When Camille Evans needs to secure a sponsor she is at an advantage having worked on both sides of the money table. As the senior marketing director for Noise Marketing, Evans was responsible for selecting underwriting opportunities for brands such as Bombay Sapphire. Now, as the CEO of CME Management Group, she is the one requesting sponsorship for her events such as the popular series, Inspired in NY, which has honored talent such as Roberta Flack, Anthony Hamilton, Doug E. Fresh and more. Previously, Evans worked her way up the record label industry ladder holding positions in marketing, A&R and product management for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Outkast and Toni Braxton. Rolling out spoke with Evans about how she secures and keeps sponsors in this midst of a challenging economic climate.
What are your key tips on attracting financial and in-kind sponsorships?
Create a plan and figure out the components in the event that are going to be attractive to the sponsor. They want people to come to an event to be able to touch, feel, taste and know what this new brand is about, and then inevitably buy the product and to tell other people about it. So make sure that your event is press-driven because getting that picture on Wire Image or Getty is priceless for them. They can use that to say this person was affiliated with them. That’s a secret to get sponsors excited about wanting to be a part of what you’re doing.
What is essential to developing long-lasting relationships with sponsors?
You have to accountable. We always give a poster report and we send the client photos of the event the very next day. I include who was there and how many people came to the event. You have to be really strategic because people aren’t going to just continue giving you money if you can’t prove what you said you were going to do. The post wrap-up is very important to sponsors.
Where do you see yourself going in the next five years with the company?
… I really want to be a powerful woman and I want to open up the door for other women. So I don’t know where I’m going to be. All I know is that I’m just running through the fire and I’m not looking back.
