#contactingartdirectors

[dearartdirector]

Hi DAD, probably overthinking but I'm wanting to send a small A5 Book(Portfolio) to my dream clients, would this be worth while or should I stick to emails. Thanks!

Well this year, when most Art Directors (in the US at least) are not going to be working in their offices anytime soon due to quarantine, I wouldn’t recommend it. Maybe there’s a cool digital version you can send, but remember, no giant email attachments! But maybe you can make a cool gif or something instead. 2020 is not the year for physical mail...unless you want the books to wait around until someone either forwards the mail or a vaccine happens.

—Agent Negative Space

[dearartdirector]

Dear ADs, thank you for you wise words, this blog is super helpful! I've been trying to follow your advice, have dusted off my google-fu skills and got on with sending out illustration samples. One of the publishers I was interested in for cover art requests that artists send portfolio, expected $ rate and 2 references from other art directors. Is that normal for a freelance job? I would feel very rude to email a busy former AD client to ask for a reference, especially for a one off cover job!

That’s...not.....how it’s done. Honestly that’s a sign to me of a publisher with either no art director or an AD who is not connected to their field. ADs gossip about artists and give each other references. That’s part of our job. Ignore them and move on. Here’s a great list of resources of how to find publishers: Muddy Colors/How to Get Into Publishing.

—Agent KillFee

[dearartdirector]

When emailing art directors, how should I greet them if we live in different time zones?According to their time or to mine? Also when replying to their emails, should I make calculations so that they'll receive my messages early in the morning? Thank you!

You are WAY overthinking this. Really. Use that energy on other things.

—Agent KillFee

[dearartdirector]

If a small niche publication doesn't list an art director or creative director is it cool to pitch your portfolio right to the editor? Or do all publications secretly have an art director and I'm just not finding it?

No not all small (magazines, book publishers, game studios, etc) businesses have art directors. If you can’t find one then yes, send your art to the editor.

—Agent KillFee

[dearartdirector]

Dear AD, if a publishing house only has a physical address listed for artwork submission, is it still okay to do some google-fu and email the AD anyway?

OF COURSE. 

—Agent KillFee

[dearartdirector]

Dear AD, I sent emails to agencies yesterday and I discovered this morning that the website link I sent them with my application doesn't work (it only works without the "www" but I sent them all with the "www" in place so it gives an error when opened in browser). I'm really hopeful about these applications, should I send them another application with the right link OR do I just forfeit and wait for another few months to apply again. Sadly, Mr Sadman :((

Oh, it happens to the best of us. Use it as an opportunity to make a joke out of it and apologize and just update the link and resend the batch. Don’t overthink it.

—Agent KillFee

[dearartdirector]

Tips for "cold calling" -aka cold emailing-? I prefer to make the contacts in person but sometimes there's someone I really want to work with, and I reach out... but it feels so dorky to say "Hi there, my name is (Anonymous) and I am a (Type of Artist). I've done (This) and (That) and you can see my portfolio here (Website Link)." Often times, a corporate email kicks back if I include attachments, so I can't even tease with an image to catch their attention.

Welcome to OVERTHINKING DAY! When we take a day to go thru the backlog of questions in our inbox and pick out all the ones where the asker is already answering their own question and just needs a friendly but firm “JUST DO IT ALREADY”. Here we go!

You may feel dorky, but that’s pretty much the formula. Get over it.

—Agent Negative Space

[dearartdirector]

Dear ADs, should I say thank you when an art director gets back to me saying they put me on a list? I used think their inbox was probably so busy that they'd appreciate me not blowing it up an extra time just to say thanks, but now I'm wondering am I being rude?

Welcome to OVERTHINKING DAY! When we take a day to go thru the backlog of questions in our inbox and pick out all the ones where the asker is already answering their own question and just needs a friendly but firm “JUST DO IT ALREADY”.

If you think an AD has enough time to stop and consider whether an artist has sent a thank you to their random comment then you don’t understand how busy we are. Only worry about sending a thank you if the AD has taken the time to write a long email with feedback in it out of the goodness of their hearts. 

—Agent Negative Space