E133: Matt Bird - Why does a climber need a manager? A little look into the shadowy world of athlete contracts.
Jan 29, 2025
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Matt Bird, an athlete manager representing elite climbers like Shauna Coxsey and Will Bosi, offers a compelling glimpse into the business side of professional climbing. He discusses the necessity of managers for climbers, dives into the complexities of athlete contracts, and the dynamics with sponsors. The talk highlights the importance of authenticity in brand partnerships and the evolving relationship between athletes and social media. Additionally, Matt touches on the disparities in athlete valuation and the exciting potential of climbing as a spectator sport.
Athlete managers are essential for professional climbers, as they negotiate contracts and ensure effective communication with sponsors.
The climbing industry has transformed with increased youth participation, yet sponsorship deals often fall short of athletes' true market value.
Authentic online communication is vital for climbers to resonate with audiences and strengthen brand partnerships, enhancing overall marketability.
Deep dives
The Role of an Athlete Manager
Athlete managers play a crucial role in representing and supporting professional climbers by managing their contracts, communications, and relationships with sponsors. The primary responsibilities include negotiating sponsorship deals, ensuring athletes fulfill their contractual obligations, and facilitating communication between athletes and brands. Managers also help athletes with public relations, enabling them to share their achievements effectively, which is essential in promoting both the athlete and the sponsoring brand. With the evolving nature of climbing as a sport, particularly with its increasing popularity, the demand for athlete managers is growing as they navigate the complexities of modern sponsorship landscapes.
The Changing Landscape of Climbing
The climbing industry has seen significant transformations, with a surge in participation and interest in recent years, especially among youth. The growth of indoor climbing gyms has made the sport more accessible, contributing to a broader audience and a more diverse climbing community. However, despite increased participation, many climbers still struggle to secure lucrative sponsorship deals, often earning below what they deserve for their achievements. An athlete's profile, including their social media presence, plays a crucial role in determining their marketability to potential sponsors, leading to varied income levels across different climbers.
Valuing Athletes in Sponsorship Contracts
The valuation of athletes for sponsorship deals is an intricate process, often dictated by numerous factors including performance level, social media influence, and alignment with brand values. While elite athletes usually command higher fees, there is often a disparity in how brands recognize their worth, with many athletes receiving less than what their market presence might warrant. Additionally, brands frequently look for measurable outputs, such as engagement metrics on social media, which can lead to misunderstandings about the true value of an athlete's influence. Therefore, effective negotiation and understanding of personal branding are paramount for athletes aiming to secure fair contracts.
The Importance of Authentic Communication
Authentic communication has become vital for athletes, as their online presence often shapes public perception and brand partnerships. Athletes are encouraged to showcase their personalities genuinely, as this authenticity can resonate more with audiences, ultimately benefiting both the athlete and their sponsors. Different athletes adopt various strategies that align with their unique identities, whether that includes regular social media updates or more selective, impactful communications. This authenticity fosters deeper connections with audiences and enhances brand loyalty, highlighting the importance of aligning personal values with sponsorship responsibilities.
The Future of Climbing as a Spectator Sport
The future of climbing as a spectator sport hinges on its ability to enhance visibility and engagement in competitions. With the growing interest in climbing at events like the Olympics, there is potential for the sport to attract larger audiences and media attention, which could translate into increased sponsorship money. For this to happen, climbing competitions must explore new formats that captivate viewers, ensuring they are engaging and accessible. As competitors evolve, the integration of innovative promotional strategies will be crucial for climbing to break into mainstream sports culture and maintain its positive trajectory.
Navigating the Professional Climbing Path
Aspiring professional climbers are often encouraged to define their 'why'—the core motivation behind their pursuit of climbing to navigate the complexities of the sport more effectively. Understanding one's personal values and communication style is crucial in building relationships with brands and finding sponsorship opportunities that resonate with their identity. Additionally, acquiring financial literacy, such as understanding contracts and valuation, becomes essential to ensuring long-term sustainability in a climber's career. As the landscape of professional climbing continues to evolve, athletes must adapt, using creativity in how they secure funds while maintaining their authentic selves.
Matt Bird swoops in to join us this week, Matt is a rare beast, a manager to some elite climbers like Shauna Coxsey and Will Bosi, but why does a climber need a manager? What does it mean to be a professional climber and how can said climbers play capitalism and get companies to give up some cash to go climb rocks all day? Matt has a totally different perspective from our usual guests, and it was interesting to get a little look behind the curtain!
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