So you have impressed the pants off your boss, you have been given your button, you are now a Mademan. Potentially you have also been given the opportunity to become a sponsor and take in associates. This guide has been written for you, to help you in obtaining an associate and directing them to be the best Mafioso they can be.

Part 1 - Getting an Associate

a) Probably the best case scenario, and the easiest one for a sponsor, is being approached by someone whose bloodline has experience in this thing of ours. They might know your bloodline from Sunday church or being around the neighbourhood. They might recognize your leader and want to for under a Mademan of theirs. Either way, your work is negligible after speaking with them and ensuring they will fit into your family culture.

b) The second best scenario for a sponsor would be a brand new bloodline, one that has never worked on our shores before. These men and women are eager to learn and are in need of a sponsor to show them the way. They may not be clear on how to join a family so they might need contact by the experienced Mademen of our society to get going. A little bit of help and kindness could very well end up with them asking to join under your watch.

c) Lastly there is the worst case scenario, the people who will only join as your associate upon the offer of a signing bonus. One would have to wonder how loyal and dedicated an associate is that has to be bought to join a crew is. The offer of protection, a strong family core and guidance should be enough for the thugs walking our streets that a payment is not required. Each to their own however.

Part 2 - Turning this Associate Into Mademan Material

a) Were you lucky enough to snag an associate who had journals from generations past to learn from? Maybe they followed their mother or father around as a youngster and knew all the tricks, rules and guidelines already. Your job is easy then. You do not have to slave over teaching them everything, possibly only a few crew specific expectations is all they need to be guided on. Lucky you!

b) Did you find yourself someone new to these shores? If so you will have to work a little bit harder. It will now be your job to teach them everything you know. How to stay under the radar of the cops, how to earn money, how to move up the ranks efficiently and possibly how to use that gun of theirs. It will take hard work on your end but the rewards of watching someone grow and flourish under your guidance should be enough of a reward to make it all worthwhile.

c) Did you have to beg, plead or even pay your associate to join you? If so you really have your work cut out for you. You may still luck out and end up with someone who fits into category b (although I can almost guarantee you will not end up with someone from category a in this manner), however you have taken a chance that now you have an associate who thinks everything in life should be handed to them. You could have major struggles in teaching them the way this thing of ours works. You have little to no idea of their personality and could very well clash with them in a working relationship. Getting an associate who has been paid to join to be a contributing member of your crew will be hard work. Good luck to you.

There you have it, a concise guide to how to get yourself an associate and how to teach that associate the way of this world. Hopefully the experience will be enjoyable for each and everyone one of you.

Enjoyable recitation indeed!

I'm sure young and old alike will benefit from this.

There are people who will only join upon the offer of a signing bonus? I'm shocked by this. I know I should not be, I mean, let's face it in my line of business I spend most of the day trying to float to the top of the gutter dodging the scum. But for someone to be so utterly disrespectful as to demand payment to start working, I am staggered.

This is a tangent, I apologise, but I couldn't not express my suprise.

A signing bonus could mean many things, Pat_Harper.

Money...bodyguards...promise of rank/auth. I've seen it before but remember this: Even those that join under such terms can have their value.

Ancalagon, i've never know of that to happen before and im stunned to learn that some mere thugs have the testicular fortitude to demand something like that.

Back on topic though, nice read Whatsername.

When i get my button, i will not accept people who require bribes to be associated with me. your payoff is me taking you under my wing and showing you the ropes of this thing of ours. Id be more than happy to supply them with some start up money for drug units, with the instructions to pass it on when it becomes there time to take on associates. but i will never be extroted so that they will become my associate.

Personally, I think that this guide should be nailed on to every head quarters wall for everyone to read. I think that everyone could learn something from these simple guidelines. Even take this as refresher course for even the most veteran of sponsors. I think that some have lost sight of what the mission of being a sponsor really is and see it more as a "holding tank" ritual when it clearly isn't.

Though there are no nailed down guidelines for being a sponsor, I have never heard of people offering signing bonuses. Offer help, offer advice, but don't offer money to people who haven't earned it yet. Money is our bible despite what anyone else tells you.

Pulling on his cigarette Marcus smiles from ear to ear.

I don't think anyone could've nailed this subject better. However, one thing I'd like to add if I may.

There is a vast difference between bribing a youngling to join you, and offering them a bit of 'get going' assistance. What do I mean by that? Simply put, tossing them 25-50k to help them get their drug trade situation handled.

As sponsors we've got to remember, every dime they make we get a piece of, as such its vital to get them up and running in a quick like fashion. Not only to make us money, but to get that addiction we've all come to love flowing through their veins.

Tipping his hat to Whatsername, Marcus steps back into the shadows and listens to the responses still yet to come.

Marcus I do not disagree that there is a benefit in getting associates rolling in this world. I just believe that offer is better made after an business arrangement has been made, not as an opening line to begin discussions towards one.