Directory of Illustration
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- brooke
Is the ad space worth it? Will I get the exposure I'm looking for? Does anyone actually use it?
http://www.directoryofillustrati…
Or should I just pursue a rep from that site or elsewhere?
- GreedoLives0
Friend of mine did it, spent $3000, but didn't get a single job from it. Then again, his style was pretty unorthodox. Your style, however, will fit perfectly within that book.
If you can spare the money, go for it. I you have to go in debt to do it, don't. Try http://www.theispot.com/, they're cheaper.
- ricstultz0
Brooke, I talked to the ispot people on the phone... its a joke if you ask me. basically they give you no representation and just put your work on their site.
I'm kind of doing the same thing you are, looking at resources... let me know if you have any success. I'll do the same.
- miracola0
Brooke,
I advertisied in the directory years ago and did get some work from it. But not enough to pay for the ad space. But my style was waaayyyy different than anything in there. You have a marketable style good for advertising. I'd think you would do well. But keep in mind that advertising for one issue usually doesn't do much. You got to be pretty steady with the advertising for it to be effective.
I still get the postcards asking me to advertise in the directory. I won't because my style doesn't fit, even with them creating a new directory for gaming art, I'd be marketing to clients I already have or can easily get on my own.
Maybe try some other less expense routes first like doing some mailings yourself. Get 500 to 1,000 mailers made up and ship them off to publishers. Get the Artist's Market series book for addresses. If the $3,000 will seriously hurt you financially, don't do it. possibly find a rep who will get you jobs and take a cut. my two cents.
- arthur0
Some people swear by these things and enter them year after year. I've been in the Workbook 3 times in the past 4 years with my soon-to-be-fired US rep. It is basically her only marketing. What a joke.
I have seen no results from these things, literally, after spending thousands of dollars. IMO, it's an outdated and antiquated way to advertise.
Are you looking to go in this book on your own or with a rep? If you decide to do it on your own and get a rep sometime in the near future, they may want you to participate in a different advertising scheme altogether. I would hold off. Personally, I think these things are a huge waste of money.
My most effective marketing tool is my website, and I would bet yours will be too. The key is getting the word out. Everyone on NT knows your site, but broaden your scope a bit and get involved on all the portals. I got a huge job last week from a client who saw my site on Linkdup, where I've listed since 2000. Free marketing rocks.
- ricstultz0
Linkdup has also been a large help to me.
Miracola, you're in Milwaukee?... me too.
- thepulpbox0
this is free -
- miracola0
Ric,
Yep, sadly I live in Milwaukee. I know of your work. It rocks!!
My day job is at the Journal. At night I'm a superhero. Gotta pay for those tights somehow.
jeff
- ricstultz0
Cool Jeff, I live in Riverwest, we could use your crime fighting powers down here
;)I'll ad a link to your site off mine, always good to know local peeps.
- ricstultz0
oh yeah, forgot to mention, I really dig your work dude.
- miracola0
tanks man. You showing work anywhere local? maybe during gallery night?
j.
- brooke0
I don't mind the $3000 at all. Should I at least try it for this year?
How do I know what the "right" thing for me is?
- ricstultz0
Nope, no shows lined up in Milwaukee right now... illustration work has been keeping me really busy.
I want to approach Hotcakes if I decide to put a Milwaukee show together. They seem pretty cool.You got anything coming up?
- arthur0
If you don't mind the money, then maybe give it a shot. Maybe your luck will be better than mine. I do feel, though, that the money would be better spent on mailers to art directors and ad agencies.
Also, I don't know which is best, Directory of Illustration, Showcase or the Workbook. Might want to do some homework and scan through all of their sites, as well as find email addresses of illustrators who advertise with them to get their opinions.
- brooke0
Grrrrreat advice, Arthur! Wow, you are awesome. :)
- miracola0
Seems like a lot of money to just try something out Brooke. i made that mistake. Don't do it. Seriously, I would research other less expensive options first. you should try and contact some of the artists in the directory to see if it has paid off for them. maybe look for some artists with a style similar to yours.
- ricstultz0
brooke, with your skills, just get your site out there and do some self promo.... your work is really strong and speaks to a large audience. Get on linkdup if you havent already...
it seems Jeff and i hijacked your thread :)
- miracola0
Ric,
no shows coming up... EVER! I have never shown my work in a gallery, although I hope to change that in the future. All my work is for publishers, which pay more anyways;-)
But I'm working on some gallery quality work, so we'll see, right.
- arthur0
I'm with Miracola.
I regret all the money I've spent on these types of things.
- ricstultz0
Jeff, I could totally see your work in a gallery... in milwaukee, Luckystar would be the best place for you to approach. Gene is the owner, hes really cool. I just walked in one day and said hi. We've talked off and on about me showing there.
$ is exactly the reason I'm focusing on Illustration work right now... there is just so much messing around to get a gallery show together. I always wonder if its worth it. I would rather keep my originals and just sell the image.
- miracola0
WTF? Directory of Illustration didn't pay off for you Arthur? Your style seems so well suited.
So if Arthur didn't receive many, if any commisions from it, then I would not advertise in there brooke. Do what Arthur says, print up some mailers, send them out to loads of publishers. Then do it again in 6 months, then again. you could do that for years and not reach $3,000, seriously.
Check out dpgink.com. A very cheap printer with very good quality. I have used them for at least 40 print jobs, they are one of the printers that does all those nice, glossy flyers for clubs. They are super cheap!! they are based in Florida.
Then get that Artist's market book for $30 or so and start mailing the postcards out. May work, may not, but it's a less expensive option.