AOI Lecture

Although we had this talk last year too, there was a lot of information I had forgotten about so it was good to hear Lou Bones speak again. I left the lecture feeling really inspired and confident that it is possible to earn event money from illustration. There are a lot of contradictory opinions, even between illustrators about whether you can do it full time without a supporting income but this talk makes me feel that yes, you can. 

Self Promotion
Website 
Image led
Name, address, lots of work.
Smartphone friendly
Need a website NOW
Make all information easy to see on homepage
Copyright notice

Collectives
Getting work together.

Blog
Don't appear stagnant online.
Personal projects.
Use personal work to get work that you want to do.
TOURISM and packaging
Illustration is booming in these areas

Twitter - creative voice. get involved with conversations.
Facebook - another portfolio, not a place to get commissions.
Instagram - keep it professional. viable route of commissioning. Build the brand, think what a client would want other than photos of work. add value.
Behance - another portfolio. have as many as you can to be seen by the most people.

Getting work
Physial mailers - postcards, a5 a6, research the people I want to work for, who can I contact.
Meet people in person
SPELL NAMES CORRECTLY
Give my information (basic) and illustration examples.

Accounts
YOU ARE A BUSINESS
Register for income tax within 3 months of starting.
Retain all claimable receipts.
Tax return four times a year.
Cultural expenditure - claim back on these costs.

Copyright
Assignment - giving away ownership of image and give it to them forever. they can do what they want. complete loss of control.
Clients do not need your copyright, they just want it.
Licensing is a better way.
The original artwork always remains yours, if you sell it, that doesn't come with any rights.
Every use has a fee - number of uses, time frames, etc.
Use low res images online.
Use copyright symbol.
Uploading anything to Instagram or Facebook gives them rights to anything you upload.

Acceptance of Commission
If you are receiving money for work you're entering a business agreement. This needs a contract.
Make the contract fair.
Cancellation fees, rejection fees.

PRICING 
It needs to be fair for both sides. 
Don't work on a day fee!
Some briefs may require a non-disclosure agreement - make sure you get a grasp of the scale of the project, usage and exposure before giving a price. 
A re-liscence is usually 60-70% of the original licence.

Above the line - paid space advertising, print includes magazines, papers, etc, out of home advertising (OOH)
Below the line - non paid space advertising - including fliers, social media. 

Size of a client (magazine) is based on circulation. (abc.org.uk)

Tax returns - quickbooks / zero.