Just wondering how one goes about obtaining an endorsement - do you have to be in a signed band etc?
Any independants out there endorsed?
Did you approach the company for an endorsement, or did they approach you?








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www.myspace.com/thecuriousfew
www.myspace.com/cazzfender

You have to approach them.

If you don't have a recording contract it can be quite difficult because they want YOU to push whatever product it is that they sell.

A band/player with a contract has a greater chance of being out on tour in the public's eye, thus the better chance of gaining an endorsment to push that product.

Your looks will be of utmost importance. You will have to furnish them with a picture that they can hang with confidence in any music store. Think about it and be as brutally honest as you can.

I'm still trying to get one from JIFFY Condoms.
"Remember, you can always come in a JIFFY."
No luck yet.

Maybe your luck will be better.









Last edited by 12ax7 on Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Play what you want, play what you feel and don't look so suprised when the people you play for don't get it.

haha jiffy condoms

12ax7 wrote:

You have to approach them.

If you don't have a recording contract it can be quite difficult because they want YOU to push whatever product it is that they sell.

A band/player with a contract has a greater chance of being out on tour in the public's eye, thus the better chance of gaining an endorsment.

Your looks will be of utmost importance. You will have to furnish them with a picture that they can hang with confidence in any music store. Think about it and be as brutally honest as you can.

I'm still trying to get one from JIFFY Condoms.
"Remember, you can always come in a JIFFY."
No luck yet.

Maybe your luck will be better.

_________________
www.myspace.com/thecuriousfew
www.myspace.com/cazzfender

Jiffy Condoms....available at Ned's new & used condoms and other fine retailers...

new and used? o gross...

cazz wrote:

Just wondering how one goes about obtaining an endorsement?

Below is what ESP Guitars expects to consider an endorsement. You usually have a better chance going with lesser known makers unless you are signed or professional touring musician.


Thank you for your interest in ESP!

For consideration we ask that you send in a press kit that contains:
.. A list of 150-200 shows for the year and/or a scheduled television appearance.
.. A copy of your CD.
.. Any relevant management information.
.. Record company contact and any record reviews or web site links.

Please send press kits to:

ESP Guitars
ATTN: Artist Relations
10904 Vanowen St. Unit A
North Hollywood, CA 91605

If you have any further questions please contact Artist Relations & Marketing Assistant Mark Mah at 800-423-8388 ext.220 or at mark@espguitars.com. Again we thank you for your interest in ESP and look forward to hearing from you.

cool, thanks for the info...
yep looks like i'll be workin hard for a while yet.

Brian_Damage wrote:

cazz wrote:

Just wondering how one goes about obtaining an endorsement?

Below is what ESP Guitars expects to consider an endorsement. You usually have a better chance going with lesser known makers unless you are signed or professional touring musician.


Thank you for your interest in ESP!

For consideration we ask that you send in a press kit that contains:
.. A list of 150-200 shows for the year and/or a scheduled television appearance.
.. A copy of your CD.
.. Any relevant management information.
.. Record company contact and any record reviews or web site links.

Please send press kits to:

ESP Guitars
ATTN: Artist Relations
10904 Vanowen St. Unit A
North Hollywood, CA 91605

If you have any further questions please contact Artist Relations & Marketing Assistant Mark Mah at 800-423-8388 ext.220 or at mark@espguitars.com. Again we thank you for your interest in ESP and look forward to hearing from you.

_________________
www.myspace.com/thecuriousfew
www.myspace.com/cazzfender

i had a handshake endorsement deal from gibson, and also from mesa. i never actually signed a contract with either, but they gave me what they call artist price on the gear i bought from them, which was basically half price. the only reason i got this is because my band was signed to a major label at the time, but when i quit the band, and left the label, i no longer got any gibson or mesa love. i still love their products though, and am happy i got some great quality gear at incredible prices from them.

