Side Stick
Questions filed beside the chase
The side-stick holds notes that do not fit the main galley — timing questions, scope boundaries, requests that arrive mid-run. Below are the ones we answer most often, in writing, as we would file them at the bench.
- 01
Do you take briefs from outside Singapore?
Yes. Most of our season work spans regional headquarters here and markets elsewhere. Briefs arrive by email; make-ready and lockups are written in Singapore time. We have worked with teams in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Sydney — always with written hand-overs, never with assumed timezone overlap.
- 02
Is there a minimum engagement length?
We do not publish minimums on this site. A first reading is a single engagement with a written close. Seasons are scoped in conversation and fixed in the lockup before work runs. If a brief is too small to compose properly, we say so in the first reading rather than stretch it artificially.
- 03
What industries do you work with?
We work with organisations that need composed campaigns — consumer brands, professional services, cultural institutions, regional retail. We do not take work that requires outcome guarantees, click metrics as primary success measures, or channels we cannot compose in writing first.
- 04
How quickly can you start?
First readings are usually scheduled within two weeks of a complete brief. Launch runs require make-ready time that we will not compress below what the line needs. If your deadline cannot accommodate make-ready, we will say so plainly rather than rush a crushed message.
- 05
Do you design visuals?
We compose messages — narrative line, channel copy, stakeholder reads. Visual work is coordinated with partners you already use or we recommend in writing. We do not stock generic templates; every visual brief traces to the narrative spine.
- 06
What does a first reading cost?
We do not publish amounts on this site. Scope and fees are agreed in writing after an initial conversation at the Chase Door. The first reading itself is a defined engagement with a written deliverable — not a free pitch.
- 07
Can we visit the studio?
Yes, by appointment during studio hours. The bench is a working room, not a showroom. Visits are most useful after a first reading when you want to see how marked galleys and lockups are filed. Address and directions are on the Chase Door page.
- 08
How do you handle revisions?
Revisions that stay inside the signed narrative spine are marked on the galley and re-run through make-ready. Revisions that change the spine trigger a new lockup discussion — not because we are rigid, but because a changed line affects every channel sheet downstream.
- 09
Do you work with in-house teams?
Often. We compose; your team runs channels they know. The lockup and channel sheets are written for hand-over to internal producers, not dependency on us. Some clients keep a standing advisory seat after a season ends.
- 10
What is the side-stick?
The side-stick is the composing stick turned on its side — a place for notes that do not fit the main galley. Mid-run questions get answered here in writing and filed beside the chase. This page collects the questions that arrive most often.
lockup.close · side-stick
Every answer is written before it governs the run.
Before you write
The side-stick holds notes beside the main form — questions clients ask before the first reading. If your question is not listed, write anyway. We answer mail in plain language without a form on this site. Include the brief, the channels in motion, and the stakeholder who must sign the lockup. We will tell you if the bench is the wrong room for the work.
Additional notes: we do not publish client lists or logos on this site. Case references inside engagements are anonymised by category. We do not guarantee commercial outcomes in FAQ answers or elsewhere — the disclaimer on smith-floor and chase-door states our independence once; we do not repeat anxious disavowals through body copy. We do explain process plainly because process is what we sell.
Workshop visits are welcome by appointment. The bench seats four at most. Larger groups are better served with a first reading by mail and a single visit when a lockup is ready to sign. We provide directions from Chinatown MRT and bus stops on chase-door; the stairwell has no lift — we mention it so accessibility needs are clear in advance.