May have just found a sponsor!

[Morgan]

Nothing is formalized, as a matter of fact, he hasn't even contacted me back yet! But get this... he lives less than .5 miles away from me! Literally just down the street! I walk by his house every day after school and I never knew... But yeh, I feel it in my bones... Things are just too perfect.

Cross your fingers and wish me luck!

[Weasel]

Good luck!

[kenbro77]

That would be great morgan

[Morgan]

Okay... so I haven't heard back from him through e-mail. I need to call him... but what should I say? I'm soooo shy about this stuff, especially to talk to a guy I've NEVER met, not once!

**EDIT**

I called him and left a message it went something like this: "Hi Mr. ******* (keeping his name secret)... um.. this is um... morgan f******* (keeping my name secret lol).. I was told by bob armbruster... to uh um contact you. I'm an um preapprentice falconer, and um... I was wondering is you knew of anyone who.. uh... might be able to sponsor me, or if you uh had any ideas, okay... thanks... you can contact me at blah blah blah"

That was more or less my message I asked my sister "how was that?" when I finished, and she said, that it sounded like I was gonna vomit

[Weasel]

The key is not to ask for a sponsor.....ask to go out with them and visit with them first.....You have to prove to them that you want to really do it and have a genuine interest.

[Yarak]

I require in almost every case that the potential apprentice accompany me into the field for one season. This helps me to learn a couple of things. One is, how motivated they are to get in the field in the first place, second, it dispels any romantic ideas they might have about the sport. It allows them to see me at my best and form their questions based on what they observed. I don't mind someone asking me. That said, if someone I never met called me and said hey will you sponsor me I would most likely say no on the spot. If on the other hand they asked to meet me, check out my mew and see the beast herself I would likely schedule a time for them to do that. It has worked well for the people I have sponsored and I have not been disappointed.
Yarak

[Dustin]

Yea, I never even said the word sponcer to my sponcer. I never asked my sponcer if he would. I just met up with him in the field, and then one day we were hanging out (his bird had already gone into molt), and he was asking me what I had planned for this summer. I told him I planned to build my mew, and get my gear in order. Then he offered to sponcer me, I was going to ask him if he would after I had built my mew. Put my mind at ease though .

[Joby]

Yarak,
I made myself wait a year, even though the first falconer I met offered to sponsor me within 10 minutes of meeting them. I accepted and ended up changing later to my current sponsor who is just a great falconer and teacher. I actually never saw my first sponsor fly his bird and whenever I went down to see him (a 2.5 hour trip for me) he always had "just forgotten" I was coming down and "just fed up his bird." So, I spent most of that time helping him with "stuff". On the other hand, I got most of my actual field experience going out that first year squirrel hawking with my then "soon-to-be" sponsor and learned a great deal from him. I guess my point is that if I hadn't planned on having a year up front to demonstrate my own commitment to myself, I might have ended up getting my bird under my first sponsor, which wouldn't have been anywhere near as good of a place as where I ended up. I also plan to make any potential apprentices that I might take on demonstrate the same type of commitment that you recommend from yours, although it will probably be quite a while before I feel that I will know enough to be a good sponsor.
-Joe

[Yarak]

I am pleased how that worked out. It seems to be exactly how it should have been. When Weasel approached me it was during the spring/summer. He had the passion and drive. He had also been rejected by more than a few already. I told him I would prefer he wait and go out with me in the coming season. I told him to go home and think about it and I would do the same. The next day he returned and said he could not wait. That he would understand if I chose not to sponsor him. I knew he would find someone that year, so if I wanted him to turn out good I would have to do it myself. So, I agreed. He took direction well and despite some major disappointments during his first 2 years he did well. He only did one or two things that I thought were wrong but he turned out well in the end. He calls me his Nazi sponsor now and complains about all the questions and drilling I put him through. I like yourself did not consider sponsoring anyone till I had at least 4 years as a General. First year generals can sometimes make decent sponsors but that is not the norm. His Ex turned out well too. She trapped a real killer.
Yarak

[Morgan]

I think you misunderstood, or i miss typed it but... I never ASKED him to be my sponsor. I asked him if he knew of anyone who might be possibly interested in a sponsorship, or if he had any tips.

[SkyRider]

Let's see, you call up a licensed falconer, (who coincidently is able to sponsor you) and tell him you're 'looking' for a sponsor and would appreciate it if he could 'let you know' of someone who could sponsor you.

You asked for a sponsor between the lines, you know that, I know that, everyone else (yes, even that falconer you called) knows that, so while you may have not flat out asked for one, you were implying that you'd like him to sponsor you.

[ccrobbins]

Dont ever mention the word again to anyone. Let anyone you speak with bring it up. Get to know them and see if you can appreciate being around them, and make sure they can stand you......Maybe you will not be able to locate anyone this year...maybe you will. A full season spen beating bush is almost as good as your own bird.....It is sure a hell of a lot easier!


My point i guess is don't rush, the longer you are around it the better you and your bird will be.

[Morgan]

There is a guy, named Alejandro, he said he's considering sponsoring me : o )