Monday, August 22, 2011

To Pitch or Not to Pitch by Linda Glaz

The Elevator Pitch
We’re told to have it all nicely wrapped in bows and ready. But when do we actually use an elevator pitch? Does the moment EVER arrive? Okay, been told when not to pitch—the bathroom’s off limits.

That’s a given! Don’t forget!

I presented at the Faithwriters conference last weekend and we had a blast. FW is a smaller, more intimate conference where you really get to know folks. And they create quite a unique environment where you might show up strangers, but leave friends. And not in the shallow sense of the word. You have two days to really get to know just a few people.

An amazing time.
But I digress…

Before the power outage, before the third floor treks in very hot weather, I was riding the elevator to the classrooms on the first floor.

“Hey, Linda. Remember me? Well, we’re in an elevator, and I figured, why not ask if I could do my elevator pitch.”
“Go for it.”

And with a huge grin on her face as if she’d been waiting forever to pitch in an elevator, she did. By the first floor, I had the pitch, thought it sounded interesting and requested a look.

So, do elevator pitches work? Should they be really good? Yes, to both.
You just never know when you might run into someone in an elevator.

9 comments:

Rick Barry said...

Now I have to wonder if some authors spend a good chunk of their conference time simply riding the elevator up and down and waiting for their targeted editor to step through those doors! Thanks for a fun post, Linda.

Yvonne Blake said...

Linda, it was one of the highlights of the weekend for me! I was so surprised and excited and nervous that I don't even remember what I said. Thanks for taking an interest in my book.

Linda Glaz said...

What fun it was to have an elevator pitch, Yvonne. Thanks for making my day!

Lynda Lee Schab said...

Ha. Congrats to Yvonne for perfecting her pitch and daring to present it to you!

Yes! The conference was amazing. Absolutely LOVED your workshop, Linda. Awesome stuff!

Diana Flegal said...

Ha Rick! So funny!
Bottom line, it worked :-)

Patty Wysong said...

It was so fun hearing the Yvonne pitched in the elevator. =]

Great seeing you there again, Linda, and loved your class. =]

Unknown said...

"Has anyone seen Linda?"
"You might check the elevator."
:)[giggling at Rick's comment]

Congrats to our dear Vonnie for that courage, and I'm glad it made your day, too, Linda.

Andy Scheer said...

Uplifting.

Joanne Sher said...

Just LOVE this story/post. And LOVE that dear Yvonne got a request! The FW conference is just plain WONderful.