Is it really selling out to accept corporate sponsorship in a sport. If you were to sign a contract with, let's say, "Red Bull" and they were to pay you $50,000 a year to be the face of their product and play footbag, whould that be selling out? What about selling your image for $100,000 to be the star of a new line of footbag videos, but your image was exclusive to that one contract for one full year?
Wouldn't you think this sport would go much further if those types of sponsorships were available? More money would be available to promoting the sport and more players would have the ability to play the game as their livelihood.
If footbag would just sell out. . .
If footbag would just sell out. . .
Old Skool
Worked for skateboarding......
Regardless, there is not the audience out there to warrent a company sponsoring a shredder. The only reason for sponsorship is placing their product on a widely seen public figure.
Other than the Milo gig in Australia...but I don't think you could make a living off that.
Regardless, there is not the audience out there to warrent a company sponsoring a shredder. The only reason for sponsorship is placing their product on a widely seen public figure.
Other than the Milo gig in Australia...but I don't think you could make a living off that.
I completely disagree - Footbag is at a perfect time for some serious sponsorship. Think about this - footbag is really impressive to watch - when you play in public lots of people stop and watch and it catches everybodies attention. Not only that but although most people have heard of "hacky sack" - very few people have any idea what can be achieved with footbag - so it's something that you really remember well. Hence footbag is close to being the perfect sport for advertising things at the moment. Have a look at the big ads on tv - they're all things trying to make themselves stand out from other ads - have something quirky about them that makes you remember the product. Lots of ads - especially the most expensive big ads don't really tell you much about why you should buy their product apart from having sexy people having fun and using the product - again this is perfect for footbag.
Incidentally I would definitely sign a contract. I would look at it as being paid to promote footbag rather than promoting the footbag. I think it would have an awesome benifit to footbag and get many more people involved in the sport which is definitely something I'd like to see. I wouldn't really care about what I was advertising - footbag is more important to me than most of my morals I guess
Incidentally I would definitely sign a contract. I would look at it as being paid to promote footbag rather than promoting the footbag. I think it would have an awesome benifit to footbag and get many more people involved in the sport which is definitely something I'd like to see. I wouldn't really care about what I was advertising - footbag is more important to me than most of my morals I guess
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NotHisRealName
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I think selling out is wrong; well, at least if you're going to say "we'll never sell out because we believe in such and such..." and you do the exact opposite to what you thought was right at that point. My main example: Metallica. They said they'd never make a video; they went ahead and made the "Cliff 'Em All" tribute video for the late Cliff Burton. It was an excellent video. Then they said they'd never make a video for MTV because they had too much of a "corporate image." Then they went ahead and made their first music video "One," which was played on MTV, the only station that played music videos at the time. A bit too hypocritical in my opinion. Then they became legends, though they were such already.
But, we're talking about footbag. It's an underground, sport defining (yeah, the wording is insipid, but so what?) sport, just as Metallica were once an underground, genre defining metal band.
If footbag were to make such a move as Brad has said, I think it would be a positive move for the sport because it would bring the sport to a whole new world of possibilities.
Remember, skateboarding was once in the light that we are. Now they've got the X-Games.
So, as to that, I'm trapped in a corner as it were. It's a catch-22 between morals and ethics. I do have some morals, but the ethics is what steams my clams a lot of the time.
I apologize if this seems like an insipid post, but oh well. It's what I think is right and there's no shame in that.
But, we're talking about footbag. It's an underground, sport defining (yeah, the wording is insipid, but so what?) sport, just as Metallica were once an underground, genre defining metal band.
If footbag were to make such a move as Brad has said, I think it would be a positive move for the sport because it would bring the sport to a whole new world of possibilities.
Remember, skateboarding was once in the light that we are. Now they've got the X-Games.
So, as to that, I'm trapped in a corner as it were. It's a catch-22 between morals and ethics. I do have some morals, but the ethics is what steams my clams a lot of the time.
I apologize if this seems like an insipid post, but oh well. It's what I think is right and there's no shame in that.
Sam Mayer
"Son, a woman is like a beer. They smell good, they look good, you'd step over your own mother just to get one!" - Homer Simpson
"Son, a woman is like a beer. They smell good, they look good, you'd step over your own mother just to get one!" - Homer Simpson
How are we going to get enough footbags to get them to stores? Pakistan?
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Though some the international companies wouldn't risk their reputation anymore by producing them in sweat shops, the bags wouldn't be the same. The best bags are made by ones who play themselves. By the laws of market I'd say that handmade bags by well-known stitchers would become more expensive - this would mean that everyone who'll get one should be very lucky or a good friend of the stitcher. The stitchers would get a huge amount of orders, more than they can produce. And when the people don't get good equipment, they get bored and the footbag becomes only a flying star (noticed how I related it with a specific wannabe footbag website?;)).
