Prime Time

Look who is coming to Prime Time:

The PBR Look for our friend Kent "FotoCowboy" Kerschner in the background!

The Roughstock Gazette is now posted

You can download the PDF here or feel free to visit the website http://www.doubleptack.com/rsg/roughstockgazette.htm

It's all part of the game

Marketing, it is all just part of the game. When you look around it's important to look at people who have been successful in your business. For 2007 the New Mexico Department of Agriculture voted the New Mexico Pecan Company its top marketing company. Read the official release below:

New Mexico Pecan Company of Mesilla, New Mexico, is being honored as Marketer of the Year for 2007 by New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA).

New Mexico Pecan Company began operations in 1990 as an extension of Frank Salopek Farms to market shelled and flavored pecans from a retail perspective. The sales of the value-added pecans created new opportunities for New Mexico Pecan Company to expand their marketing objectives by attending trade shows both domestically and internationally. It was at these trade shows, meeting with foreign buyers, where New Mexico Pecan Company developed an innovative approach to sell in-shell pecans to the Chinese market. After lengthy negotiations with several Chinese companies, New Mexico Pecan Company sold their entire production to China, making this the largest documented sale of New Mexico pecans to China. The success of this initial sale opened the door for other New Mexico producers to explore this exciting market with confidence and long-term commitments.

“The Marketer of the Year recipients must demonstrate creative and innovative marketing with success in the market place. New Mexico Pecan Company has established national recognition for shelled and flavored pecans and expanded its market share throughout the region,” says I. Miley Gonzalez, New Mexico secretary of agriculture.

So what does this have to do with rodeo? Well do you want to make money at it or just piddle at the sport? How many people with talent and ability who tried to travel never made the big show because they ran out of money? How many who where slightly above average made enough to keep going because their sponsors helped them out just enough? Trust me if you talk to some of the greatest to ride they'll have stories about the guys who were very good and they still don't know why they never got that Gold Buckle!

Ok, ok so your half sold on the idea of marketing yourself, your breeding program or your event, but now what?
1) Simple, do a little studying! Go out and see who's being successful ask them questions, see what's working. Then check out the things you don't think you'd do and try to figure out why their doing whatever it is like that? Sometimes things seem silly, stupid or just plain wrong but that doesn't mean it is.
2) Next go out and develop a plan to be successful, ya ever gotten in a car driven someplace you've never been before and did it all on time without a map or asking questions?
3) Next get confidence in yourself, when you present yourself and your plan to others you need to have confidence that you’re selling a million dollar package! Heck when it comes to selling yourself you'd better get use to it because that's what the fans and sponsors want! Yes you will sometimes feel like that stereotypical used car salesman, guess what you are! Now get out their and talk to EVERYONE about sponsoring you. Don't think anyone is too small or too big, too local or too unrodeo. Money is money and advertising is advertising. Let's take a look at the recent sale of the PBR to Spire Capital. Where in the world do you think Spire Capital would have gotten the idea to buy the PBR? Is it a western company, maybe western New York City!
4) Now when you go to ask for the sponsorships, partnerships or any other ships, take care to how you approach them.
a. Are your clothes cleaned and pressed?
b. Are you in appropriate rodeo attire?
c. Hat cleaned? Boots Shined?
d. Do you have your plan neatly typed and double checked for spelling errors, do you show them in the plan how they will benefit from handing you a check or two?
e. Do you have your sales pitched practiced? Just like riding a bull, practice makes perfect!
So sure there is a lot to this marketing gag, but there are lots of benefits to it if you'll spend the time!

31st Annual Lubbock Winter Rodeo Series

The information for the 31st Annual Lubbock Winter Rodeo Series is now posted on the C-T Rodeo Company web site. Check it out and make plans to visit.

Ten things to do during NFR, on a budget!

Ten things to do during NFR, on a budget!

