The Inevitable 2016 Pros Switching Sponsors Thread

[DinosaurThunder]

From the few pro's I have met - most of them get offers all the time with places to stay. That usually means a free meal or two and free laundry. Bar the occasional hotel expense, if your only expenses are gas and food (assuming you get discs/some clothing for free) it would be fairly easy to make it work on the road even on small sponsorship deals (especially since most of the pros car pool). I also assume that the majority of the younger pro's don't have their own place (another less expense) and go back home to the parents when not on the road. Then you have pro's like David Wiggins who work on the side when not touring, he welds for added cash.

All that said I am sure a lot of the pro's have received parent support one way or another, but I think that is case for most 20 somethings these days

 

[Reniger]

Must be nice for the few guys with RVs, huh? AJ, Simon, McBe4st, Sexton... And I believe Stokely owns his own RV that he takes for Blue Power events... Can't wait to go to the local Blue Power here in April!

 

[dashiellx]

And I believe Stokely owns his own RV that he takes for Blue Power events... Can't wait to go to the local Blue Power here in April!

When he did his event here, he had everything packed in a Jeep Liberty and requested someone put him, his girlfriend and her son up for the night.

It was a fun event.

 

[bhadella]

LOL at thinking the concept that top 10 players are able to really supplement their income with local weeklies.....ooooohhhh did you hear that Ricky Wysocki took home $46 at this weeks league round? That will certainly help him eat ramen noodles and pay for a portion of a cellphone bill.....

Everyone has different concepts of what "making it". Being able to cover travel and living expenses while still living in your parents home may be "making it" for some. Others might think having your own apartment is "making it". Or having your own medical insurance. Or owning a home. Or having a savings account and a 401K. IMO unless you are at the very, very, very top of this game (which includes only one person)....I doubt your really "making it" as in really making it a true career.

 

[Reniger]

LOL at thinking the concept that top 10 players are able to really supplement their income with local weeklies.....ooooohhhh did you hear that Ricky Wysocki took home $46 at this weeks league round? That will certainly help him eat ramen noodles and pay for a portion of a cellphone bill.....

I just almost pissed myself laughing at this!!! :clap:

 

[tbird888]

LOL at thinking the concept that top 10 players are able to really supplement their income with local weeklies.....ooooohhhh did you hear that Ricky Wysocki took home $46 at this weeks league round? That will certainly help him eat ramen noodles and pay for a portion of a cellphone bill.....

Everyone has different concepts of what "making it". Being able to cover travel and living expenses while still living in your parents home may be "making it" for some. Others might think having your own apartment is "making it". Or having your own medical insurance. Or owning a home. Or having a savings account and a 401K. IMO unless you are at the very, very, very top of this game (which includes only one person)....I doubt your really "making it" as in really making it a true career.

 

[Qstick333]

Ricky posted on facebook this week that he is looking for a place to sleep for the pro tour event this weekend. I'm pretty sure that the #2 player in the world looking for a free place to sleep isn't really "making it". He has talked about sleeping in his car or events before.

In the "will and nate" documentary that McFly did last year they were sleeping 3 to a hotel room.

Maybe that is appealing while in your 20's but it definitely isn't making it IMO.

 

[OB Four]

LOL at thinking the concept that top 10 players are able to really supplement their income with local weeklies.....ooooohhhh did you hear that Ricky Wysocki took home $46 at this weeks league round? That will certainly help him eat ramen noodles and pay for a portion of a cellphone bill.....

Everyone has different concepts of what "making it". Being able to cover travel and living expenses while still living in your parents home may be "making it" for some. Others might think having your own apartment is "making it". Or having your own medical insurance. Or owning a home. Or having a savings account and a 401K. IMO unless you are at the very, very, very top of this game (which includes only one person)....I doubt your really "making it" as in really making it a true career.

So true. I seriously cannot imagine how rough it must be to be a touring pro disc golfer, if you're not one of the top 3 players. I feel bad for those 1000-1020 range of players, that is an incredible accomplishment to even be 1000 rated, but unless your the top guy with your sponsoring company, I'm sure it's a really rough way to live. These days I think most companies can only afford to truly have one top player and pay them decently (Innova-McBeth, Lat64-Wysocki, Prodigy-Schusterick, Discraft-Doss, etc etc). Every time I think about wishing I was a touring pro, I have to remind myself about how McBeth has to be the clear and absolute best at his profession to have been able to exceed 6-figures. Where as, you don't have to be the one-millionth best person at some office jobs to do the same..

 

[tbird888]

Ricky posted on facebook this week that he is looking for a place to sleep for the pro tour event this weekend. I'm pretty sure that the #2 player in the world looking for a free place to sleep isn't really "making it". He has talked about sleeping in his car or events before.

In the "will and nate" documentary that McFly did last year they were sleeping 3 to a hotel room.

Maybe that is appealing while in your 20's but it definitely isn't making it IMO.

With this being their full-time employment, they could be looking for free places to stay/grouping up in hotel rooms not because they have to but because they want to save more money for their future. Because, as you said, they're in their 20s, they could be taking advantage of the things that 20-somethings do. Just because they're not living comfortably doesn't mean they can't.

I'm not saying this is the case. I just like to play devil's advocate.

 

[DanJon]

I make decent money and when I travel I will still look for places to stay with friends.

Touring pros can potentially save thousands throughout the season by not having to get hotel rooms.

Also if you can win $50 a week at a league that's $200 a month, potentially.

