Looking for sponsorship

[Francis]

The replies to the thread may seem pretty harsh Francis, but words of wisdom well heeded.

Even seemingly successful chasers still either struggle to make ends meet or work second jobs to pay everyday bills, and any success in chasing is ultimately temporary. Chasing tornadoes is really a hobby. Think about it. There are dozens of us who are as hardcore chasers as you will ever see, and we all have to work normal day jobs. If there was a way to chase professionally, we'd be doing it.

I would caution anyone in putting too much stock in the lofty "follow your dreams, don't let anyone tell you it can't be done" mantra you always hear. Most of the time, this just cheers people on to make really bad financial and life decisions pursuing unrealistic goals. You are better suited putting time and energy into a career that can support you for a lifetime and allow you to chase now and then. Learning the hard way will leave you broke and many years behind in developing the realistic career path you should have been following.

Thanks for replying. I have heard replies like this wayyyyy more times than I have heard: "follow your dreams, don't let anyone tell you it can't be done", isn't that sad?? In fact, I just started reading Tim Samaras' book and I quote:

" I've never been satisfied with accepting things the way they are, as there is always room for improvement. I've never let anyone tell me that " IT CAN'T BE DONE" or that "it's impossible to measure". When people do, it only inspires me to strive harder."

There is nowhere in my mind, where I believe I am going to live or be rich storm chasing, maybe if it helps me make a few bucks to pay for the trip (like I'm trying to do right now...), then great. But I really don;t expect that. My head might be way up in the clouds (lol) or maybe I'm young, passionate, destined or as realistic as can be, I don;t know, you decide, but the world is changing, severe weather will most probably get more frequent and will get more attention, as it already does. Why not take this opportunity? This is the perfect time to become a meteorologist! Global warming, polar ice-cap melting, increasing severe weather worldwide? This is all a reality, maybe we should stop a moment, and reevaluate these "codes of conducts" "etiquette" or whatever, the world is changing, are you changing with it?

Anyways, I;m going to do my thing, and I don't see this as a contest at all haha, I wish you good luck in season 2014!!

 

[Marcus Diaz]

Oh boy, the tone of this thread is very...interesting. I guess the off season does this to some people. Ok, let me tell you something Francis. I had the same dream as you; to make chasing a profession. I knew I didn't have the brains for the college, so I did my own research. I came up in chasing, unfortunately, about the same time Reed was making his big name for himself. I was a few years too late with that dream. By the time I had rooted down and got storm chasing down to a hobby that I could do on my own, I was 2 years in, lost a job cause of chasing, wrecked my truck getting to Quinter, KS in 08, and put so much money into it that I probably could afford a down payment on a house by now. I literally drove 20 hours round trip to Cameron, MO to attend a 4 hour crash course in forecasting (which helped a lot). I was also very lucky to be taken under the wings of a couple of good veteran chasers and forecasters back in 2009. I have Corey Sloan, Steve Polley, and Chris Rice to thank for kickstarting my hobby to the next level. Now I'd like to think I'm a decently known name in the community. Also I own Caprock Magic so if you want some, you have to pay (hah jk).

The thing that helped me get to where I am is that I did not beg or plead to get anything. My internet went out on April 25, 2009, so I pulled up next to Steve Polley and Chris Rice who were in eastern TX panhandle and asked for an update. They invited me to tag along with them, and the rest is history. They took me night chasing into Enid that night, where we almost died. It was also the first time I met Outlaw Randy, who also was really nice and taught me a lot. I've been studying my own forecast technique now for over 5 years using my own time and money. I still have a lot to learn. What you need to take away from what everyone is saying is that you need to study up on what you're asking. You need to realize that this isn't just a hobby or a passion for us. Its a very deadly and dangerous hobby or passion. What you really need to do in your first years is to just intake as much as you can. Ride along with some veterans and pick their brains. Coming into a chasing forum and asking chasers to give you money for you to chase isn't exactly the smartest thing to do. Because in the end we all help each other out. And to come in and say what you've said in this thread, you're going to burn a lot of bridges my friend. A lot of important and potentially helpful bridges.

