What happens when you get endorsed by a company like Fender?

[Racer5]

Sometimes when browsing guitar models on the Fender site, there's a tab for Artists that play the same model. You click on it, it tells the little blurb, and then shows a list of stuff that they use (although I haven't seen a lot of the listed items in the hands of artists that I know)

So how does this work? Does the artist or their agent approach Fender? Does Fender approach you? Do they give you rules to go by, other brands you can't play, things you can't be seen doing? Do they just give you the gear, or do you have to pay for it, some sort of discount?

[djphelan01]

I dont know for sure but I'm guessing they have different levels of endorsements. A local guy may get deep discount or limited amount of free gear. A national star probably gets free gear and a salary . Someone like Clapton probably gets all the gear he wants along with a salary and a signature guitar. He also probably as a lot of input on what features certain gear comes with as stock.

[colorado]

Gibson approached me. Made me tattoo Gibson on my forehead. Now I have to wear a hat when I play my tele. All I got out of the deal was a free tattoo and some picks.

[Racer5]

Originally Posted by colorado

Now I have to wear a hat when I play my tele.

Is it this hat?

[Geo]

Used to be different levels and prolly still so.

[kelnet]

Originally Posted by Racer5

What happens when you get endorsed by a company like Fender?

Sometimes when browsing guitar models on the Fender site, there's a tab for Artists that play the same model. You click on it, it tells the little blurb, and then shows a list of stuff that they use (although I haven't seen a lot of the listed items in the hands of artists that I know)

Fender isn't endorsing the artist. The artist is endorsing Fender. When Clapton agrees to put his name on a Fender guitar, he is saying that this guitar is worth purchasing. Fender is not suggesting that we should buy Clapton's albums.

I've known some young musicians who have told me that have endorsement deals with various gear companies, and they are really proud about it. But usually, they are responsible for displaying the company's brand on their flyers and other material or on their bass drum, in exchange for some t-shirts or cheap gear.
The band's name is never used by the gear company. It's the other way around, which means that the band is endorsing whatever company gave them the free stuff. It's free advertising for the manufacturer, and the young schlubs in the band get no money, but they have this perception that they are being endorsed.

[VampiressX]

Originally Posted by kelnet

Fender isn't endorsing the artist. The artist is endorsing Fender. When Clapton agrees to put his name on a Fender guitar, he is saying that this guitar is worth purchasing. Fender is not suggesting that we should buy Clapton's albums.

I've known some young musicians who have told me that have endorsement deals with various gear companies, and they are really proud about it. But usually, they are responsible for displaying the company's brand on their flyers and other material or on their bass drum, in exchange for some t-shirts or cheap gear.
The band's name is never used by the gear company. It's the other way around, which means that the band is endorsing whatever company gave them the free stuff. It's free advertising for the manufacturer, and the young schlubs in the band get no money, but they have this perception that they are being endorsed.

Oh so in other words "A total crock of crap"?
:)

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[Sneaky Pete]

Don't tell Billy Gibbons that...

[jefrs]

Endorse is a funny word.

When the DVLA endorses you they put penalty points on your license, make you pay a fine, and your car insurance will go up.

The complete opposite of desirable then ...

[elicross]

Originally Posted by Sneaky Pete

Don't tell Billy Gibbons that...

Are those all Pearly Gates replicas? Don't those start at like $11,000 a piece and run up to $26K?

That's a lotta dollars in the form of guitars right there, even if those are all the "cheap" model.

[A.B.Negative]

The drummer in a band I was in had an endorsement deal with a very famous cymbal manufacturer. He had to put a sticker on his bass drum head and mention the company on record sleeves. In return he got cymbals at a reduced price.

[PinewoodRo]

My band's other guitarist (local, pop and rock covers) has a deal with a guitar distributor (not the factory, just the guy that's trying to sell guitars in the UK). We put the name of his guitars and a link on our website and promo material and he uses the guitars on stage. In return he gets those guitars at the distributor's cost price - which is a significant saving. It's only a good deal if you actually want to play one of those guitars and if you change your mind, you're stuck.
If it was a well-known American manufacturer I'd be in there like a shot.....

[otterhound]

Originally Posted by jefrs

Endorse is a funny word.

