10 Tips to get a Fantasy Art Gig #10

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I mentioned a few posts back that I would be posting my top ten ways to get a freelance gig in the esteemed genre of Fantasy art. I say the “esteemed genre” because let’s face it. If a hot chick in a chain mail bikini fighting a dwarf with a battle ax isn’t classy then I don’t know what is. .

In all seriousness though, I do think that my tips will help you get a gig or at least your foot in the door. But if my tips don’t work out for you, then post a comment here or contact me because I would like to laugh at you for not getting a gig. No wait. I mean I would like to see what you did wrong because my tips are guaranteed to work* and if they don’t I will give you one hundred dollars.** Plus I can help you figure exactly what it is that is hindering you from getting a gig.

Ok on to my first and probably most important tip.

#10 GET A PROFESSIONAL LOOKING WEBSITE!

Did you get that? I hope so because there is no, I repeat, no reason why you should not have a professional looking website. None, nada, zilch, no reason. Five years ago I would not have said that, but today you have no reason. Since the advent of blogging software, such as Wordpress, Blogspot, Typepad, there really is no reason to not have a good looking site.

I personally recommend Wordpress, which is the platform I use for the amazing blog you see before you right now. Wordpress is free, easy, and oh yeah did I mention free and easy? Now you may say “Nuh-uh Jason. You have to have a hosting to use Wordpress” To which I reply “No not really”.

Sure I have my site hosted with Godaddy and host my blog there, but you can also simply go to wordpress.com and register for a free blog if you are really strapped for cash. As mentioned before you also have the options of blogspot, typepad, and others that I can’t think of right now.

I would still recommend Wordpress above all others simply because it gives you the ability to created pages and galleries. For example if you want to have a contact page in Wordpress just create a page then add the link to your sidebar. Done, that’s it! However in Blogspot/bloggger/whatever the hell Google calls there blogging software, you must create a post and link to that post because it simply doesn’t give you the ability to create a static page like Wordpress.

Now I’m not saying that blogspot is bad because it isn’t. First let’s remember it’s free and it’s also easy to use. Also much like Wordpress there are several free templates out there to allow you do a quick and easy overhaul of your blog. Also let’s not forget that since its hosted on Google it will have potentially better rankings. Yes I believe that. I also don’t think Oswald shot JFK while we’re talking conspiracies.

I would also like to say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with a standard HTML site, so don’t think that I am trying to push blogging software on anyone. But I do know that you can have your site done much faster and it will probably look better using a blog format.

Whatever platform you choose, let me take time now to tell you what links you need to have most prevalent. Ready?

Gallery and contact.

I know pretty hard right?

Seriously you would be surprised how many people out there don’t think to make these links obvious. I’m sure some great artists have missed opportunities because an art director couldn’t find how to contact them or had trouble finding their work. You have to remember the art director is there with a purpose and if it takes him or her more than 8 seconds to find your contact link or gallery they are going to bolt.

Ok everyone I think that does it for my first tip and I hope that those of you who don’t have a site will create one soon so that you have an online gallery for potential clients to view. A website will make you look more professional, dedicated and appealing. Trust me.

* Tips are not guaranteed to work however the opposite sex my find you more attractive
** Ha! A hundred bucks my ass! I might help you if you’re female and hot but even then you’re not getting a hundred bucks. The only thing I can say for sure is that I will laugh at you; behind your back and in secret of course.