Sorry to rant, but I'm utterly confused.

Why do people get hated on so much when they make sponsor me videos for fingerboarding?

If you look at most skaters, they have made sponsor me's and picked up legit companies by sending them in videos.

Snowboarding is the same way, and BMX as well, I just don't find the point behind it that people hate on..

It seems that everyone that gets on a team because they were here when really legit companies started, get to brag about how they didn't have to make a sponsor me to get on the team, when I believe that it's really because they were just here before newer fingerboarders were, and I guess the scene has changed...

Anyways, I just was really confused and was hoping that someone could clear that up for me.

I've read the sponsorships thread about 30 times, so please don't link me to that.

I'd say that the Fingerboard industry is very different to the skate industry. The FB scene is powered largely by amateurs, with two major professional businesses spearheading in terms of hitting the mass market. Skating is powered largely by multi nationals, with small companies still being professional, rather than just making decks in their garage.

This is no way putting the 'amateurs' down, simply describing what we are. On top of this FB is a lot smaller. As such we can cherry pick out mates, people we think will get along with...I'd much rather get something along the lines of a CV and cover letter than a video. Videos are superficial and vain. I'm not really bothered if you can switch hardflip to noseblunt, muh more interested if you love my product and have skills and a reputation that will benefit my brand.

Another thing is that very few fingerboarders actually need the sponsorships that are offered, you don't need more than a setup to fingerboard and FB products rarely break.
In skateboarding you actually wear your setup down, and that's why some skaters exchange their.advertisement skill for free product.

How often do you see a fingerboard ad? I'm not talking about a mini dedicated to a sponsor. I'm talking a legit, professionally looking advertisement.

My point is that sponsorships in fingerboarding are not really going both ways. They are mainly based on some nice guys giving out products to riders they believe in, without getting anything in return.

That is why sponsor me videos come off as begging (not that you have any problem with that), where in skateboarding its more of a "is there anything I can do for your company" tape.

From my experience I've just seen too many videos showing usually a small kid with a Techdeck who can kind of half way ollie and the title reads: Plezse SPONCER ME !!!!!111

Since I like Prowood decks I thought about trying to get sponsored or get on the team, but I think the only discount you get is like 30% off or something. I can't remember the exact amount and since I only get new decks every now and then the extra cost really isn't an issue.

But it would be very cool to just be able to say that you are on a certain brand's team because you feel as if you are part of something!

Now if I got a free deck each month from Prowood then I would want to be on their team very much.

Honestly if I ever start making youtube videos I think I'm going to put down that I'm on whatever team that I WANT to be on regardless if I'm on that team or not.

SeamusMcFlurry wrote:

I'm not really bothered if you can switch hardflip to noseblunt, muh more interested if you love my product and have skills and a reputation that will benefit my brand.

I fucking love Mars Hill, just to clarify before I post this.

IMO by saying that you want someone that can rep your brand and have skills, but you don't care about crazy tricks, isn't that saying that you want someone bad on your team? I just don't understand why people compare the fb scene to the skate scene, but then argue (you had good points don't get me wrong) about how it's utterly different. I know SOO many asshole skaters that can fucking shred, and they have like 4 legit sponsors. I guess people really want someone to rep their brand, not their tricks (correct me if I'm wrong).

Mikkel S wrote:

My point is that sponsorships in fingerboarding are not really going both ways. They are mainly based on some nice guys giving out products to riders they believe in, without getting anything in return.

That is why sponsor me videos come off as begging (not that you have any problem with that), where in skateboarding its more of a "is there anything I can do for your company" tape.

I thought that when you were sponsored you were supposed to rep..? Meaning that the mini made for the sponsor is the thing that the company/owner gets in return? And if you believed in the rider then I would think that they would be good at fingerboarding, not somebody that would completely suck, but can make a mini about a company, repping it so hard, and "not giving back to the company". I don't really know what you mean when you say skaters give back to the company, the only thing I can think of would be to like, make a video, or banner, something for their local skateshop or sponsor? As for begging, I don't beg, I simply post things here with backing for my reasons. I don't want to come across as an asshole, but I feel like half the people here hate me because of the "begging" that I unintentionally did...


PURESKATE - You just went off about prowood..... NOT IN MY THREAD

morrowsnow wrote:

PURESKATE - You just went off about prowood..... NOT IN MY THREAD

I didn't mean anything by it. I was talking about getting sponsored and my opinions on it. No harm done.

Pureskate wrote:

morrowsnow wrote:

PURESKATE - You just went off about prowood..... NOT IN MY THREAD

I didn't mean anything by it. I was talking about getting sponsored and my opinions on it. No harm done.

I'm kidding buddy

morrowsnow wrote:

SeamusMcFlurry wrote:

I'm not really bothered if you can switch hardflip to noseblunt, muh more interested if you love my product and have skills and a reputation that will benefit my brand.

