Internet is my true agent
Internet is my true agentYou know the type -- that doodling type. Every time there is apen and paper on the table, they will be sketching somethingdown, with a mysterious smile, giggling quietly and making funnyfaces. Vlad Kolarov is no exception -- however, he has built acarrier out of his funny habit. If you are no Internet stranger,probably you have already seen his work. It might be a Yahooecard, or a funny cartoon on some web site, a greeting card oreven his online portf...
...olio (http://www.vladkolarov.com). Vlad hasbeen around for some time.Q> Why did you decide to become a cartoonist? R> I don't think Iever had a choice. Obviously I was born with the cartoon gene -I've always loved to doodle and create my own little world onpaper. As a kid at school I noticed that my cartoons made peoplelaugh and brought me some respect. That's a nice feeling. So toget paid to do it is the best. In spite of my law education(which I actually have never used), I decided to follow my starsand become a full-time cartoonist/illustrator. It turned out tobe a very tough job but I also love the fact that I make my ownhours and work at home. And it's great having a job that dealswith humor. Q> So how did it all start? R> It all started in1989 (my God! That makes me almost as old as the Triceratops).It was a very exciting time. After some time freelancing, Ilanded a job as a cartoonist for the biggest Bulgarian dailynewspaper "24 hours". Several years later I decided to expand myhorizon and moved to Vancouver, BC with my family. I’ve beenliving and working there ever since -- I love the place!!! Q>Vlad, how do you find new markets? Do you make any "cold calls"or do you wait for the clients to call you? R> Finding newmarkets is the key to being a successful freelancer. As anartist working at home you should be always looking for newclients. I contact magazines, websites, greeting card companies,etc... Also, they contact me. I find having a web site portfoliovery useful (check it out - http://www.vladkolarov.com). Afreelancer MUST promote himself in every way possible. If onesimply waits for clients to come to him, they'll never make it.Q> Share a marketing secret with our readers. R> Always becreative! For example my latest idea is to use the power of theInternet and turn my fans into my agents. Anyone who recommendsme and brings in a new client will receive 15% commission ofwhat I get. So if you want to make some extra money -- spread myname around:) Q> You have such a wonderful drawing style! Do youhave any art training? R> No. I’ve had some art classes, but Iwas not very good -- so gave up and started drawing what I likeinstead. I noticed that my style changed a lot during the years,and eventually it is what you see now. I am a fan of the simpleforms, so that is what I am after. Less is more (except in thebedroom):) Q> What is the schedule of a man "working @ home"? R>My day starts at around 8AM. I start with answering my mail,then drawing cartoons and promoting my work. The nice thing isthat each day is a new challenge with a different project and adifferent client, so I never get bored. This usually goes till8PM -- six days a week. Freelancers must work as many hours aspossible. Q> What is the business side of cartooning? R>Tough...Professional cartooning IS a business. I am thepresident of Cardsup Greetings Ltd., which is a full-servicemultimedia company. We (it is a company, remember?) specializein humor, but we do almost everything -- web design, interactiveanimation, web hosting, logo design, etc. We also provide humorcontent to web sites -- right now we have packages of dailycartoons and ecards that work great for marketing web sites. Q>What is the best thing for you as a cartoonist? R> Being my ownboss. Being able to work from home. Having my wife and kidsaround me. Cartooning can be quite rewarding:) Q> Where doesyour inspiration come from? R> I am often asked thatquestion...The truth is that after all these years myinspiration comes from the bills I have to pay...Deadline ainspirational too. This is a creative business, and as such, youneed some reality biting you from behind. Q> Is there a secretfor being successful? R> There are no secrets. Being successfulcomes with a lot of work. You won’t be successful if you sit allday in from of the television set. You must promote yourself andproduce new material each and every day. Q> Do you work with anyagencies? Do you think they help the artists? R> No. I’ve had myshare of rejection slips. Agencies are business representatives.In some cases they can help -- having someone out therepromoting your work is nice. But they are not a guarantee forsuccess and if you can do the work you don’t actually need them.That’s why I LOVE the Internet -- that is my true agent! Andremember, if you recommend me -- you’ll get paid! Q> Tell us abit about the selling process. Do you have set rates for yourwork and do you give discounts? R> I do have set rates, ratesthat I usually charge but I am very flexible. Each client has adifferent budget and a different need. There are a lot offactors that go into determining how much a cartoon costs, andthere is always that negotiating process. No client is too smallor too big for me. I never turn away clients. Q> Vlad -- what’sup with the name? R> Contrary to the wide spread rumor, I am notrelated to Dracula. I was, however, born in a small town on theriver Danube relatively close to Transylvania. That couldexplain my taste for dark humor. Q> Do you ever laugh at yourcartoons? R> Guilty, your honor! That has happened from time totime. But what I prefer is seeing the others laugh at them --that is my biggest reward! Q> How do people react when you tellthem you are a cartoonist? R> Most of them do not understandwhat that is...May be it’s my accent, or may be it’s such anexotic profession. How many cartoonists do you know?
|