That's a lot of gas money.

 

[Moose33]

Some of the guys I know that play locally(myself included) pay for tournaments and expenses by running events and clinics.

It's time consuming, and takes some energy but you can make decent $ with even a so so turnout if you work at it.

 

[lyleoross]

I notice some serious BS going on about how Pros make ends meet and how they do at this game. If it was as easy to do as being written here, and the life style was that awesome, there'd be a lot more guys doing it. It's the good ol' smell test. That said, while there are a few comments here from Pros, Pros have been commenting on this issue for thirty years. They aren't exactly effusive about it. Yes, things have gotten way better in the last five years, with Latitude, and increased sponsorship etc., but with the exception of a handful of guys it's a tough life. You do it when you're twenty something, not when you have any thoughts of having a family. Yes, there's lots of ways to pick up a buck or two here and there.

Put yourself in the shoes of a Pro, your job is to be focused on training and tournament prep, with the exception of Dave Feldberg that is; how much time do you have to spend doing other things? How much of that can you do till you're burned out? The reality is, that approach to life will work for a while, but long term, it's not sustainable.

Dave Feldberg is unique here, and he points out an exception. A lot of these guys run little clinics now. I'd hazard a guess that they are required to do that by their sponsorship contracts. It's essentially marketing and I doubt that it's a profit center for those Pros, rather yet another obligation for which they aren't paid. Lucky Dave, by my guestimation, it is a primary reason Latitude hired him. He makes a great face on the world. That is, they probably do pay him to do those seminars, as part of his contract.

 

[DirtyMeathook]

I notice some serious BS going on about how Pros make ends meet and how they do at this game. If it was as easy to do as being written here, and the life style was that awesome, there'd be a lot more guys doing it. It's the good ol' smell test. That said, while there are a few comments here from Pros, Pros have been commenting on this issue for thirty years. They aren't exactly effusive about it. Yes, things have gotten way better in the last five years, with Latitude, and increased sponsorship etc., but with the exception of a handful of guys it's a tough life. You do it when you're twenty something, not when you have any thoughts of having a family. Yes, there's lots of ways to pick up a buck or two here and there.

Put yourself in the shoes of a Pro, your job is to be focused on training and tournament prep, with the exception of Dave Feldberg that is; how much time do you have to spend doing other things? How much of that can you do till you're burned out? The reality is, that approach to life will work for a while, but long term, it's not sustainable.

Dave Feldberg is unique here, and he points out an exception. A lot of these guys run little clinics now. I'd hazard a guess that they are required to do that by their sponsorship contracts. It's essentially marketing and I doubt that it's a profit center for those Pros, rather yet another obligation for which they aren't paid. Lucky Dave, by my guestimation, it is a primary reason Latitude hired him. He makes a great face on the world. That is, they probably do pay him to do those seminars, as part of his contract.

You are either very drunk, Dave Feldberg himself, or both. You mention him by his full name 3 times, pointing out how he is an "exception" to the rule, but you fail to explain why. Because he does seminars? Funny, I've literally never heard of him giving a single seminar.

Also, your whole first paragraph seems misplaced, since pretty much nobody in this thread is saying that touring pros are living a lavish life. You simply reiterated what had already been said.

 

[Jenga54]

You are either very drunk, Dave Feldberg himself, or both. You mention him by his full name 3 times, pointing out how he is an "exception" to the rule, but you fail to explain why. Because he does seminars? Funny, I've literally never heard of him giving a single seminar.

Also, your whole first paragraph seems misplaced, since pretty much nobody in this thread is saying that touring pros are living a lavish life. You simply reiterated what had already been said.

There was a post on a thread where Dave showed people how to throw, on stage, years ago. So there's that

 

[Martin Dewgarita]

Feldburg is so good he doesn't have to practice.. Imagine how good he would be if he did practice...

 

[mattc]

The motor home Dave was rolling in last year at the BSF looked like it was kind of a beater.
Not to mention he came over to our camp site just to borrow some mayo so he could make sandwich.

Yep, living large.
(Still a little jealous though)

 

[sidewinder22]

 

[DiscJunkie]

I make decent money and when I travel I will still look for places to stay with friends.

Touring pros can potentially save thousands throughout the season by not having to get hotel rooms.

Also if you can win $50 a week at a league that's $200 a month, potentially.

That's a lot of gas money.

Not trying to threadjack, but c'mon...
Lot of gas money, but not going too far if you factor in rent, food, clothes, car payment, etc.
$200 a month may mean something if it's extra income, but if disc golf is how you pay the bills - $200 is peanuts.

 

[Pbmercil]

You are either very drunk, Dave Feldberg himself, or both. You mention him by his full name 3 times, pointing out how he is an "exception" to the rule, but you fail to explain why. Because he does seminars? Funny, I've literally never heard of him giving a single seminar.

Feldy does a ton of clinics. I've been to several and been in the neighborhood when he's put a bunch on that I didn't go to specifically because I've already been to his clinics before. He's a solid instructor and does a lot of work with teaching players while he's on tour. He's also a full time employee of Lat 64, so he's not touring as his primary source of income, he's touring in addition to his responsibilities with Lat.

 

[Broken Shoulder]

Not trying to threadjack, but c'mon...
Lot of gas money, but not going too far if you factor in rent, food, clothes, car payment, etc.
$200 a month may mean something if it's extra income, but if disc golf is how you pay the bills - $200 is peanuts.

He was referencing the $200 as supplementing other disc golf income.