Some fun facts about guitar players:

• The average guitar player has 9 guitars.  
• Guitar players have a lingo that is all their own. They can smell things that are inauthentic a mile away.   
• Many guitar players are OBSESSIVE about their gear. They will engage in LONG discussions online about the specific types of wood used, what kind of frets are used, the specific brand of pots and caps used in the electronics, and many know the detailed stats on guitars like sports fans can cite their favorite players statistics. This also goes for 
• Guitar players are always tinkering with their gear. Many are constantly buying, selling and trading new guitars, amps and pedals.

Popular Fixes, Upgrades, and Projects:

• Fixing Fret Sprout (Rough Fret Ends)
• Building a Partscaster Guitar (kit)
• Super Easy Guitar Build Kits For Beginners
• Wilkinson Electric Guitar Kit Review
• Upgrading your tuners
• 3 Easy Mods to Make Your Strat Play Great
• Swapping Pickups
• Adjusting Your Truss Rod
• Adjusting Your Guitar’s Action
• How to Measure Your Guitar's Action Using StewMac Measurement Tools

StewMac loves these videos from B&H. There are many many parallels between B&H and StewMac. They love the idea of the customer helping tell the story.

A Brief History of B&H

Meet the Expert Staff at B&H

Customer Story: Jack & Barbra

B&H Customer Story: Workout With Fred

Since their founding in 1968, StewMac has been driven to explore, invent, and innovate new tools, products, and ideas to make guitars play, look, and sound their best. Their history is deeply rooted in serving small business professionals and aspiring professionals in the craft of lutherie - that is, building and repairing stringed instruments. They have a stellar reputation with this group and nearly 100% awareness. However, in 2015 they began to expand their marketing to include guitar PLAYERS, and that's where you come in. StewMac would like to create a testimonial style video that speaks directly to the player population and encourages them to use StewMac for any parts and components that they need for their own upgrades and repairs.

StewMac would like a live action video that features a real guitar player attesting to all the awesome repairs and upgrades StewMac enables them to do. They can be a professional in a band or a skilled hobbyist, the key thing is that they actually know how to play because guitar players can spot an imposter in nanosecond.  

 

For more information, check out the Background Details section or ask questions in the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: Four total deliverables:

• One :30 video (16x9)
• Three alternate :30 versions (16x9). Alternate variations will involve the same characters, locations, and script, and will mostly involve small changes that can be handled in post-production, including changes to CTAs, end-card designs, on-screen text copy, and other minor edits. Additionally, depending on where the creative lands, a version may include a slight variation to the script. This will be decided between the selected producer and client during scripting.

TIMELINE: Please find the anticipated timeline HERE, but note that if you are selected, you should consult with your Tongal producer to ensure you are always working off of the most up to date timeline.

 

EXPOSURE:  YouTube. For YouTube TrueView for action best practices please click here.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE: The next generation of guitar nerds, preferably someone 30 or under. Diversity is also a big priority, players come from all walks of life and look a lot different now from those in the 1960's, 70's, and 80's, but they all share the same passion to keep learning the craft and customizing that guitar to achieve the perfect tone.

 

TONE: 

• Authentic
• Insightful
• Inspirational
• Midwestern Friendly (because that's where they're from!)
• Helpful
• Knowledgable
• Honest
• Dependable

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Must feature an actual authentic player (in case it wasn't clear before).
• Must communicate that everything you buy at StewMac is backed by a lifetime guarantee.
• Must communicate that everyone at StewMac is a guitar nerd just like you.
• Must feature one of the common repairs or upgrades outlined in the Background section. StewMac will happily provide parts and components... but no free guitars =)
• One version must feature the CTA - "Visit: StewMac.com/SpecialOffer"
• Please use Bernino font for any on screen text and see the Assets section for their color palette.

Shooting live action or stop motion? Our priority is ensuring everyone's safety, so please review our COVID-19 Production Safety Guide and check federal, state, and local rules before and during your shoot to make sure your on-set protocols are up to date. We're working hard to keep people working during this extraordinary time, and you should ensure your submission is executable within the anticipated timeline and budget, while also ensuring everyone's safety.

In order to be considered for this project, you must include the below materials in your pitch submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery.

 

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this video.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, cinematography, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.

• SCRIPT (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create.
  
  
• STORYBOARDS (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.
  
  
• HEADSHOTS/CASTING BOARDS (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them what you're capable of. Consider submitting a pitch video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect should they choose your pitch. Also, test videos, animatics, etc. are welcome. For some examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery. All Pitches will remain private until after the Sponsor gives creator(s) the green light to move forward.

1. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 16x9. Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec.
   
   
2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.
   
   
3. In the event you utilize any third-party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider not provided by Tongal, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third-party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.
   
   
4. BY SUBMITTING A VIDEO ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES – SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.
   
   
5. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor’s organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
6. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
7. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
8. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.
    
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
10. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
     
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. In addition to the judging criteria stated in the OFFICIAL RULES, Pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final Video based on their prior work and experience as a filmmaker.
    
    
14. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Videos without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.
    
    
15. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, greenlit Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their Videos, as well as a photograph/headshot OR copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec to claim your earnings.
    
    
16. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.