When the DVLA endorses you they put penalty points on your license, make you pay a fine, and your car insurance will go up.

The complete opposite of desirable then ...

Kind of like the word citation . Good & bad .

[yz250f49]

Originally Posted by A.B.Negative

The drummer in a band I was in had an endorsement deal with a very famous cymbal manufacturer. He had to put a sticker on his bass drum head and mention the company on record sleeves. In return he got cymbals at a reduced price.

This is very similar to the deals we had when my son and I were racing motocross at the amateur level.

We had sponsorships from companies like Oneal/Azonic, Splitfire spark plugs, Twin-Air filters, Boyesen, Motul oil and WD-40.

At our competition level we agreed to put their stickers on our bikes and vehicles, and mention them in our race results, etc. In return we got some items for free and the rest of it at dealer cost.

The better riders (Pro and Semi-Pro) got even better discounts, with some of the items most likely being free.

[Bigugh]

My guitar tech did all of Luther Allison's guitar work. Luther had a Gibson deal, and every time he was in the area, he'd swing by with a dozen assorted brand-new Gibsons for set-up. They just threw guitars at him, and he was expected to be seen playing them.

[Racer5]

Originally Posted by A.B.Negative

The drummer in a band I was in had an endorsement deal with a very famous cymbal manufacturer. He had to put a sticker on his bass drum head and mention the company on record sleeves. In return he got cymbals at a reduced price.

Some people may have issue with that but it seems pretty reasonable to me. Obviously in business you don't ever get something for free. Bands need equipment, companies need people to buy their stuff, nothing wrong with that.

[kelnet]

Originally Posted by Racer5

Some people may have issue with that but it seems pretty reasonable to me. Obviously in business you don't ever get something for free. Bands need equipment, companies need people to buy their stuff, nothing wrong with that.

I guess musicians have to work their way up to the point where a company will actually pay them for the right to put their name on the musician's promotional material. However, it does seem that the company is indeed getting something "for free," or at least at a very tiny cost to them.

[trailboss]

About 10 years back my old country band had an indie-label deal in Nashville and were playing regionally on weekends (big clubs, outdoor fests, etc), along with some regional airplay as well. We approached MusicYo/Kramer/Epiphone, because we were already using some of their stuff, and most country bands don't. Long story short, our deal was basically as follows: 30% under dealer wholesale on all products except Gibson brand (discount to deepen with added TV/radio exposure, etc); rights to use all brand names and "endorsing artists" in all our promo flyers, etc; tons of free t-shirts, stickers, and schwag to give away and wear onstage, etc.

Our responsibilities included actually using the stuff (we already were, which they liked); mention brands in our fliers and interviews, brand listing on CD liner notes, etc; sending regular "status updates" to our contact, and generally just being professional and using their gear.

This is very similar to what I had done for years in the bicycle parts business (from the other side of the desk) when dealing with team sponsorships. Mainly, there are different levels, from grass-roots clear up to Clapton and Lance Armstrong. The jist of the whole deal is that companies like to have/deal with professional acting people that are out there on the street using and (positively) promoting their stuff. While this may not sound too huge from a band standpoint, having some of the brand names and endorsements in our marketing/promo pack did help boost our credibility (and $$) when pitching gigs to newer & larger clubs, etc. Not to mention, the discount wasn't too bad either. True that the company wasn't out much $$, but every dollar they gave us in discounts and freebies was one less we had to spend as an operating cost. Hope this helps:)

[fezz parka]

For big name artists with a sig model, they get paid a royalty for every guitar sold. Sometimes an artist will get other perks, like if you put a wrapper on your bus that has "gibson" all over it, Gibson will pick up the cost of the bus while you're on tour. For baby bands and mid-level artists, you'll either get comped on stuff, or you can buy it at cost. Coffin Cases (for example) will basically give you the stuff and as said earlier in the thread, you'll have to have their logo on flyers, webpage etc.

[Toto'sDad]

Sometime, when you've just woke up and your head is as clear as it gets. Take a look and see if you have your hat on, then take your hat off and see if the Tattoo is still there, it might just be a Gibson hat. It's altogether possible you may have just gotten the order outa place in your mind, could be a life changing tip.