Manuel - Thanks for the props dude
he's taking the pi$$ about ONE time when I wasn't quite my sharpest
I am looking forward to meeting you sis though
jDawg - sorry to single you out, but your comments are the problem with most teams not getting sponsorship. Just becuase you have started a team doesn't mean the industry owes or will give you anything.
Here's how we got our sponsors
LPS - Site I have played at for about 6 years, I have sent probably 250 customers their way before they officially started helping us. Then when we needed help the beginning of last year they came through as we already had "history".
Planet - We have bought Planet stuff for ages and have always reccomended them including me promoting certain products on boards. Plus we kept saying hi whenever we saw them at Millenniums. By the end of the year I would consider most of the Planet crew as friends. We ask for some help in November and Ledz came through.
Ricochet - We played on a TV programme and my Ricochet was frequently featured. I spent about 10hrs total capturing and editing the footage of us down to a 4 min video, including buying PC kit specifically do it. I had been speaking to them for a couple of months then sent the finished video to Rico and they offered us a deal. With buying kit and postage it cost me personally about £60 ($85) and that was BEFORE they had said they were even interested in sponsoring us.
You see, it's all about building up relationships BEFORE you just go in and ask for stuff "We've got a team - sponsor us" style. You have to realise if they are giving you $1000 of discount or kit then they need to get the $1000 back (and more) from someone else.
Would you lend a mate $1000 - probably, would you lend a complete stranger $1000 who just sent you a mail and said you'd get it back - never.