Team Manager Mike Sinclair on Working in the Skateboarding Industry
Published 2/19/2014 by Rob Meronek
Mike Sinclair has been working in the skateboarding industry on both the am/pro side and the business side spanning over 20 years, much of that time working with us on all kinds of skateboarding events. I had a chat with him on everything from social media, to how he came to run side projects like ESPN's Real Street.
How did you get your foot in the door for your first skate industry job, and when was that?
I skated for Endless Grind Skateshop for a long time when I lived in North Carolina. Reggie Barnes who owns it asked me if I would manage the team for him since Eastern Skateboard Supply was taking off and he was focused on that. My duties were mainly keeping track of whose entry fees got paid for when we went to contests. I think everyone from our area just said they were on Endless Grind and tried to charge it to Reggie at all the local contests. Reggie paid me $100 a month to do this for him. I was beyond hyped! Later, I worked at the shop and just did it for free or until the contest scene died out in the mid 90's.
Sinclair's Kings of Cacka Part
How long have you been a team manager?
If you count my days at Endless Grind, I would say 20 years deep. If you count actually working out in California and doing it for skate companies, I have been doing this for different brands since January 2001.
How has social media changed your job from way back when you first started to how it is today?
Social media didn't really change my job, it just sort of evolved my job and position. I only wanted to do the Instagram for @tumyeto and it's just a behind the scenes look at what is going on from all of the Tum Yeto brands: Toy Machine, Foundation, Dekline, Pig, and Bro Style. We have Tyler Culbertson who is now our Social Media / New Media contact down at Tum Yeto. He is in charge of all the Facebooks, Twitter, Instagrams, and all the other social networks. I used to have to go on tour, download photos, and upload them on to our brands' websites every night. It was a 2 hour a night job after a 15 hour day. Glad those days are over. I guess social media has made my job a little easier.
Do you take any special steps to prevent another boner from your team getting out there? How were sales of Johnny's board affected after that incident? Better or worse?
Ha, to be honest I think Johnny's nude photo helped him out. He was in a low and then the boner photo surfaced and Johnny was back in the mix and the talk of the town. It was my idea to have Ed do a Selfie Series. At first I just wanted Ed to print the actual Johnny photo on a board and have it come in a black bag like the old Colvin board did back in the day. Those would have been collectors! I like the Selfie Series and of course Johnny's is my favorite! I'm pretty sure that board sold out right away.
You've always done side projects like judging and consulting on contests and event formats. Now we're working with you on X Games and Real Street. Can you tell me about how ESPN Real Street came to be? That was your idea you pitched, right?
Yeah, I like doing as many projects as I can handle as long as they don't interfere with my full time job at Tum Yeto. Tod Swank (owner of Tum Yeto) gave me the blessing to do as much as I wanted as long as I handle all of my Tum Yeto duties first and keep him informed of what I am working on. I can't thank him enough for that type of freedom. This year will be the 5th year of Real Street. I pitched the idea to the two guys that I had always worked with at ESPN and they loved the idea since they could also use the "Real Series" for all the X Games disciplines. I only wanted to work on skateboarding since it's all I know and they were down to have me just work on Real Street while they branched out with the other Real Series. I really wanted to do a contest were it focused on more of the guys you don't usually see at the X Games. Last year Danny Montoya had my favorite part. He got 4th place, just missing the big money and a medal. It's skaters like Danny that I get hyped on seeing in Real Street. That's what Real Street is in my opinion and the contest was made for guys like him.
Danny Montoya's Real Street Part
So your job is pretty cool where they'll let you do side projects within reason as long as you're taking care of your main responsibilities. Nice, that's how we run it at The Boardr, too.
Yeah, I've been doing side projects as long as I can remember. Many, many moons ago when I was a sponsored skater, I worked at a furniture moving business just to make enough money to eat, buy gas, and share a room somewhere. Even though skating was a side project, I saw it the other way around. The furniture business was my side project since skating is all I ever wanted to do and be involved with.
It seems like most team managers these days have to double up on job duties, like being a filmer or a photographer or a marketing person. What other skills besides basic adult babysitting help you do a better job as Team Manager for Tum Yeto? Marketing, math, computers, tech, skate nerdness, etc?
I think you have to be a great multi-tasker and never complain about having to do too much. I don't complain because I love what I do. I'm multi-tasking as I do this interview. Dan Z is hitting me up about a photo right now. It never stops.
Toy Machine on King of the Road
Would you start a retail shop in today's skateboarding environment? Why or why not?
For sure! If I had the money and support to do so, I would no questions asked. I would call my shop Hard Times Skateshop, as a tribute to my first sponsor, Blockhead Skateboards, and the way things are going right now. It's crazy out there right now, but I would do it in a second to support the brands that support the industry, big or small. I got love for them all!
Blockhead's Recycled Rubbish Video
Below are some photos Mike sent over. Thanks for the insight on a rad job in skateboarding, Mike!
Photos
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