Judges Warn Against “Cookie Cutter” Presentations In oOh!Media’s Million Dollar Pitch Comp

Judges Warn Against “Cookie Cutter” Presentations In oOh!Media’s Million Dollar Pitch Comp
B&T Magazine
By B&T Magazine



Top media executive judges for oOh!media’s Million Dollar Pitch challenge are looking for a combination of clarity, passion and flare from entrants’ video pitches.

However, the judges cautioned they definitely don’t want to see any “cookie cutter” presentations.

Entries close this Sunday, 13 September, after which five finalists will be chosen. Enter here.

The ultimate winner of oOh!’s Million Dollar Pitch campaign will win an Out of Home campaign valued at $1 million to run across oOh!’s unmissable sites and a round-the-world site tour, taking in world famous outdoor locations including New York’s Times Square, London’s Piccadilly Circus and one of the world’s biggest interactive & marketing festivals in Austin, Texas.

The judging panel, made up of some of Australia’s leading media executives, will announce the winner on October 9.

“Pitching is a really important aspect of business. It’s clearly a skill that we all need to develop and refine but ironically it’s something that we rarely practice,” Brendon Cook, CEO of oOh!media, and one of the judges, said.

“Often times the live pitch situation in front of your boss and an important client or prospect is also your practice time.”

“So, we’ve launched the Million Dollar Pitch contest to give people at all levels a chance to show their pitching style and ability. We’re offering an unmissable prize to the best pitch team as determined by the Million Dollar Pitch judging panel.”

To inspire/guide entrants oOh! has called on its judges, all leaders in the media and marketing industry in Australia, to share their experience with wannabe pitch masters.

Three of the judges – Brendon Cook, Stuart Tucker, GM of brand sponsorship and marketing for the CBA, and Simon Rush, founder and owner of Razor and Joy – offer some insights in to what they’ll be looking for.

Rush advised entrants: “Have clarity around what you’re saying.”

Tucker warned that “cookie cutter” presentations “won’t cut it,” as far as he’s concerned.

Cook is looking for a strong mix of passion and wants clarity about what is being pitched: “It needs to be succinct but it also needs to have a power close.”

He also said, to sustain interest and make an impact, it’s important the pitcher talks with flare in the style and content of their presentation.

Tucker added: “It should flow from start to finish. Keep it simple.”

And for Simon Rush, passion about your pitch and the product, as well belief in what you are saying, is vital if you want to get his attention: “In previous competitions I’ve judged I couldn’t understand 90 per cent of what was being said.”

The judges panel also includes Leo Roberts, group marketing manager, integrated marketing communications at Coca Cola South Pacific, Sunita Gloster, CEO at the AANA and Derek Green, executive creative director, Ogilvy Sydney.




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