Artist Questions about Agents and Manufacturers Answered!
I got a few last-minute questions that we weren’t able to get into the call line-up but I thought would make helpful blog posts. These two are related to agents and manufacturers….
Marilyn asked: What are the best ways to let agents or licensing companies know about my work – website, mailing, etc?
There are many things you can do to get the attention of agents or manufacturers – here are a few basics.
- Have some sort of website they can go to to see your art. It could be a blog with some images or a more traditional website. These days most people expect you to have some space on the internet so they can quickly look and decide if they want to learn more.
- Email or Direct Mail or dare I suggest you pick up the phone?
Getting your name and art in front of the right individuals is important since they make the decisions. Check manufacturer websites to see if they have submission guidelines or pick up the phone and ask who to contact. - Trade Shows. There are a variety of trade shows for artists in licensing as well as industry shows where the manufacturers can be found. Here’s a blog post with links to the art licensing shows.
Be sure to look at the “agents” page of this blog for a growing list of art licensing agents and their contact information. They have all asked to be there so they are open to new artist submissions. I have also written an eBook – How to Find, Interact and Work with Manufacturers Who License Art if you prefer to market yourself.
and Karen wanted to know: Once you sign up with an agent and submit images, how much time can you expect to pass before you start seeing results?
Karen’s questions is a bit trickier and if we were on the live call I’d start with my famous “it depends”… There is simply no way to answer this because there are so many moving parts.
Things that could influence the timing could include:
- The time of year you start working with an agent and how your art lines up with what manufacturers are looking for at that time.
- How much art you have in your portfolio for them to license. Licensing is like a dart game – the more art you have the more likely you are to hit the bulls eye.
- The agent’s process – how long does it take them to get you into the line-up and out the door to be presented to manufacturers? What type of marketing do they do for new artists, if any?
I think this is a great question to ask an agent that you are thinking about working with. You want to go into an artist – agent relationship with some realistic expectations. If you think you should see results within 3 months and they have found it takes a year to see if your art will be a fit for them and the market, that’s good information to have upfront.
Are you bringing someone to help in your trade show booth?
If so, it’s important to get them up to speed so they are ready to help you build your business. For example, they need to understand that they aren’t going to SURTEX to play tourist in NYC every day. They also aren’t going to be at the Black Jack table all afternoon if they are helping you at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas. You know – little things like that need to be explained to anyone you will bring with you.
I did a teleseminar called “Trade Show Tactics” and it’s all about the show! There are a few points about getting ready but the meat of the audio is about what to expect, what to say and what to do while you are in your booth. Last year an artist told me they had their spouse listen to it to make sure he understood what to do. He had been to the show and gave me a hard time later – telling me he was no longer allowed to slack off but expected to work harder now that he had some directions! He was joking and then thanked me, saying it was very helping and made it easier for him to support his wife.
SO… if you will have help that isn’t a part of your business on a daily basis – you might want to consider the Trade Show Tactics teleseminar replay as a training tool as well.
Here is what is covered in the 90 minute audio:
- How to make your booth a manufacturer – magnet
- Why including licensed products or mock-ups can get you new business
- 5 tips for a low-stress setup
- How to make yourself stand out from all the other artists in the room
- How to look and sound confident, even if you are shaking in your boots!
- 3 key questions to ask anyone who stops at your booth
- 3 ways to keep track of leads during the show
- Why follow-up is 90% of the work and strategies to not let your leads slip through the cracks
- 5 trade show pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Tara’s “3 P’s of Success”
Learn more about both the eBook and the teleseminar replay at www.ArtLicensingInfo.com/tradeshows.html – you can buy one or save when you buy them both together.
Here’s to your trade show success!
– Tara Reed
NOW is the time to start preparing for the 2011 art licensing trade shows…
Yes, the kids are just getting back in the groove at school and 2011 might seem far away. But this morning at breakfast my son reviewed the calendar and made it seem pretty quick to winter break… “3 full weeks, then a 4 day week, oh yeah! a 3 day week… etc.”
If you are planning to exhibit at any of the 2011 art licensing shows, there is no time like the present to begin planning your art, your booth, your strategies and more.
During the October 20, 2010 Art Licensing Info Monthly Ask Call, Paul Brent will be talking about how to plan your art collections for a trade show, as well as answering questions submitted by artists. To submit your question for consideration, about trade show prep or any other art licensing related topic, visit www.AskPaulBrent.com.
I just discovered this great video that SURTEX did during the 2010 show last May – it gives a great feel for what the show looks like as well as opinions from many exhibitors. (Including yours truly – although they spelled my name wrong, ooops!)
