Practical Pistol Show 124 - Industry Agents

Published on January 23, 2016
Duration: 72:46

This episode of the Practical Pistol Show features Chris Palmer discussing the business of competitive shooting, focusing on sponsorship, athlete representation, and match organization. Palmer, co-owner of Atlanta 3 Gun and Lawson Palmer, emphasizes the need for professional conduct from sponsored shooters and outlines how his company helps athletes and companies navigate sponsorship deals. The discussion also touches on the evolving nature of shooting sports from hobby to professional sport, the financial sustainability of matches, and strategies for increasing mainstream appeal and sponsorship.

Quick Summary

Lawson Palmer, co-founded by Chris Palmer, acts as sports agents for competitive shooters, helping them secure sponsorships by focusing on professionalism and brand ambassadorship. They emphasize that both shooting skill (aptitude) and behavior (attitude) are critical for securing and maintaining sponsorships, as companies increasingly scrutinize social media conduct.

Chapters

  1. 00:03Introduction to the Practical Pistol Show
  2. 00:44Chris Palmer's Background and Atlanta 3 Gun
  3. 01:31The Genesis of Lawson Palmer
  4. 02:34Connecting Shooters with Companies
  5. 03:01PR Concerns and Codes of Conduct
  6. 03:51Shooting as a Sport vs. Hobby
  7. 05:11Services Offered by Lawson Palmer
  8. 06:30Representing Shooters: The Agent Role
  9. 08:08Criteria for Sponsorship: Attitude and Aptitude
  10. 09:00Consequences of Poor Conduct Online
  11. 10:40Brand Ambassadors Beyond Top Shooters
  12. 11:14The Balance of Attitude and Aptitude
  13. 11:56Financial Realities of Professional 3-Gun
  14. 12:41Demonstrating ROI for Sponsors
  15. 13:55Types of 3-Gun Matches: Outlaw vs. Nation
  16. 15:59Subsets of 3-Gun: Bay Style vs. Open Terrain
  17. 17:56For-Profit vs. Non-Profit Matches
  18. 19:23Sustainability in Shooting Sports
  19. 21:24Area 6 Match Entry Fee Discussion
  20. 25:28Governing Area Match Funds Distribution
  21. 28:02Drying Up of 3-Gun Sponsorships
  22. 30:28Area 6 Prize Table Funding
  23. 32:07Sponsorship Landscape: Rifle vs. Pistol
  24. 34:30Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) Potential
  25. 36:46The Chicken or Egg: Eyeballs vs. Sponsorship
  26. 38:28Making Sports Fun to Watch
  27. 39:41Improving USPSA Match Visual Appeal
  28. 41:48New Scoring and Review Systems
  29. 42:21Nick's Perspective on Area 6 Pricing
  30. 43:43Rules on Pacing and Caddies in Matches
  31. 45:01USPSA on the Edge of Becoming a Pro Sport
  32. 46:35Lawson Palmer's Marketing Efforts
  33. 48:09Attracting Mainstream Sponsors
  34. 49:07Salute to Valor 3-Gun Match
  35. 51:23Chick-fil-A at the ProAm Match
  36. 52:48Getting Mainstream Companies to Sponsor
  37. 54:00Making a Full-Time Living Shooting
  38. 55:06Developing Shooters to Professional Levels
  39. 56:11Importance of Junior Shooters and Women in Sport
  40. 57:23Perception vs. Reality in Sports
  41. 58:02Lawson Palmer's Approach to Major Sponsors
  42. 59:34Advocacy for the Second Amendment
  43. 60:40Area 6 Gun Count and Cash Component
  44. 61:13Running Sports Like a Business
  45. 63:11Sustainability and Shooter Feedback
  46. 64:30Sponsorship Seeking: Proactive vs. Reactive
  47. 65:04Managing Shooters Beyond 3-Gun
  48. 66:02Annette Walker's Sponsorship Journey
  49. 68:25Core Principles for Shooters and Agents
  50. 69:26Advice for Aspiring Sponsored Shooters
  51. 71:53Building Sponsorship from Local Businesses
  52. 72:21Conclusion: The Future of Competitive Shooting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lawson Palmer and what services do they offer?

Lawson Palmer is a company focused on the business side of shooting sports. They consult with small companies and innovators to bring products to market, advise companies on sponsoring shooters, and act as agents for a select group of competitive shooters, helping them secure sponsorships and negotiate deals.

How does Lawson Palmer help shooters get sponsorships?

Lawson Palmer acts as sports agents, representing shooters to companies. They help negotiate sponsorship deals, focusing on finding trustworthy brand ambassadors who exhibit professionalism on and off the range. They consider both shooting skill (aptitude) and behavior (attitude) when selecting clients.

Why is professional conduct important for sponsored shooters?

Professional conduct is crucial because companies increasingly evaluate sponsored shooters based on their social media presence and public behavior. Poor conduct can lead to the loss of sponsorships, as companies want to avoid negative PR associated with their brand ambassadors.

What is the future of competitive shooting according to Chris Palmer?

Chris Palmer believes competitive shooting is transitioning from a hobby to a professional sport. This requires a more business-like approach to match organization, athlete representation, and sponsorship, focusing on sustainability, clear ROI for sponsors, and making the sport more spectator-friendly to attract mainstream attention.

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