How do I cut text out of an image?

[Jess28445320xylc]

LOL...laughing as I write this as I've never found help here but here we go:

I just want to cut the word 'SPONSORS' out of this image. I don't want a clipping mask. I don't want a full block text knockout. I have been Google/YouTube watching/reading tutorials that DO NOT work. 

I have done the 'Create Outlines', 'Compound Path' + 'Make'. 'Minus Front', etc....

So I will wait. Probably forever. For some help.

[Ton Frederiks]

Select both the text and the image.

In the transparency panel click Make Mask

Uncheck Clip

[Jess28445320xylc]

Sorry. At what point do I do this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93-UxVVQa2c This video did not work

https://www.google.com/search?q=cut+out+text+from+image+illustrator&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA966CA975&oq=cut&... This video did not work

https://fixthephoto.com/how-to-cut-out-text-from-an-image-in-illustrator.html This did not work

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Try to use an opacity mask as I described above.

[Jess28445320xylc]

Ah.

Why didn't you just say so?

Thank you very much.

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear you finally found an answer here that helped.