Recently, one of my staff members received a call from NBC. They asked us to mention their fast-coming casting calls for the new show Fortune, based on the popular UK format. The basic premise is to change the lives of everyday Americans by pitching America’s wealthiest philanthropists. The show’s producers gathered five millionaires who pooled funds together and will award money to anyone with a great, convincing pitch on anything. It could be an inventor who wants $50 grand to pursue his creation or a 10-year-old boy who wants $50 to buy his mother a necklace for her birthday. The catch is you only have 60 second to pitch then it’s over.

If you’re interested in trying out, quickly make your way to one these casting sessions:

Friday, January 5, 2007
New York, New York
Park Central New York
870 Seventh Ave @ 56th Street

Detroit, Michigan
Detroit Marriott
The Renaissance Center
On Jefferson Ave
Detroit, MI 48243

Sunday, January 7, 2007
Lexington, Kentucky
Hyatt Regency Lexington
401 West High Street
Lexington, KY 40507

St. Louis, Missouri
Hilton St. Louis @ The Ballpark
1 South Broadway @ Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63102

Houston, Texas
Marriott West Loop by the Galleria
1750 West Loop South
Houston, TX 77027

Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Los Angeles, California
Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn
4222 Vineland Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91602

This could prove to be a lifechanging experience for someone who can get a pitch across in 60 seconds or less. That’s our goal at Davison to convey a concept in great design, packaging and prototyping. Your product has less than five seconds to grab a consumer’s attention. Busy corporations looking to license a product may give you even less time to review an idea. That’s why it’s so vital to have engineering drawings and a working prototype in sample packaging ready-to-go with a descriptive executive summary. It’s like the Boy Scouts of America say, “Be prepared.”

If you’re going to try out for the show, good luck and be prepared.