A friend of mine and I developed a comic strip once (it was back in the early 1980s), and one of the major publishers let us know they were interested. They asked us questions about how the strip should be marketed. As "artists," we were insulted by the question. Our job was to produce the art, we thought. It was THEIR job to figure out how to market it. We blew them off. What can I say? We were young and stupid. Eventually, we fell out with each other over "artistic differences," and I haven't talked to him since. He was a nice guy, but I don't work well with others. He became enormously successful as a freelance illustrator (I guarantee you've seen his work).
Oh wow - can you message me his name (or tell me here?)
If by publishers you mean Syndicates. That's a big deal. It's a long tale, but I know some of the cash involved with a syndicated strips. Top ones like Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, For Better or Worse were in more than 2000 papers. They made on syndication alone, $20-30k a week. Yes, a week.
Whereas some of those in the trenches (20 papers) for the exact same amount of work, were making just over $600 a month. And it is a LOT of work.
Also worth mentioning that doing other stuff not only pays the bills but makes you meet all kinds of people and is good feed for the art thing.
Thanks for sharing
A friend of mine and I developed a comic strip once (it was back in the early 1980s), and one of the major publishers let us know they were interested. They asked us questions about how the strip should be marketed. As "artists," we were insulted by the question. Our job was to produce the art, we thought. It was THEIR job to figure out how to market it. We blew them off. What can I say? We were young and stupid. Eventually, we fell out with each other over "artistic differences," and I haven't talked to him since. He was a nice guy, but I don't work well with others. He became enormously successful as a freelance illustrator (I guarantee you've seen his work).
Oh wow - can you message me his name (or tell me here?)
If by publishers you mean Syndicates. That's a big deal. It's a long tale, but I know some of the cash involved with a syndicated strips. Top ones like Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, For Better or Worse were in more than 2000 papers. They made on syndication alone, $20-30k a week. Yes, a week.
Whereas some of those in the trenches (20 papers) for the exact same amount of work, were making just over $600 a month. And it is a LOT of work.
I sent you a DM on Twitter.
You forgot "be independently wealthy," snort.
Ha - I never was :)
It can be hard to swing that deal.