[blake_mhoona]

So i'm thinking of asking my work to sponsor my field trial endeavors. I've heard of people getting their test fees paid this way. My question is since I work for the visitor's bureau for the city of little rock (im just a number cruncher) how's the best way to go about doing it? what aspects should i emphasize that would get the city of little rock's name out there? how do i convince them or sell my idea to them that it'd be worth while?

also if they agree to pay for entry fees would this then make me a pro? or would i still be an amateur?

 

[BonMallari]

So i'm thinking of asking my work to sponsor my field trial endeavors. I've heard of people getting their test fees paid this way. My question is since I work for the visitor's bureau for the city of little rock (im just a number cruncher) how's the best way to go about doing it? what aspects should i emphasize that would get the city of little rock's name out there? how do i convince them or sell my idea to them that it'd be worth while?

also if they agree to pay for entry fees would this then make me a pro? or would i still be an amateur?

Where may I ask have you heard of such a thing ? Their are sugar daddy type owners/benefactors, there are trust fund kids, there is a bank heiress,there are self made millionaires....and then a whole bunch of 50k millionaires ....

But asking some entity to sponsor your endeavor implies some kind of quid pro quo, so your amateur standing would probably come into question...at least it is in the world of golf..

as far as dealing with the city of Little Rock, they would ask what type of return would they receive on their investment..its not like the FT game is a televised event or carried in the sports page...and a small number of the absentee owners in the FT game have a net worth that could probably fund the some small cities

 

[blake_mhoona]

Where may I ask have you heard of such a thing ? Their are sugar daddy type owners/benefactors, there are trust fund kids, there is a bank heiress,there are self made millionaires....and then a whole bunch of 50k millionaires ....

But asking some entity to sponsor your endeavor implies some kind of quid pro quo, so your amateur standing would probably come into question...at least it is in the world of golf..

as far as dealing with the city of Little Rock, they would ask what type of return would they receive on their investment..its not like the FT game is a televised event or carried in the sports page...and a small number of the absentee owners in the FT game have a net worth that could probably fund the some small cities

as we are a city municipality we dont see any return other than advertising the city. we make money by people coming to little rock and buying hotel rooms or buying food. we receive a 2% tax on said purchases. so the return would be getting Little Rock's name out into the public. we just launched a new re-branding phase. you may see some of our ads in southern living, food and wine, etc. or billboards on interstates. our whole goal is to promote little rock (and it's businesses) as a destination to visit

as far as where i have seen it well one gentleman in my training group has an arrangement with his employer. then i met another gentleman at our training ponds that was going to the grand and his employer just bought him 2 ruff tuff kennel fans and paying for the grand entry fees.

a more important question: if it does indeed make me a pro, am i right in that i could still run amateur (if indeed we make it there) since i would be both handler and owner

 

[Raymond Little]

That would be more expensive advertisement than the Super Bowl since I have always gone out in the first.
I would think that a Strip Joint would be perfect for sponsorship, go hit up Platinum. Make sure the judges get some VIP passes prior to slipping the lead off though.

 

[Dave Farrar]

If your salary is paid by tax dollars, I honestly doubt the city would pay for your hobby.

 

[blake_mhoona]

If your salary is paid by tax dollars, I honestly doubt the city would pay for your hobby.

in ideas of what we already sponsor: multiple university sports teams, 5k and marathons, youth sports, summer camps, you name it we've probably sponsored it. as long as it gets the city's name out there

 

[DarrinGreene]

That stuff will go through the department that handles tourism, so that's where you would start. They are going to want to know how you plan to spread their name? Your jacket? truck? logos on the dog? Maybe a bandanna if it's a Golden? I don't know, but what exactly are people going to see? then they will want to know how many people per year/month/entry would see this "Advertising" you propose, and what the demographics of that audience are. They are advertising in relatively small publications with high end demographics based on the one you mentioned. The demographic of the field trial world definitely supports it but to pay $200-$400 bucks in entry fees and expenses to get you to an event with possibly 200 people may not make much sense. They are accustomed to paying rates that run $20-$40 per thousand exposures, or 2-4 CENTS per customer that sees the ad. You're asking them to pay more like $2 for each person. Keep in mind sponsoring kids sports or camps is seen as a good will gesture on their part vs. a pure advertising endeavor. Also, people wear t-shirts and other memorabilia for a long time so there is a lot more exposure for some of those sponsorship $ then you might have. Unless they like you a lot, it sounds challenging to me, but no good idea ever didn't seem challenging

 

[blake_mhoona]

That stuff will go through the department that handles tourism, so that's where you would start. They are going to want to know how you plan to spread their name? Your jacket? truck? logos on the dog? Maybe a bandanna if it's a Golden? I don't know but what exactly are people going to see? then they will want to know how many people per year/month/entry would see this "Advertising" you propose, and what the demographics of that audience are. They are advertising in relatively small publications with high end demographics based on the one you mentioned. The demographic of the field trial world definitely supports it but to pay $200-$400 bucks in entry fees and expenses to get you to an event with possibly 200 people may not make much sense. They are accustomed to paying rates that run $20-$40 per thousand exposures, or 2-4 CENTS per customer that sees the ad. You're asking them to pay more like $2 for each person. Keep in mind sponsoring kids sports or camps is seen as a good will gesture on their part vs. a pure advertising endeavor. Unless they like you a lot, it sounds challenging to me, but no good idea ever didn't seem challenging

we are the department of tourism for the city. and my plan was logo on the back of the jacket embrodiered with our website. car sticker, kennel sticker, flat buckle dog collar. and i wouldnt ask for expenses just entry fees. still i get your point in that you might be asking for $750 a year for 10 events where maybe 1500 people might see it. but the car sticker could be seen by hundreds per event in the 6-8 hour drive

 

[Dave Farrar]

u'd be suprised at what we do pay for.

in ideas of what we already sponsor: multiple university sports teams, 5k and marathons, youth sports, summer camps, you name it we've probably sponsored it. as long as it gets the city's name out there

Those endevors benefit many people. Sponsoring a single individual's hobby would cause them a huge headache.

