Meet Laura Brennan | Pitch Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Brennan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most critical factor in my success has been niching down. When I first started my business, I was happy to do anything people wanted, from working with their sales teams to consulting on their social media outreach. It wasn’t that I wasn’t successful; in fact, the marketing copy I wrote for one client ended up getting me so many referrals, my income doubled in a year just from that. But writing marketing copy is not my zone of genius.

Loglines are my superpower. When I decided to focus on helping people communicate their value and the potential of their projects directly – loglines, TED talks, pitch decks, media interviews – my income took an initial hit, but I was always able to show up for those clients as my best self. I was able to wow them. And the word of mouth from over-delivering, from delighting the clients I did have by offering only what I do best, was transformative.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve always worked as a writer professionally, ranging from theater to television to children’s picture books and pretty much everything in between. But what I always brought to the table was a profound sense of structure, and nothing is more highly-structured than a pitch. When my friends asked me for help, it was never for my witty dialogue or clever callbacks, but always to help them pitch. Structure might not be flashy, but, damn, it is useful.

So my friends would ask for pitching help, I’d say yes, and they’d buy me lunch… until one friend, the talented TV writer and producer Melody Fox, insisted on paying me. She sent her friends to work with me and insisted that they pay me, too. It was mind-blowing. Up until then, I thought if I was good at pitching, everyone must be good at it. That first challenge was understanding that I had something of value to offer people. Now, of course, I help other people have that same “aha!” moment, because once you realize that your project has value, pitching is no longer ‘selling.’ It becomes more like sharing your toys, finding a sandbox you both can play in to make something special together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Traditional sightseeing does nothing for me. I would rather have an experience, the more immersive, the better. Luckily, Southern California offers opportunities galore. If my best friends showed up on my doorstep, we would definitely hit the beaches for everything from splashing around to hunting for sea glass.

Personally, I love being on the water. Parasailing in Avalon is great fun, and seeking out whales and dolphins with Harbor Breeze Cruises in Long Beach is a favorite. Cosplaying at San Diego’s Comic-Con should be on everyone’s bucket list. L.A. has tons of museums, but I like to take friends to The Getty Villa for a visit that feels like you’ve been invited into the past — plus their family activities are top-notch, so it’s a great day out with kids. The Grammy Museum is also always a win. Finally, Escape Room L.A. has some of the most immersive escape rooms I’ve ever played; whether you’re an expert or a newbie, the clever puzzles combined with storytelling and Hollywood-quality sets makes for a special experience — and I say that as someone who has written escape rooms, although not for them.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I firmly believe the key to a great life is having smart, talented friends. I am lucky to have brilliant friends: screenwriter Jennifer Maisel, painter Annette Cyr, producer Suzanne Lyons, fiction writer Jennifer Younger, among many others. Each one is not only gifted in their own way, but generous in their teaching and mentoring.

Website: https://www.pitchingperfectly.com/

Image Credits
Pitching Perfectly.jpg: Photo by Chevanon Nana Love Remembered.jpg: Drawing by Agua Viva On the set of Faux Baby.jpg