 

[Francis]

Oh boy, the tone of this thread is very...interesting. I guess the off season does this to some people. Ok, let me tell you something Francis. I had the same dream as you; to make chasing a profession. I knew I didn't have the brains for the college, so I did my own research. I came up in chasing, unfortunately, about the same time Reed was making his big name for himself. I was a few years too late with that dream. By the time I had rooted down and got storm chasing down to a hobby that I could do on my own, I was 2 years in, lost a job cause of chasing, wrecked my truck getting to Quinter, KS in 08, and put so much money into it that I probably could afford a down payment on a house by now. I literally drove 20 hours round trip to Cameron, MO to attend a 4 hour crash course in forecasting (which helped a lot). I was also very lucky to be taken under the wings of a couple of good veteran chasers and forecasters back in 2009. I have Corey Sloan, Steve Polley, and Chris Rice to thank for kickstarting my hobby to the next level. Now I'd like to think I'm a decently known name in the community. Also I own Caprock Magic so if you want some, you have to pay (hah jk).

The thing that helped me get to where I am is that I did not beg or plead to get anything. My internet went out on April 25, 2009, so I pulled up next to Steve Polley and Chris Rice who were in eastern TX panhandle and asked for an update. They invited me to tag along with them, and the rest is history. They took me night chasing into Enid that night, where we almost died. It was also the first time I met Outlaw Randy, who also was really nice and taught me a lot. I've been studying my own forecast technique now for over 5 years using my own time and money. I still have a lot to learn. What you need to take away from what everyone is saying is that you need to study up on what you're asking. You need to realize that this isn't just a hobby or a passion for us. Its a very deadly and dangerous hobby or passion. What you really need to do in your first years is to just intake as much as you can. Ride along with some veterans and pick their brains. Coming into a chasing forum and asking chasers to give you money for you to chase isn't exactly the smartest thing to do. Because in the end we all help each other out. And to come in and say what you've said in this thread, you're going to burn a lot of bridges my friend. A lot of important and potentially helpful bridges.

Yeah you're absolutely right, except for the part where I wanted to make storm chasing my profession, that is not entirely right, although if I get to Ph.D level then maybe I could lead a research team or something out there. I'm studying in Atmospheric Sciences, not in storm chasing...although it has a storm chasing class in it. I will go down the yellow brick road as everyone did and see where it takes me. If I offended anyone or whatever, this was not my intention, I was hoping maybe by luck, a sponsor would be roaming this forum and I would catch his attention and maybe, this could partially fund my trip this year. Without hope we won;t get too far right? I gotta try to get it right?

And well,,,it sucks if I burn a few bridges, but hey, maybe those bridges were rotting and were going to fall as soon as I stepped on it, you never know. I'm sure there will be other bridges and new bridges that will open up in the future. Hopefully lol. Got to keep a positive attitude I guess. Maybe I do have some delusions and of course I have yet to learn a lot of things, like a lot...But I don;t chase the fame or the money, if I would've wanted that, I would've keep going in the music business after my diploma, but I didn't because it sickened me.

And if begging will get me out there this season,,then why not. Nobody cares how you got there as long as you're there right? (I partially disagree, but it;s pretty accurate).

My dream right now isn't making storm chasing my profession....My dream right now is proving and changing everyone's mind on this forum. So that someday I may look back and say: "yeah those people on that forum they said I couldn't do this or couldn't do that...well...I did it.". And I want to thank you all for giving me this goal (for now), maybe it's not the best motivation, but hey, it's motivation.

And good luck to you Marcus, I'm glad you followed your dreams man, you don;t seem to be regretting it. I;m going to study first and pick a career after. For now I want to study and chase. And it is hard to get good grads when you're working hence the nature of the sponsorship idea.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Why is it so hard to see the reference I am trying to make? If we were near the Weather Channel's crew in a big event and they were filming, then maybe if the car with the sponsorship on the car gets on TV, then it would gain a load of exposure....You guys with your unwritten rules, we barely followed them for 2mins, get over it, just trying to attract a sponsor by giving an example of how he could get major attention.

Please tell me that you're joking.