Here are dates and links for the 2011 shows (in date order) if you want to look at your options:
AmericasMart License & Design – January 14 – 16, 2011 – Atlanta, GA
CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) License & Design – January 29 – February 1, 2011 – Los Angeles, CA
SURTEX – May 15 -17, 2011 – New York, NY
Licensing Expo – June 14 – 16, 2011 – Las Vegas, NV
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
P.S. Don’t forget! We have two great products to help you put your best show foot forward – “How to Maximize Your Time and Investment in Trade Shows” eBook or the “Trade Show Tactics” teleseminar – buy both and save. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DETAILS.
P.P.S. I also recommend Khristian Howell’s “Confessions of a First Timer” – her insightful eBook about her very first trade show experience. I got some great tips too! THIS IS MY AFFILIATE LINK.
Twitter-proof that I can make people run from the idea of art licensing in 45 minutes or less!
You might think that is a bad thing but I’m here to tell you – I’m so proud! One of my goals with my introductory information – be it the Beginner Basics Teleseminar or How to Get Started in Art Licensing eBook or any of the interviews I do with others – is to polarize people.
When you are trying to make a living as an artists, being neutral or unsure about many paths is a dangerous place to be.
To sit and say, “Well… I could do kids books. Or I could create things and sell them on Etsy. Maybe I’ll do website design. Why don’t I license my work. Hey – here’s an art gallery – I should try that.” This type of artist will more than likely be confused and going in too many directions to get anything done well or make any significant progress.
Many artists like the concept of art licensing – they like the idea of being paid by multiple people for the same art collection. They like that they can get paid over a period of time and share in the success (or less than stellar success) of the product without have to do the production, marketing, etc. If they are left to focus on that, with little or no information about what it takes on a daily basis and from a creative standpoint to get the deals and licenses in the first place, they could waste a lot of time.
That’s where my mission comes in and I’ve had it from day 1: give some real world examples of what it takes so artists will know right away if it isn’t going to be a fit or if licensing deserves more time to investigate.
Some will still think it’s a fit even if it turns out to not be. (Those are the artists who then complain about the type of art manufacturers are looking for and want to educate the masses as to what “real art” is … good luck!) Others won’t be turned off – they may say, “hmmm…. this is interesting, tell me more.” And some will get so excited and just KNOW art licensing is for them.
I was on Twitter last week and got a message from an artist – thanking me for helping her realize art licensing isn’t for her, just by listening to one blog talk radio interview. I was so excited! (She has given me permission to share the tweets…)
SO… if you are new to art licensing, here are a few ways to find out if you feel like @artsong does, or if you want to hang around and learn more.
INTERVIEWS: I’ve done a number of interviews with others in the art field, find free replays at www.ArtLicensingInfo.com/interviews.html
BEGINNER BASICS TELESEMINAR: 45 minute replay of a teleseminar I did that goes into the nitty gritty of what working in art licensing is like. www.ArtLicensingInfo.com/start.html
HOW TO GET STARTED IN ART LICENSING eBook: you can get the first chapter for free at www.ArtLicensingInfo.com/get-started.html
Here’s to your creative success – in whatever area that may be!
–Tara Reed
P.S. Find my new Twitter buddy on twitter – www.Twitter.com/artsong or on her wesite, www.CarleySense.com – thanks again for letting me share!
Time is running out to sign up for the teleclass – How to Find, Interact and Work with Manufacturers Who License Art
Consider this a string tied around your finger…
Don’t forget! I’ll be doing a second tele-class with Aletta at Artist Career Training on Wednesday, June 9th at 4 pm Pacific. This class is based on the eBook “ How to Find, Interact and Work with Manufacturers Who License Art“.
This will be similar to the sell-out class at SURTEX by the same name so if you missed it and want to listen, learn and have a chance to ask questions – time is running out to register!
The class will be one hour and include Q&A at the end. We will cover why companies would choose to license art, how to figure out which ones do, strategies for getting in touch with the right people and more.
So if you prefer to listen, ask and learn, head over and sign up!*
– Tara Reed
FTC disclosure: This is an affiliate link and the only way I am compensated for the class.
How an Art Licensing Business is Like the Game “Chutes and Ladders”
Do you remember Chutes and Ladders™? It’s one of those pre-school classics – right up there with Candy Land. No reading required, good for teaching kids not only to count but that there are rewards for good behavior (they skip ahead climbing up a ladder!) or consequences for bad (uh-oh! Fall backwards down a chute!)
Chutes and Ladders™ reminds me of business in general and art licensing in particular.