 

[moscowitz]

You are really dreaming. But show me I'm wrong. I guess the economy hasn't hit Federal, City or municipal workers yet. It will. Universities, summer camps far cry from sponsoring an individual. I got to see this.

 

[Julie R.]

Never say never, and you won't know unless you ask, but you'll have some fairly difficult obstacles in your path. The first is that these events are not exactly spectator sports; the only ones in the gallery are usually there because they're also running dogs. The second is that you are talking about your city sponsoring you for an event that involves guns and the killing of animals; even if you're lucky enough not to have any gun control freaks or PETA disciples amongst the decision makers, blood sports are not exactly PC for the masses.

 

[Justin Allen]

Go win a few times and you might can make a case. This is out there, haha. It would be nice though.

 

[blake_mhoona]

got a sponsorship packet now all i got to do is fill it out and let it got the CEO, COO, and marketing coordinator to vote on it

 

[jd6400]

got a sponsorship packet now all i got to do is fill it out and let it got the CEO, COO, and marketing coordinator to vote on it

I`m wonderin if they would sponsor you for hunting season?Just think of all the ooser`s at the ramp at the boat race at BM........just thinkin ? Jim

 

[Steve Shaver]

got a sponsorship packet now all i got to do is fill it out and let it got the CEO, COO, and marketing coordinator to vote on it

Good luck to ya.

 

[BonMallari]

as we are a city municipality we dont see any return other than advertising the city. we make money by people coming to little rock and buying hotel rooms or buying food. we receive a 2% tax on said purchases. so the return would be getting Little Rock's name out into the public. we just launched a new re-branding phase. you may see some of our ads in southern living, food and wine, etc. or billboards on interstates. our whole goal is to promote little rock (and it's businesses) as a destination to visit

as far as where i have seen it well one gentleman in my training group has an arrangement with his employer. then i met another gentleman at our training ponds that was going to the grand and his employer just bought him 2 ruff tuff kennel fans and paying for the grand entry fees.

a more important question: if it does indeed make me a pro, am i right in that i could still run amateur (if indeed we make it there) since i would be both handler and owner

got a sponsorship packet now all i got to do is fill it out and let it got the CEO, COO, and marketing coordinator to vote on it

1. answer # 1...you may NOT run the Amateur if you are a pro, has no bearing on whether you own the dog or not....You may run the Derby, the Qual and the Open, Ltd.etc



2. answer # 2 : I was actively involved in trying to secure sponsorship for a young golf pro and personal friend, and it was the biggest headache but it taught me a ton about the business world,advertising, marketing,contracts etc...I understand that your initial thoughts are pure and simple, but even the wealthiest of miilionaires arent in the habit of giving their money away (except to a mistress,drug habit,bookie)..thats why they are millionaires and not thousandaires....more power to you if you can get it, but once you accept the check, you owe somebody something

 

[blake_mhoona]

2. answer # 2 : I was actively involved in trying to secure sponsorship for a young golf pro and personal friend, and it was the biggest headache but it taught me a ton about the business world,advertising, marketing,contracts etc...I understand that your initial thoughts are pure and simple, but even the wealthiest of miilionaires arent in the habit of giving their money away (except to a mistress,drug habit,bookie)..thats why they are millionaires and not thousandaires....more power to you if you can get it, but once you accept the check, you owe somebody something

the difference is Nike is trying to make money for Nike. Progressive insurance is trying to make money for Progressive. We try to make money for businesses in the area. Yes they do pay us taxes from the money we make them but we are not allowed to have a profit. If we don't spend the money on advertising then it is taken back to the city board and used for whatever purpose they seem fit.

Hey it might and probably wont happen but you dont know unless you try. The secretary to the CEO seemed very interested and made it sound like it was a good tradeoff. At the end of the day if nothing else it lets the big wigs know who i am and that i want to help us promote the city

 

[Jennifer Henion]

I always think it's strange that well known cities or states spend money to advertise themselves. Meanwhile the schools are getting de-funded. The broken and broke state of California runs very expensive ads on television inviting people to come visit - They run the ads in California! Which is huge. Can only imagine the dollars spent on that while the rest of our budget goes down the toilet.

Sorry Blake, been hating that commercial and idea for a long time.

Good luck to you, though. Here are some parting words, however - have you run any trials yet? If not, may want to see how it goes. I and many others went out in the first 5 minutes. If someone had paid my way, I would have felt bad for them and embarrassed.

 

[John Robinson]

I think being compensated for running your dog would make you a Pro, I wouldn't go down that road.

John

 

[rbr]

Why , in your mind, would they want to?