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Wouldn’t it be nice to get paid to ride your skateboard (or at least get a little free product)?
Though becoming rich and famous or cool shouldn’t be the reason you start to skate in the first place, becoming sponsored is a thought that nearly all skaters entertain at least once in their lives. Really though, who wouldn’t want to be sponsored to do what they love?
The answer is few people, as evidenced by the ever-growing number of skateboarding “sponsor me” videos that are posted to YouTube each and every day. The chances of a team manager seeing your video are slim enough as they are, so why make a video that won’t catch their attention or cause them to stop watching it a few seconds in?
1. Send It Out Before You’re Ready
One of the biggest mistakes skateboarders make when creating sponsor me videos is sending them out too early. Team managers receive gobs of videos and links everyday so you want to make sure you show them your absolute best performance. Though there is no reason why a younger, less experienced skater can’t send in their footage, you should at least make sure you have the basics down pat.
Skate companies understand that most skateboarders aren’t loaded with money to splurge on fancy camera equipment. They also understand that most don’t get to skate with professional filmers every day. But your sponsor me tape still shouldn’t be compiled of footage your homie shot on his iPhone. And unless your dad or little brother (or mom or sister or uncle) is an experienced filmer, try to find somebody to record your skating that has shot a skateboarder a couple of times before.
When you skate all day every day, it’s hard not to put all of your footage into your skate video. But team managers don’t want to wade through a 30 minute sponsor me tape. Instead, pick out your very best footage and strive to keep your video around the 3 minute mark.
Throwing in effects in a video editing program is fun but they’re only going to alienate an already stressed out skate company manager. The burn effect, filters, and anything else that reminds you of the old Windows Movie Maker days is a no go. Keep things simple. No transitions, no effects, no filters. Just skating.
5. Throw in Something Not Related to Skating
It’s a sponsor me video, not a video part (or a Hollywood film). As tempting as it might be, refrain from including footage of you shotgunning beers, fighting with security officers, freaking out over a failed trick, giving a fake interview, or high-fiving and paling around with your friends.
For the most part, team managers prefer sponsor me videos without music. Even if you have the perfect song for your video, don’t include it. Once again, it should be all about your skating.
7. Wear Only Competitor’s Products
No team manager is going to get bummed on you just because you’re rocking another skate company’s shirt. But if you’re only wearing their gear, then they might. If you have a piece of gear from the company you’re sending your tape to, try to wear it at least once or twice through the length of your sponsor me tape.
8. Include Only Skatepark Footage
There’s nothing wrong with skatepark footy at all. But most companies aren’t going to be too keen on sponsoring skaters that only skate the park. Your sponsor me video is your chance to showcase your skills and companies want to see that you’re comfortable on a wide range of obstacles. Mix the park footage in with ample amounts of street skating (and not just handrails and stair sets). Better yet, show them that you can skate on rough, crappy terrain as well as silky smooth poured concrete and buttery ledges.
