People always want to know a little bit about the expenses in starting up an agency, and more specifically, what I have gone through to get to where I am today. Here is an example of how you have to put your money where your mouth is if you truly are committed to establishing yourself as any kind of force in this industry. While Dynasty did not have any clients in the 2008 NBA Draft, we picked up quite a few clients afterward and have been in the process of finding them playing opportunities abroad and within the United States. This past week, we spent roughly $2,500 to send three players to various domestic tryouts in an effort to place them with a new team.
Last weekend, Brian Graves tried out for the Vermont Frost Heaves, the 2007 and 2008 ABA Champions who are now a part of the Premier Basketball League. Flights at the last minute from Norfolk, Virgina to Burlington, Vermont are quite expensive, but nothing like a flight from Chicago to Bakersfield, CA. I just booked Royce Parran out to Cali for about $900 round-trip. And we are experiencing economic problems? But the worst experience of all relates to the NBDL’s antiquated procedures relating to payment for tryouts. With Royce, I had to go to Publix (a Southeastern supermarket) to purchase a money order and send it to Bakersfield. It wasn’t all that bad, but did you notice that I said money order? I have a business AMEX card, check card, etc. Why a money order? The NBDL requires its member organizations to accept only cashier’s checks or money orders for all free agent tryouts. That fact made yesterday real interesting.
After three hours of temple and after over twenty hours of no food or drink, I was running around trying to figure out how we would get payment in to the Erie BayHawks for one of our clients, Aaron Nichols. He has a tryout in Cleveland this weekend and the team needed the payment by today. Western Union was no fun. They could not write the order out to the Erie team. Believe me that it took about forty-five minutes before we could settle the entire thing.
Anyway, I now have a full stomach, but a more empty wallet. I am investing in my clients because I believe in them. Let’s hope that they make the Dynasty family proud.
7 replies on “I Just Dropped $2,500”
hey,
i liked the way you handled things making sure you put your clients 1st than you second. some agency’s are mostly for the money and not the player. keep up the good work, “like your work ethic”.
Great post. I don’t think most readers realize that this is what it takes to try to start an agency. I hope your clients make it. I was wondering when can you ever get this money back? do the players only have to pay you if they make it to the NBA? is there any rules placed on minor league contracts or would you just not feel right about asking for this money back until they are making at least $30,000 or so? Also, what colleges did your guys play at? do they all have the same idea to play in the NBA or are some more realistic about their opportunities? I think you would have plenty of clients if you treat them all this way – you have the right idea about believing in your clients, but is there any criteria you set for the type of skills necessary in order for you to spend money to send them places? or would you give most former college basketbvall players who call you a chance? thanks.
Thanks for the kind wishes. I am not worried about getting this money back, as I am quite sure that the three excellent players we invested in will succeed professionally. None of them are currently trying out for NBA teams (2 for NBDL, one for PBL). They are also not “minor league contracts” in the sense that you would treat a baseball minor league contract. We will take our commission on the salaries they generate. The players’ info can be seen on http://www.dynastyreps.com. All of them would love the opportunity to play in the NBA, but we will take it one step at a time. We will treat all of our clients with the respect they deserve and they all know we are behind them 100% of the way. That being said, we will not pay travel expenses and entry fees for every client who wishes to attend an open tryout. We have a process of analyzing each player’s opportunity and decide from there. Even if we decide not to pay the expenses, we still play a vital role in finding opportunities for our clients and then negotiating their deals. We have said no to quite a few potential clients. Not only do we do it for our sake, but because we would be doing a disservice to a player if we were to give him any false expectations.
You mentioned baseball minor league contract in there How would you treat a minor leaguers contract? How does that work… Do you take a commission from them or are you just getting them other deals like speaking enagements and taking your commission from that? I am interested to know how you handle the minor league players, look forward to your response.
We don’t take commission on a minor league contract. We do look for other opportunities. Our payday comes when they make the big leagues.
Darren, do most agents wait until the player either ges to free agency or signs a multi-year deal to take commissions? Or do they take the cut off a minimum salary contract in pre-arbitration years or even in arbitration? Thanks.
No commission on minimum salary Ks.