Sponsored Players ?
- Thread starter BIG FOOT
- Start date
Are ya kidding? Forget pool ... as with anything in advertising it is what sells. If a name is out there and known, it gets attention.
Another point, I'd say there are a zillion kids who could play pro baseball and make millions just like the guys who are on the teams now. Sometimes it's who ya know, not what ya know that gets you recognition.
Another point, I'd say there are a zillion kids who could play pro baseball and make millions just like the guys who are on the teams now. Sometimes it's who ya know, not what ya know that gets you recognition.
BIG FOOT...There is no real sponsorship in pro pool, other than players getting cues to play with. With the exception of perhaps half a dozen American players, sponsorship (which, imo, means getting at least entry fees and expenses covered) is nonexistent. Some of the European players are sponsored by their governments. Same thing in Taiwan and China.
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Could there be? Like 3andstop said, it's not what you know, it's who you know. Regardless of the amount of exposure, there has to be an expected return on investment, right?
It's probably reasonable to understand the impact Tiger has on Nike or Michael Jordan has on Hanes. But do more people drink Pepsi because Jeff Gordon does?
Michael isn't selling basketballs, and Jeff Gordon isn't selling race cars.
And they are paid millions for their endorsements.
So why do people feel that an endorsement has to be pool related (ie Kamui, OB Shafts, etc)?
If SVB is a Pepsi lover, and knows somebody high up in Pepsi, wouldn't it make sense for Pepsi to sponsor him? Not millions per year, but $100k/year would not be a blip on their overall marketing budget. And it's not just giving money away. For the $100k he could do a charitable event appearance, maybe show up at a company event, or whatever they deem necessary.
Is there a personal note to this or are you being general?
Top pro players need to try and get a sports agent. They know how to get your name out to the right people. Look what an agent has done for Jeanette Lee and I hear Earl has got one now and is booked up all around the world for a year or more. You can't just play good and they will come. Need to get off ass. Johnnyt
I'm sure there are plenty out there to be had as well. Sure, they all dream of signing the multi-million dollar athlete, but there's only so many of those around.
But NO ONE outside of a couple thousand fans of pro pool know who SVB is. 98% of amateur pool players don't even know SVB. Why would you produce advertisements with a no-name as the spokesperson? How many people would be attracted to your charitable event to meet someone they've never heard of...in a sport they've never watched?
On the other hand, everyone knows Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, even if they aren't fans of golf or basketball...they are celebrity names.
BTW, $100,000 is big money in any advertising/promotion budget, even Coke and Pepsi.
How many marketable pros are there from the US? As far as I can tell the only one is Shane and he already has a decent deal with Cuetec. The other pros in the US either haven't won any major titles or have some major character flaws. Of course this is a chicken and egg-type problem, but unless you have more guys that can carry a positive image for potential sponsors AND win consistently, there wont be many major sponsors for individual players.
As JohnnyT said, you can't just play good pool and they'll come. You have to get off your ass. You're probably right, 98% of amateur players don't even know him. But there are tons of amateur players that would love to get to know him if he were to get out there more with a sponsor.
I was at a corporate event one time and saw a magician I never heard of. That doesn't mean I didn't appreciate what he did.
I can't name 2 professional bowlers. That doesn't mean I'm not amazed to watch them roll a 270.
That's how you gain fans and grow the sport. Like I said, he'd have to know someone first. Or have a sports agent that knows the right someones.
My point was more to the fact that there are sponsors out there that don't have anything to do with tips, cues, gloves, chalk, cases. People need to start thinking outside the box for things to change.
No matter what you are promoting, be it a business making widgets or yourself, marketing is everything. This is why companies spend millions on commercials, ads in papers/magazines and such. Just look at the hundreds of infomercials out there on TV now days. They are simply getting their message out to the masses, not just one section of the population.
There are many folks that had or have a viable product (even if that means themselves), but have little or no success due to the lack of marketing. If you got something you want to sell (and that could include your name or services), without marketing, you are pretty much screwed. There are a few pool players that have been pretty successful marketing themselves, but as Johnny T. put it, they got offf their ass and made it happen. It didn't happen by them waiting around for it to happen.
There are many folks that had or have a viable product (even if that means themselves), but have little or no success due to the lack of marketing. If you got something you want to sell (and that could include your name or services), without marketing, you are pretty much screwed. There are a few pool players that have been pretty successful marketing themselves, but as Johnny T. put it, they got offf their ass and made it happen. It didn't happen by them waiting around for it to happen.
It's about getting your brand in front of eyeballs, and it's true it doesn't matter if it's related
(though obviously SVB promoting cuetech means a lot more than SVB promoting pepsi).
They estimate how many eyeballs they can get for their money, and that's how they decide whether to pay for
a patch/poster/magazine ad, etc.
A successful pool stream featuring SVB might get 1000 viewers. If they paid 100k for that deal,
they're spending 100 bucks per pair of eyeballs. Not very efficient.
That being said, I bet you could talk him into wearing a patch or decal for 1k.
(though obviously SVB promoting cuetech means a lot more than SVB promoting pepsi).
They estimate how many eyeballs they can get for their money, and that's how they decide whether to pay for
a patch/poster/magazine ad, etc.
A successful pool stream featuring SVB might get 1000 viewers. If they paid 100k for that deal,
they're spending 100 bucks per pair of eyeballs. Not very efficient.
That being said, I bet you could talk him into wearing a patch or decal for 1k.