On today’s episode I chat with Ryan Kutscher. Ryan is co-founder of Circus Maximus. The full service agency has won Ad Age Small Agency of the Year three times since it’s founding in 2013. They’ve had clients including Gilette, Roman, Shake Shack and Smart Water.

Before founding his own agency Ryan was a creative director at Crispin Porter Bogusky where he worked on a lot of influential work including the Whopper Freakout campaign. Ryan also worked as Chief Creative Officer at J. Walter Thompson.

In this episode we talk a lot about starting an ad agency. Why Ryan wanted his own shop, how he found his first clients, his experience pitching for business, developing a company culture, creating an in-house production arm and so much more about the process of running a small agency. We talk about what Ryan would do differently if he were to start an agency in 2021, and about strategies for how they’re continuing to grow their business in the future. There is so much more we touch on I think you’re really going to enjoy this episode.

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Ryan's agency: circusmaximus.com

Zack’s work: zackseckler.com

Find Zack on Instagram: @zackseckler

Email us: dontskippodcast (at) gmail (dot) com

Don’t Skip is a podcast featuring conversations with ad-agency creatives and other talents who help create award-winning advertising. Ads you don’t want to skip.

Each episode delivers valuable insights into how the best campaigns are created along with honest discussion about the challenges and opportunities experienced during a career as a commercial creative. Topics include pitching to clients, creative ideation, client relations, treatments and creative calls, pre-production and on-set adventures.

Don’t Skip is hosted by award-winning comedy director and photographer Zack Seckler.