Pro Staff or Field Staff

S

soreloser

New member
Here's a question for ya.

For those of you who are on some type of outdoor product's or company's "Pro Staff" or "Field Staff" what exactly have you done or did you do to get that position? I know that for those in the Video Production Business it's a no brainer, all about advertisement, but what about others?

I have alway wondered about this and would like to see some answers.

Tim
 
I'm on the Randy Buker Pro-Staff. I just appointed myself. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I'm on a couple prostaffs, I've got a few prostaffers, I've also turned down a handfull of prostaff offers. I'm out of time for the day, but will post my information tomorrow.

Prostaffing has it's benefits....but also it's strings.

Tony
 
Quote:
No, having your staff get infected doesn't count. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif



........but was the staff infected by a Pro?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
OK I guess I will give an honest answer /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

This how it happened with Tony Tebbe and myself, I had to pay him $150,000......ok I got my joke in /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Seriously, Tony and I began talking back in January of this year. During that time we became great friends. Of course we talked about hunting coyotes in general most of the time, but then we began calling for each other, still over the phone, and talking about calls that he was working on and so forth. He liked the way I played a call, which was differant then his sound and so he sent me a free call. I recieved it, played it for him and that was the day he asked me to be on the Pro Staff, first being his custom calls, then came the introduction of his production line and then on to the videos.

My rolls as a Pro Staffer for Tony are simple, he designs a new call, I hear it over the phone and give my honest feedback of the sound, positive or negitve. Once that happens he sends me a prototype of that same design, I play it, and again give my honest feed back. This goes for new custom and/or production call designs. In turn I get to field test those same calls. So every time a Tebbe call goes to market, I have had, in some form or fashion, a hand in that call, which is a really cool feeling.

Tony and I are filming for two video series and going on some nicely planned hunts this year. Tony has done an excellant job of making feel right at home with it all. He has become one of, if not my best friend. He has help me deal with personnal issue that have come into my life as well as helped me with problems I have had with calling predators. We talk dialy about all things in life. Outside of my supportive and beautiful wife and my parents, Tony has been the most positive influance.

Hope this helps in some way,

Scott
 
soreloser,
If you would allow me to add to this? If so, for the folks in the business, what do you look for in a potential pro-staffer? In other words, what qualifies someone to be a candidate?
 
Jay didn't qualify /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif So I guess you don't have to be a predator caller. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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Several years ago I was a staffer for some archery companies. All they asked was to be visible to the public. Basicly it was to promote their products. I was working at an archery shop at the time and shooting the money divisions. On a local level They looked for someone who new their buisness, I did a lot of bow tuning when people had trouble and sometimes they would ask what type of equipment I was using.
The companies knew this and would offer me equipment, pay entry fees, match tournement winnings. It was good but you had to push their products. Sometimes you would get prototype stuff to test. It was fun. But you are commited to them and what they say goes or you go.
This was my experience hope it helps some.
Frank
 
Same thing in any industry, companies see people that represent the image they are trying to portray or people who are good at what they do and offer them incentives to use thier products. Sometimes its free gear, sometimes its free trips to make videos, sometimes its cold cash, on and on. Most of the best people in any given sport never get any recognition. For every pro staff member, proffesional hunter, baseball player, race car driver, surfer, mountain climber, whatever, there are 10 or even 100 guys out there that would put them to shame. Its just a matter of right place, right time, right people. Ive been sponsered by companies in the past for doing what I did, got free gear, contest entry fees, travel expenses, etc. just to wear a shirt or put stickers somewhere. Its advertising! Magazine and television ads cost BIG MONEY, but to give a guy some product he will use and show people gets the word out there and gets interest in your gear. ProStaff/Team members are a vital tool to most industry, they are the guys that would buy the products, they are the customer.
 
Tim,

If I were a company looking for a field staffer, I would first look for a person integrity and honesty as well as positive results using the items produced by my company. I would then put them on a probationary period as see how it goes. With this being said, most companies seek out people to use their products that particpate succesfully in the arena for which their product was designed. Being on field staff of a good company with a good product can be great however being on the staff of a shady or shaky company can be a nightmare. Most of these positions have benefits but very few pay a dime. Be very careful to whom you hitch your wagon.

