I was getting ready for work this morning when I was flipping through channels and came across a hunting show. A man was filming his son as they were deer hunting. No probs. They showed the young boy's name and under it the title "Youth Pro-Staff"....Doe pops out in a fire lane and boy almost gut shot the deer. They get out of the stand, supposedly "track" the deer (which was 10 yds away where they started filming again after getting out of the stand) and the boy goes over to the deer and says "Well, this is my first deer" to which I was reminded that Jr. was a "Youth pro-staff" member of supposed hunting show. How can you be a pro at something that you have never done???
So my question is, what makes someone pro-staff? Just curious
Just like everything else....it all boils down to who you know and not what you know.
Quote from: tha bugman on August 31, 2012, 12:55:03 PM
Just like everything else....it all boils down to who you know and not what you know.
X2
Couldn't have said it better...
It's kinda' like putting the word "President" in front of O'dumas name. Doesn't have anything to do with what you know...... ;)
The pro in pro staff is for promotional. Basically you need a big mouth to spread the word about their project. It has zero to do with your knowledge of hunting. I remember an Avery Prostaffer trying to explain to me how great a hunter he was, but he couldn't identify a prime drake widgeon he had in his hand. He thought it was a sea duck.
Quote from: nativeks on August 31, 2012, 09:06:01 PM
The pro in pro staff is for promotional. Basically you need a big mouth to spread the word about their project. It has zero to do with your knowledge of hunting. I remember an Avery Prostaffer trying to explain to me how great a hunter he was, but he couldn't identify a prime drake widgeon he had in his hand. He thought it was a sea duck.
Haha that's funny because I used to know a local Avery "pro" that didn't know his bass from a hole in the ground either. As far as constituting the name, well, I thought you just had to list it in your signature on any hunting forum and you were officially in the club then. Lol
Sadly, the term prostaff has been so habitually abused by unscrupulous types, that the term is past the point of meaninglessness, its a downright shame to the real pro endorsed hunters out there.
I cant speak for the tv world, but in the forum board side of it , the constant problem of people gathering up strangers and bestowing the title prostaff has created issues . Most waterfowling and hunting sites do not allow "prostaff notations " due to people recruiting unqualified types not only in the hunting aspect but also in the immature social behavior that follows when you give some kid a " prostaff badge"
I was once offered to be on a pro-staff for a big named company and turned it down, it was nothing more than a marketing ploy to get the word out about products which isn't what I had a problem with...what I did have a problem with is all the so called "hunters" that shammed off upon people their so called bs knowledge of being legitimate killers. Its easy to talk the talk and get instant gratification. It disgust me to no end how the commercialization of hunting has and is ruining our sport.
I am a Mossy Oak Prostaffer for several reasons. 1) I love mossy oak camo. I will not endorse items that I don't like or believe in. I have had several companies ask me to be on their prostaff and I turned them down because they were questionable. 2) I have been teaching turkey hunting seminars for several years and speak what I believe to be the truth. When I teach a seminar I tell everybody what I use and what I believe works. I was pushing mossy oak camo before I was a "prostaffer", because that was what I used and thought worked best where I hunted. Almost every seminar I teach I push items that I am not affiliated with but that I believe work great. a Thermacell is one item. I own my own turkey call company and do not have prostaff. If somebody wants to endorse my turkey calls because they like them that is great but there is alot of negativity towards prostaffers and I understand that. If I do eventually have a prostaff, you can bet that they will know how to use a call or answer a few questions about turkey hunting. I have seen many prostaffers that couldn't kill a turkey in a butterball factory and that, to me, is ridiculous. 3) I do get good deals on Mossy oak items. Although I don't take advantage of this like I probably should. I have gotten more items for other people than I have for myself.
