Sponser By Tarty ?

[monkeyseemonkeydo]

How much business do you think that they do outside of the UK?

Quite a lot. But even so it makes no difference. Do you think that if TartyBikes sponsored Kenny Belaey or Thomas Oehler (just for example) that it wouldn't promote the image of the company inside the UK as well? You wouldn't only expect to see extra sales from Belgium or Austria surely?

[nemo_awp]

when you reach level,on the riders whose are now "Tarty Riders" or more.

[chrisbikefix]

To get noticed i think you have to do compertions .. yes you can go on big meets, for example the London ride which will help, but to have rankings on paper to prove how you do is a result. I remember i always wanted to be a profesional rider when i was younger, but i have found my trials riding has got to a point and haven't acheived anything bigger or better really. Not pushing myself as much as i used too. I have to say though i just enjoy riding with mates and having a laught, yes it would be good to get free bits and discount, people to come upto you .. "Hi are you .... Yes, YEs i am!" Good luck to you though!, James Sheridon managed to get really good in about 7-8 years ........

[siyross]

hi i would wish i could be sponsered by tarty in a couple of years but how can you get yourself sponsered by them ? :$

Mate i really wouldn't worry about sponsrship right now. It says on your profile that you are a trials newby. You will have a fair way to go before a company will sponsor you.

If the only reason you ride trials is for sponsorship then you will be disapointed. Only a very select few get that good and stay that good.

This may seem like i am just trying to dis-hearten you into not trying. I AM NOT.

Just enjoy riding and let your trials path take it's course.

But who knows? you may be a phenomenal rider in six months and get recognised, or you may not.

It is really down to practice practice practice, and i mean like a lot of practice.

Joe Satriani who is claimed to be the worlds greatest guitarist used to practice 13 hours a day!!

In the mean time you could always bike a Tarty bikes t-shirt and prentend.

[Dan S]

Strange, I seem to remember you saying a while back you were pissed off because you couldn't get a job because you were only 16?

Well, I don't really need to be 18 to resell parts. I can be even 10. But that's not a job. I get from 4 to 20 pounds from each order.I do that mostly for people.

because we don't have MBK or KOXX dealer. nether we have trialtech dealers. so people come to me

[Ali C]

I read quite a lot of emails sent to tarty off riders looking for sponsorship.....some are just plain awful!

There is a LOT more to sponsorship than just free parts, its a two way deal. Why should a company choose to give you parts to advertise them when they could just buy an ad in a magazine or web site?

There are a few key points to attract possible sponsors.

1) You need to sell yourself to them! It doesn't matter if you are not a world champion or cant sidehop 56", but as long as you write a well written letter/email they will read it. Writing "I name is Billy Joe, will you sponsor me" (I have sen that sent to tartybikes as a sponsorship request! (name changed obviously)) will not get a reply.

You need to tell the company anything that makes you look good. Name, age, bike ridden, how long been riding, who you ride with, where you ride.....do you travel lots? Do you enter comps? Got any results? Go on many group rides? Make many vids? Had any promotion work done like demos? ANYTHING that gets you in the public will be bonus points.

If you have made vids, get them linked in, same with photos...but only GOOD quality ones please, not camera stills!

Explain how you got into the sport, whats has been your riding highlight? What are your future goals? Be realistic with your goals you say, its all well and good saying you'll be world champion, but unless you have results to backup your claim then the company may think your trying to pull a fast one.

A CD with your request looks proffesional, but you may find the companys are really busy and putting a CD into a computer to check you out will take a back seat.....an email is in their face as every company checks them daily. Its also worth following up your email with a phone call to check its arrived. This lets them know you are keen, but don't over do it, no one likes to be pestered.

2) What do you want from the sponsorship?

Theres no point asking a clothing company for energy drinks, or an umbrella company for sunglasses.....you need to ask for relavant items. If you are young or not been riding long, don't expect free bikes! You may have to sacrifice for less than you expected.....the more you give the more you can ask for.

2) What can you do for the sponsor?

Kind of like above. You don't get something for nothing. You need to get your name known! No company will give a free bike to a person no one has ever heard of. You may find the company will give you small items or a small discount at first....TAKE IT! This is the first step, they want you in for the long term, you need to show them you are dedicated and a worthy investment. You will often get the opertunity to improve your deal the longer you are with the company, or if you show good results in promoting them. What they don't want is to give you a good deal or free items for you to then stop riding and keep your parts...this will spoil further deals with other companies, news of this does travel.