Byron
 
I have pro-staffed for a company that is a manufactures rep for eleven different companies. I have worked shows, and represented companies from boots, to treestands, to bows. It all depends on what the focus was for that particular event. I have also worked special events for Bass Pro, and independent sporting good stores alike. The pay is very little, but I get alot of the merchandise that I represent free, or at a great discount, plus I enjoy meeting people and talking hunting.

Like Byron said, look for a reputable company, or individual to represent, and make sure you have the same values and goals. I have seen some companies that I thought I would like to work for, but after seeing their pro-staff and how they conducted themselves "off" the clock I didnt want any part of it. When you represent a company at shows or in the field you are the face of it.
 
Quote:
Tim,
Most of these positions have benefits but very few pay a dime. Be very careful to whom you hitch your wagon.

Byron



Thanks, but I unfortunately don't have anyone knocking down my doors and most likely never will, not that it wouldn't be a great experience. I have always been interested in how you all went about securing some positions and personal experience.

Right now the only company I represent is the Family and the USMC and I don't get anything for free from either of them.

Someday?
 
I saw a cap at Cabela's yesterday that said "Cabela's field staff." For $12.99 I could be a field staff member for the worlds largest Outfitter! LOL

It all really boils down to money, image and publicity I think. There are no real set requirements to be a pro staffer.

I believe that most of the successful companies will pick their pro staff very carefully. First of all they want good solders, they want someone that will not embarrass them. The best advertisement is by word of mouth so they need to find people that are being seen by the public and that are sociable.

Image is a big deal and pro staffers are walking advertisements and usually very cheep ones. For a lot of call manufactures their pro staff just gets a free call, shirt, cap, what ever. A good pro staff is the best investment a company can make. Advertisement in magazines is expensive. A full page add in a magazine can run into the thousands of dollars. The pro staff will personally push products for notoriety and free gear.

Like any other number of products a lot of the predator hunting items like calls, camouflage, shooting sticks decoys excreta are in reality not any better than there closest competition. It is the guys that have the best line of Bull S@#$ that makes the most sales.

I heard it put in prospective the other day. A multi millionaire made all his money on one product and then sold out his brand name to another competitor and made a fortune. He told my friend, "Do you really think my product is better than anyone else?" Hell no it wasn't he went on to say. I just had a better line of BS than the other guys. Hell if BS were concrete I would have a friggen airport. LOL

A pro staff is a two way street also. I know that I will have nothing to do with several hunting products because of who the company or individuals associate themselves with. One rotten apple can do more damage than they are worth so if you pick a bad one you could be damaging yourself in the long run.

Good hunting.

Q,
 
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Quote:
I saw a cap at Cabela's yesterday that said "Cabela's field staff." For $12.99 I could be a field staff member for the worlds largest Outfitter! LOL
Q,



Q is right, it's pretty easy. If any of you want to be part of my Pro-Staff, send $10.99 to my PayPal address. I will send you a membership card and instuctions on what to say and not say. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Hmmm, free product's /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif. Jay, come up my way. I'll pro-staff[spot] ya some burly Iowa coyotes.


I work for ammo-kirby /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
As one who has been on both sides of this issue I think that several of these guys have offered accurate info. Q, Byron, Camopaint and others have portrayed it accurately. I hope that as you read this intire thread you will come to the realization that the answer really is....all over the map, all of the above and covers the spectrum.

Qualifications needed - in some cases, none what so ever, just be in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, people earn that opportunity because they have made themselves hard to pass up. They get involved, write good articles, attend lots of events, win contests, etc.etc.

Pay - as little as a cap and a t-shirt, as much as a full time salary with all expenses paid.

Activity expected - from wearing the companies cap and t-shirt 24\7, to abandoning your family to be on the road
for the company" 24\300.

In my case - be born into the right family and act like you know something about predator calling. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 


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