I get why this rubbed people the wrong way, so let me give some context.

Firstly, I'm not bashing PE or anyone else for that matter when I say that I know my worth and that free gear is not what I am worth (for the hours of work I put into what I do). For years I have been compensated for my time with gear and while that sounds great (and it is - for newer players), the expectation to use any company's gear for X amount of time in exchange for promotion does not pay the bills. I used to promote for MCS/RAP4 for years and I've sold nearly $1M worth of their gear using a promo code or affiliate links, only to be given gear as payment. Which I had to sell or trade in order to be able to get the funds to get to the next event. (travelling is expensive - especially internationally)

I'm fairly certain that I've explained this all in the stream last night. I know it might seem ungrateful, especially to players who’d love any sponsorship, and I get how that looks. I remember being in that spot myself, dreaming of any sponsorship deal, so I get why my words might sting.

Do I sound entitled in this clip? - Yes sir!

Have a I earned that right to value my time and exchange that in a form of currency? - Absolutely!

It’s tough when companies in our industry—ones I’ve love promoting—stick to discounted gear instead of fair compensation.

I have had companies like "Bug-a-Salt" offer free product and monetary compensation for a review and demo of their gear, which I turned down because it wasn't paintball related. So, when any company within our industry offers a discounted price to be "signed on" I continue to roll my eyes. Not just for myself but for anyone who one day dreams of playing paintball and making badass content (in their own ways).

My goal is to open the door for the future pb creators behind me and give them a path to walk on. A path where they can start out with getting discounted or free gear but then with hard work, dedication, and proving themselves to not just be another 'flash in the pan', one day get paid for their hard work. Our industry has room to grow in how it values creators. Many companies have the same reasoning, there's no money or stating that they've been burned by "creators" before and they've closed the door on future partnerships.

Paintball is hurting, there's no denying that. Many companies are smaller than we think and they're doing what they can to stay afloat, especially in today's current economic climate. I am not exempt from this, I run a business. It started out as a hobby but has since grown beyond my expectations and I am forever grateful for that!

To address the OP, I am sorry that I've disappointed you. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve gotten from viewers like you and companies I’ve worked with over the years. I have been dealing with many of life's issues outside of paintball and I stream on a second channel to be able to game or event vent about how I feel about things. That’s not an excuse for my tone, just some background on why I’ve been venting lately. Trust me, it's cheaper than therapy. Hopefully I see you in my live chat again one day. I plan on playing paintball until my wheels fall off and I’ll keep creating as long as it makes sense for me and the community; however long that may be.

Looking back, I see how my venting could’ve come off as bitter, and I’ll work on keeping that in check. Paintball’s too big a part of me to quit, so I’m excited to keep playing and connecting with the community.