TRKYHTR
Quote from: TRKYHTR on September 01, 2012, 11:33:06 AM
I am a Mossy Oak Prostaffer for several reasons. 1) I love mossy oak camo. I will not endorse items that I don't like or believe in. I have had several companies ask me to be on their prostaff and I turned them down because they were questionable. 2) I have been teaching turkey hunting seminars for several years and speak what I believe to be the truth. When I teach a seminar I tell everybody what I use and what I believe works. I was pushing mossy oak camo before I was a "prostaffer", because that was what I used and thought worked best where I hunted. Almost every seminar I teach I push items that I am not affiliated with but that I believe work great. a Thermacell is one item. I own my own turkey call company and do not have prostaff. If somebody wants to endorse my turkey calls because they like them that is great but there is alot of negativity towards prostaffers and I understand that. If I do eventually have a prostaff, you can bet that they will know how to use a call or answer a few questions about turkey hunting. I have seen many prostaffers that couldn't kill a turkey in a butterball factory and that, to me, is ridiculous. 3) I do get good deals on Mossy oak items. Although I don't take advantage of this like I probably should. I have gotten more items for other people than I have for myself.
TRKYHTR
Joe you are one of the guys I know that are legitimate and I have no question about you, your post was spot on about most pro staffers not being able to produce. Good post buddy.
I have to agree with Joe's opinion on the subject, and will add that I have always respected the highly professional manner that he has always done things
This type thread has surfaced before, most frequent forum users may not be aware of the dramatics circulating around people who, as Joe stated, couldn't kill a turkey in a butterball factory/ most of you could not even imagine the dramatics that a kid with a swelled up head can proliferate when people start to grow tired of the brainwash product pushing . Otherwise trouble free members start to resemble gremlins from the 1980's movie when they are fed after midnight .....then turn into little monsters , and become very defensive and aggressive about their new found public stature and go to great lengths to " keep the dream alive"
I have had people contact me before wanting to know how to pick out some prostaffers for their company ,and all I can say is that you best be dealing with a well balanced , mature person who portrays a good public image if themselves , I would also ask for credentials like proof of skill via photographs and calling contest credentials ~ I would suggest to a background check including arrest and conviction records because of past notorious incidents , that I will refrain from commenting on any further.
We had a surge of this activity and drama years ago , thankfully those days are long gone and we can now enjoy a more ego free atmosphere on the forum
I turned down a "pro-staff" postion with Preparation H, I figured it would just be a pain in the butt!
Quote from: barry on September 01, 2012, 03:04:23 PM
I turned down a "pro-staff" postion with Preparation H, I figured it would just be a pain in the butt!
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
I don't care who you are....that's funny right there!!!
This is not a turkey hunting story:
I suppose being asked to be a pro-staffer can be a good experience for "some" people.
I was once asked by a company that I had not approached, that I had not done any business with previously, and I accepted. They sent me a sample of their product, and I really liked it. It worked great, and was actually the nicest example of such product that I'd ever owned. I immediately purchased 3 more examples, in addition to the free one I had received. So here I was with 4 examples of said item to use and show people, and I knew how to demonstrate the product.
So I go and share the story of my good fortune with my biggest hunting buddy, and I could tell that he was both jealous, and felt that I hadn't earned it with a lifetime of proven success in that field of endeavor. I then discovered that my online "buddies" thought even less of it, and some questioned the whole pro staff part of the industry. I hadn't seen this coming.
I tried to openly defend the whole thing. People demonized me, talked about me like a dog, and said negative things to the company I was representing. The owner of the company started defending himself, but never mentioned my name one way or the other. He stated publicly that he had allowed someone else in his company to select pro-staffers. I felt betrayed, and sold the items I had purchased and received. I didn't ask for any of what happened, and without doing anything inappropriate, my name had become mud. They have a good product, but they treated me like crap.
I am unofficially on Waffle House's Pro Staff! One thing is for sure. I am highly qualified for it. Few have put away more bacon, eggs, and hash browns than yours truly!
Seriously, hunting gear advertising is big business and there are some great representatives such as Joe and there are countless others that couldn't and wouldn't know how to kill anything.
Pro Staffers are salespeople for said company. You don't have to know how to use a product to sell it, but you will be more successful if you do. You just have to be able to talk the talk, no walk the walk required.
There are some Pro Staffers out there that can do both. Then there are others who are gifted with gab and bs, but couldn't show case the product by demonstrating it's use or effectiveness. If I had a company I would be pretty picky about who I chose to sell my product.
