The Elevator
Pitch Guide
60 seconds. One camera. Your project in front of our patrons.
Why are we doing this?
This is the first year we are doing this at the Wedgwood Annual Event & Showcase. It’s easy to get so focused on pitching that we miss the relationships.
The Elevator Pitch gives your project a dedicated moment in front of our patrons, so that during the rest of the event you’re free to focus on what matters most at Wedgwood Circle: relationships.
We want your time here to lean into investing in the community while being able to promote your project — this is our way to do both.
The Annual Elevator Pitch is built for one thing — your projects.
You step in, the clock starts, and you tell us what you’re making and how you need support in 60 seconds.
This pitch works best for asks under $25,000.
You can mention a larger investment need, but the format is built for a one-time gift. Be specific. The best asks are small enough to say yes to. For example:
- a development writing fee
- the funds to finish an album
- the rights to a piece of IP you’re just shy of securing
No stage, no judges’ table, no waiting your turn.
Not a primary funnel for million dollar investments. Not a live pitch-fest in front of patrons. Pitches aren’t reviewed or screened during the event. Recording will be collected there and shared with our patrons afterward.
Think donors, not investors.
Our patrons: people who love giving toward art that’s good, true and beautiful. You’re not selling a stake in your project. You’re inviting someone to help it happen.
Step in. Hit record.
- 01
Find it
The elevator booth is located in Liberty Hall. Open Thursday Nov 12th 8:00 AM - 11:30 PM, you can’t miss it.
- 02
Step in
Follow the prompts to identify your name, project and discipline category.
- 03
Go
The 60-second countdown begins. Hit record.
- 04
Have fun with it!
This is meant to be a time to let your work shine. Be at play.
Five things, 60 seconds.
- 1What it is. Your project in a sentence.
- 2Why it matters. Why the world is better with it.
- 3Why you care. The part only you can say.
- 4Who it’s for. Your audience.
- 5What you need. The ask that gets you there.
What makes a great pitch
Short is sweet. In a noisy world — less is often more.
Keep it simple. Convey the key information and don’t get lost in the weeds. You want to hook someone in, and your goal is that by the end of your elevator pitch, they want to know more and will ask follow up questions or will want to get more details (budget, pitch deck, etc.) Think big picture — why are you passionate about this project? Why should whomever you are pitching want this project to succeed? Why is your project important now? How does this project align with “good, true and beautiful entertainment for the common good.”
As a former Studio Creative Executive for many years, the most memorable pitches I ever heard always communicated not only what something was about but why I should care about it. Whether we were living in the perfect cultural moment, driven by the passion of the speaker, or simply hitting home a transcendent truth — always invite your audience into your why. And it doesn’t have to be complicated — one sentence is all it takes!
I help craft pitches in Hollywood every day, and here’s what I’ve learned. In the Wedgwood Circle, you’re pitching affinity investors, so lead with why it matters and what it will do in the world. Of course, the craft is assumed to be solid, so make it clear why you’re the one to bring it to life.
Be at
play.
Find the elevator in Liberty Hall on Thursday, November 12th. Let your work shine.
Website + branding design by Dave Hansow
