Confused about Agents and Mailing

Frost Drive

I've listened to over 20 episodes of the 3 Point Perspective podcast, and I just listened to the "Agents and Reps" episode and I'm so confused now.

So you DONT look for illustration jobs, you look for agents??

Why even be on Linked In? Look for agents there?

MAIL STUFF???? How do people know the adresses to mail things to? (Is there a secret google drive file with all that info?)

NessIllustration

@Frost-Drive You look for both Agents can find contracts for you which is really helpful. But they won't find enough contracts to keep you occupied full time, at least certainly for the first few and maybe not even after. To give you an idea, I've been with my agent since last fall and as of now they get me about 1/3 of my work. I still have to get the other 2/3 myself. But this does get easier with time, as you start getting a network of returning clients.

I used LinkedIn a lot at first, it can be great to find recurring contracts (like part time remote contractual work from studios). I also found a submissions call there that eventually led to getting signed by my agent. I'm not using it as much now that I rely more on my returning clients and agent for work.

Mailing postcards can be a great strategy although I've personally never taken to it because I'm lazy AF and postcards are time-consuming and expensive. My strategy of choice is email. But I know many people have had great success with postcard mailings, so if you're willing to put in the effort and money it's worth it. You can find the mailing address on a publisher or agent's website. There are also address books like SCBWI "the book" which is a list of contact info and mailing addresses for many publishers and agents. However you have to be a paid member of SCBWI to have access to it.

Frost Drive

@NessIllustration Dang thank for you this info!!! That's the first step I was looking for! Really appreciate it!

NessIllustration

@Frost-Drive My pleasure!

korilynneillo

@NessIllustration I don’t mean to hijack, but I’m in the middle of this process as well! I’ve heard about “the book” for SCBWI and I’m a member there, but I’m having a hard time finding it? It should be on the website somewhere after I log in, right?

NessIllustration

@korilynneillo I'm sorry I'm actually not sure! It's been a couple years since I used it and don't remember. I think if you google it you'll probably be able to unearth the download link. If not, SCBWI also has a forum so ask there, someone is bound to know Best of luck!

Coreyartus

@korilynneillo It's on the mainpage. It's a dropdown menu under "Publications" along the top. The first item. You have to be signed in to find it.