| There's a significant difference in approaching individuals or companies from cold to getting "mates rates" on stuff.
A professional approach is essential with a focus on what the Potential sponsor gets for their money or other support. It needn't cost much to put together a professional looking proposal, it's certainly easier these days with a PC, a printer and some hard work.
You need to do some research, identify likley companies, find out who the decisions makers are, maybe the person who decides what gets spent where on advertising. Don't over promise, make some suggestions about budgets required and what the sponsor gets in return. Send off you proposal and follow it up with a phone call.
It's better to have a few small sponsors than one biggie IMHO at this sort of level.
Once you have got some deals in place then the hard work starts in keeping them happy, they've "bought" positive publlicity so thats what you need to give them.
It pays to cultivate yer local press even if you don't currently have any sponsors, gather up the cuttings or any other evidence of what you've achieved publicity wise, they prove your track record. Write yer own stuff the local press are usually keen to have something other than endless local kickball reports, include some piccys that they can publish, speak to whoever edits the stuff to find out what makes their job easier. if ya can't write the stuff yerself get someone to do it for you.
Pi55 yer sponsors off and not only will ya loose them it's most likely that you've made it impossible or at least very difficult for any one else to do anything with them in the future.
Ray  | 
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