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Hi there! Thank you for your interest in sponsorship. There are some excellent facts on these pages, so to save yourself some time, you may wish to print them out! INFORMATION REVISED 6/6/98.
If you surfed in from Ten Pin Alley and haven't visited my homepage yet, I invite you to check out Tiger Karen's Home Lair! when you're done! Thanks for your support! And if you haven't yet done so, enter the Tiger On Tour Sweepstakes!
My first experiences with sponsorship occurred when I was bowling in college and as a junior tournament bowler. I was sponsorsed by local business professionals who were interested in getting publicity and a potential tax write-off for their organization. Because I was not bowling for money at that time, I would use my sales expertise, bowling talent and communication skills to help promote my sponsors and their products/services.
In 1994, I had the opportunity to represent the United States overseas at the Winfield Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. I wrote to bowling products manufacturers and hit the jackpot with Faball, Lind and K&R Industries. Faball provided me with lots of Hammer equipment and shirts, Lind custom-made some shoes for me and K & R Industries provided me with two very cool ball bags.
Bowling professionally on national tour is a completely different ballgame, so to speak. The average weekly expenses are between $750-900. Only about a couple dozen women have agreements/contracts with ball manufacturers. It usually takes at least three years of establishing yourself to get on staff unless you're someone pretty hot. Many touring players have been out there for over 10 years and are better known to the ball companies. It's interesting, though. Some of the most popular players with the fans are not those necessarily with the most tenure, but the ones who treat the fans well, sign autographs and enjoy competing in the pro-ams. Most fans come to watch only knowing a few names. The ones they stick behind oftentimes are the ones who show spark. It's that fire that so many people enjoy getting behind...
I have detailed a little about touring life in my Life on the PWBA Tour section and invite you to check it out as well as my Sponsor Information Page for supplemental facts. I believe in telling like it is and am respected for my honesty and my positive, proactive approach to marketing women's bowling. I hope to find sponsors with similar integrity, dedication and vision.
Although very few women have substantial bowling manufacturer contracts, the touring and national players often are able to get equipment comped when they're competing in an event. First, a player needs to get a "comp slip" from a staff member or ball rep and then, all she usually pays is $25-30 to have a ball drilled by Tony and Shawn, the PWBA Player Service Reps. I'm grateful for the equipment and the help I have received from the truck staff and the players and reps of Visionary, AMF, Brunswick, Columbia, Ebonite, Faball, Storm and Track. On March 1, 1998, I joined the Shirt Staff of Visionary Bowling Products™ and I'm currently designing their website. Click here to check out their terrific equipment and accessories!
I've participated in healthy sponsorships, I've participated in horrid sponsorships. What I'm looking for is a happy, win-win situation for all parties involved. That means being honest and open and putting all the cards out on the table. I don't need 1000s of people reading this, just the right one or two who see my spark, believe in my ambition and are willing to invest in helping out a positive promoter of a terrific sport!! Let's work together!
Spokesmodel
With over 10 years of sales and management experience, I would make an excellent
spokesperson for products and services of high quality. My last "corporate"
position was as Regional Manager for a nationally known Technical Placement Firm. I know
how to interface effectively with people of all ages and social styles.
Sponsorship can include personal endorsements and public speaking engagements. I'm also a plus size model and actress, so you have the added bonus of someone photogenic who is comfortable with large groups.
Tax Write-offs
Always check with your accountant first but sponsorship or donations
may be completely tax-deductible. Business owners know this is a BIG plus!
Talent
Check out my Personal Bio and Sponsor
Information Page for personal talent and accomplishments. Let the facts speak for
themselves! While you're at it, check out my modeling page/resume
also. My ambitious nature and ability to gain positive publicity is definitely to your
advantage.
Added Exposure
As you can tell, I'm a very proactive individual with high aspirations and ambitions. I'm
also the only professional bowler that I know with an extensive non-commercial website
dedicated to positively promoting women's bowling. Exposure = Recognition! (You'd think
the others would get on the bandwagon, huh?)
You will unfortunately not "get rich quick" sponsoring a professional female bowler, no matter who she is. The real wealth will come in knowing you've done a wonderful thing to help another individual and a super sport. If the top bowler in the sport earns about $100K in the year and has expenses of about $25K and you split the profit 33/66, you will make $25K and she will earn $50K. Not a bad return ratio for a half year of work. However, without sponsorship/support and other sources of income, even the top few players would have a hard time "making it." This sure isn't baseball or football!
Am I being negative? Not at all....just realistic. Every woman who stays out on tour is a real trooper and deserves to be commended. Kudos to the loving families that support us, emotionally and financially! I love the sport and wish that our prize funds rivaled golf, tennis, even men's bowling but right now, it just isn't so. The positive side is that 1998 boasts our highest prize funds yet, over 3.8 Million Dollars!!!! I think it's important that potential sponsors know the facts and I hope that by telling the truth, I will attract someone who really wants to work with me and who believes in my potential.