IMO by saying that you want someone that can rep your brand and have skills, but you don't care about crazy tricks, isn't that saying that you want someone bad on your team? I just don't understand why people compare the fb scene to the skate scene, but then argue (you had good points don't get me wrong) about how it's utterly different. I know SOO many asshole skaters that can fucking shred, and they have like 4 legit sponsors. I guess people really want someone to rep their brand, not their tricks (correct me if I'm wrong).

What? That makes no sense, lmfao.

People aren't comparing the skate scene to the fingerboard scene, that's what you're doing in your original post. Mikkel was saying that the fingerboarding scene is different to the skateboarding scene,

Fingerboarding - People often base sponsorship on personalities as the main factor.
Skateboarding - Usually based on skill.

I don't really understand what you're getting at there, you seem to be arguing with your own points O.o

1. Create your own deck brand.
2. Make decks.
3. Sponsor yourself.
4. ????
5. PROFIT!

morrowsnow wrote:

Mikkel S wrote:

My point is that sponsorships in fingerboarding are not really going both ways. They are mainly based on some nice guys giving out products to riders they believe in, without getting anything in return.

That is why sponsor me videos come off as begging (not that you have any problem with that), where in skateboarding its more of a "is there anything I can do for your company" tape.

I thought that when you were sponsored you were supposed to rep..? Meaning that the mini made for the sponsor is the thing that the company/owner gets in return? And if you believed in the rider then I would think that they would be good at fingerboarding, not somebody that would completely suck, but can make a mini about a company, repping it so hard, and "not giving back to the company". I don't really know what you mean when you say skaters give back to the company, the only thing I can think of would be to like, make a video, or banner, something for their local skateshop or sponsor? As for begging, I don't beg, I simply post things here with backing for my reasons. I don't want to come across as an asshole, but I feel like half the people here hate me because of the "begging" that I unintentionally did...

In the end it's all about selling decks. How many decks do you think you sell by making a mini for a company?

Not a lot i can tell you that (unless you are Mike Schneider).

Skateboarding is much bigger and the demand for skate decks are bigger aswell. That's why it makes sense to sponsor a lot of riders that can represent your company all over the world.

When the kids see a sponsored skater in their local skatepark they might start looking up to him and buy the same gear as he uses.


The main place for marketing fingerboard gear is the internet, and that's where the company owner already market his stuff himself. Why would he need someone to represent him where he already is himself?

Eavorclear wrote:

1. Create your own deck brand.
2. Make decks.
3. Sponsor yourself.
4. ????
5. PROFIT!

Dude, you are so right!

I'm going to start a new company named "Myself" and then just sponsor the crap out of myself by buying tons of stuff for myself and then make fingerboarding products for myself. YES!!!

Yeah This is how i would do it


1.Make a Youtube
2.Start Filming and editing
3.Keep Filming and editing
4.Wait for someone to come to You!

Natefb wrote:

Yeah This is how i would do it


1.Make a Youtube
2.Start Filming and editing
3.Keep Filming and editing
4.Wait for someone to come to You!

going on 1 and a half years...

Why does anyone need to be sponsored? It seems like you've taken all the fun out it for yourself by making it such a high priority.

I agree Ryan. Now that I have agreed with you, can I be on Temple haha.

Lol ^

[constructive criticism and advice]

Ryan wrote:

Why does anyone need to be sponsored? It seems like you've taken all the fun out it for yourself by making it such a high priority.

Because our love for fingerbangingboarding just isn't enough to quench our insatiable thirst for actually being able to wave around a giant flag that says "Look, I love fingerboarding AND I have something to prove it".

Duh.

/sarcasm

As said before, I think now when people make "sponsor me fingerboard" is more like a "give me your products because I dont have money" sort of thing.
Also btw, I don't know if this statement if correct or not, but I heard from MapleLeafFB, that he actually sponsored you, sent you a deck, and you never represented their company.

morrow you could probably get sponosrd by krispy decks, or toasty decks, or lunchtray decks, i heard the owner is a huge fan of your vids

Morrow, can I just ask why you're so desperate for a sponsor? Free stuff? Eternal fame and glory?
I'm just lost as to why you're trying so hard to get sponsored.

Danny Hynam wrote:

Morrow, can I just ask why you're so desperate for a sponsor? Free stuff? Eternal fame and glory?
I'm just lost as to why you're trying so hard to get sponsored.

I just can't fathom why some people are sponsored over me, I know it sounds stupid, but I'm just trying to piece things together. I don't want free stuff, I want something to motivate me to edit the 900 clips I film everyday hahahahaha.

So you want someone to send you a free deck every once in a while AND kick you in the butt so you actually do something?


Sounds like you should just stop worrying and enjoy what you do. If you dont wanna make videos then dont.

I personaly think that its pretty boring to be sponsored by a brand that only makes one kind of deck/wheel/truck . I love to try out different things and not only ride my sponsors deck/wheel/truck