You being near the TWC crew means nothing. Not only does TWC crew have a bad record of missing events, but it would be no different than me having a picture taken with Brad Pitt while wearing a Nike t-shirt. Nike wouldn't give a crap about me, or the fact I wore their t-shirt while having my picture taken with Brad Pitt. The truth is, you're a nobody in the world of storm chasing. I've never heard of you, and I'm sure most everyone else has never heard of you. You bring nothing to the table that would benefit a sponsor. You offer nothing unique. If a company wants to sponsor a storm chaser, I'm sure Sean Casey or Reed Timmer would be their top choice, not some unknown storm chaser who only follows around other storm chasers.

And if you think I'm just being mean, what I'm telling you is what I will gladly say about myself. I'm a nobody in the world of storm chasing, and I've been doing it 15 years. I have nothing unique to offer and I have nothing to bring to the table that would benefit a sponsor. Ask prominent figures in the Meteorological community and 99.9% of them will tell you they've never heard of me. I'm a nobody in storm chasing, and so are you. Chase because you love the hobby, because if you chase only to make money, you'll fail.

 

[Shane Adams]

1) I am well aware that storm chasing is not a profession, but you're wrong, you can be a professional storm chaser.

You have YEARS of failing before you can even entertain the idea of being a pro. Crawl before you walk.

You're also wrong, there are internships everywhere. In fact, I have already contacted a company of storm chasers that offers internships. Also, in my co-op option 3rd year at university, the teachers teach us how to storm chase safely, and this is actually worth credits towards your bachelor (6 credits I believe), check it out, U of Manitoba.

There are no storm chasing internships. There are no storm chasing companies. There are no college professors who are qualified to instruct anyone on how to safely and successfully pursue severe convection. These things simply do not exist. Oh, there are a lot of websites, blogs, and social media pages claiming to be storm chasing companies, but ask those "CEOs" what their profits were each of the past three years. Wait, I can answer that for you: ZERO.

There are a LOT of people who, because the internet allows one to, "play" storm chaser, much the way children used to play doctor or cops-n-robbers. But in both instances, it's not real. It's pretending. It holds no merit.

Chasing storms is something a person does because they have a passion to see storms. There's no other agenda. It's not money, it's not fame, it's not stature. It's because you want to see storms and tornadoes. And when you want something that badly, you figure out a way to make it happen ON YOUR OWN. There is no need for sponsorships, internships, or any other gimmicky aspect. All you need is the DESIRE to chase storms, and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[Sean Ramsey]

Why don't you get off this forum and try to get some exposure for yourself then lol? No disrespect, but nobody is stopping any chasers from getting exposure nor sponsorships...well except maybe you guys on this forum at the moment, hopefully you don;t do this to every new chasers that are trying to get out there.

My comment was tongue-in-cheek. While there are a few who seek the exposure you are talking about, VERY few achieve it. Most of us are out there for the love of storms, and if we make some of our expenses back then great but you'll find out making a living at it will leave you starving at the end of the day. But, if you feel you can prove us wrong knock yourself out. Maybe you can keep us updated on how your quest is going.

 

[Francis]

You have YEARS of failing before you can even entertain the idea of being a pro. Crawl before you walk.




There are no storm chasing internships. There are no storm chasing companies. There are no college professors who are qualified to instruct anyone on how to safely and successfully pursue severe convection. These things simply do not exist. Oh, there are a lot of websites, blogs, and social media pages claiming to be storm chasing companies, but ask those "CEOs" what their profits were each of the past three years. Wait, I can answer that for you: ZERO.

There are a LOT of people who, because the internet allows one to, "play" storm chaser, much the way children used to play doctor or cops-n-robbers. But in both instances, it's not real. It's pretending. It holds no merit.

Chasing storms is something a person does because they have a passion to see storms. There's no other agenda. It's not money, it's not fame, it's not stature. It's because you want to see storms and tornadoes. And when you want something that badly, you figure out a way to make it happen ON YOUR OWN. There is no need for sponsorships, internships, or any other gimmicky aspect. All you need is the DESIRE to chase storms, and the rest will take care of itself.

Yes it does, I'm taking this class in 2 years....

