Article for SCBWI NY METRO Feb. 03

        ARE YOU READY FOR A REP? ARE WE READY FOR YOU?

 “agent: to drive, lead/ a representative, one that acts for another being invested with the authority of the other/means or instrument by which a guiding intelligence achieves a result.”

     Recently I have noticed a big increase in the number of inquires about consideration for representation from artists. Normally I’ll get 5-10 weekly, but now that number is considerably higher.  I could take that as a huge compliment J…but I truly think it’s a sign of our economic times.

     The Children’s Publishing Market is one of the healthiest of the Illustration world just now.  More artists are ‘looking in at us as an option to expand their other markets which have all but dried up.  They don’t know the market, so they think “agent.”  This adds to the competition already present.  Current artists then feel the crunch of less work and also think “agent.”  As if we are the magic cure for all that ails!

     We CAN help.  We can get in the door at houses that are ‘drop off only’ to individual artists.  We know the design studios assigning on major educational programs.  We’ve developed long and trusting relationships with buyers who move all over the place within the industry.  We can often (NOT always!) negotiate better prices, rights and schedules than a single artist dares to do.  We have a unique overview that can help an artist reach their potential. We’re the ‘middleman’ in disputes.  We take care of all that dreaded paperwork (contracts, POs, invoicing, payments, follow-up etc.)

     But is all the time in trying to find an agent right for YOU? Are you ready for an agent?  Answer this with brutal honestly.  Can you draw and paint well. (I regularly see many who don’t!) Is your work quality truly professional and competitive with what you are seeing in good picture books and educational program books? (Spend time in book stores and look at your kids school books!) Do you have a style that reproduces well and easily?  Are your characters uniquely yours, but also potentially appealing to the art buyers AND the public?  Can you afford to do your style for industry norm pay scales? Do you have published work to show? (We don’t make a dime if we don’t get you work…having HAD work is of practical interest) Do you have at least 10-15 wonderful pieces for a portfolio, duplicates to send out and printed ‘keeper’ cards/pages? ...money to spend on pages in industry promotional books? (Reps get discounted prices and contribute something as well) Do you have a fax