Some companies or broadcasters will put a commission out to tender,
which means that they will openly advertise that they are looking
for a company to produce a particular piece of work. They will then
sit and wait for a number of companies to write a proposal or pitch
to present to them.
Be concise and well prepared and include details such as the format,
the aim or objective, the target audience, the slot, the contributors,
a draft budget and any development information you have already
carried out.
The actual pitch can be very daunting if you are not experienced,
so it is important to find out as much as you can about the person
you are pitching to beforehand. It may also be helpful to speak
to other producers who are familiar with pitching and commissioning
- talking to the people who know what they are doing can be very
valuable and you can learn a lot from them.
Above all, make sure that you have a good idea. Be confident when
pitching and make sure that you have done your homework. There is
no substitute for good research and you need to ensure that you
won't be caught out on the day as you will only get one chance at
selling your idea.