GEOG 4670 Selected Issues - K01 Severe Thunderstorms - Storm Chasing and Field Techniques
Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources

2013 Course Information
• Everyone must be at least 19 years old and have a valid passport (at least to the end of August 2013)
• Cost: $370 (tuition) + tax plus $450 (field fee); field fee covers accommodation, vehicle rentals and fuel
• Other costs not covered by the course: food on the field trip
• Lecture Dates: every Monday and Wednesday evening, May 6 - June 17, 7-9 PM, (no class May 20; 12 lectures in total)
• Field Trip: 7 days; earliest departure date June 21, latest departure date June 24; location(s) can be anywhere from Canadian prairies to Oklahoma
• Instructors: there are 4 instructors with many years of storm chasing experience and who happen to be professional meteorologists.

 

[Francis]

My comment was tongue-in-cheek. While there are a few who seek the exposure you are talking about, VERY few achieve it. Most of us are out there for the love of storms, and if we make some of our expenses back then great but you'll find out making a living at it will leave you starving at the end of the day. But, if you feel you can prove us wrong knock yourself out. Maybe you can keep us updated on how your quest is going.

You're twisting my words, NOWHERE have I said I'm looking for exposure (it's the sponsor that will get the exposure), the only reason I need money is to pay for my trip. You need money too, but I'm sure you have a decent job that you hate, I'm a student, studying is my job.

 

[Brandon Jenkins]

Hes taking the storm chasing class in TWO YEARS! Best invest now guys.

 

[Rob H]

if you want something, you got to go get it, and do whatever it takes to get it. And that sir, takes a load of CHARISMA and PASSION.

You have an unrealistic plan that is essentially begging for money on a forum full of people that have literally spent hundreds or thousands of hours studying storms, and have made tons of personal sacrifices. You then ignore and argue against all criticism. That doesn't say "charisma and passion" to me - it says "naive and entitled". I personally think glamorizing and commercialization of chasing is disgusting, so for a brand new chaser to come in seeking acceptance while flaunting those two components, it's a little saddening.

 

[Shane Adams]

Yes it does, I'm taking this class in 2 years....

GEOG 4670 Selected Issues - K01 Severe Thunderstorms - Storm Chasing and Field Techniques
Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources

2013 Course Information
• Everyone must be at least 19 years old and have a valid passport (at least to the end of August 2013)
• Cost: $370 (tuition) + tax plus $450 (field fee); field fee covers accommodation, vehicle rentals and fuel
• Other costs not covered by the course: food on the field trip
• Lecture Dates: every Monday and Wednesday evening, May 6 - June 17, 7-9 PM, (no class May 20; 12 lectures in total)
• Field Trip: 7 days; earliest departure date June 21, latest departure date June 24; location(s) can be anywhere from Canadian prairies to Oklahoma
• Instructors: there are 4 instructors with many years of storm chasing experience and who happen to be professional meteorologists.

Could you provide a link to evidence proving these credentials? Like the names of the instructors, a photo gallery showing several examples of their work, and documentation detailing the whens and wheres these successes took place? The information you listed above is a credentials list designed for nothing other than the justification of the tuition fee.

I'm just gonna say it like I do every time I see this situation. You're going about it all wrong. You're asking questions that have nothing to do with learning how to find severe storms. You're hanging your hat on following what you perceive to be "established" chasers in an attempt to attract sponsors (good luck). And after your sloppy sales pitch, now you confirm that you're a student who's actually paying other people to teach you how to be a chaser. Other people that you truly have no idea what their credentials are, beyond the paperwork you received (and took for gospel).

I guess this is just a product of the internet age. I see these kids every day who think they're entitled to a certain degree of success by a certain timeline based on the fact they decide that's what they want. Today, a 2-3 year chaser will go to one of his/her partners and say "Hey, let's start a chase tour." And the partner is like "YEAH!!" After our second season, my partner said the same thing to me. I said "Hell no." He asked why. I replied "Because I'm not qualified. And neither are you."

I hate to sound so abrasive, but IMO, if you (and your group, if you have one) can't afford to get out there on your own, especially when you're just starting, then it wasn't meant to be. There are a lot of us who have scraped by our entire chasing lives to make it happen, and it's a little annoying to see someone who hasn't done ANYTHING bust on here asking for handouts. Only a fool would invest in someone who not only has no experience, but openly admits they've yet to even be tutored on the subject. Honestly, I don't think you'll last five years, if you ever make it one. Call me sour, call me oldschool, call me a bitter old has-been. But kid, you just don't seem to have what it takes. You don't like my analysis? Then prove me wrong.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Francis, we all share the same passion you do. All of us would love to have chasing as our profession, and many of us have tried every angle imaginable to try and make it happen. It just doesn't work. Most of the world doesn't care about storm chasing, and the days of one or two chasers making it big are over because the brief fad in the public's eye is fading.

