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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. The AOI also
has an online discussion board, and most
importantly there are standard terms and
conditions (for your customers) and guidance
on charging (from their pricing survey)
which you can consult from the AOI website.
Some of those services are available 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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