Help me decide weather to enter the SCBWI portfolio showcase

[Mimi Simon]

Hi guys, the SCBWI summer virtual conference is happening in a few weeks and I'm trying to decide wether to enter the portfolio showcase. It's quite expensive ($270) so I'm trying to work out if it would really be worth it. I feel that my portfolio is strong but I've never gotten any children's book work with it so it may be that my work is just not ready and more people viewing it won't be any different than sending it out to agents and art directors normally. At the same time it may be that the right people just haven't seen it yet and all the eyeballs from the portfolio showcase might do some good. What would you guys advise me to do? Go for it or hold off for 6 month-a year and improve my portfolio? (my portfolio link is in my signature) Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Griffin McPherson]

@Mimi-Simon this is a tough call. That seems like a pretty steep price just to be in the showcase at a conference you have already paid for. I would look around to see what other’s experiences with the showcase has been

[Mimi Simon]

@Griffin-McPherson to clarify the $270 is the conference and the showcase. The showcase itself is $75 but you cant enter the showcase without the conference.

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@Mimi-Simon Hi Mimi! I say go for it. Participants are only required to enter 3 pieces and not a whole portfolio. I’m joining as well. A number of SVS members won in the recent years and it really helped their careers. I think you have high chance of winning. Go for it.

[Mimi Simon]

@Nyrryl-Cadiz Oh good to know it's only three pieces. I was worried about some of my pieces not fitting in as well and bringing down the overall impression but in that case I think I will bite the bullet and enter. Thanks for the encouragement!