Sponsor Communication for Teams with Unusual Names

[Whippet]

Hello, All!

Since our competition season is over, it is time for team 4301 to resume reaching out to potential sponsors in order to raise funds for next year. However, we fear that our name (New Tech Narcissists) may negatively affect our ability to receive sponsorships. I was wondering how teams with somewhat silly names (Looking at you, 254!) market to potential sponsors.

Thanks!

Luis Trueba

[Canon reeves]

We are That One Team, and we market it as we are that one team the people remember for our gracious professionalism, or that one team that exceed expectations, and etc.

[AlexD744]

I would highly recommend you can get in contact with anyone from 1902, Exploding Bacon. They are have won multiple imagery awards, at the regional and championship level, in addition to several RCA's. They have done a conference for the past few years at the championship on marketing your teams image.

[xXhunter47Xx]

While I personally cannot speak for that (since my team's name isn't really that odd), I'd first start off by saying why you chose that name. Is there a reason why you chose Narcissists as your team name?

[mrnoble]

We actually went through a name change for exactly this reason. 2004-2007 we were team GhettoBot. It was entirely a snotty response to misperceptions (or perceived misperceptions) of our school and community. We later saw that all we were doing was perpetuating stereotypes and giving ourselves a reason to be jerks. We adopted our school mascot and changed our name and I'm really glad we did.

[xXhunter47Xx]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

We actually went through a name change for exactly this reason. 2004-2007 we were team GhettoBot. It was entirely a snotty response to misperceptions (or perceived misperceptions) of our school and community. We later saw that all we were doing was perpetuating stereotypes and giving ourselves a reason to be jerks. We adopted our school mascot and changed our name and I'm really glad we did.

That's what we did too.
Our (well theirs, I was actually recruited right after they bagged 2013's robot) team was named "No Robot!" in our rookie year. We changed it for many reasons, but misconceptions could be drawn from it so we too adopted our mascot, and now we are "Patribots".

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

We actually went through a name change for exactly this reason. 2004-2007 we were team GhettoBot. It was entirely a snotty response to misperceptions (or perceived misperceptions) of our school and community. We later saw that all we were doing was perpetuating stereotypes and giving ourselves a reason to be jerks. We adopted our school mascot and changed our name and I'm really glad we did.

If I were capable of changing the name, I would do so in a heartbeat. However, our three teacher sponsors and principal have an inexplicable attachment to the name, so it's not going anywhere anytime soon. It actually originated as a joke on the way home from competition last year and was intended to be ironic, as we as a team are anything but narcissistic, and have a tendency to underestimate the capabilities of our robot.

[philso]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

We actually went through a name change for exactly this reason. 2004-2007 we were team GhettoBot. It was entirely a snotty response to misperceptions (or perceived misperceptions) of our school and community. We later saw that all we were doing was perpetuating stereotypes and giving ourselves a reason to be jerks. We adopted our school mascot and changed our name and I'm really glad we did.

There is a difference between having a name that is odd or whimsical like "Exploding Bacon", "Cheezy Poofs", "Eastside Boiler Invasion" or "DiscoBots" and a name that has negative connotations. I suspect that the later would likely turn off many potential sponsors but the former would likely only turn off sponsors with no sense of humour

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by philso

There is a difference between having a name that is odd or whimsical like "Exploding Bacon", "Cheezy Poofs", "Eastside Boiler Invasion" or "DiscoBots" and a name that has negative connotations. I suspect that the later would likely turn off many potential sponsors but the former would likely only turn off sponsors with no sense of humour

So under this logic, would we fall under the latter category?

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by Whippet

So under this logic, would we fall under the latter category?

Well, I rarely call someone a narcissist as a compliment...

You could try mostly marketing your initials or something of the like. Frankly, the name your team has paints a very negative picture without ever having met you, and you're already at a disadvantage trying to raise money. While I'm sure your team is nothing but graciously professional, I at least would perceive your name as an active disadvantage.

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by philso

There is a difference between having a name that is odd or whimsical like "Exploding Bacon", "Cheezy Poofs", "Eastside Boiler Invasion" or "DiscoBots" and a name that has negative connotations. I suspect that the later would likely turn off many potential sponsors but the former would likely only turn off sponsors with no sense of humour

Just saying, Cheezy Poofs is a reference to one of the most controversial/edgiest cartoons of all time.

[David8696]

Originally Posted by Steven Donow

Just saying, Cheezy Poofs is a reference to one of the most controversial/edgiest cartoons of all time.

True. The first episode, in fact.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/full...-an-anal-probe

[philso]

Originally Posted by Steven Donow

Just saying, Cheezy Poofs is a reference to one of the most controversial/edgiest cartoons of all time.

Sorry. Missed that one. I haven't watched TV for the last 30 years.

[geomapguy]

Originally Posted by philso

Sorry. Missed that one. I haven't watched TV for the last 30 years.

He's referring to South Park

[cxcad]

Originally Posted by Steven Donow

Just saying, Cheezy Poofs is a reference to one of the most controversial/edgiest cartoons of all time.

...but NASA