Approached for sponsorship

captainjko

captainjko

Kirk
Silver Member
Hey guys... Someone (a friend that plays very good) has approached me about sponsoring them as a cue sponsor...He plays in and wins a good bit of the local tournaments.... I have been messing with cue building for just a couple of years.. He has shot with my cues and really likes the hit... My question is: How does cue sponsorship actually work in the pool world? Do I just give him a cue and he advertises for me? Do I get a % of his winnings? I'm not in the cue building business, so I'm not sure I want any orders if they were to come in as I know I would not meet any dead lines... lol. Im fine with building a cue then selling it.... I don't have a lot of free time so again, this is just a hobby I really enjoy.. Any input would be great...
 
You would get advertising and that is it... Sponsors pay players(if they are at the PRO/ PRO AM level) and not the other way around. Unless you were stakehorsing him you would not get any of his winnings. If you are not looking to grow your business maybe this idea is not for you. If you simply want to help your friend out just give him a cue.

Not being a jerk, but, I am not sure how you could not know how sponsorship works. I guess maybe because you are not a business???


Trent from Toledo
 
captainjko said:
Hey guys... Someone (a friend that plays very good) has approached me about sponsoring them as a cue sponsor...He plays in and wins a good bit of the local tournaments.... I have been messing with cue building for just a couple of years.. He has shot with my cues and really likes the hit... My question is: How does cue sponsorship actually work in the pool world? Do I just give him a cue and he advertises for me? Do I get a % of his winnings? I'm not in the cue building business, so I'm not sure I want any orders if they were to come in as I know I would not meet any dead lines... lol. Im fine with building a cue then selling it.... I don't have a lot of free time so again, this is just a hobby I really enjoy.. Any input would be great...
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Typically it starts with you making a cue for him that he plays with in tournaments. If he does well it might lead to you making a second cue for him and he can now sell one of them. In your particular situation I don't think you should be expected to pay him any sponsorship dollars. That is usually reserved for major cue makers who sponsor big name players.

Perhaps after he's played with your cue for a reasonable period of time (a year is the norm) it now becomes his cue to keep or sell. All these things need to be discussed and agreed to in advance. It doesn't hurt to write a short document and have you both sign it. That way no one forgets what they agreed to.
 
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greyghost said:
The way it works is you build your friend a cue and eventually it’ll be posted up as stake for a match lol.


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Or the cue was "stolen".

Make him pay for the cue at discount rate.
He can sell cues if he buys them at dealer price.

NEVER GIVE A CUE FOR FREE.
 
captainjko said:
Hey guys... Someone (a friend that plays very good) has approached me about sponsoring them as a cue sponsor...He plays in and wins a good bit of the local tournaments.... I have been messing with cue building for just a couple of years.. He has shot with my cues and really likes the hit... My question is: How does cue sponsorship actually work in the pool world? Do I just give him a cue and he advertises for me? Do I get a % of his winnings? I'm not in the cue building business, so I'm not sure I want any orders if they were to come in as I know I would not meet any dead lines... lol. Im fine with building a cue then selling it.... I don't have a lot of free time so again, this is just a hobby I really enjoy.. Any input would be great...
Click to expand...

Sponsorship these days is usually limited to product especially at your level. If you give him money he needs to have a shirt on with your advertisement or something because you want more business. At your level my opinion is you'd be a benevolent sponsor and wouldn't see much if any return.
 
It's usually a donation in the end.

If you do it, start with a cheap cue and go from there depending on how well it works out.

Good luck

Rake
 
Or the cue was "stolen".

Make him pay for the cue at discount rate.
He can sell cues if he buys them at dealer price.

NEVER GIVE A CUE FOR FREE.
Click to expand...

My situation is like yours. I have only sold cues to friends who have leaned on me hard and were willing to take them on my timeline. So also not in business.

However i have built and sold a number of other specialty items at high$$ price points and have to say i agree with Joey's succinct note above. If your buddy really thinks it's the best cue for him, he will buy it from you at a similar discount he can get from elsewhere. IOW, right now your performance is "proven" (supposedly, to at least one competent player) but his tournament performance & dedication actually is not.

It might be worth a gamble if you identified him as a rising start and want more business. But you have made it clear you don't. If he's a really good friend, you can front him a cue and write it off to friendship. Then if he hits the big time, you become the un-obtainium maker to the elite and part of your selling model becomes that few can buy from you and it all depends on your mood. ;) There are plenty of successful people who use this model. But you need to stick to it. And you need to be really, really good or you will just be perceived as a snot.

smt
 
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Thanks for the comments... My wife and I discussed this and thought since we own our Real Estate business and our Auction business, I could give him the cue and have a shirt made with our company name one it for him to sport at tournaments... That's where we make our money and have my time dedicated.....But I think what Im going to do is like Joey mentioned and just sell him the cue at a very fair price... Someone asked about some of my cues. Here's a couple... I haven't gotten into the inlays and "bling" yet... Maybe one day... Maybe not and just keep it simple....

NEW CUE 7242018 2.JPG

NEW CUE 7242018.JPG

NEW CUE 7242018 3.JPG

NEW CUE 7242018 4.JPG

tko player 2.jpg
 
Remember Jose Parica's sort of famous statement "You give me cue, I make you famous". Pretty sure he succeeded.

Kind of got a chuckle out of the "the cue was stolen from my car / hotel / motel room" Danny Medina pulled that one on my best friend in Vegas. Told him not to give it to Danny. Oh well. We also had Ronnie Allen staying at the house for a while before he moved to Tony Rila's. We had several sets of Ronnie's only golf clubs :rolleyes: around the house (no putters of course).

If the guy is really a friend, give him a cue and see what develops. If you notice extra cue orders arriving, then you might have something. JMHO.

Lyn
 
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