How To Pitch a TV Show – Part 4 – The Pitch Meeting

This is it! You have a meeting with a TV network. Congratulations! You’ve made it a lot further than most of the people with TV show ideas. So how do you not ruin this crucial moment? Simple. Just be yourself.

During the meeting don’t try to be something you are not. Network executives are regular people like you and me and they will see through someone who is disingenuous. Relax and trust in yourself and your idea. You didn’t come all this way to fail.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: The people in the meeting are analyzing everything YOU do. If you have a great idea that you are pitching them, how you present this idea to them will be key. Here are some tips to maximize your meeting.

Be Light and Funny – Break the ice so that they feel comfortable. This doesn’t meant you have to be hilarious (even though that might help), but at least tell them a joke. If it’s not funny, that’s okay, at least they will appreciate your attempt at lighting up the mood. Don’t get too intense, keep it light. Let them feel they don’t have to react to you, instead that they can just be themselves.

Get to the Point – Don’t waste people’s time with long, boring stories about nothingness. Take advantage of every second of your meeting. This is valuable time and you should use it to sell them you idea.

Don’t Make It Seem Like A Sale – Even though you are selling them the idea, don’t make it seem like it’s a sale. That’s pretty much a regular rule for any salesperson (which you are at this point). You need to make it sound like an organic conversation about your idea.

Make Your Point and Move On – Once you have concisely presented your point, and shown them any relevant materials (video presentation, etc.), then it’s time to move on! You have no idea how many people talk themselves out of opportunities and sure sales because they keep talking more than they need. Don’t gratuitously give information that they don’t need or want. RULE – If they don’t ask, you don’t answer.

End the Meeting – Before they get tired of you, after you think you’ve made all your points, thank them for their time and ask if they have any questions. If they have questions, answer them in short answers. Don’t elaborate when you don’t need to do so. If they don’t have any questions, then shake their hands and be on your way.

Once you leave the meeting you will probably feel relieved and that you made a ton of mistakes. Don’t take it personal if the meeting didn’t go as you planned, because most likely it won’t. Regardless of whether they buy your idea or not, you’ve done great! The learning experience will be more than valuable and the more meetings you get, the better you’ll get at conducting them.

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