That time I bungled the pitch.
Written by TMS CEO Monica Hammond
It's pretty hard to get a producer's attention. And if you're lucky enough to get a meeting, you must make a good first impression because second chances are rare.
A few years ago I was working feverishly to get my new show, The Spirits' Speakeasy, written and up in New York for Halloween season. I was planning to self-fund (yikes!) and self-produce (double-yikes!) the whole experience—after all, it's what we teach here at TheaterMakers Studio.
I put together a pitch deck (find it here) to present to potential venue partners highlighting the merits of the show and how we could bring new patrons to their venue (aka, bar). Since my venue budget wasn't huge, I looked for a space that required only a little cash upfront, with a plan to partner on a ticket split later.
Bingo! I found a very cool bar in the East Village. Dates were finalized, so things were rolling!
Now I just needed the money. Gulp.
Remember when I said I was planning to self-fund this?
Well, that was my backup plan if I couldn't find investors. I was able to initially raise $10k to put a deposit on the venue and hire the actors/crew I needed to produce a promotional film/photoshoot. Then I used those marketing assets to continue trying to drive interest from potential collaborators and investors.
Armed with a sizzle reel showcasing the experience, I started talking to people I knew who were interested in the theater, believed in my abilities, and, well, had money.
And lo and behold, I got a bite!
This potential investor (and Producer) asked for my deck. After reviewing my deck they had several questions and requested a meeting.
OMG! This is LITERALLY the dream scenario!
We got on Zoom, and...
I bungled it. The whole thing.
My nerves kicked in, my mind raced, and I couldn't succinctly express the opportunity I knew I was presenting. I ended up basically reviewing the pitch deck with them and answering a few questions, when I should have been able to state the following in under 30 seconds:
Who the show is for (my target demo spends big bucks on entertainment)
What the show/experience is (in 1-2 sentences, for context)
When the show is happening (dates make it real)
Where the show is taking place (site specific work!)
Why I'm doing it when I'm doing it (Spooky show + spooky season = homerun)
I left the meeting completely deflated. I had totally blown it. I lost my nerve and self-funded the whole thing.
Now, I'm extremely fortunate that I did end up recouping my investment in the production. But BARELY. And it certainly wasn't the commercial success I was hoping for.
And there is no way I would have recouped if I didn't have the marketing prowess that I learned working as the Director of Marketing in Ken Davenport's office for almost 8 years.
All of this is to say...PRACTICE YOUR PITCH.
And not just alone in the mirror. In front of other people. Friends. Family. Strangers.
Because you only get one shot to hook an investor or producer when the time comes.
That's exactly why we're hosting a free Pitch Webinar on Wednesday, July 29th at 11 AM ET / 8 AM PT, where we'll break down what makes a compelling theatrical pitch, the biggest mistakes TheaterMakers make, and a simple framework you can use to confidently talk about your show in any room.
And if you're ready to take your pitching skills even further... join us at the webinar for a special announcement ;)
👉 Click here to reserve your spot for the free Pitch Webinar on July 29 at 11:00 AM ET.
