couple Facebook groups, forums, or submit them to websites like SkateSlate.tv, Longboardism, or SkateHouse Media. You may get trolled or your videos may not get posted. But at least you are actually doing something. That is better than most people in general.
Here is one of the first videos my buddies and I made back in the day:
As you can see we were total kooks and sucked at skating. The dirty little secret is that everyone sucks when they start. Have fun getting better at making videos and learning how to skate better.
Post pictures of you and your buddies skating. Don't be entirely focused on getting photos. Put the camera down and skate. But a picture or two a session goes a long way.
***Don't spam people with your videos. Submit to a few websites and post on a couple groups / forums. If you overdo it people will ignore you.
5. Support Your Local Scene!
You get out of skating what you put into skating. It really is true. Don't just go to local events. Volunteer at local events. Don't just lurk your shop and ask for a discount. Buy something from the shop and / or help the shop with some projects they have going on. Even offering goes a long way. Really, helping the scene in any way makes you more likely to get sponsored. Showing that you are capable of contributing to skateboarding and not just taking from it is a huge sign that you might be sponsorship material. Why would a company want to sponsor someone who just takes and takes and never gives anything back? That is a raw deal for a company.
6. Don't Go For The Big Sponsor Right Away
This really means two things. For one, don't go for the biggest company right away. You are much more likely to get sponsored by the little company that makes decks out of a garage than some big company with lots of big name riders on the team. Small companies need help growing, and a good skate team is a great place to start. Keep in mind though that smaller companies can't support as many riders. So don't be bummed if you can't land one of the boutique brands.
Second, this also means not to expect having all of your gear payed for, your entree fees covered, and your travel expenses fronted. Your first sponsorship may be a small discount at your local shop with no free gear at all. That is okay! It is a start. Every little bit helps and every little bit is a stretch for the company providing it. So be stoked on your tiny discount. You can grow from there.
Second, this also means not to expect having all of your gear payed for, your entree fees covered, and your travel expenses fronted. Your first sponsorship may be a small discount at your local shop with no free gear at all. That is okay! It is a start. Every little bit helps and every little bit is a stretch for the company providing it. So be stoked on your tiny discount. You can grow from there.
Final Thoughts:
There have been many articles written about this particular topic. I am not the first and I will not be the last. So check out some other articles by other people in the industry.
Also most of this is advice is just from my own experience. I have never been an amazing skateboarder, but I truly love the sport and have done everything I can to be involved with it. I skate every chance I get. I love to plan and host skate events. I love going to events and meeting new people. I rarely win events but I go to a lot of them anyway because I LOVE TO SKATEBOARD. My first sponsor was a small local company that built boards out of a basement. In fact, I still skate and work for a relatively small company, Black Dog Longboards. I also skate for Motion Boardshop, but mostly due to the fact that I also work there. In truth, if being good at skateboarding was the only way to get sponsored I probably wouldn't be. Its about being a contributor to the sport and being someone a company would want to represent them.