LAUNCH: Panel - Getting Sponsorships For Your Band (3 of 6)

This continues the LAUNCH coverage. I have yet to decide whether I'll just release all of these posts at once or if I'll do them a day at a time... By the time this is actually released, I'm sure this will be obvious. Anyway, same format as the last one.

Panel:
Leah Urbano - Crimson Management
Yogi Allgood - Outerloop Management
Josh Maloney - Dean Guitars
Mike Eaton - The Artery Foundation (moderator)
David Silbaugh - Grammy Chapter Board Advisor/Summerfest
Rick Gadd - LAUNCH Music Conference co-director

Discussion: Getting Sponsorships For Your Band

• RG: you need to be popular / bring a crowd
• ME: ask yourself if you really want to play this brand
• DS: don't just play something because it's free
• be invested in your instruments
• ME: make everything personal
• ME: make sure you're in it for the long haul
• JM: don't be a dick
• don't sell gear you get from a sponsorship
• JM: sponsorships are a whole support system, not just the physical instruments
• RG: have a lot of dates on your tour calendar before sending any propositions
• ME: have a word document for all of your tour dates EVER
• ME: condense your career to your biggest accomplishments to present as a more palatable form
• JM: take your work seriously - be prepared
• JM: nothing is worse than wasting someone's time
• LU: go to companies outside the box
• not just companies that deal with music gear
• think of products that you would want to be associated with
• ex. candles, clothing, etc.
• JM: be realistic about what you want