the pitch

I was in my first school play in the fourth grade. I played Mac, one of the main five kids who explored all the various winter holidays. The following year, following my theater bug, I landed the lead role as Tom Sawyer in Tom Sawyer’s Adventures. Standing in front of an audience, transporting them to Hannibal, Mississippi with tears, laughter, and tremendous applause, I basked in the glory. When I took my final bow, I knew what I had become, a brand I would never be able to shake… I was a theater kid.

And while I continued to sing, dance, and act all around Portland through middle and high school, performing in front of countless people, nothing could compare to standing in the boardroom at R/GA two days ago. In front of peers, professors, and professionals… I had never been so nervous. Other members of the industry who each in their own right had so much talent and insight to give, taking time from their day, to see us present what we had created. When it ended, nerves subsided, I was finally able to be proud of the work we did and soak in the feedback we got.

1. Come to the room early and get a feel of the space. 2. You’re presenting this for the first time so the client has no set idea of how it should look. 3. You have one shot to really sell the idea before it becomes tone deaf. 4. Give yourself permission to listen to each other during the presentation. 5. Let your shoulders down. And importantly, 6. create tension by leading the audience to one answer before dealing them the unexpected but necessary one.

Once again, I’d like to thank my team for all the dedicated, creative work they put into this and where we’re off to next.

kyle heiner / 5.11.17