I don't go to a lot of outdoor shows, but occasionally I'll go to a local turkeyrama. You get to see some pretty poor examples of Pro Staffers along with a handful of legitimate sellers. You think I'm bad about asking questions here, you should take me to a turkeyrama. I have a blast asking the obvious clueless Pro Staffers questions not only about their product, but also in the field scenarios and their experiences.
Ronnie, I would love to tag along with you to one of those!! I will drive to AL for that fun.
In some{not all}cases it means someone that is willing to put a sicker on the rear window of their pickup truck,nothing more.
Quote from: barry on September 01, 2012, 03:04:23 PM
I turned down a "pro-staff" postion with Preparation H, I figured it would just be a pain in the butt!
Dangit....I took the job >:(
You know this is a good one. I sit back and watch all the stuff that goes on around that word. I see folks on this site will not put it. (Not let them or they know they get called out) dont know.
Some of them want folks to think they are important or know something. Most have no clue other then what they and read or find from others. They have a back ground from something other then anything to do with the product.
Now as from a bussines side we have folks ask all the time if we need them. If we going to put on any in the future. Now this is when it get hard. If you pick someone then someone going to get mad. It almost like trying to hire someone in the shop. LOL I have came to the point that I would rather not have them at this time. They can hurt more then help when they try to help. I think it is best to let everybody that has the product feel the same as the rest and sale the product.
I agree that the term"prostaff" has been diluted and abused!! I like to think of it as you are representing a company, you have to believe in the product and be able to run a call, but it has a lot to do with the type of person you are! To me a prostaff is someone that is easily approachable, friendly and is knowledgeable. Someone that also puts the needs of others before their own, someone that wants to be able to postively impact others and will go that extra mile to helping others! You are a reflection of the company you represent!!!!!! I am a Hook's prostaff and I love it, we are such a close knit family, and its all about the customers!!! Do they want us to sell product? Of course, but its not all about selling, its about representing!!!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless
Quote from: drenalinld on September 02, 2012, 01:22:44 PM
Ronnie, I would love to tag along with you to one of those!! I will drive to AL for that fun.
No doubt I bet them conversations get pretty hilarious.
Lumpy, that is exactly why Hooks is successful! A great group of guys like you who genuinely want to help people and have some knowledge to share.
Well said, Lumpy.
I was asked by Jim Ward to represent his company, Warbird Calls. I used his calls (not exclusively) before I was asked to be a member. I can run a call. I am not a professional caller, but I can and do, get the job done. For myself and others. I offer advice when I can, and promote his calls when asked for an opinion. He is a great guy, and a good call maker. I enjoy being on his team, and was very excited the day he asked me aboard. There are perks for doing this, but I would do it pro bono, because it's fun and I believe in the man and his product..
there was a very funny video out once on this sight about being a prostaffer it was comical.wonder if someone could pull it back up?
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/12381030/waterfowl-pro-staffer
I think this may be the pro staffer video someone was referencing.
come to western pa and you will find all them type u want
:TooFunny:
Quote from: barry on September 01, 2012, 03:04:23 PM
I turned down a "pro-staff" postion with Preparation H, I figured it would just be a pain in the butt!
what constitutes it for me is being genuine and knoledgable about the industry your wanting to be in the salesman and fakes stick out like a sore thumb if you know anything about the products or field there made for you will pick'em out pretty quick
like hognutz i was asked to join warbirds fieldstaff .i was and still am very excited to be asked to represent a good call company as well as a great guy who makes a fine caller. i know there are others who have more experience than i do and surely deserve it more than me . i was asked to do the job so i will to the job to the best of my ability
about the only thing im a pro. at is managing turf grass but i can run a caller effectivly (sometimes) and answer a few questions about calls and hunting turkeys. although i have had some success with turkeys i never claim to know something that i clearly do not.
i try to sell a few calls along and continue to meet new people that otherwise i would have never had the pleasutre of meeting if not for talking turkey or turkey calls .it has been a very good experience for me i hope to continue apart of warbird fieldstaff team