Sometimes the chutes and ladders are beyond our control – related to the economy as a whole and not our individual actions. Other times, we may fall down a chute when we neglect our marketing, miss deadlines or don’t follow up. Really coming through for a client is sure to give you a leg up – or ladder – the size of the ladder is another issue.
Watch this short video to get all my thoughts on it and see if you can’t think of business as a game. It makes it less stressful and more fun to see what variables you can and can’t control!
Here’s to the ultimate cookie jar for your business!
– Tara Reed
P.S. To learn more about how to license your art if you are new to the concept, check out the “Beginner Basics” audio – 45 minutes to see if it might be for you… www.artlicensinginfo.com/start.html
P.P.S. I have no association or interest in the game but have simply used it for illustration purposes.
The November Ask about Art Licensing Call…
Phew! You guys are getting good and really making us work to pull together answers for you!
November was me – Tara Reed – weighing in on your most pressing questions. As usual, we received more questions than could be covered so I chose those that would apply to the broadest group of artists and when possible, questions that hadn’t been asked before.
Here is a run down of what we talked about:
- Why did you choose to divide your efforts between teaching and licensing your own art?
- I’m not sure what to charge for my design, what is the average price to charge?
- What one thing could I do to make the biggest impact on getting started in art licensing?
- What are your top 5 suggestions for connecting with end consumers to positively build an art licensing brand?
- What are the top grossing art licensing themes?
- When starting out, is it good or bad to list companies that you license with?
- How do manufacturers license a collection? (whole collection, pieces, etc.)
- How do you make mock up samples by hand or on computer?
- What marketing materials do you use at a show? & where should I go to get them?
- What do you consider the most effective but also economical marketing techniques/tips/must-dos for a self-represented artist?
- Submitting art directly to a manufacturer vs. having it on a website – how does an online portfolio affect the perceived ‘newness’ of the art?
- Which is better – specializing in one look and build that as a brand or have many styles and themes?
- Is it possible to succeed in licensing if you have to work full time to pay the bills? Any success stories? (Guest success story artists – Karen Embry – weighed in – thanks Karen!)
- What is your opinion about working with a licensing agent as opposed to working independently?
If you missed the call or want to listen in again, click the button to purchase.
The audio replay is a mere $15 through 11/29 and then goes up to $25.
The next call will be on December 16th – same times – 5:30 pm PST / 8:30 pm EST. I will be asking all your agent questions to Suzanne Cruise – art licensing agent and owner of “Cruise Creative”.
Submit your questions at www.AskSuzanneCruise.com anytime.
Find her online at www.CruiseCreative.com
Talk to you soon!
– Tara
P.S. Don’t forget to tune in on Monday 11/23 at 4 pm PST / 7 pm PST when I’m a guest on “Art & Soul Radio” – listen online at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/art-and-soul-radio. Be sure to sign up for their podcasts on iTunes! (disclosure: no material gain, just a guest on the show!)
P.P.S. The links I promised everyone who was listening live
Some printing sites I’ve used:
www.OvernightPrints.com
www.BargainPrinting.com
www.PSPrint.com
www.UPrinting.com (great deal for banners)
(no material gain – just some places to check that I’ve used personally)
Handbook of Pricing & Ethical Guidelines – great resource for ballpark of royalties, flat fees, etc. across many art fields & industries (this is an affiliate link)
Another AMAZING "Ask" call with Paul Brent…
Poor Paul! I think I threatened to hang up on the man two if not three times during the October “Ask” call. But it’s all his fault really… he just gave SUCH GOOD INFORMATION that I would have been satisfied if my line went dead and I didn’t hear anymore. (And that was at the 6 minute mark!) He really out did himself this time and I’m not just saying that. I was again, blown away.
Around 4:30 when I was getting ready for the call, I was tired. Just plumb tuckered out as my grandmother would say. So tired I was heading into “why do I do all this?” land… not a fun place to visit. But after getting on the call, talking with everyone who listened live before our prompt 5:30 pm PST start, and then listening to Paul Brent, I am INVIGORATED! Ready to paint! Repeat! Create! License! He filled my glass to overflowing!
So what is all the fuss about? Here is what we covered:
• Trends – life cycle, spotting, when to jump on board or let them pass you by
• How many collections does Paul paint a year?
• Create a variety of patterns & styles or stick with one starting out?
• How do you make landscapes commercial enough to license?
• How to you differentiate yourself and stay unique?
• Can you submit to more than one company in an industry at a time?
• How often can you contact a manufacturer? Are there rules or guidelines?
• When did Paul decide to exhibit at SURTEX and what was his business like up until that point?
• How do you advertise your art?
• Is the economy affecting who you work with and what themes manufacturers are looking for?
• Do US copyrights protect us overseas?
