Maybe it’s because I have been in this line of work for so long but maybe it’s also the combination of nothing surprises me anymore and just a casual attitude by so many. The fact is that I see far too many people sending out pitches that are completely irrelevant.
While the above will be met with no response whatsoever or just a “No, we’re going to pass,” the fact is that the damage runs deeper than not getting what you were going after.
If you are a country artist and you pitch yourself to a venue that only books jazz music, you’re going to miss out on a gig while at the same time leaving a bad impression on the person there who manages the booking. They’re going to think that you didn’t care enough to do your research and are just sending the same pitch to any and every club you can find an email address for.
| Related posts: |
| Is Your Brand Reputation Referral-Ready? |
| Let's Make These Changes for 2025 |
A similar case can be made for an author who is asking people in a Facebook group to please go buy their newest book, when it turns out that, regardless of your genre, that’s not your audience. If the members of that online community are other writers, you’ve just wasted your and their time.
Are you a creative and are sending out pitches to get booked for an interview on a podcast but are taking the spray and pray method? I can assure you that a lot of recipients of your email are going to get turned off on account of your subject matter having nothing to do with what their show is about.
For example, if you are a visual artist and you blast out a pitch to a lengthy list of podcasters, imagine the reaction of someone who does a show about personal finance. They’re going to wonder if you ever even looked at what their show is in the first place – and they’re going to remember you for all the wrong reasons.
If there is a show on one of the local network TV affiliates in your market that simply focuses on health and wellness and you want to come on there to talk about your new children’s book inspired by your son’s class having gone to the zoo, they’re going to wonder why in the world you’re sending them a guest pitch.
It’s clear that on my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast I interview guests who are having success in entertainment, primarily music. So, when someone sends me a pitch about a CEO from the tech world, my time is wasted reading a long message that has no relevance, and you’ve made a bad name with me.
As a publicist, I am careful to practice what I preach and make sure that I am pitching my clients to relevant opportunities. After all, I might want to come back with another pitch on behalf of another client. So, if your first experience with me was good, I’m in a better position to have my next pitch accepted too.
If you’re paying a publicist and they’re simply blasting out to anybody and everybody, ask them why. I’m guessing that they’re providing you with a list of whom they’ve pitched to on your behalf. When you see entries that seem like they’re not fit for you and what you do, call them to their attention. After all, you’re spending money for them to get you opportunities, not to hit Send on an email blast that has as many unqualified as there are qualified recipients on there.
I have heard from independent bookstores who say that they can tell when an author is hitting up every brick and mortar location they can find and have never actually even visited the store(s) they’re sending a pitch to for carrying their book and/or having an in-store author signing event!
Not to overdo it, but you wouldn’t walk into a car dealership and ask them if they sell little kids’ bikes with training wheels, would you? I know that seems far-fetched, but that’s because you haven’t seen the pitches that I receive about individuals that I should consider for a guest interview on my podcast.
Committing this infraction leaves a bad reputation behind for your business, product, or service as well as your own name. I wrote back to a pitch that had nothing to do with “Now Hear This Entertainment” and pointed out to the sender that their company has committed this offense on multiple occasions. In other words, I now am going to have a bad impression of their agency overall, regardless of who has authored the email.
If you’re in a rock band and send a pitch to a venue that only books Latin music, they’re going to think ill of your whole group when one of your bandmates sends them a pitch too. “Like I already told (name), your music is not a fit for what we book here.” Gulp.
Take the extra time to look into who/what you’re pitching and give yourself a better chance to get Yes responses instead of, “Do your homework” replies.
For more than twenty years I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more. What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to? Connect with me so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.