chemistry meeting
An informal early meeting where a client and a shortlisted agency assess whether they would work well together.
Definition
A chemistry meeting is a conversation, often before or after formal presentations, to judge working style and cultural fit rather than ideas. Clients meet the people who would handle the account, ask how they handle disagreement, deadlines and mistakes, and see whether they communicate clearly. Agencies learn about the client's decision-making and expectations. Although it feels informal, it can decide the outcome because relationships determine how well the contract performs. Prepare questions about the day-to-day team and processes. Bring someone who will work with the agency daily, because the person who signs the contract is often not the one who feels the friction.
In a sentence
The chemistry meeting revealed that the agency's team was more collaborative than its pitch deck suggested.
We asked the team how they deliver bad news.
