Life's a Pitch Session Notes

Review of the Brief

• As an illustrator, you will always be working with other people in one way or another. 
• Plan and propose a presentation that will inform the panel about our business idea. 
• What skills and services do we have to offer? As a group and also individually within the team. 
• Target market. Consider marketing and how to reach the audience. 
• Who is the competition? What makes us different or better and will allow us to compete?
• Cost, charges and financial considerations. 
• Structure of the business/studio. What are the roles that need to be filled for the business to work? Who will be responsible for what? Does this involve any collaboration with other disciplines such as graphic design?
• How to promote the services we provide. Who is best to talk to? Through what methods should people be reached? Networking. 

Figure out my own responses to these points and then we can all combine them into our group presentation that everyone contributes to. Answer these questions in response to myself and in response to the business. This may help my own understanding of where I belong individually. 

Summarise and evaluate the presentation and project after we have done the presentation. All blogging must be completed by this. Reflect on the success and how it could inform future pitches for my own professional practice. What have I learnt?

Other points

• Agencies/agents - it is in their interest to talk to people, become familiar with that people want and individuals who would be interested in certain things. They would promote the people who belong to the agency. 

A 10 minute presentation - best shown on screen. 

At least 50% of the presentation needs to be about selling the business. 

Be aware of the grading criteria - use this is a guideline. 
Blogging to be complete by the 8th Feb. 

Start up and Project Costing Rates

• Rental costs
• Computers and other technology
• Software
• Utility bills and internet
• Food and travel
• Studio equipment
• Insurance
• Materials
• Salaries

Presentation - things to consider and include

• Who we are as a business, put a face to the voice and make ourselves familiar to other people.
• Why choose us?
• What do we stand for? Manifesto/mission statements/where we want to be. 
• Costings, consider a yearly basis but only very simply. 
• Aims and objectives
• Members
• Ownership and management, 
• Start up finances and ongoing finances. 
• Our target market. 
• Distribution. 
• Exit strategy. 
• Long term plan. 
• Branding - how does this work on products and promotional material?
• Website and how it functions
• Aspirations for further down the line
• How to get in touch. Location and contact details. 
• Tone of voice and appropriateness of imagery. 
• Spell check and grammar. 

Part 2

• 10 minute presentation which summarises my reflection of the course to date (MAY).