I want to create a winning arrangement with the realistic understanding that I will do my
very best at all times and will constantly strive to learn as much as I can about the
sport.
For those looking for a financial return on your investment and not just a tax write-off, I have put together three examples of investment/return ratios based on three levels of sponsors money. The higher the risk, the higher the return. Naturally your ideas are also welcome. I don't have anything set in stone and am open to negotiation!!!!!
I am ideally looking for a one year minimum agreement with option to renew but with protective clauses that give each party an unconditional out with 90 days notice. Of course, I also consider sponsorship for individual tournaments, especially in the upcoming 1998 Summer and Fall Tours. Read my information, browse my pages and if you like what you see, email me. If you like what you see and want to help but aren't ready to sponsor, please visit my donation page for other options. THANKS! :-D
This assumes an average week's expenses to be $750, although it does vary a bit. Each week is considered as a separate tournament. You would receive an itemized statement in addition to bowling statistics of each block faxed to your home or office.
LEVEL 1
You pay: ENTRY FEE ONLY (Usually $250-300)
Upon cashing you receive: Entry fee + 15% of profit after total weekly expenses + 20% of incentive money for TV finals
LEVEL 2
You pay: $500/wk.
Upon cashing you receive: $500 + 25% of profit after total weekly expenses + 30% of incentive money for TV finals
LEVEL 3
You pay: $750/week (any expenses under $750 reimbursed)
Upon cashing you receive: $750 (or expenses for the week) + 33% of profit after total weekly expenses + 35% of incentive money for TV finals
REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS
LEVEL 1
You pay: Entry only (Approximately $100) Upon cahing you receive: Entry fee + 15% of profit after expenses.
LEVEL 2 You pay: Entry + Hotel, Food, Travel (Approx 200-250 for 3 days)
Upon cashing you receive: Expense money above + 30% of profit.
MEGABUCK TOURNAMENTS I'm very interested in these. Please send me your suggestions. Often, megabuck tournaments have additional prize funds for women and since very few women enter, the return ratio for profit is high.
OTHER TOURNAMENTS (case by case basis)
LEVEL 1 - Receive $250 Expense Reimbursement + 15% of additional profit after expenses + 20% TV incentive money, if applicable.
Place Prize Exp. Money Back + Additional Profit
32nd 1,000 $250 + $ 37.50 (= 15% x 250 profit)
16th 1,400 $250 + $ 97.50
8th 2,000 $250 + $ 187.50
4th 3,000 $250 + $ 337.50 + approx $500 incentives
1st 10,000 $250 + $1,387.50 + approx $1300 incentives
LEVEL 2 - Receive $500 Expense Reimbursement + 25% of additional profit after expenses + 30% TV incentive money, if applicable.
Place Prize Exp. Money Back + Additional Profit
32nd 1,000 $500 + $ 62.50 (= 25% x 250 profit)
16th 1,400 $500 + $ 162.50
8th 2,000 $500 + $ 312.50
4th 3,000 $500 + $ 562.50 + approx $750 incentives
1st 10,000 $500 + $2,312.50 + approx $1950 incentives
LEVEL 3 - Receive $750 Expense Reimbursement + 33% of additional profit after expenses + 35% TV incentive money, if applicable.
Place Prize Exp. Money Back + Additional Profit
32nd 1,000 $750 + $ 82.50 (= 33% x 250 profit)
16th 1,400 $750 + $ 214.50
8th 2,000 $750 + $ 412.50
4th 3,000 $750 + $ 742.50 + approx $875 incentives
1st 10,000 $750 + $3,052.50 + approx $2275 incentives
These figures are to be used as examples for individual tournament sponsorships, for a season or for a year. Certainly each case will be individual and I'm always willing to entertain other ideas. If you're looking for some other type of return or benefit, please let me know.
We are allowed to wear shirts advertising our sponsor's logo from practice through match play but not on TV unless the sponsor is also registered with the LPBT. The players are given a chance to promote a sponsor's products each week in the paddock before each tournament begins. Some players are actually on salary with their sponsors and spend their off-seasons promoting a sponsor's products or services. Other ladies have sponsors that are only looking for a tax write-off and some women even sell shares in themselves.
If what you have read interests you, please check out my bio in Ten Pin Alley and my many performance and leadership accomplishments on accomplishments my Sponsor Information page.
Main Sponsor Info Page
How may I donate?
Life on the PWBA Tour
Email Tiger Karen
Copyright ©1997, 1998, Karen Krejcha, all rights reserved. Info may not be copied or
reprinted without permission from author.
Revised 6/8/98
