Art Licensing Information: Agent Spotlight

Friday, February 12, 2016

Agent Spotlight - Jennifer Nelson Artists

How long have you been in business and how did you come to be an agent?
Just one year, we opened in January 2015. But before that I had been an agent, working for another company. Before that I was a graphic designer for many years. So either one year, or my whole career, depending how you look at it.

Do you have help/employees?
Yes, we have a data entry person, a writer and a bookkeeper... all are essential to the business. I may add an assistant soon because most days I’m as busy as can be.

Do you prefer royalty deals? Flat fee?
We are happy working any way the client wants to work! If it’s a royalty deal, I like to get an advance upfront for my artists. We also take commissions when a buyer is looking for something special.

How do you market artists? Who pays for this? Anything different for new artists?
JNA does lots of social media, cold calls, newsletters, trade shows. In today’s world you have to be everywhere. I share the costs of promotion with my artists. We’re all in this together.

What do you look for in an artist?
I look for three things….
1) Talent: A body of marketable work. It does not have to be loads of work, just enough to show me the right subject matter in a range of styles.

2) Professionalism: Will she be on time for deadlines? Can she handle constructive criticism? Is her social media up to date and does it reflect her as an artist?

3) Kindheartedness: I need to have loads of trust in the people I represent. I work hard for my artists and I want to work with kindhearted people who I know will be good to both me and to our clients.

Do you feel an artist needs an online presence?
Yes! It’s 100% essential.

How much art do you expect an artist to create in a year?
A good minimum is one new piece each week. Preferably three to four per week once an artist is in the zone.

Anything else to add?
Yes! I’m doing a workshop in March with a company called Modern Thrive. It’s called "How To Get An Agent (And Do I Need One)". You can get more information here: http://modernthrive.com/workshops/workshop-28/