Question for the Pro's

So I've noticed some of you guys are sponsored, on the pro team, or are product ambassadors.  How the heck to you get into something like that?  What is it based on?  I would love to be a pro fisherman, I have no idea where to begin

c'mon someone here answer this! Im dying to know also

Sometimes it just boils down to having the balls to ask.

I would start by getting your name & face out there.  Take lots good pics of you and some big fish.  Compete in tournaments if you can(I see you are both in AK so this might be tough).  Get to know your local kayak retailers and see if they are looking for some on-the-water marketing opportunities.  And yes, this very true:

Sometimes it just boils down to having the balls to ask.

- Develop a resume of desireable skills and activities.  Sponsors like both structured blog or forum entries and professional writting about activities that use their products.
- Share your love of the sport in person with others.
- Get to know current team members, even just thru the internet.
- Get lucky  <== Just like fishing
      alternately
- Beg, plead with, cajole, convince, chase, court, inspire, stalk and most importantly impress desired sponsors with your ability to not just fish but inspire others to fish.  <== Way easier to get lucky.... 

Many sponsors have requirements for their pro-staff/team members.  It may be as simple as posting to their blog or talking about their product.  Conversely, some sponsors demand you work trade shows, have articles published on a regular basis or that you give occasional seminars.

In a nutshell, if you're living the life that product manufacturers are selling, and you're inspring people to live similarly, you are a valuable commodity. 

-Spot-

I've thought about it but I'd need to get out more than I actually have time for (and that's a BAD thing?). I don't freely advertise corporate logos unless they give me free stuff. Even the "N"s on my New Balance shoes are blacked out. Why should I advertise for them for free?

Now, how do I rub out the Hobie logo on my Revo? Unless they were to give me some swag to keep it on there for the next year or so, of course!

True

I would start by getting your name & face out there.  Take lots good pics of you and some big fish.  Compete in tournaments if you can(I see you are both in AK so this might be tough).  Get to know your local kayak retailers and see if they are looking for some on-the-water marketing opportunities.  And yes, this very true:

Sometimes it just boils down to having the balls to ask.

I agree with Rawk! Take lots of pics!  "a picture is worth a thousand words" right? They're an easy and cheap way to help explain why we do what we do. I would try and start a library on your computer and add to it. You'll be surprised how quick your pictures start adding up.
jmr

In my case I was just in the right spot at the right time.  Also, being able to catch fish helps too. 

I'm no pro, but have had the opportunity to chat with a few.  A well written blog, complete with photographs that are artistic and documentary in nature, can go a long ways.  Presenting yourself as an inspiration is indeed a helpful means to some kind of sponsorship.  Them above mentioned balls also seem to pay off.

There is a lot of work that can go into it as well. It's not always "hey, we see you posting pics and using our stuff, here's a pro deal for you...."

But you have to work too.  Trade shows, clinics, unique content (just for the company's blog, and not yours), and more.  You do have to give to get. All deals are different in that regard though, but be prepared to be working for the sponsor.

Of course, feeding them beer and whiskey helps too...

Wow nice to know all you PRO guys are on the site for advice, Thanks and you can't look at some of the Kayak web site's without seeing a few members,Make's one wonder if there should be a Pro class AOTY, With shirts and a TV show too..

Thanks for all the responses.  Its definitely  something to strive for.  Exposure will be tough up here, so I'll have to beef up the resume in the other areas mentioned.  It'll be fun trying, and if it happens great, if it doesn't just think of all the fish I'll catch trying to do it. 

I was sponsered once....it was for a all u can eat Hooters Chicken wing contest in which i won and weighted about 180lbs lol. Budweiser paid my entry fee and i had to wear a stupid hat. And then my frat that i was kinda sponsered me by getting me intoxicated enough for my taste buds to be numb(thank god for that due to it being 911 wings lol)

Step 1.  Run a bunch of kayak fishing websites that results in 550K pageviews per month from ~30K unique visitors.
Step 2.  Catch the largest fish off a kayak recorder in modern times.  A 400# salmon shark would do!
Step 3.  Get stories published about you in major magazines like Field and Stream, Hemispheres.  How a bout a cover shot on Fish Alaska Magazine?  Or some mentions in Kayak Angler or SportFishing?  A piece on the Man vs Fish show with Matt Watson on the Discovery Channel.
Step 4.  Write a few articles.  Be prepared to do these for free.  It you're lucky you get paid a little, a very little!
Step 5.  Guide some kayak fishing trips to exotic locations like Mexico, Alaska, and Christmas Island.
Step 6.  Run a bunch of kayak fishing tournaments.

OK, so let's say you tried to do all that and it didn't quite happen.  What next?

Sponsorship can be a lot of work, and it isn't all glitz and glamor.  The main reason for it in the industry is that you get to be the lackey for the regional sales rep.  Work trade shows.  Do seminars.  Call on accounts to help them sell.  You get paid a little and you get some gear or some discount on gears, but the return is hardly worth the time.  It's a labor of love.

So, how to go about it?   First off, figure out who you want to be sponsored by.  It is much much better if it is a product you already use and think highly about.  It really helps if you can say you've been using product XYZ forever and give testament to why you think it is the best product in the universe.  It's not worth trying to get sponsorship for something you wish you had vs. something you already have, use, and love.

Build relationships.  Go to the trade shows.  Chat the sales reps up.  Chat the other pros up.  Chat the staff up at your local shops.  Network!!! Get to know them.  Geting to know them doesn't mean annoying them.  Be mindful of their time.  Build the relationships so that one day when they get the memo that they need another pro staff, perhaps your name pops into their mind.  I have some relationships that I've built up over 5 years that finally "paid off".  Be prepared for most not to pay off.

Unless you reach some sort of superstar status, the marketing person at the factory isn't going to take note.  Blind emails or cold calls to the factory don't work very well.  You can try it, but I generally don't waste my time.

-Allen

You make it sound so easy polepole