In my experience going out there and “hunting” for an endorsement seldom works.
It’s often the other way around, you get approached by companies about endorsement.
An other common scenario is that you find a brand or product that you really believe in
and USE a lot, and eventually you strike up a conversation with the producer,
and in the process of building a personal relationship foundation, if they like what you do musicailly, and you as a person,
the idea of endorsements usually comes naturally.
At least the last has been true for me. My endorsements have never been “hunted”, rather offered after building a personal
relationship with the people in question, and the brand. Then again, there are simple “product endorsements”, where you just use the stuff and not much else. Then there are actual “business relationships” where you do clinics, workshops, travelling the globe for the company in question.
The last definitely requires personal relationships and commitments, and has also been true for me in my NAMM and Tokyo Guitar Show performances.
Endorsement should be based on mutual respect and understanding and a personal relationship and collaboration,
it’s the sure-proof way of ensuring a continued professional relationship.
Just hunting endorsements to get “free or cheaper prices on stuff I would by anyway if I could afford it” is not the way to go.
Buying the stuff yourself, using it, beleving in it, and showing by your actions rather than just words that you endorse the product
is the way to go. just my 5 cents.
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