Shark Tank Will Only Edit And Stop A Pitch If This Production Rule Is Broken (2024)

There truly isn't a reality TV show comparable to Shark Tank. Fans have seen it all over the years, and that includes Kevin O'Leary kicking entrepreneurs off the set.

As for the behind the scenes, fans are always trying to find out new bits of information regarding the show's production. Like, for example, do reshoots take place on Shark Tank if a pitch goes wrong? We have the answer, and under which circ*mstances the show does in fact reshoot. In addition, we're going to take a closer look at other rules, like how long pitches actually last, and what we don't see on the show.

We're going to wrap things up by taking a look at some of the worst Shark Tank pitches that went completely sideways after their time in the spotlight. Even some of the most savvy sharks ended up regretting their investments.

Shark Tank Doesn't Do Any Sort Of Edits, Unless A Production Issue Takes Place

Millions of fans have dreamed of appearing on Shark Tank. Just imagine the scenario of your dream business getting exposed in front of millions, while a millionaire or billionaire shark decides to invest... Dream come true, right? However, on the flip side, there is also that fear of bombing in front of millions. If that does take place, does Shark Tank allow the entrepreneur to restart the presentation? The answer is simple, no.

Shark Tank is very strict when it comes to editing and tampering with footage. Given the hectic schedule of the day and amount of pitches that take place, the chances of an edit are extremely slim.

The show's producer Clay Newbill discussed rules fans didn't know entrepreneurs follow. And among them was the only reason that an edit would take place. Newbill revealed the odd time that a reshoot happened was due to microphone issues.

"It's very rare," he revealed. "We'll have somebody come in and change the mic. Usually we're down for maybe a minute or two and then we're right back into it," Newbill says.

In terms of the actual segment itself, it can usually last up to 40 minutes, which is an entire episode. At that point, edits are made in order to fit the part between 7 minutes and 12 minutes, normally. However, once again, the footage isn't tampered with, it is just cut down.

"These are real businesses being pitched by real entrepreneurs, and the Sharks are deciding during those pitches whether or not they want to invest their own money," he explains. "So they're going to be very thorough in their questioning and that's why the average pitch is probably about 40 minutes."

A lot of the reason as to why pitches are so long is due to the fact that the sharks really aren't briefed on the entrepreneurs prior to their segment. Meaning, everything is completely new to them, and they're trying to find out as much information as possible. Certainly quite a task for both the sharks and entrepreneurs to get their desired message across.

Even If You Make It On Shark Tank, It Isn't A Guarantee That The Pitch Makes It On Television

This is another nightmare type of scenario for business owners that make it on the show. You finally get to take part and even if the sharks say no, at least you got some valuable exposure which will surely boost sales. However, for certain sharks, that never takes place. Producer Clay Newbill revealed that over 14,000 per season apply, and 130 of them get shot. However, even that number is reduced.

• "I think there were 14,000 people that applied this season, and we ended up shooting somewhere around 130 of them," Newbill revealed. "We overshoot because not all pitches are going to be strong enough to air. At the end of the day, we're still producing a television show. It needs to be entertaining from a creative perspective."

Newbill revealed that confidence in a pitch might be the make-or-break reason for an entrepreneur making it on television.

• "When you're going through the casting process, let them see that confidence because it's the one thing I think, personally that Sharks are looking for in the entrepreneur," Newbill says. "They're partnering with them, so they want to know that this person is going to have the confidence to fight through those trials and tribulations, those down times, actually complete the job and be successful."

A stressful process, to say the least. Though on the flip side, fans have seen hundreds of businesses explode thanks to the show. If the pitch lands, it can make a huge difference, and one that is very worthwhile.

Sharks Have Endured Some Horrible Experiences With Entrepreneurs After The Show

Sure, the sharks are worth millions and even billions. However, they have bad days like the rest of us, and some cases, that was due to the show. In one instance, an investor took the money and went on a vacation spree. Mark Cuban details what took place during his worst investment alongside Breathometer's Charles Michael Yim.

• "The guy – Charles – I’d look at his Instagram and he’d be in Bora Bora ... Two weeks later, he’d been in [Las] Vegas partying, and then he’d be on Necker Island with Richard Branson. I’d text him, like ‘What the ---- are you doing? You’re supposed to be working."

The same held true for Kevin O’Leary, who lost $500,000 in his worth investment, though he didn't name the investor.

• “You put $250,000 on a deal. And then the guy calls you up four months later saying, ‘Look, I burned through all the cash. But, I know what I did wrong. I need another [$250,000]." “In my stomach, I didn’t feel right about it,” O’Leary says.
• “My gut said ‘No.’ But because I knew the guy and I liked him, and he was a friend, and yada, yada, yada ... I gave him another [$250,000].”

Kevin had certainly seen better days...