Pitching to Big Dawgz
- Started
- Last post
- 19 Responses
- bombadil
I'm trying to get information about how agencies or individual freelancers get the high profile projects with companies like Nike, Sony, as examples. What is the pitching or bidding process? How does it work? Who do you talk to?
- robotron3k0
most biz pitches are "won" with handshakes deals, late at night in strip clubs
- bombadil0
Hmm. Must be other ways.
- chz0
freelancers who have work from the big dawgz in their folios more than likely were contracted by a large firm/agency to work on the account.
the chances of scoring work on that scope as an individual are pretty slim.
- harlequino0
Lots of "knowing a guy who knows a guy."
Lots of these relationships are brokered through account reps and sales folk.
Trade shows, industry pubs, cold calling, the works.
Kinda poopy, when you're mainly interetested in creating the work. But so it goes...
- bombadil0
right I understand that, but there is no question that there are some out there who are getting repeat gigs with big names and dealing somewhat directly with them. I'm curious about how those relationships are built. Would be nice if every company had a link on their site where you could submit a bid.
- Meeklo0
right I understand that, but there is no question that there are some out there who are getting repeat gigs with big names and dealing somewhat directly with them. I'm curious about how those relationships are built. Would be nice if every company had a link on their site where you could submit a bid.
bombadil
(Dec 14 05, 12:10)Like someone said earlier, designers with big clients in their portfolios had most likely been commisioned to do the work by a big agency. After a few years of doing so, you start making contacts and relations with these kind of clients, and one good project leads to a happy client, happy client talks about you in his next meeting and so on.
It's really difficult that sony will hire you, if you have'nt done work on any big project in the past. There is no easy solution to this, it takes years and years for most of us, designers with high project exposure, and most important contacts, will take the job before you do.
not trying to be negative, it can't hurt to try, but if you are thinking that you can call Robert Sony on his cell phone and request to design the next campaing for the new MD, chances are that he is going to hang up, even if your idea is great.
- harlequino0
Network, make friends, keep your work out there. The more people you know and work with the better. This way, when someone "knows a guy who knows a guy" for a gig, you'll be the guy.
Or the girl, if you are one. :P
- Meeklo0
another thing, back home I was working in the biggest post production studio in south america, this means one entire block, with 5 levels, and 2 theaters, open 24 hours. If it was on TV or the theater, chances are that it went throught that place.
I have heard, that they will bid, on projects (ridiculus ammounts of $$$) for simple projects, to big clients. and that includes a meeting in some place fancy, like a beach resort, and the client gets to stay a week with one guest at the spot everything "free" fancy dinner and show, at the end, that was included on the budget, but will you pick the guy that invited you to bahamas with your wife to talk about a project in a nice conference table at a hotel or a single designer working from his bedroom?
of course, this is just my theorie, so don't quote me on this..
:)
- harlequino0
Meeklo-that's very true from time to time. We just acquired ma jor deal for one of the larger cosmetic companies. Fairly decadent what was involved I am told.
- ********0
1. Start Networking.
2. Bend-over for homosexuals who have power.:O
- Mimio0
The marketing managers at larger corporations usually only deal with angencies, mainly because their staffs have creative, strategic and media buying services (more full service) than freelancers or single source providers.
- robotron3k0
IMO it really is relationship based and for the smart few, one single client contact for a large corp. will literally "make" a boutique agency. the the new agency will use all their money to hire more people, get an expensive loft somewhere, send out an expensive pr campaign, and end up on the cover of creativity mag as the next big breakthrough agency.
well pretty soon their client contact gets fired, the breakthrough agency breaks up, the creative director who started it all becomes a guest speaker at design conferences around the world, co-authors a few design books, eventually becoming irrelevant in design, decides to take a job at doing creative management in a large corporation because the money is great, hires out a small design group to handle the creative work... and the cycle continues.
- chz0
the other thing is that it is near impossible to manage large clients like sony or nike yourself while doing all the design work as well.
- bombadil0
Sounds like I need to hire some smooth talking sales guy or gal who already has some "in"s.
- UndoUndo0
JazX you gotta twisted mind son
;)
- chz0
hire an account manager/director, strategist, copywriter and receptionist while you're at it.
- Mimio0
lol
- madirish0
Meeklo- i didn't know you were from S.A. where are you from? Brasil? I know there is a lot of post work done there.
I am living in Peru and it is awesome! We are in Lima by the water.