I've had endorsments in the past and have one now. They're great to get and make you feel like you've made it to a certain level. However, you have to be careful which endorsements you take for a number of reasons. Here are some of the problems I've hed in the past:

Usually the company endorsing you will get to choose the photographs used of you playing their guitar. Did you ever wonder why there are so many aweful pictures of guitars where the musician looks like a turd with hands and feet, yet the guitar looks great?

There is also (sometimes) an endorsement contract rider that states you have to play the guitar at live shows for a certain percentage of your set. This can be good or bad. I like the freedom of playing anything I like. Don't let them convince you to use their guitar's exclusively in the studio.

We pickup up an endorsement and the owner of the company is having a fit because we can't agree on which photos to use (when you're a 46 year old guitar player, you don't want to look like your a 100 years old in the photos, although I care less and less as I get older).

Endorsements are great because is does give you needed exposure, you just have to not jump at the first one that comes along. We tend to work with newer companies that make boutique amps, guitars, and effects. You should go for it, just be careful. Read the small print and present yourself as a smart guitar player who knows his business!

Johnny








_________________
I've been playing 26 years. I live to play guitar and will die a guitarist.

cool guys, thanks for the replies - it's interesting hearing everyone's view on this one.








_________________
www.myspace.com/thecuriousfew
www.myspace.com/cazzfender

i saw the band, the showdown, last night, and my buddies and i were talking to one of the guitarists and he said they got an endorsement from esp and peavey, only because theyre gonna be on ozzfest. makes sense, that theyd get their product out there for a shitload of kids to see.








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sign this!

i like that band and what they are doing... did you like their sound?

i had liked them before seein them, and live they sounded good. at times i thought the house mix shoulda turned up the guitars just a bit though. and they were supposed to be headlining it but they switched it up at the last minute. im gonna see em again at ozzfest, that should be a fun deal

they played one of their songs off their first album, 'from the mouth of gath...' and right in the middle they went into a pantera cover to a metallica cover and then like a ten second pause and went back into their song it was cool.








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sign this!

tiiiight... what band ended up headlining? and ozzfest should be fun with those guys

ok I read everyone's posts and they're all right. Some get endorsements, some get artist pricing and some get screwed. What you get depends on what you're doing not how good your music is. In fact if you're marketable you stand a better chance than someone who has a better song.

Let me tell you what I've been told. First I have been luckey enough to get endorsements and artist pricing. I've been told that a company will only endorse artists that are in the public eye. Whether it's playing live, ads or publicity, the cold hard truth is that music is a business all around. So if you're still in the garage and want an endorsement with Gibson, it's not gonna happen but if you have enough going on and that's the case you'd be surprised on what companies will do for you.

I asked Morley Pedals (one of my endorsements) what is the definition of an endorsement and their reply was this, "if you get it for free, you're endorsed, if you don't you get artist pricing, you're sponsored." Many companies out there will give free equipment away but it's the artists that can call the company and get whatever they want for free that are truly "endorsed."

I have many endorsements-"free" and a few "artist pricing sponsors" here's what you want to do to get one......listen up. This worked for me but maybe not for you.

1- Show worth- shows, CD, tours or major publicity.
2- Put a press kit together that reflects YOU not the whole band.
3-Don't cold call a rep they won't remember you unless you WOW them.
4- DON'T GIVE UP!!!!! They look for a reason to work with you!!!
5- USE THE PRODUCT BEFORE YOU MAKE THE CONTACT!!! Chances are the rep will ask you about it and remember they know it well and can tell when you don't!!!
6- Promote it to everyone. Thr companies will look for that out of you.

Smaller companies are easier to get artist pricing sponsors not endorsements. The ones in the back pages of ads in magazines.
Endorsements usually come from the big dogs of brands. (Ibanez, Gibson etc)

There is usually only a limited amount of chances each year per company to score one. remember it's a business and it must be in the budget for them to give stuff away. The best time is around Sept to try because by the end of the year they know their budget for the next year. If you wait until January, you're too late!!!!

If there is anything I can help as far as questions I'd be happy to help you out. Here's my email: distortedvoices@mail.com

You can see my list at www.myspace.com/distortedvoices

Good Luck!