FAQs - Creative

Catered Creative is based on the idea that small to medium-sized agencies can be a resource to large companies. It doesn't mean that they are competing to replace the national agency of record (typically a bigger agency), but instead offers an alternate resource for projects or work on smaller brands. With that in mind, we want to be able to introduce quality agencies to these large companies. But with over 30,000 agencies in the US, how can a small to medium-sized agency get noticed and get their foot in the door with these bigger companies?

We've developed a win-win program for agencies and businesses. Agencies get the opportunity to show what they can do for these companies (yes, it involves spec work, but just rough ideas, not a full-blown, expensive process.) At the same time, the big companies get an opportunity to see fresh, innovative ideas and exposure to new resources.

So, if your agency would like an opportunity to present your creative thinking to what may have been previously out-of-reach brands, this may be a very good way of doing it. The investment is actually fairly minimal and you aren't shooting blindly, these are companies that are willing to meet with you if your idea is selected.

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Fill out the Catered Creative form and send us any self-promo materials for consideration. The agency form will ask about specialties, awards, etc. in order to help us place you in the right opportunity.

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No, unfortunately we can't guarantee that everyone will participate in a project. We will guarantee that every project will have at least one new agency participate that hasn't participated before.

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We give preference to agencies, but will consider other organizations and individuals that want to participate on a case-by-case basis. Please let us know what your actual capabilities are though, don't tell us that you are something that you are not.

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Catered Creative is all about ideas. If you are selected to participate, you will get a creative brief outlining the project and a time frame to work on it. You will then submit one to three ideas that are limited to a pencil rough on an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet (scanned and sent to us) and you can also write up a one page description. (500 words or less.)

You can spend as much time as you want coming up with ideas. One suggestion we had is to have a creative brainstorming session over a long lunch, order pizzas, and come up with your best ideas on a whiteboard. From there, have your best illustrator draw up some roughs and your smartest strategist write up the accompanying paper. With something like this in mind, we would expect your entire creative team to spend about an hour and a half, and two individuals to spend maybe a half day. So, it isn't a huge investment in time (much simpler than filling out an RFP.)

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It will not be allowed. To create an even playing field, we are sticking to this creative format. Your rough can be in the form of a storyboard, ad layout, etc, but can only be black and white and on a single sheet. It must be in pencil form. (No photos, no typesetting, etc.)

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Yes, if it is part of the same basic concept or campaign ("this is shown as a TV idea, but you could do a spinoff website that goes along with it that…" .) However, if you are coming up with totally new concepts, they must be submitted as a separate submission.

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Yes, there will be a set number of submissions allowed, probably capped at two or three. (If that changes, you will be notified in advance of accepting the assignment.) Pick out your very best because we will not allow more than the limit.

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There are typically no more than eight agencies participating in each project. Everyone that participates knows that they are of a select group, and the limits of the selection process (with between 8 and 24 ideas presented), will make sure that every submission is actually looked over and considered. The reason we have these limits is that we feel that if the client gets more than that, we run the risk of overwhelming the client and your ideas won't get a fair evaluation.

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No. This is not a contest where anyone can get involved. It is a process where we select appropriate agencies that fit the client's criteria and then they submit ideas. It is similar to agency consultants that help clients find an agency of record, but we're working with smaller agencies for individual projects.

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No, we understand that you need to take care of existing clients first, new prospects second and some times are better than others to take on extra work like this. If we ask you and you decide not to participate, we will not hold that against you and you'll be considered for future projects. However, once you do decide to participate, we absolutely expect you to produce your best work and to meet the deadlines agreed upon.

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If you are selected, you get paid a set fee (we're using $2,500 as an example, this will be determined before you accept the assignment) and all copyrights are transferred to the client. The client can then do whatever they want with the idea: they can hire someone else to produce it, they can hire you to produce it, they can sit on it.

If they do not buy the rights, the copyright to the ideas remains yours and you can do what you want with them.

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It is possible that given the same creative brief that two agencies will come up with similar ideas. In this case, the Ad Diner staff will flag these ideas, submit both, and if selected by the client, the payment will be split and both creative companies will get the chance to meet with the client.

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Since ideas are submitted through the Ad Diner, you have third party validation that your ideas were submitted to the client. However, it is possible that their lead agency or internal creative previously came up with a similar idea. When we present the book of creative concepts, we will ask the client to inform us if any of the ideas are similar to something that they have developed in the past. (Even if they don't select the idea.) If so, we ask them to immediately give us some documentation of that.

Ultimately, if you feel that a client uses your idea without paying for it, it will be your responsibility to take whatever action you deem appropriate against that client. The Ad Diner/Catered Creative company will give you any pertinent documentation that you request and will provide a sworn statement for your legal benefit.

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If your work is selected and paid for, you can only show it in your portfolio or on your website once it is produced and out for public display. However, there is always the possibility that it won't be produced. That's unfortunate, but a reality in our business. (The client paid for it so that is their prerogative.) The only exception is if you get permission from the client to show it. (Remember, if you're selected, you will get the opportunity to meet with the client.)

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You will submit to us your ideas electronically. Scan your pencil rough and send us a high resolution pdf. You will include a text document that has a one page description explaining your idea. Do not put any identifying marks, logos or information on the layout or description. We will then catalog and number each idea and description and bind them in a document to submit to the client.

The concept selection process is blind. The client does not know who has submitted any of the work.

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Maybe. It's up to the client. They may prefer to remain anonymous. We may need to qualify you beforehand to make sure there is no conflict of interest with any of your existing clients.

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The client has agreed in advance that they will select a minimum of one idea and pay a predetermined amount for it. However, they can pick more than one. Every idea that is selected will be paid for individually. Every agency whose work is selected will have the opportunity to meet with the client in person.

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The client must decide how many ideas they want to select within a few weeks of the presentation of the ideas. If they later come back to the Ad Diner/Catered Creative team and want to purchase another idea from the submissions, we will contact the agency and let them know. However, at that time it is up to the agency whether they want to sell their idea and they can decide to decline or negotiate a different payment for the idea. In order for us to facilitate this contact, the client must agree that they are willing to pay at least the same amount (typically $2,500) that was originally offered.

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You will get a check for $2,500 (or whatever has been predetermined) and you can, at your discretion, arrange a meeting with the client. (You don't have to.) This meeting would be at your expense (transportation, accommodations, etc.) Obviously we recommend that you use this opportunity to develop a relationship with the client. They already like your thinking, so you are in a good position to possibly get more work from them. But, you may decide that it isn't worth the expense depending on individual circumstances and perhaps geography.

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The client owns the rights to the idea once they purchase it from you. They are not required to hire you to complete the project. If you mutually decide to continue working together, you would work out subsequent arrangements with the client. (All the client has paid for is the idea, so any subsequent work you do you should charge for accordingly.)

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The Ad Diner offers the service on a flat fee basis to the client and gets paid the same whether one or more than one idea is sold to the client. Obviously we count it as a success if they buy several ideas.

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There will be a non-disclosure agreement in all cases. You agree not to disclose that you are working on the project, you agree not to contact the client directly, and you agree not to disclose any trade secrets that you may be privy to during the process. The client may also have a non-disclosure agreement separate from the Ad Diner/Catered Creative company.

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As part of the non-disclosure agreement, you agree not to contact the client directly. Now we cannot stop you from ever calling on the client based on your typical new business program, but you agree not to mention participating in any Catered Creative programs with the client on your new business calls.

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