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    What could I reasonably expect from an agent?

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    • Mia Clarke
      Mia Clarke last edited by

      I had the meeting with the second agent, and it felt so much better. She was honest and upfront about not being able to make any promises, but spoke very strategically about what her plan would be, and how she would work to execute on it.

      Thank you everyone for your great answers and insights! I was feeling so meh yesterday, and was just about ready to throw in the towel.

      www.miaclarkeart.com
      https://www.instagram.com/miaclarkeart/

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
      • Griffin McPherson
        Griffin McPherson @NessIllustration last edited by

        @NessIllustration I don’t have experience with agents but even so this one sounds a bit off, it just alls sounds very strange for an agent to say these things

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • Mia Clarke
          Mia Clarke last edited by

          Update! So yesterday I accepted the offer of an agent, and I couldn’t be happier. She’s entrepreneurial, funny, warm and smart, and I think she’ll make an excellent business partner.

          The first agent I met was the subjectively worst of the lot, and in hindsight I’m not really sure why she even wanted to represent me (seeing that she didn’t think she could actually sell my work). One of them spent a full hour talking without letting me get a word in edgewise. The second best was very sweet and professional, and would have been a great agent I think, except her network was more skewed towards adult publishing (and thus less effective for my purposes).

          The next step now is to review the contract with my lawyer friend, and Imm hoping to officially sign next week!!!

          Thanks again for your comments of support. I think I just needed my feelings of “this can’t be right” to be validated, and your support meant a lot. You rock!

          www.miaclarkeart.com
          https://www.instagram.com/miaclarkeart/

          ArtMelC Chantal Goetheer NessIllustration Julia Hegetusch ajillustrates 6 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 8
          • ArtMelC
            ArtMelC @Mia Clarke last edited by

            @Mia-Clarke Great news, Mia! Here's to exciting developments ahead 😀

            www.instagram.com/art.melc.illo/
            www.artmelc.com
            I write weekly on mondayblues.substack.com

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • Chantal Goetheer
              Chantal Goetheer @Mia Clarke last edited by

              @Mia-Clarke congratulations!!!! That's great news. Hope you get work soon. I sure love your work, it really has your own signature and I love the atmosphere.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • NessIllustration
                NessIllustration Pro @Mia Clarke last edited by

                @Mia-Clarke Congratulations!! It sounds like you found the right fit and I'm so happy for you. Well deserved!

                vanessastoilova.com
                instagram.com/vanessa.stoilova/

                Check out my Youtube channel for tips on how to start your career in illustration! www.youtube.com/c/ArtBusinesswithNess

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • Julia Hegetusch
                  Julia Hegetusch @Mia Clarke last edited by

                  @Mia-Clarke you deserve it. Your portfolio is very unique

                  https://moanamaureen.com

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • ajillustrates
                    ajillustrates @Mia Clarke last edited by

                    @Mia-Clarke Congrats!

                    https://ajillustrates.com
                    https://www.instagram.com/aj.illustrates/

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • MirkaH
                      MirkaH @xin li last edited by

                      @xin-li congrats! Im assuming were talking about literary agents? I have had two so far. The forst one would send my illustration portfolio out once a week to a few contacts, but over the course of a few years, I never got a single job. We always heard back that my work looked great, but apparently never a fit w a project. I started to write too, and eventually signed w another agent, and through writing and illustrating my own books, I now have 6 book deals. So I agree that it can be hard to get work if you are only illustrating. But it can be done, Ive seen friends be found by nice publishers on social media w no agent. So part of it is just luck being at the right place at the right time. If one of the offers is a larger illustration agency like Bright or Cat who only rep illustrators specifically for books, they are more efficient getting clients work. But Ive heard from friends that at Bright if youre not one of the big name illustrators you end up getting more of the cheap grunt work and you have a hard time reaching your agent etc. So while youre getting work its not the best experience.

                      http://www.mirkah.com
                      http://instagram.com/mirkadraws
                      http://www.twitter.com/mirkahokkanen
                      http://Shoppicadoodlepress.etsy.com
                      http://facebook.com/mirkahokkanen

                      xin li 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • xin li
                        xin li @MirkaH last edited by

                        @MirkaH Congratulations on 6 book deals. Your work is beautiful.

                        I agree that Luck plays a significant role in getting work as an artist. I also agree with you that getting an agent, or getting work is not always the right goal. During the first year I was illustrating full-time, I had a situation of having too many project offers, working long hours, and still not being able to pay the bill. I had a money talk with my first agent, and she told me politely "most of the artists have a side job". I left the agent not long after that because I realized that maybe we did not share the same goal for my career. I am grateful for my first agent and she did get me lots of work. She might be a perfect agent for someone with a less time-consuming style, or/and a different career goal, but she is not the right agent for me.

                        I think what I learned from my limited experience is that finding the right agent is hard, and you never know how the collaboration would be until you start working with them. So it is ok to change if things do not work out. Luckily, I work very well with my current agent so far. I am also more interested in writing my own book. I recently handed in the final art for my first author/illustrator book :-).

                        Web: www.lixin.no
                        IG: www.instagram.com/lixin.illustration/

                        NessIllustration 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
                        • AngelinaKizz
                          AngelinaKizz last edited by

                          Congrats Mia!

                          www.evarartistry.com
                          www.Instagram.com/evarartistry/

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • kirsten-mcg
                            kirsten-mcg @Mia Clarke last edited by

                            @Mia-Clarke Contrats Mia! And best of luck on the next part of your illustration journey.

                            Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirsten.mcgonigal.art/
                            Portfolio Site: www.kirstenmcgonigalart.com

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • NessIllustration
                              NessIllustration Pro @xin li last edited by

                              @xin-li Ohh Xin, that's wonderful!! I can't wait to see your writing debut!

                              vanessastoilova.com
                              instagram.com/vanessa.stoilova/

                              Check out my Youtube channel for tips on how to start your career in illustration! www.youtube.com/c/ArtBusinesswithNess

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • Mia Clarke
                                Mia Clarke last edited by

                                Thank you everyone for the congratulations! 🎈 And @xin-li, big congrats to you too!!!

                                www.miaclarkeart.com
                                https://www.instagram.com/miaclarkeart/

                                xin li 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                • xin li
                                  xin li @Mia Clarke last edited by

                                  @Mia-Clarke thanks Mia. Keep us posted about your agent-seeking journey.

                                  Web: www.lixin.no
                                  IG: www.instagram.com/lixin.illustration/

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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