Association of Illustrators Talk

Self Promotion:

Website - image based, simple. functional. professional, blog and keep up to date, contact details easily available on website. Another idea might be to start a collective, get work as a collective and help each other get work individually

Keep A Blog - update regularly, creative but professional, don't be too inspired by current trends/creatives, nurtures self-initiated projects and ongoing ideas, do it right or don't do it at all

Social Media - Keep professional, either separate your personal profile from your professional one or transition your personal profile into your professional profile. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are viable routes of commissioners. Bechance is good for keeping on online portfolio and showing process.

Study the industry, research the client
AOI client directories
Bikinilists.com

Physical Mailers - A6/A5
Email - Attach imagers, spell their name right, first impressions count

Invest in yourself - Print things

Keep own registered business - register for income tax (after 3 months of steady work), up to date accounts, retain all claimable receipts, keep paperwork involved with every job

Tax Returns - four times a year (use apps zero and quickbooks)


Copyright and Licensing:

- Does not require registration or a copyright symbol
- Licensing - lending to a client
- Property right - automatic when doing work
- There is no copyright in an idea/style
- Copying substantial part of a work infringes copyright
- Copying key image from the work could infringe

Copyright is assigned by you to a client, strongly advised not to do this because of money, loss of control and clients

Moral rights - automatic but can be waived
- Right to paternity
- Right to integrity
- Falsely attributed

Rights online
- low res files 72dpi and name as file name
- use copyright symbol on everything
- terms and conditions of website/social media use/filenames

Contracts can be written (formal) or verbal (informal)

Accept commission in writing before starting any work
"WHO is going to do WHAT by WHEN"

cancellation fees
rejection fees

Acceptance of commission form on the AOI website


Pricing

DO NOT WORK FOR FREE

- Quote accuratley
- Don't work on a day fee
- Find out everything (clear briefs)
- License is separate to selling an original artwork/prints
- Re-license
- Actual uses rather than potential usage
- Allows for additional negotiations and fees for additional usages

Above the line advertising - publicity
- Print - magazines, posters, out of home
- Digital - social media, adverts, banners etc

Below the line advertising
- Not paid space
- Fliers, direct mailing

Editiorial - circulation - abc.org.uk
client, usage, territory, duration

Packaging - usage, territory, duration

Buyouts - can mean copyright assignment

AOI INFO

Student membership
- access to members only section
- support via email and phone
- varoom magazine subscription

@theaoi


I found the AOI talk really useful but also overwhelming, I don't think I fully realised how much consideration had to go into how you manage yourself as a business and how you interact with clients and present yourself online. I'm really wanting to look more into my professional image and start to consider how I can attract the attention of potential clients. I think my downfall is that I don't really take myself seriously as a 'professional' and don't feel I have the skills or abilities to be asking for money, but this is just a confidence issue that I'm sure I'll get over at some point! Anyway, this was really useful, I'm definitely interested in joining up when I have a bit more money spare!