The Power to Pitch

Artist’s Strategy’s primary goal is to empower actors. Empowering them to take control of the things they often feel like they have no control over. This comes in many forms, including but not limited to relationship building, marketing, creating financial stability and, of course, self producing.

When we think of self producing, we often think of things like short films, cabarets and play readings. The basics of which still include us not only figuring out the art of it but also how we’re going to market it and pay for it. Those nagging details alone have a tendency to discourage us from following through.

“I’ll just wait for one of my friends to produce something and then join that.”

“I don’t want to produce, I just want to act.”

Well, without getting into my thoughts on that powerless, counter productive mindset in general, let’s talk about a taboo idea; pitching.

Personally, COVID has offered me the opportunity to explore aspects of our industry I’ve only recently discovered. Film/TV pitches have become a forefront of my weekly work. As I look ahead, with auditions only starting to begin again and knowing that most projects I could produce would still take some time to get off the ground safely, I’m looking well ahead and well beyond the scope of what I believed was even possible for all us cogs in the wheels.

No matter what the medium, people are hungry for content. This includes artistic directors, network executives and your fan base.

To be clear, pitching an idea / opportunity in no way needs to be limited to Film and TV. Pitch a show to a director who may bring it to a theater, pitch a potential collaboration between you and someone you’ve been wanting to work with for some time, pitch a web series to a producer or a developmental concept to your alma mater.

In preparation for your pitch, make sure you have:

• A well defined concept
• A reason for why it’s unique to whomever you’re pitching to
• A sense of what audience you’d be reaching
• A scope of potential cost
• Solid materials to support and clarify your vision
• A list of what else you may be bringing to the table (connections, money, marketing angles)

Having the confidence to pitch reveals how much you believe in what you have to offer. It puts you on equal footing with “higher ups” in your industry and opens to the door for future conversations well beyond “getting cast”.

This may feel like brand new territory for most but if you know your value and believe in the sustainability of your business, stepping outside of your comfort zone to find the power to pitch could take things to a whole other level.

Also by Artist’s Strategy:

Book the Office, Not the Gig

The “Bad” of Becoming an Actor

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