The Perfect Pitch

Okay, so this entry is not actually about that kind of a pitch. Its not even remotely as exciting as Chewbacca or baseball. But at least it now has a cool picture.

So we have a really cool new campaign that we are working on in the BYU adlab, for a really cool semi-new client that shall not be named for legal reasons. Anyway our fearless leader Jeff Sheets decided to put all of the new creatives in charge of coming up with ideas for a platform to launch this cool new campaign for a cool semi-new client that shall not be named.

The deal was this. We were to split into groups of two, (or parternships, I don't know how to phrase that. Apparently not partnerships because spell check is telling me that isn't a word. Scratch that, partnerships is a word, I actually misspelled it. Thanks spellcheck, sorry I doubted you) and come up with an idea which was to be submitted by friday by email. Vague I know, but this is about all I can share. I can say this, the platform is supposed to help certain peers connect and support each other.

 Anyway, my friend Niles and I decided to work on it since he does art and I do copy (or write for all you none advertisers out there). An unstoppable indestructible, infallible, unfailing team right? We came up with our idea, (a cool new campaign involving youtube) and felt like we had a solid shot at scoring this one.

While writing our pitch I was feeling all smug about our unstoppable, indestructible, infallible, unfailing teams creative genius when in walks two of the other creatives. Mmmmm, competitors. Ready to bask in the glory of our groups awesomeness I ask them how the project is going for them. I had just finished typing up the pitch and felt like we had nailed it, nay screw driven it and then bolted it to the wall. Not only was our idea solid, my pitch showed how it was going to accomplish our goals and why it was so awesome!

I mean what can compete with our unstoppable, indestructible, infallible unfailing creative awesomeness?

God can.

Yup, the other team sat down and said, "I think this was like direct revelation and inspiration man."

Oh crap.

"I mean we just sat down and said, 'this is what it needs to be'. Then the idea just flowed out of us, seriously it was like straight up".

Well there goes my pitch.

I mean it doesn't matter how good a pitch is, you can't really beat, "this idea came from a higher power".

So they go on talking as my haughty "I'm the best" feeling dwindles inside of me when a thought occurs. A good thought! A light in the darkness saving all else! A single ray bursting forth, casting out the darkness and filling my world with light, wonder, prideful light again!

But we've still got a shot, what if there idea is horrible and they just thought it was inspiration? Yeah, I bet their idea isn't that amazing, it probably isn't even good. In fact its probably hideous! It will probably make Jeff recoil in horror at what his students have created! Wohoo!

Nope. Their idea was amazing. It was simple, and it hit the problem right at the main source. It unraveled before me presenting solutions to problems that we hadn't even considered! It was like watching a tree grow in fast motion. This, this was creativity at its finest. This metaphorical  tree flourished until, until...until it blocked out all the light that had been bursting forth from my one good (but actually really bad) ray of hope before. Well, how am I supposed to respond to that?

"oh cool. Ours is coming along too."

Next time I'm definitely going with the inspiration pitch.



Note: If there is one thing I've learned so far in advertising, its that you should always go with the best idea and that best idea isn't always yours. I actually really liked their idea and kind of hope it gets picked so that we can all work on it. So don't worry, I'm not bitter. I didn't cry myself to sleep and eat a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream that night from Smiths grocery store.