Q) How do I know if my dance work qualifies for Pitchbook?
A) Pitchbook is intended to promote NEW dance works by American artists. Your project must have premiered after August 1, 2019 or will premiere before August 31, 2021 in order to qualify to be featured in Volume VII (some leniency will be extended, considering that many premieres have been postponed). Works also qualify if they are revivals of projects that have not toured recently that will re-premiere during the above time period. Special consideration will be given to outdoor, site-specific and virtual projects for Volume VII – in response to current performance limitations – though it is not required.
Q) What is the timeline for this edition of Pitchbook?
A) Important Dates to Note (2020):
- May 15: Pitchbook opens for submissions
- June 30: Deadline for Pitchbook submissions
- July 15: Pitchbook applicants notified of results
- July 20: Deadline for materials to be submitted by selected Pitchbook artists
- August 10: Publication date for digital edition of Pitchbook
Q) What should I be prepared to submit if selected for Pitchbook: Volume VII?
If selected for Pitchbook: Volume VII, you will be asked to submit (by July 20):
- Project title
- Two high-quality photos
- Company logo
- Final version of five-minute video pitch
- Premiere date/location
- Titles of other pieces the work will be presented with
- Type of support being sought
- Other pertinent information
Q) What are the image specifications for projects accepted into Pitchbook?
A) The dimensions of Pitchbook is 6 x 9 inches. Please submit the highest quality images you have available. It generally works well to submit one vertical image and one horizontal image for your layout. If possible, please submit an image of the work being pitched, or one that is aesthetically similar to your new work.
Q) What should be included in my video pitch?
A) The most successful video pitches include a combination of verbal pitching by your company’s representative (Artistic Director, Choreographer or other appropriate staff), and performance footage. Even if you do not yet have footage of the work you are pitching, the video should refer specifically to the piece being pitched. We are not looking for an overview of your company. Please limit your pitch to five minutes.
Q) Where can I find examples of video pitches?
A) Six volumes of Pitchbook are available as PDF downloads from www.americandanceabroad.org/pitchbook. Each contains links to our past Pitchbook artists’ video pitches. Here is a pitch by Lucky Plush Productions that we find especially successful. You may also visit ISPA’s Pitch New Works page, where you will find a directory with live pitches, including video samples, which exemplify different ways that pitches may be structured. Please note: Pitchbook is not affiliated with ISPA’s pitch session – we simply recommend this website as a resource.
Q) I do not have copyright permission to use the music in my video pitch. Can I still submit it?
A) No. Please choose alternate music. Your video pitch will be available to the public through our website and YouTube channel and we do not recommend copyright infringement.
Q) How do you define the “type of support being sought”?
A) The following are typical definitions of support types. Generally, work that is still in development may need more support, whereas work that is ready to tour or already touring will only need tour support.
Commissioning support – money to help underwrite the idea and creative process, and usually identified/negotiated before the new work is begun. Both national and international presenters may collaborate to co-commission a new work.
Production support – to help pay for the costs of creating/setting the work – rehearsal costs (dancers’ salaries), costumes/sets, music if an original score is being developed, etc.
Post-production support – tech costs for lighting, staging, final rehearsals on stage, dancers’ salaries, musicians’ fees if live music is incorporated, etc.
Tour support – the fee to present the work at a venue (dancers’ fees/salaries, per diems, travel, hotel, local transportation, freight, etc.)
Any of these can be negotiated to include more or less.
Q) Who will Pitchbook be distributed to?
A) The digital edition of Pitchbook is available for download from the ADA website and is distributed to hundreds of international programmer colleagues through ADA’s newsletter and email correspondence. The exact distribution of Pitchbook will vary with each volume, but always has the goal of maximum exposure to our best-fitting contacts.
Q) How will I know if my Pitchbook submission has been received?
A) You will receive an email auto-response confirming that your submission has been received. If you do not receive a confirmation email, first check your SPAM folder. If you still do not see it, contact info@americandanceabroad.org to check if your submission was received.
Q) Will I receive feedback on my Pitchbook submission if I am not selected for inclusion?
A) Due to the high volume of Pitchbook submissions, we are unable to provide individual feedback to artists.
American Dance Abroad 