• Should a company that exhibits at the Stationery Show but wants to get into licensing exhibit at SURTEX?
• How should an artist market themselves without an agent?
• Should you include a contract when submitting art for review?
• How should you format collections of 4 images?
• Are there colors to avoid or that are harder to reproduce on products?
If you missed it, or if you listened live and couldn’t take notes fast enough, the replay is now available. It is only $15 through October 31st and then goes to $25. Worth every penny, I promise. If you want to get your copy, just click the button below.
Here’s to your creative inspiration and success!
– Tara
P.S. -the website Paul referred to when talking about trends is www.trendwatching.com
P.P.S. – November 18th is with me, go to www.AskTaraReed.com today and get your questions in.
If you want the basic "inside scoop" about art licensing…
… consider the “Art Licensing – Beginner Basics” teleseminar replay.
On Tuesday, September 22nd, I had a great group of artists on the line wanting to learn what art licensing is (really), how to ‘think’ like an artist who licenses art (it’s a little different) and what the day-to-day job is like. I laughed when one very appreciative artist compared the industry to some sort of ‘secret society’ that no insider would openly discuss.
True, that in the past, it has been a little trickier to learn about it. You had to know where to go for nuggets of information. Who to talk to. And often just dive in and see what happened.
That’s why I started the “Art Licensing Info” family of sites in the first place. To give artists a real-world look at what it means to license art. Not rose-colored glasses and not doom-and-gloom. Just this licensed artists opinion and observations. Truth be told, I never expected it to become a family, I thought it would be like a hip single girl living in New York City – not some sprawling suburban family with aunts, uncles and cousins on every block but there you go. Sometimes things take on a life of their own and like so many families, I couldn’t be more pleased!
The call went well, I ended up talking a bit fast to get everything in and now the 40 minute replay and Action Guide are available to any artist who missed it, didn’t know about it or just plain wants to learn.
The mp3 is an overview to help you get a feel for the industry and decide if it is right for you. I couldn’t go into great detail about all of these topics in 45 minutes. This is the time to ponder, consider and see how it feels. It’s like trying on shoes at the shoe store – you walk around in a few circles and say, “Yeah, I like them.” or “Oh heavens! This is not a good fit!”
I could go on but instead, I’ll let you read what one participant emailed me shortly after the call:
______________________________________________________
Tara –
I was on your Beginner Basics Teleseminar for Art Licensing, and I cannot thank you enough! It was fantastic, and exactly what I wanted and needed at this time.
I have been exposed to and learning about art licensing for about 3 months. I was on the Paul Brent phone call in June, and found it so informative and inspiring, and have gotten a lot of information through my own research, but your call today really helped me put it all together and consolidate my knowledge and research to this point.
Everything you said on the call was exactly in the proper order for me to understand, and I found your action guide for the call VERY helpful as I took notes on it while you spoke. The way you categorized the steps of your seminar was very logical and thus easy to understand and process – it’s a lot of information!
I really appreciate getting “the reality of the job” of an artist in this field, from the inside, and your goal of “polarizing” us into feeling either for or against the job description! I am definitely “for” this career, for me, and your website and calls are a great resource for me to inspire myself to keep going.
Thank you again, very much – I look forward to listening to the call again.
Sincerely,
Keri McIntyre
Los Angeles, CA
______________________________________________________
Thank you Keri! I appreciate your feedback and your willingness to let me share it. So if this sounds like something you might want to hear as well…
Go to => www.ArtLicensingTeleseminar.com/start.html, get more details if you need them and be on your way to deciding if art licensing is right for you!
Wishing you creative success – in whatever area fits for you!
– Tara
For all the artists scratching their heads about licensing…
hope is on the way! It will arrive on Tuesday, September 22nd at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST to be exact.
After 10 months of questions coming in like, “What should I do first to license my art?” and “How do I know if my art will work for licensing?” I finally got the hint. Or lightening bolt of inspiration. My “a-ha moment”. Something. But I got it.
I will be doing a 45 minute call to give beginners the basics… what licensing is and how it works. It is interesting to hear how so many artists have “stumbled upon” licensing. Have you ever heard that about art show or galleries? Nope. Art Licensing is a little elusive sometimes.
The goal is for you to get off the phone polarized. You will think “Yes” or “Heck No!” I want you to say to yourself, “Oh that sounds interesting. I might like it and I want to learn more.” or I want you to think, “Oh heck no! That is so not for me. Glad I figured that out in 45 minutes instead of 45 days or weeks!” If you are still scratching your head and confused, I didn’t do my job. (And I always do my job!)
Here’s a video with some basics. CLICK HERE to get all the details. I hope you decide to join me! – Tara
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