Producers - when you’re triple bidding, do you share what the other 2 directors/prod companies with each? Been getting that question more.

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Yes. It’s unfair to ask a production company to spend time and resources on a bid and director’s treatment (because there are hard costs in dollars and time spent) without them knowing if, for instance, they’re a $$$$ company being put up against a local $ videographer and a $$ production company owned by the agency’s own holding company. Especially now, with the Department of Justice inquiry, it’s important for all parties involved to be clear if and when they are bidding against in-house competitors.

likeuplifting

Continuing what EP1 said, if you’re triple bidding a $60k job, something is seriously wrong. In the amount of time you waste with the conference calls with each individual production company and director, going over the bidding materials and getting numbers and details right, the project could already be in post and halfway to air. Triple bids should be reserved for complex and decently budgeted jobs, with transparency on who is bidding.

likeupliftingsmart
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I agree with the folks saying yes to sharing that information. It is insane to me how so many agency producers do not know or understand how much work and hard costs go into bidding. Sometimes afterward one has found out that like seven companies / directors were bid which is just silly or they don’t even announce the award to the parties that lost the bid which also is in readably rude! I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum and wish for the bidding process to be fair and transparent across the board. And if the ECD already knows who he wants because he just wants to hire his best friend, don’t spin wheels...not fair to ask for bids if it’s not an open playing field. My two cents.

likeupliftingsmarthelpful

And when it’s all over, please please please have the courtesy to call the companies who did not win the job. Call—not email—and be decent and kind, and inform them that the bidding process is over, tell them they didn’t get it, and thank them for their time and effort and resources. If they ask why they didn’t get it, try to give them an honest answer. It’s a learning tool for them and their director to get better. If it’s simply that the creative didn’t jive, then say that, but say something. We agency producers have enormous wallets, on behalf of our clients (at times). With that privilege comes responsibility. This seems to be well understood by those carrying the Exec and St titles and less so by those with more junior titles. I, too, believe this is all a result of the loss of mentoring. No one is teaching Juniors the ropes, so they’re figuring it out on their own, and doing a fine job in many ways. But the lack of manners...oomph. Just be decent and kind. It’s not just ‘business;’ it’s just people and relationships, and we all want to be treated well by each other

likesmart

expecting a multi-week pitch process for projects worth less than $500k is also insane. Dont do that to small shops. ask for a budget/schedule/an approach write up and some sketches. From that and their creds you can easily award. Agencies are killing small shops with extended unpaid pitches.

likeupliftingsmart

I do, in effort to be transparent with partners as well as to help them understand the caliber of work we are aiming to achieve.

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^ I think this happens with the younger producers bc there really is not much these days in terms of mentoring. Most are just shoved into the deep end of the pool. Sad really.

likeuplifting

^ Unfortunately it’s not. Was back in the day. When you lay off the seniors for $$ reasons, you are left with inexperienced juniors.

likeupliftingsmart

If you mean sharing their bids, no, of course not. If you mean just sharing their names, yes, of course. Having worked on both sides of the business, I can tell you it’s obnoxious when producers don’t share the names of the other bidders. It benefits you in no way, but it does take away your potential director’s ability to see where he/she stacks up. Think of it as market research for directors. I can tell you that only the least experienced agency producers refuse to share the names of other bidders. It’s a rookie move. Don’t do it

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Freelance1 you can easily meet the triple bid requirement and not expect a full, multiple rounds of free full creative, like i said request a budget, schedule, approach write up and a few sketches. requiring anything beyond that to award on projects less than 500k is shady and unethical. stop doing it or it will destroy the diverse landscape of specialists we need as partners.

likeupliftingsmart

I do too. I try to level the playing field so that our choice is all about Director and not $$$. Plus, if the creative is good, no prod. co. wants to lose a job over $$$. They will find a way to come down

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I’m so so so happy to hear so many smart ep’s and the @president above say this! It’s so important for producers to hear this...

likeuplifting

I just to injection as an agency producer. It’s not us that want to triple bid on small budget jobs. Rather, it’s the client’s policy that we have to triple bid. It’s a bitch

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ACD1 its shady because its expecting a Discovery phase free. Ive witnessed more than one agency ask for a months worth of pitch work for free then take those pitch decks and Produce their favorite concepts in-house or with totally different production shops. there is no good reason to ever expect a partner to delivery extended unpaid pitch creative for most project based work. in most cases its a weak agency creative team fishing for free ideas. Agency Producers need to educate their creative team about the process and reel them in when they ask external shops to do their jobs for them free of charge.

likeupliftingsmart

Absolutely. No one wants to be the fanciest house on a crappy street. EPs need to know this to protect their director’s brand. There’s also really no benefit to withholding that information. They’ll find out anyway...and then they’ll trust you less. Transparency and respect will pay massive dividends in years to come. Start building that reputation early.

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Yes. I always let them know who they’re bidding against. These folks will potentially be your partners. Being honest and forthright is goood practice

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Always. Transparency is what makes a good partner, whether it’s selected or not, they always appreciate it

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I’m so glad someone brought this up. I’m in the midst of a triple bid now and there is not transparency about who else is bidding and it definitely makes the process extremely frustrating.

likeuplifting

P1 exactly. if agency producers keep demanding weeks long pitch creative for every project, we will all end up with far less specialty production partners to choose from as they will be put out of business. stop requiring unnecessary pitching!

likeupliftingsmart

Yes. Always

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