A 'dream' that is more realistic is getting yourself into a career that gives you the flexibility and extra money to chase as much as you can. Work on getting established into a business, climb the ladder, maybe even start your own. That's what has worked for me. I'm in freelance/contract web design and have almost total freedom to chase anytime I want. I even was able to move from West Virginia to the Midwest to be closer to storms. I can't afford to chase everything, but I can hit most of the big days. For me, that's a dream.

The reason 'follow your dreams at all costs' always worries me because I wonder how many young chasers are throwing away education or stable career prospects to try and make storm chasing into something more than a hobby. Reality will be a lot more cruel than the responses in this thread may seem.

 

[Rob H]

Dan, you're posting some really great stuff, good on you. I'm being a little snarky because I've seen this type of post so many times, but I'll try to reign it in

For the record, I chase with a poor meteorology college student and he's seen a dozen tornadoes this year including Rozel, El Reno, and Wayne, and he's chased virtually free. He lurked here for awhile, asked questions, made friends and hooked up with experienced chasers. He's doing things his own way, ignoring some advice, taking other advice to heart. I have no doubt once he finishes school and lands a job, he could be a damn fine chaser on his own if that's what he chose to do.

To paraphrase the movie Baseketball, if I had a nickel for every grand scheme from an inexperienced person on a forum that didn't get beyond the planning stage, I'd have a s**tload of nickels. You've heard people tell you why it won't work or will be difficult, now take from that what you will and go do it. This isn't a forum of dream crushers, it's a forum of people who have stood where you stand now and are hoping to inject some reality into your plans. Proving members of this forum wrong shouldn't be your motivation for succeeding, you should succeed because you love storms.

I've chased for four years now, seen dozens of tornadoes, sold video, and have done national TV interviews - and I'm still a complete noob compared to some of the other guys posting in here like Skip and Shane. Don't just dismiss some of the posts in here because you don't like what they have to say, there's a lot to learn from others' experience.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Hello Francis:

From someone who has been chasing for well over 25 years and been through the gambit of chasing from one end to the other, your passion is well appreciated but your goals are likely not realistic. In many ways, I wish I could go back and have remained simply a photographer and avoided the fusion of chasing and business. But once bitten by the chase bug, it's not an easy thing to let go when it's paying the bills and allowing you the freedom to chase full time.

I'm constantly asked how someone can get involved in storm chasing. I offer the same reply: Find a good paying job (weather-related or not), that allows you the free time and money to chase when you want. I know several people on this group who have done just that.

I would like to know the main source of your inspiration for this project, but regardless, it's misguided. You are certainly not alone. In today's storm chasing, public relations world, you have to be willing to take unnecessary and foolish risks to catch the public's, sponsor's and media's eye. It's more of a skilled stunt performance than reality and it serves little purpose when closely examined. Unless you are willing to put your life on the line for the aforementioned purposes, it's not gonna happen! (The risk factor is an unavoidable reality for responsible spotters, sanctioned scientists, etc.).

Don't let this discourage you. Find a way to use your passion to chase in a responsible and enjoyable manner. You will thank everyone here someday.

Warren

 

[Francis]

You have an unrealistic plan that is essentially begging for money on a forum full of people that have literally spent hundreds or thousands of hours studying storms, and have made tons of personal sacrifices. You then ignore and argue against all criticism. That doesn't say "charisma and passion" to me - it says "naive and entitled". I personally think glamorizing and commercialization of chasing is disgusting, so for a brand new chaser to come in seeking acceptance while flaunting those two components, it's a little saddening.

I'm not really seeking acceptance man, I have been most of my life and it got me in a lot of trouble and I wasted a lot of time in doing so. Now I just try to be who I am really and if I don;t fit in or whatever than too bad I guess. And of course I'm naive and entitled, that's what being a noob is all about lol, you make mistakes and you learn, like this isn't the right place to post something like this.