Episode Description
Apply for sponsorship coaching: https://go.creatorwizard.com/ytcoaching
Secure a last-minute ticket to Sponsor Games (Mar 15-18): https://www.sponsorgames.com/
I’m $20K in the red on my upcoming live event, Sponsor Games, and you're about to watch me pitch a brand deal in real time to close the gap.
This episode pulls back the curtain on a real negotiation with Haley Janicek, Head of Creator Community at Kit. Two calls. One deal. Zero polish. Just the raw, messy, honest back-and-forth of what it actually takes to close a sponsorship when the stakes are real.
Here's what we cover:
Why leading with outcomes (not logo placements) is the only pitch that works on sophisticated brand marketers
The three-bucket framework Kit uses to decide whether to sponsor any event
How to "make the math obvious" so brands can justify the investment internally
What brands actually want to tell you after they ghost you—and why they can't
The hybrid deal structure Justin and Haley landed on after two calls and a near-stall
Follow our guest: Haley Janicek @haleymjanicek (https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleymjanicek/) | Kit (https://kit.com/)
Grab my book, Sponsor Magnet, to learn how to transform your influence into income: https://sponsormagnet.com
00:00 Justin's $20K Deficit & The Real-Time Pitch
01:44 What Kit Actually Buys (It's Not Impressions)
07:00 Kit Studios & the Amazon Prime Analogy
13:47 The Three Reasons Kit Sponsors Any Event
17:42 Making the ROI Math Obvious for Brands
23:14 The Pitch: $12.5K and the Objections That Followed
29:30 Sponsor Therapy: A Better Alternative to Speed Dating
34:35 Part Two: The Deal Nearly Dies (Then Comes Back)
44:27 The Hybrid Structure That Got Kit to Yes
50:03 Why Long-Term Advocacy Is Worth More Than Any Campaign
53:04 The Final Number: $8,500 + A Free Craft & Commerce Ticket
For collaborations or partnerships, shoot us a note: inquiries@creatorwizard.com