But, let me finish before you post anything, if footbag would really become a big sport, there'd probably be more stitchers too. I'm not an anti-capitalist, pretty much the opposite (but hopefully not in a bad way) but I still think that footbag would never be 'owned' by the big trademarks. Maybe it's only good that some things remain intact from the market forces, I don't know.
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Though some the international companies wouldn't risk their reputation anymore by producing them in sweat shops, the bags wouldn't be the same. The best bags are made by ones who play themselves. By the laws of market I'd say that handmade bags by well-known stitchers would become more expensive - this would mean that everyone who'll get one should be very lucky or a good friend of the stitcher. The stitchers would get a huge amount of orders, more than they can produce. And when the people don't get good equipment, they get bored and the footbag becomes only a flying star (noticed how I related it with a specific wannabe footbag website?;)).
But, let me finish before you post anything, if footbag would really become a big sport, there'd probably be more stitchers too. I'm not an anti-capitalist, pretty much the opposite (but hopefully not in a bad way
) but I still think that footbag would never be 'owned' by the big trademarks. Maybe it's only good that some things remain intact from the market forces, I don't know. Lauri Jaakkola
I don't think it would be selling out to accept corporate sponsorship, unless for some weird reason they asked you to play footbag differently (circle kicking, bloughchi) or to push a product you didn't use or think was good (lousy footbag shoes).
I agree with Jeremy that the novelty of freestyle footbag could be used effectively to sell products. I've always thought a band could use footbag to make a catchy music video, not like that video Ellis and Ryan were in, but maybe a whole routine to a song.
I agree with Jeremy that the novelty of freestyle footbag could be used effectively to sell products. I've always thought a band could use footbag to make a catchy music video, not like that video Ellis and Ryan were in, but maybe a whole routine to a song.
Dat Phan
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CL: openFrameworks
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CL: openFrameworks
i dont see why all of you are so aprehensive about footbag getting bigger , even if it does sell out it wont change the way we look at it. Theres nothing wrong with change , if somthing big doesnt happen then it will stay small for like nano years and if it just becomes a big fad then at least people will see what its like and theres still the real footbaggers who can still apreshiate it.
15 year old Joe Kulacz
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busted
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An academic discussion...
Yeah, if footbag got big. and I mean really BIG... like REALLY BIG! Then hot chics would dig the way your hands do funky shit when you hit a hard move!
David Sussillo
When the pain starts that's when you really notice the addiction.
David and Robin's Time in Austria
My footblog... a bootflog
Challenge me
When the pain starts that's when you really notice the addiction.
David and Robin's Time in Austria
My footblog... a bootflog
Challenge me
slapdash21 wrote:ATTENTION!
EDIT---
new startling updates...
i recieved an ebay message from an individual referring to himself as "Scott" regarding my 32 that is currently for sale on ebay. this is the message in its entirety.
"Hello,
I noticed in your ad that you say your footbag is American Made. I don't see a Juice logo on it though. Did you know that the Juice design you are using is trademarked and patented by a company out of Oregon? Did you know that unless you bought it from them, or have permission to use the design from them, you're breaking the law?
Thought you may want to know.
Scott"
naturally i will take it down if this is true. im not sure if scott is actually affiliated with Juice, so i naturally sent a message to him asking for more information, and letting him know i was using different fabric, my OWN template, designed by my own hands, and a different filler, and asking exactly what was patented, and how that could be since even on Ebay there are dozens of 32s for sale by other companies and individuals that are not affiliated with juice. and then of course there are outside of ebay sellers.
anyone hear anything about this or have any additional information??!?
THATS why footbag shouldn't sell out!!!!!!Jeremy wrote:edit: One of the reasons I have this view is because I asked flying clipper for sponsorship and they responded by threating to sue me for holding the tournament if I gave out or sold non flying clipper 32 panel bags. I just wanted to make this very clear as I'm sure it's the kind of publicity they want to get on a footbag website. It would have been so easy to explain the situation and be positive about it - had their first responce not been so negative I may have made sure there were no illegal bags at the tournament.
FC gets no love from the shredder community.
They go after our stitchers, and they don't care about the sport.
When they went after richie, there was a large public outcry that forced them to retreat for a while. Seems they are back and going after new stitchers and tourney holders.
I didn't steal their pattern, I made a buckminsterfullerene model out of cloth.
They go after our stitchers, and they don't care about the sport.
When they went after richie, there was a large public outcry that forced them to retreat for a while. Seems they are back and going after new stitchers and tourney holders.
I didn't steal their pattern, I made a buckminsterfullerene model out of cloth.
I see what you're saying... I supose that a bagger would run into more problems like that if the companies were bigger.
