Sponsored - the good old paintball can of beans
Getting a deal - not 'sponsored' or 'supported' - Just the same as any bulk sale, deal or getting a bit of money off / something extra thrown in
Supported - the real situation for the majority, could be a good relationship but is mainly a discount in line with using a product or supplier. Refered to as sponsorship but not in the true sense of the word
Sponsored - real sponsorship isn't free stuff, even when it is free stuff.
It's a true 2 way relationship - you represent your sponsor, you need to actually believe in the product / supplier.
Other players are your sponsors customers, help out the players if they have a problem, let them try out what your sponsor gives you, advise them on the pros & cons. (No sponsor will thank you for bluffing to make a bad sale which results in bad feedback)
Do things for the sponsor, don't just take things and say its great - give honest feedback, recommendations and ideas. Get the same from other players
Don't limit all of that to if & when you are sponsored - be proactive and the relationship starts early on
You don't have to be a top pro tournament player in a big us team to get real sponsorship, but you do have to be of value to the sponsor. I can't comment on the uk tournament scene but there are and have been (a limited number of) genuine full sponsorships in scenario, both of teams and of individuals
Some discussion on this was in the second series of the paintball show, when Enola Gaye talk about a uk sponsorship relationship between a manufacturer and a paintball team .... ;-)
http://thepaintballshow.tv/tuesday-19th-nov/4580967112
