Choosing An Illustration Agent

Are you an illustrator looking for representation? If so, you probably already realise that there are a lot of factors to think about when deciding to get an agent. When you are still in the process of establishing yourself as an illustrator, you may not have your pick of the top agencies, but your first offer isn’t always the best offer you are likely to get.You should carefully consider each agency on different factors:

Agents read time :

5 min read

How established are they?

Do they know what they are doing? Do they have a good reputation? Important things to weigh up are: how long the agency has been running, the kind of client list they’ve been able to build in that time, the size of the agency and the amount of attention individual artists receive as a result. One way to find out more about an agency is to reach out to other artists represented by them and ask about their experience there.
Location

This may not be as important as it once was, but an agency operating from a bedroom in a small village may not be able to provide the same opportunities as an agency in a big city.
Payment and Commission Rate

Before you go ahead and complete any work with your new agent, make sure that you’re crystal clear on how and when you will be paid, and what rate of commission they will take from the overall fee.

Remember, an illustrator should not have to pay any upfront fees to join an agency. Some agencies charge a lot of different fees to artists, for instance for advertising in illustration books or creating promotional items.

You can’t expect to go through your career without investing in promotion, and investing in illustration annuals and promotional items isn’t a bad thing. However, keep in mind that it should be your choice to do so.

All agencies are different, but make sure you ask the right questions before joining. Remember that agents negotiate on a daily basis, so if they raise any terms that you aren’t happy with, try and negotiate with them. A good agent will respect you for doing so, and if they are unwilling to bend, then maybe they just aren’t a good fit for you!

Agents join associations just like artists do. It benefits the industry as a whole if all agents are on the same page. Here are a couple of links to the Association of Illustrators and Society of Artists Agents websites that you can check out to make sure that your agent adheres to the correct codes of conduct: