Anyone use an agent?
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- arthur0
What kind of work do you do Scotch_Roman?
I've had illustration agents in the past and have gone through long stretches without them. Just took on a new one 2 weeks ago actually, which I hope will be beneficial to both of us.
But, even when I had agents, I brought in 95% of my own work. I think it may be handy having an agent as supplemental income, but not as the main source, that's up to you. Some agents are lax and others want you to advertise this way and that and spend tons of money,which imo should really be their job, not yours. But I digress.
- who are you with? are they national?doesnotexist
- yeah, fairly well-known. We'll see how it goes, haven't been with an agency of this size b4: http://www.mendolaar…arthur
- not one of the more trendy and hip boutique agencies, but overall I've had negative experiences with those.arthur
- Scotch_Roman0
I do this kind of work:
- Scotch_Roman0
I can't remember if it's Mario Hugo, Alex Trochut, or some other designer/illustrator that has an artist rep with a fairly nice website... anyone know? Google isn't helping.
Thanks for the link Arthur, I might check them out... though it seems they focus mainly on representing illustrators, yeah?
- si scott as well, i know the site you are talking about but it escapes me
MSTRPLN
- si scott as well, i know the site you are talking about but it escapes me
- Scotch_Roman0
Zounds. So the moral of this story is, be careful which agents you work with. Seems like you're either golden or buggered.
- thepda0
Keep marketing up and people will find you. The clients you have to convince to work with you probably aren't the right ones anyway. You'll just be back where you started, making crappy work for people who don't appreciate it.
- thelukeandrews0
i worked in london for 2 years all through an agency!! they fucked me a little sometimes, I did it back.. it was defintely worth the amount of work i got. And they sent me to all sorts of cool places like saatchi, ogilvy, mccann erickson, interbrand.. and to some uber-awesome smaller lesser known ones
- Yeah I think I'm gonna check out Levine & Leavitt. Who was your rep?Scotch_Roman
- Scotch_Roman0
That's the one!
THX MSTRPLN :)
- MrOneHundred0
Yes, but only when I feel like getting fucked in the arse.
- Scotch_Roman0
Not a staffing/headhunter agency mind you, but the sort of agents that typically represent photographers and illustrators. I know Mario Hugo, for example, uses an agent, or at least he did the last time I checked.
- Hurley0
well if you start a company don't think of it as freelance. You will be the Acct Exec, designer and manager.
Don't approach agencies for work, approach businesses..You can become their agency.
- forcetwelve0
i think build used to use thisisrealart
- MrOneHundred0
In my experience, an agent will not go looking for work for you, but will place you when the work comes to them. Then at some point they will start hassling for long-term contracts or permanent placements from where they get their biggest $$. At this point the design firm or agency gets jack of them and, vis a vi, you.
- permanent placement means that the agent will no longer make commission, so I find that a bit strangeMeeklo
- +1 Spot on descriptionXC01
- They have plenty of others lining up behind you for their ongoing commissions.MrOneHundred
- MrOneBumdredQ8N
- Meeklo0
- This tune reminds me of good times.Meeklo
- If I had an agent, I would totally put him on hold to this tune on the phoneMeeklo
- i used to listen to them a lot.refunktion
- Q8N0
- Iggyboo0
They have a pretty tight site I have to admit.
- Scotch_Roman0
So what ways of approaching businesses works for those of you who are self-employed and staying afloat? How do you figure out which person you actually need to send your stuff to? Do you just pick up the phone? I know the approach varies from one company to the next, for example with corporations you'd try to go straight to their marketing director/VP, and with smaller businesses/organizations it would be easier to cold-call and ask who makes such decisions... Almost every bit of freelance work I've done to date has been through word of mouth, and that ain't working out so well besides the one good client mentioned above.
- Scotch_Roman0
I've sorta branded myself ambiguously on purpose, in case this does turn into a viable business.