By Pollie Williams, Owner Double P Tack

1) Yeah it’s is not cheap, but hey your going for the rodeo. So go to the rodeo! There are a few ways you can do this on the cheap.
a. First, there is a resale ticket booth at the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, but while your there look around because sometimes people will sale their extra tickets through the vendors.
b. Second, there is the mad dash. Ok not the greatest way and you may spend loads of time on the concourse, but better than nothing.
c. Lastly the scalpers, well there went your entire budget!
d. Oh one last thing, many hotels in Las Vegas offer ticket packages to the biggest events in Las Vegas including NFR, so prepare for next year.
2) Caesar’s Palace and the Animatronics show in the middle of the Caesar Mall. Ok so I can’t afford even a sniff of the cologne in any of the stores. But one can always dream and the animatronics show makes it all worth while.
3) The Fountains at the Bellagio. One of the biggest free spectaculars in Las Vegas. Set to music these Fountains put on a show that is hard to rival.
4) The Venetian, again not a place where I can afford to buy a whole lot but the environment is well worth the walk through on your way to the gift show at the Sands Convention Center.
5) The nightly awards show. After each performance there is an awards show for the round winners. This use to be one of the biggest draws at The Gold Coast but has moved down to the South Point.
6) Well we alluded to Cowboy Christmas in number one, but where else can you find well over 200 booths of everything cowboy and western? From trucks and trailers to Cowboy Silver (http://www.ednaharper.com) and fur coats, there is no better place to do your Christmas shopping.
7) So maybe there is a better place to do your Christmas shopping if you’re on a tight budget. Yep I found it, the outlet mall. Right across from Boot City on the South end of the Strip it’s a must see for those needing to get some shopping done on the cheap. Of course be careful, there is a store called Fry’s Electronics on the way down to the Outlet Mall, don’t let the kids know.
8) Las Vegas Fashion Mall – Fashion Mall and budget don’t seem to be the same thing you say? Well how wrong you can be. Sure we can’t afford 90% of the stuff in there but I like to buy a cheaper gift from one of the BIG name stores. So maybe I can’t afford much, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know quality names.
9) Lights and faces – Ok so lets get away from shopping for a second. Walk the strip and check out the lights and the people. Yes we’re not in New Mexico anymore I’m not sure if there is anything like it in the world. Have fun, be careful and take it all with a grain of salt and a smile.
10) Freemont Street, while this might be “old” Vegas, this sure isn’t Vegas #2. Freemont Street Experience is a spectacle that everyone should check out once. The street is pretty well closed off and the hotels are wide open. Have a bite to eat at Binnions or one of the other classics. But for the wildest ride I’d suggest being there the night before the first performance when it is party central.
Well we’re going to give you a couple of more points to ponder before we go get our bags out of storage. Shopping is at a premium during NFR, not just the places we’ve mentioned above, but you have 3 huge gift shows (Convention Center, Sands Convention Center and Mandalay Bay Convention Center) a couple of big tent sales (Sam's Town and Boot City) but just about everyone has something special during NFR. Next will come the food in our list of things to do, Philip’s favorite. From buffets to fine dining to “In ‘N Out Burgers,” Vegas has a whole lot of everything for everyone, so try it out.
Lastly a couple words of caution. Taxi Cabs in Las Vegas can be a religious gaining experience as well as VERY expensive. So yes it will be much cheaper then a DWI, but be careful. Check out the Tram’s and the Deuce bus system.

So for a change I was right.

What happens when you get real big as a sport even though you're a "fringe" sport? What happens when you let enough outsiders in and keep enough insiders out?

So like I predicted back in July, it is only a matter of time before someone takes a pot shot at a major rodeo association by dragging out all the dirty laundry in order to make a buck. This is the kind of stuff rodeo does not need. So now what?

What are these associations going to do? One has lawsuits galore from the actions of an ex-elected official, because NO ONE took the time to watch the hen coup. Another is getting ready to have a tale all book released and the person writing the book says he has proof, which will give the association two black eyes a bloody nose and whole lots of bruised egos! Another association has issues that you swear is coming right out of the doping scandals. Kind of reminds me of them bicycle guys, if your not one of us we'll use EVERY rule against you, but if your one of us just don't get caught in public! To bad this is a different kind of animal.



Whoops can we say PR nightmare? Now how do you fix them, because you sure can't stick your head in the ground and or throw money at it! All along they had an out, they had rodeo people in and around the events who cared as much about rodeo as they do about the money. When that changed and it went to a money first, fame second, glory third and everything else last; well guess where the target points now? So how do you fix it, great question! First don't turn your back on those who helped get you where you are, nothing worse than fair weather friends! The use those who are loyal to the sport, hey I love showing outsiders the sport, but I make sure they're not aware of what a few guys act like when the cameras are not on. Then do everything you have to to bring the allegations above board. Sorry if you don't show me that your legit when the strong belief is you are not, then you are not!

As for Skeeter, sorry umm sir, but airing dirty laundry in the manner that you are intending just ain't very cowboy like! And for the rest of you who do not like this or do not like that, well there are other sports you can go watch heck even other rodeo associations! So step away from the TV and go support your locals! Sorry but just my 2 cents worth!

Double P Tack - Promo Video

Double P Tack has been doing rodeo video for over 10 years. If you need video for your event don't hire some city slicker with a fancy camera. Hire rodeo people.

New Look for Maverick Rodeo Company

I have updated the Maverick Rodeo Company Web Site.I hope you all enjoy the new look and feel of the site and enjoy some of the clips that are now easier to see.

Does Your Association Do This?

The New Mexico Rodeo Association, while not the largest Rodeo Association takes pride in who and what they are. While not perfect (who is?!), they strive to bring the best to the table for all of their cowboys and cowgirls. To that extent and once again they will be having a judging seminar to better the quality of the rodeo officials!

The seminar is open to all who would like to be a NMRA judge and will start at 8am Saturday, March 17th, 2007. Travis Howe, a respected and veteran PRCA judge will be the guest instructor. Even if you do not care to judge, this can be a great learning expereince when it comes to learning rodeo. I will show up after shooting a ballon launch and before I go to the Baca Rough Stock Rodeo.

For more information check out the website linked to the title or drop me an email. Hope to see you there!