How to Get Sponsors for Drum Corps

Drum corps International is the traveling competition that pits the band and marching skills of participants to the test. Drum corps students work most of the year to perfect their playing and marching skills into a display of stamina and dance-like moves. Each school participates in state competitions to produce a state champion and then compete at the national level to find the best team in the nation. It is an opportunity to learn, work hard and travel. Each individual, however, must find sponsors to be able to afford the travel expenses so that they can participate.

Instructions

  1. Low-Hanging Fruit

    • 1

      Contact the local businesses that sold the uniforms, instruments and other accessories that were part of the requirements for each individual participating in drum corps. These contacts are known as "low-hanging fruit" in sales terminology. They are already familiar with the program, receive income from the participants in the program and are likely to sponsor one or two individuals.

    • 2

      Contact the businesses that purchase advertising in the school yearbook or on bulletin boards or banners in your school's sports stadiums. Like those people who are familiar with drum corps, they are already donating to the school in some form and will be easier to talk with.

    • 3

      Make a list of 10 people who are friends or family who may be able to sponsor your trip. If each only gives $10, you will have $100 of your trip paid for. Make personal phone calls or send out letters asking for $10 to $25. In the direct mail industry, these are called targeted letters because the recipients are either familiar with the program or with you.

    • 4

      Organize a fund-raising dinner or lunch and invite Parent Teacher Association members, parents of students, teachers and local business leaders. Show a short video promoting the National Drum Corps competition and ask for help in representing your school in front of millions of people.

    Cold Calling

    • 5

      Gather the brochures about drum corps provided by your band leader. Download or save a video of a portion of the competition to a cell phone or other device. You are ready to begin cold calling.

    • 6

      Visit the businesses close to the school that may not be sponsoring anything. These business owners may have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the students, you won't know until you speak with them. Show the brochure and video to them and explain that you need sponsors to help you get to the national competition. If they give, your job is done. If they do not give but they seem interested, let them have the brochure to keep and read later.

    • 7

      Go to businesses your family does business with, including real estate or insurance offices, car dealerships, doctors and lawyers. You already have an "in" with this group as the company should know you or your family. Speak with the owner, not a clerk or salesman. The impact of a personal visit for something like this is greater than that of a phone call or a letter.

    • 8

      Visit the local chamber of commerce and ask for some advice. Some chambers do not release members lists, but this information is usually out in display racks of advertisements in the chamber lobby. Speak with the chamber president and explain the purpose for your visit, and you may find many sponsors for your trip by just attending one chamber function.

    Follow Up

    • 9

      Send a thank you letter to each sponsor regardless of amount donated. This will be good to keep in contact with them throughout the year as potential sponsors for the following year.

    • 10

      Email updates as to where you are and how the competition is going. This will let the sponsors see where their donations are going.

    • 11

      Make a video of practices and/or competitions and send them to each sponsor so they can feel as if they are participating in your teams' efforts to win the national competition.