Just kidding. No layer cakes. Although if you bake vegan cakes feel free to present me with your greatest offering and I will be sure to eat it.
I’m in Michigan at my top secret temporary headquarters until I leave for Muskegon and my first coasters (Michigan’s Adventure) on May 21. I wasn’t able to find a main sponsor and I feel like the time crunch now will make it impossible. Corporate bureaucracy and all that. So I’m now contacting companies for free stuff in exchange for promotion here and in my vids.
What I’m looking for:
1) Hotels. Lodging will be the most expensive part of the tour and there are quite a few hotel chains that have a presence everywhere I’ll be. Mostly the cheaper hotel chains like Super 8 and Red Roof Inn. Side note: the cheapest hotel I’ve ever stayed in was a Red Roof Inn in Knoxville, TN. It was less than $30 for the night. Crazy.
2) Free entrance into theme parks. I thought this was going to be easier than it is. It’s difficult to get anybody from the parks to respond to e-mails or tweets although I have heard back from some parks.
3) Energy bars. I’ve only contacted Organic Food Bar so far, but they have not gotten back to me. I also just tweeted an athlete/entrepreneur/CBS host who used to (or maybe still does) work for them.
4) Other foods. Think camping foods. I’ve contacted PackLiteFoods to see if they’d be willing to hook me up with their tasty vegan camping meals. They don’t use crap ingredients in their foods and that will be great while on tour. There’s a strong chance my diet will suffer without having a kitchen.
The Hearse!
I knew finding a black 1986 Cadillac hearse wouldn’t be easy, but I was confident it would happen. I found one on eBay today (amazing!), but the seller sold it off eBay over the weekend for just $1,400. Damn! I’ll keep looking. If I don’t find one within 2 weeks I’ll settle for any old hearse.
These hearses don’t get great gas mileage, but I can expect about 20 miles per gallon on the highway. I’m expecting my total gas costs will be $3,000 – $4,000 for 13,000 miles. I’ll speak with my accountant about a tax break since this is technically a business project, but it might not be considered that in the eyes of the government. I’m cool with whatever, but if I can save a few grand I’ll be happy to!
Taking Video
I was hoping GoPro would give me a free camera to use during the trip, but they’ve also been unresponsive. I’m not sure what would be best, but I’d like to try their wrist mount, chest harness, and head strap, along with the actual GoPro camera. I contacted Nick Woodman via Facebook (he started the company), but haven’t heard back. If I have to purchase that stuff myself instead of having a “rental” I’ll sell it on eBay when I’m done, but that’s not as fun. :)
Go Boingo
I would like to thank Boingo for giving me a free account to use during the trip. I didn’t actually ask for it as I contacted them to see if we could work out a sponsorship, bu this is a nice bonus. While I will be using my Virgin Mobile Broadband for the most part, Boingo may come in handy as well. It came in handy a lot while in the UK/Ireland for 3 weeks. (Boingo hot spots were everywhere.)
Questions about what’s going on? Suggestions about what I could/should do? Shout it out …
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During my sponsorship hunt for my cycle trip I found it hard also. After about 1000 emails to companies I picked up about 9 sponsors for kit not money. My only advice is to get the media involved, radio, local tv etc and use that in your sponsorship hunt.
It also took me about 6 months to pick up those sponsors you just got to find the right company that believes in your trip and that is something that’s just a luck game.
Good luck :)
Thanks Lee. A lot of it is the approach. My e-mail pitch is good. My twitter pitch isn’t (kinda difficult). That said, I’m confident I’ll find a few awesome companies to get behind in the next 4 weeks.
I’m definitely going after local media in each city I visit.
Hey Karol,
Sunrider is company based out of CA that makes plant based whole foods and they have some excellent bars. If you can get hold of Dr. Tae Fu Chung you might be able to find what you’re looking for both in terms of energy bars and sponsorship.
Rasheed
Thanks Rasheed, I’ll check them out.
Nevermind, I won’t support MLM or Amway type companies.
Choice hotels (Comfort Inn/Suites) has a pretty good loyalty program. They’re not as cheep as Red Roof Inns but you would definitely earn a couple free nights throughout your tour.
Also, we would love to interview you later on in your tour for Coaster101.com!
Thanks Nick! I’m using Priceline, which is the cheapest of all if you bid correctly. :) I’m averaging 50+% off the Expedia rates. Example: $40 + taxes for a Radisson in Bloomington, MN … Expedia rate was $131/night.
Would love to do an interview. Just let me know when/where/what. :)
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