Artists Get Noticed!
Tips from an independent comics publisher
I hear a lot of artists talk about horrible people wanting to take advantage of them. It is true, there are some jerkwads who prey on people to get what they want.
But there are some well meaning people who would love to pay them for their skills. But as an independent publisher, who often collaborate with artists, I have to do a lot of detective work to separate the good artists from the bad.
Here are some simple things I believe artists can do, to get the adoring, paying clients they want to work with.
1) HAVE A WEBSITE OR BLOG that shows new work, doodles, daily sketches, anything showing your process and your work. When we writers see only one style, we assume that’s all you can do. If there are other styles or techniques you are interested in, share them, show your range.
2) SHOW YOUR FACE from time to time. Avatars are awesome, but even in a digital world, we are still human. It is very hard to hand someone money in thin air, that you have never seen a picture of. I know it’s tough. TRUST ME, I personally think that I’m a huge head on twigs when I see my pictures, but I’ve learned to get over it. Instead I now see it as letting people know that I’m real and not some invisible nameless company.
3) DROP THE MODESTY when you are approached by someone who wants to pay to work with you. They approached you because they already love your work. Don’t get all humble and talk yourself out of a deal. When I hire someone it’s because I know what they can do. If they are able to do the work they showed on their portfolios, it’s a no brainer that they can do it again.
4) SHARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS. What seals the deal in many cases is a human connection. Have something other than your art define you. Artists that share their love of music, food, thrill rides, anything, tend to get like minded people chatting with them and start paying attention to their other abilities.
5) DON’T LET PAST PROBLEMS DEFINE YOUR INTERACTIONS. We’ve all been burned many times by jerks or personal issues. But we can’t act as if everyone we approach will act the same way. Safeguard yourself from being cheated, but don’t bitterly put a wall up and frighten people who genuinely want to work with you. I generally run away from people who instantly give me a rule book the moment I say hello. I immediately know they’ve been through some things and I don’t want to be the “rebound client.”
Well those are just a few tips. Let me know if these are helpful and I’ll keep posting tips from time to time.
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