You also need to show you have a great personality. Having a wanker to promote a company doesn't work. Its not just on your bike you have to be nice, you have to be thinking of what you say off the bike and on forums too (I probably would have got banned by now if I could say what I wanted on here!). You need to talk to other riders especially kids..they look up to sponsored riders, if they ask you a question don't ignore them! Be really friendly and polite. It seems obvious, but I have seen a lot of riders ignore these last points.

3) can you make sacrifices?

GREAT! you have picked up a sponsor! Now lets say they will give you free bars, you are used to 29" wide high rise bars but the company wants you to run their 27" low rise bars.....could you do that? The company may want you to run parts you wouldn't choose to buy. You need t o be dedicated to them too, you can't turn your back on them just because the latest uber pimp new parts came out from a rival company, you need to be happy with what you have got and continue promoting them

You won't have the freedom you have with no sponsor to paint/ cut or drill your parts (without permission). You may be called up to go to an event or photoshoot, can you travel?

Sponsorship is great, free parts really does take a weight off your shoulders that then allows you to spend more time on the bike, but you really need to think "is sponsorship really for me?" It shouldn't be the reason you are riding. Ride for fun and you may find the sponsors will be asking you to ride for them!!

Also, don't forget, sponsorship should be long term. Look at Hans Rey, he has been with GT for 15/20 years!

I hope these points helped and good luck to anyone searching for a sponsor. Don't be put off if they say no, just look to see what you could do to improve.

[Dan S]

Now thats' a good help.

Thanks a lot

[AdamR28]

No more to add to that really!

[Sam F]

Atleast Ali is useful in another way while his foot/ankle area is busted.

[Ali C]

I still need people to carry stuff for me though, and I spilt hot soup on me when hopping to the table

[Nick Manning]

Nice one Ali, pretty much sums up the whole aspect of being a sponsor and what they look for/want, and what a potential rider needs to do or be to earn the chance.

But like you said Ali the main thing with our sport, is to go out and ride because you enjoy what you do and because you have fun, not because you want to be sponsored.

Being sponsored is great but it is also alot of hard work. For myself I love riding for MAD and really appreciate all the help and support I have had from the team and it's sponsors, but as MAD is a demo team, it means that come the summer time I'm doing loads of demo's instead of going on rides. That's one sacrifice that I have to make, but as I enjoy riding it doesn't matter who I'm riding with or what I'm doing if I'm riding. Demo riding is alot of hard work, your riding on demand instead of at your own pace, so you have to be on top of your game. Similar to a when riding a comp, you may be tired but you have to keep going.

As a demo rider your classed as entertainment, so you have to act professional at all times. You never know who maybe watching. The same if your a sponsored rider and ride comps or just go out and represent companies by using there product's, you always have to act in a mature, responsible and professional manner, because anything that isn't done in a good manner will most likely get back to your sponsors and they don't want someone like that representing them.

You gotta remember your not just representing yourself, your representing yourself and everyone else that supports you.

[eskimo]

Sponsorship is way to much hard work. I'd rather sit back and chill. I too was always wanting some style of support when i was younger, i bet the same goes for many others.

[Dan S]

Obviously, if I will get some kind of sponsor help from wherever, there's not much to upgrade on my kamel. In my mind, it's much more than having free parts. it's like being a part of a big family.

[neonneon]

Tarty (and all other companies) will only sponsor someone if they think they are going to get something out of it.

For example,

Danny Swindlehurst rides for Onza

People think Danny rides an Onza, they must be good. (It has even changed my view on Onza Bikes )

Therefore Onza are selling bikes because of it.

Do you realize what commitment a sponsorship is?

Especially in trials, it's not a big sport, if you break something, its not likely for the company sponsoring you to replace it all the time.

If you want to get sponsored, do things like Jack Meek or release a good f**king video.

Or, Like Rankin. Just piss all over comps.

Charlie

x

Edited March 16, 2009 by neonneon

[Luke Rainbird]

I still need people to carry stuff for me though, and I spilt hot soup on me when hopping to the table

Der TartybiKes,

I wud like too b on ur teem, wil u sponser me as Alis carrier plese?

I hav too hands nd thnk this wil b helpfull.

I wud like a nuw bike nd sum cloths.

Luke

[MadManMike]

Good rider, good attitude, promote the company, promote the sport, be a good role model...

Or similar attributes, at a guess.

[nickdonboy]

Quite hard getting sponsered by tarty as they have alot of sponsers. but you need to bring out a decent video and maybe enter competitions etc... wouldn't think about getting a sponser to soon just ride and have fun.

nick x