Clearly define what you hope to gain from sponsorship. List exactly what you need currently in terms of money, supplies and media support. Know exactly what you hope to gain through sponsorship and the minimum you will accept.
Research the types of companies you feel would consider sponsoring you. Think big, as even very large corporations will sponsor bands if they feel the bands can bring their product to an untapped market. Consider companies of any type you would feel comfortable sponsoring you. Research any type of company, not just musical instrument retailers or manufacturers.
Contact radio stations that play your style of music. Ask the accounting department for a demographic report. These reports have the names of the companies that gather the data. Some of the bigger companies in this field include Tapscan, Scarborough and Prism. These reports will detail exactly the sort of people who listen to the type of music you play.
Create a sponsorship presentation of approximately two to three minutes. The presentation should include the demographic information from the radio station, detailed information about your proposed tour schedule including dates and venues.
Contact local companies first before reaching out to the biggest companies on your list. You may gather enough support and sponsorship locally that you do not need to pursue broader sponsorship.
Contact larger companies including multinational or foreign businesses. Companies with a huge market share or from distant locations may believe you could bring their brand to hard-to-reach, or niche markets.
Keep a detailed spreadsheet that records the name of every company you contact. The contact person at each company and the current status of your communication. This can help you avoid double submitting and can prove useful if you plan on resubmitting at a later date.