I agree with Footjoe. If it gets big, there will be advantages, and if it doesn't get bigger, then it'll stay the same. Obviously we love it anyway!!
Some of the big advantages of footbag selling out are already are here anyway (or will be soon).
-Tom Mosher is working on an official Footbag Shoe!! that'd be HUGE
-There are more and more stitchers ALL the time, so better/more bags are becoming available constantly
These would be the two biggest things I would want (other then: even more public respect) from a bigger footbag scene. I think one could make a living off footbag just the way it is... Sponsourship would be great! but not a huge necessity, IMO.
Keep it real!!
I agree with Footjoe. If it gets big, there will be advantages, and if it doesn't get bigger, then it'll stay the same. Obviously we love it anyway!!
Some of the big advantages of footbag selling out are already are here anyway (or will be soon).
-Tom Mosher is working on an official Footbag Shoe!! that'd be HUGE
-There are more and more stitchers ALL the time, so better/more bags are becoming available constantly
These would be the two biggest things I would want (other then: even more public respect) from a bigger footbag scene. I think one could make a living off footbag just the way it is... Sponsourship would be great! but not a huge necessity, IMO.
Keep it real!!
Ben Roscoe
Corporate sponsorship will be great for footbag. More players will have better resources to visit more places in greater comfort.
There are many that rue the fact that as footbag grows the community will become less tight knit. Thats true but there'll be lots more tight sub groups. One of the best things about footbag now is that if theres a top level player coming through your town, or if you're going through his/her, theres a good chance you'll get to shred with him/her, and maybe even crash at his/her house. Sure there'll be less of that, but it won't die unless players let it. When Tony Hawk came to Sydney recently he went to a bunch of skate parks and skated with whatever kids were there - unannounced, no cameras, no publicity. Sure he didnt have to sleep on some skateboarders floor but then he could have if he wanted to (and maybe he did).
On the flipside the footbag community is overrated - like any it has its fractures and not everyone gets along. It often gets painted as some sort of utopia which will be destroyed by evil corporations. I've heard one story of a big name footbagger taking up an invite to a tourney at the organisers expense and pretty much only showing up for the comp and dissappearing for the rest of the weekend. I'm sure there are others. Just as it is now, when footbag gets big It'll be up to players to maintain the community.
There are many that rue the fact that as footbag grows the community will become less tight knit. Thats true but there'll be lots more tight sub groups. One of the best things about footbag now is that if theres a top level player coming through your town, or if you're going through his/her, theres a good chance you'll get to shred with him/her, and maybe even crash at his/her house. Sure there'll be less of that, but it won't die unless players let it. When Tony Hawk came to Sydney recently he went to a bunch of skate parks and skated with whatever kids were there - unannounced, no cameras, no publicity. Sure he didnt have to sleep on some skateboarders floor but then he could have if he wanted to (and maybe he did).
On the flipside the footbag community is overrated - like any it has its fractures and not everyone gets along. It often gets painted as some sort of utopia which will be destroyed by evil corporations. I've heard one story of a big name footbagger taking up an invite to a tourney at the organisers expense and pretty much only showing up for the comp and dissappearing for the rest of the weekend. I'm sure there are others. Just as it is now, when footbag gets big It'll be up to players to maintain the community.
Who wears short shorts?
Dylan Govender.
Dylan Govender.
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Seath
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Footbag can't sell out, footbag players can.
If you accept way too much money for doing the sport you love without comprimise then you are in the right place at the right time, and you're being financially rewarded for your dedication and love of the game. if you change yourself so that you can get that money, or if you are accepting money to increase your own fame then you are selling out. There's nothing immoral about letting a corporate machine show the rest of the corporate world what footbag is, if you are the catalyst to that movement then you should feel honoured, humble, but honoured.
I want footbag to be popular for a few reasons, one, I'd like to see a fashion shift that makes short shorts cool again:D, I want people to understand what I do, and I want to expose this amazing ability to amazing athletes out there that could push this sport in directions the majority of footbag hasn't considered. (Not to discredit those advances made by the leading athletes in the sport now, we're not worthy, we're not worthy)
If you accept way too much money for doing the sport you love without comprimise then you are in the right place at the right time, and you're being financially rewarded for your dedication and love of the game. if you change yourself so that you can get that money, or if you are accepting money to increase your own fame then you are selling out. There's nothing immoral about letting a corporate machine show the rest of the corporate world what footbag is, if you are the catalyst to that movement then you should feel honoured, humble, but honoured.
I want footbag to be popular for a few reasons, one, I'd like to see a fashion shift that makes short shorts cool again:D, I want people to understand what I do, and I want to expose this amazing ability to amazing athletes out there that could push this sport in directions the majority of footbag hasn't considered. (Not to discredit those advances made by the leading athletes in the sport now, we're not worthy, we're not worthy)
