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If you're a UK illustrator, or if you're
planning on becoming an illustrator, I highly
recommend joining the Association of Illustrators
(AOI). If you're a student, do join before
you graduate, to benefit from the reduced
student fee.
The AOI runs great seminars, such as how
to get into children's books, how to get
started in business, or how to promote your
work. You can get a portfolio consultation:
an expert will go through it with you and
advise you on the next steps, including guidance on targeting, methods of marketing, self promotion, pointers on fee negotiation, and pros and cons of agents. The AOI also
has an online discussion board (actually, I can't find it any more), and most
importantly there are standard terms and
conditions (for your customers) and guidance
on charging (from their pricing survey)
which members can consult from the AOI website.
You can also order client directories to help you contact potential customers in advertising, editorial or publishing.And if you want an easy website to show off your portfolio, you can get one from the AOI. Some of those services and publications are available (at a higher price) to
non-members.
But the services I really treasure are
only for members: mainly, checking over
your contracts (e.g. when a publisher
sends you a great big "standard"
contract to sign), and their hotline
for advice on how much to charge. I
use it a lot and thanks to it the subscription
fee has paid for itself many times over.
The people at the end of the phone are always
friendly and - a bonus for us insecure illustrators
- never snooty about the unglamorous jobs
we enquire about.
Thinking of joining?
The AOI has an "Introduce a friend"
special offer, so if you've enjoyed
the advice and information I've put on this
website and are deeply moved to thank me
and treat me as a life-long friend, contact
me and I'll send you the appropriate
joining form. That way the AOI should give
me a discount when you join.
Then you can introduce your friends
and get a discount yourself. Not that I
don't think the AOI's services are well
worth the full fee anyway...
More on the AOI's services at www.theaoi.com
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