AOI Licensing Event at Somerset House

I went to a talk ran by the AOI about Licensing. I am a little rubbish at all the legal stuff and maths and that (hence why I have an accountant to do my tax *lowest set in maths at school*!) so thought a talk would be brilliant to learn some things!
First up was Vicki Willden-Lebrecht MD of Bright Agency, and her talk was BRILLIANT. I could have listened all day. It was good to hear about what sells best within licensing (like cards, melamine, stationary etc) so has really helped me focus my designs more.  She talked about what's best from a contract and what to expect from an Agent.

Vicki Willden-Lebrecht

One of the samples of their amazing illustrators Yasmeen Ismail

Next up was Robert Lands head of intellectual propery from HowardKennedyFsi LLP, 

He was really engaging especially for quite a heavy subject, made me realise I should really put some terms of use on my website! :/

 Then it was time for lunch! This statue was in the ladies toilets! Brilliant huh?

After an alfresco lunch in the square within Somerset House we returned to listen to the lovely Rachael Taylor. I've thought about surface pattern and always left it as I'm not to sure how to make it repeat properly but she was very inspiring to listen too, and shall give it a go as she said it's not always necessary to have prints repeating.

Then we heard form Helz Cuppleditch and more about trade shows and what to ask about during the licensing process and then the day ended with Rob Ryan. What a HOOT! He chatted about how his career came about. He was so funny and incredibly down to earth. A real lesson in if you ever become successful how to remain. 

YCN Tell stories, Pick Me Up-AOI Pricing talk and Flying Eye Event at Foyles

I had a busy day yesterday and the day before! I saw Rachel Bright, Benji Davies and James from Made in Me Books do a talk at YCN, which was brilliant. So gooooood to hear how illustrators made it to being published and the winding ways it happened. Very inspiring and reassuring to hear actually! Here's a link to it from YCN (That's my shoulder in the red to prove I was really there! Ha!)

 I then attended the AOI Pricing talk at Somerset House in conjunction with Pick Me Up yesterday, and I managed a sneaky peek inside as I signed up to AOI!

Then it was off to the Flying Eye/Nobrow Press event at Foyles. Such an interesting talk hearing how they got started. I also may have bought a book I can ill afford, but the illustrations were lovely. I really wanted to buy Wild by Emily Hughes but it's not out til June!