How to pitch an idea?
- Started
- Last post
- 20 Responses
- harv
Ive been building up ideas for commercials and advertisements over the past few years. Its something that when It comes to mind I jot it down and do nothing with.
Im at a point where I think a couple of the ideas could actually be decent. How would I go about pitching these ideas to the companys intended. Also how would I better insure these ideas are used? story boards and what not!
I have no clue how to start my pitch and some feed back would be great. As well, how would I protect myself from people stealing my ideas once they are pitched.
Any help is welcome!
- i_monk0
Rotate from the shoulder and follow through.
- harlequino0
Do you know anyone at these companies?
- harv0
I dont, and from my work in photography I figure its the same kinda thing. You need to have an "in"
- Dancer0
I believe a top design agency in the UK called The Partners used to do this. They called them "sparklers": have an idea and approach the company with it. But I think they went alot on reputation
I guess I would get a name from the marketing department and approach them with the "what else have you got to loose, all I need is 30 mins of your time" tact. Make them sign a legal doc stating all ideas are yours. Collate a kick ass pres and then sell like a muddafucker.
So. What's the idea?
- utopian0
NDA, mandatory.
http://www.qbn.com/topics/622643…
- harv0
Dancer, thanks for the input! I was going on that same premise myself. Im still not sure If I need to film a small sample myself or produce a type of story boarding.
The one is to be marketed at sports or energy drink companys. With the idea of "practice makes perfect" and a "never stop" attitude. Thats all Ill say !:/ Ha
- Dancer0
If it is a big co. then they will have experience with story boarding and visualisation. They are wanna be designers after all
Good luck
- harv0
Any more ideas that will help me? Anyone!
- scarabin0
does it even work like this?
i've never heard of a random person telling an idea to a company and actually getting something out of it
- it NEVER works like this...that's why it's so funnymonospaced
- johndiggity0
don't pitch them. make them. do them. don't wait for validation. get your ideas out there. don't be afraid to fail. if something you do catches on, you will have achieved your goal anyway, without having to water it down or compromise.
- and, you won't be paid a FUCKING DIME!monospaced
- +1 @ monodMullins
- Ranger0
I remember some students did this with a maltesers ad idea, they claimed afterwards it was completely stolen from them, the ad agency went ahead and made the ad as they had presented it but with no credit to them.
How would you price your idea if they liked it?
- harv0
Bottom line though john is that I need/want to be paid for my time. I want to produce said commercial to have in my portfolio just because..but wouldnt it be smarted to have a company backing you?
scarabin, thats what I was thinking as well. Do I just forget about the it or do I go to an advertising firm and propose to them!
- harv0
Ranger, I would go over my production cost just as always but then I believe Id use some outside consulting in order to gauge a fair price for my services. Ive got a couple friends in the film/production industry and I think Id pull their brians for some info.
The production amount isnt really large what-so-ever and can be done on the cheap and with a very small crew. Thus my over head would be low.
- johndiggity0
there's a tradeoff of getting compensated, and getting your idea out there. if you produce it yourself, you can do exactly what you want and use it just the same. here's one example of a spec ad done for nike:
over 200,000 people have watched that video, and therefore been exposed to not only the nike brand, but the creators of the video and their philosophy.chances are if you go the conventional route: pitching the idea, getting sign off, getting it approved and produced, you are going to lose the ability to directly market yourself to the viewers—instead you relinquish that to the client's brand—and also, your ideas, for better or worse, will be compromised.
just keep in mind, you don't need permission from anybody to do the work you want to do. this is going to be the future of things in our industry—passionate people with good ideas creating content on behalf of the brand, whether sanctioned or not. payment will come in some form, whether monetary or as fame, adulation, and opportunity.
- eieio0
cold pitches fall flat like 99% of the time. Lots of places have 'unsolicited submissions will be ignored" sort of warnings with their contact info. Its like in film most good pitches that go somewhere are based connects and the filmmakers' latest work and thorough professional relationship. My suggestion if you really have good ideas worth pursuing than make one that could potentially turn the heads of the right people who'll listen to your other ideas for ads or whatever. but always sit tight on good ideas, its uncomfortable sometime I know.
- monospaced0
Simple answer: get a job where you can execute your ideas. Once you have that job, you won't have to ask "how" to pitch. Ridiculous.
- First bit, good advice. Second bit, douchebaggery.dMullins
- douchebaggery? maybe. truth...yesmonospaced
- johndiggity0
great insight via seth godin:
"When I was at MOMA last week, I saw a list of director and artist Tim Burton's projects. Here's the guy who's responsible for some of the most breathtaking movies of his generation, and the real surprise is this: almost every year over the last thirty, he worked on one or more exciting projects that were never green lighted and produced. Every year, he spent an enormous amount of time on failed projects.
A few: Catwoman, Conversations With Vincent, Dinosaurs Attack!, The Fall of the House of Usher, Geek Love, Go Baby Go, Hawkline Monster, Lost in Oz, Mai the Psychic Girl, Mary Reilly, Superman Lives, X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes.
One key element of a successful artist: ship. Get it out the door. Make things happen.
The other: fail. Fail often. Dream big and don't make it. Not every time, anyway.
Tim got his ideas out the door, to the people who decided what to do with them. And more often than not, they shot down his ideas. That's okay. He shipped.
Next!"
- harv0
Thanks for the insight everyone. At this point Im still unsure what route ill take but Ill definitely post when something takes shape!