Illustration representation
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- FLsux
Whatever happened to the old time vaudeville agents that would blow your name up around town?
Applying like everyone does to illustration agencies through emails and possible considerations seems to be a pretty much fruitless enterprise.Anyone have the inside scoop about that process, or about being scooped up by one of these agencies/head hunters, aka: the who, where, what and hows?
- loaf0
I worked with one for awhile. she was local.. it was not really good fit.. i dropped her after she told me that "wired" called about some work but it was not enough money for "her" and she declined the job.. i was not too happy.. i am on the look out for a new one myself..
- ********0
I honestly can't muster the will to write my thoughts about agents.
- arthur0
Can you a be a bit more specific?
What exactly do you want to know?
- FLsux0
I guess a general question may be too... general, huh?
What is the best way to get in contact with these people, what is a bad way of getting in contact with the same, what are the best agencies you guys know of, what are the ones to steer clear of.
Who's covers NYC artists. Is NYC even a good place to be for illustration?
Anyone know someone I should know?
I guess that about covers what would be good to hear.
- FLsux0
bump plz ?
- arthur0
NYC is the hub of illustration agents. You don't need to be there, but most agents are there.
Email is the best way to get in touch. Keep it simple, little intro, link to your site. Keep at it, let a few months pass then contact the same rep again if you really want to be with them. Do your homework - look at the other artists repped by the agent. Are you a good fit? Someone there already doing work similar to yours. Reps don't want to overlap.
There are boutique reps out there who rep the latest trend, and there are those who are in it for the long haul and rep safer, more commercial artists. All said, reps don't bring in that much work in general and you can't count on them to pay your bills.
- ********0
Generally the only way you can get in touch with them is by sending them a limited number of examples of your work by email. Thats the default method and unless they specify something else you should stick to that otherwise it pisses them off. Some say "five pieces max" some say "No more than 3mb". Some want a pdf. Whatever you do though, the are only going to get back to you if they think they can make money with your work, and if they don't think they can then they wont even respond and that's the cold hard truth.
- yeah, that was something I knew well. I was just hoping there was more that I may have not known or overlooked.FLsux
- arthur0
Do google search for illustrations rep/agency and see what you find. Also look through sites like the workbook and showcase to find lists of agents.
I also like looking through lebook.com - use the search function and look up illustrator representatives. There's a whole list there. Great resource. Send me your intro email and I'll give you my 2 cents. Not that I know everything, but I'm on rep #4, so I've had a bit of experience, not all good.
- http://www.lebook.co…arthur
- alright you should have something in your inboxFLsux
- ********0
"All said, reps don't bring in that much work in general and you can't count on them to pay your bills".
This is true. Also, many big agencies will use their roster as a means of bolstering their income. I had a very well known UK agent when i started out. They had over 200 people on their books. They charged a basic £1500.00 per annum for 'essential marketing' and they also did a hard sell to get artists to pay about £3000.00 per annum to take space in an illustration annual.
The thing is, they sell you the space at a premium and get a big discount for booking bulk space. When you tell them you aren't interested in being in the book they tell you that your chances of getting work are severely limited by refusing to go in the book. The message between the lines is that if you don't play their game they wont bother puting you in the agency portfolio.
You do the maths on 200 artists paying 3k each to go in an illustration annual on top of a basic 1.5k a year per head.
Before they've even got a commission in, they have made about 350k off their roster of artists.
- arthur0
I just took on a new rep about 3 weeks ago. Big NYC one, most conservative one I've been with, but I'm optimistic. I've been rep-free for 4 years or so, and doing fine, thanks. I was very upfront about my feelings on advertising and what I'm willing to put into it, which is very little. Of course, they say if you don't advertise with them you won't get as much work and burden the other illustrators they rep who are paying. But I see advertising as the rep's responsibility, and I don't want to pay for I believe to be their domain, their area of expertise.
- FLsux0
I see how it's all a "scam" but in essence a business, they supposedly bring you exposure which should translate in money for you and them, but I'm sure they "got kids to feed" so any extra they can tack on, just like a cars salesman they will definitely try to sell you on.
and also I've sent you that email.