How a Roundtable Works
When you register, you will choose the illustrator faculty member you would like to Roundtable with. Each faculty will meet with a group of up to 6 illustrators at the same time. You get the benefit of hearing how this person reacts to everyone’s art, while also getting feedback on your own pieces.
At the Roundtable, each participant will have an approximately 8-minute turn (depending on how many others in the group), and if time allows, there will be a brief general Q&A at the end. During your turn, you may spend the time as you like, but we suggest:
- 3-5 Pieces from a portfolio OR
- 1-2 Spreads from a dummy
The faculty will then use the remaining time to give their feedback on the work. This time goes quickly, so if there is something specific you have a question about, please start with that framework so you get the feedback you need.
Roundtable Etiquette
ONLY the faculty may give their thoughts and suggestions. ONLY the person whose turn it is may ask questions. Please understand that your peers have paid for professional opinion, not yours, so please refrain from offering additional commentary on others’ work. Everyone will benefit from hearing the professional feedback on their fellow attendees’ work. Also, submission guidelines for all faculty will be distributed after the conference. Please do not ask the faculty if you can submit to them during the roundtable.
Roundtable Faculty Schedules
All roundtables will take place between 3 - 4 PM on Saturday, April 11 at the Farallon Room at Skyline College during the main conference. There are NO REFUNDS if you cannot attend the meeting.
You will choose which roundtable faculty you will meet when you register for this add-on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I am an illustrator or author/illustrator. May I show my picture book dummy or portfolio?
A: To show your art work, illustrators may choose to register for the Portfolio Showcase (Saturday, April 11), participate in a portfolio critique roundtable (Saturday, April 11), or sign up for a one-on-one critique (Sunday, April 12).
Q: I am an illustrator or author/illustrator and want to attend the pitch clinic roundtable instead of this one. Will I still have a chance to show off my illustration work?
A: Yes, if you signed up for the $20 add-on Portfolio Showcase at the conference. The artwork displayed there will be seen and judged by professionals for awards.
Q: I cannot make the scheduled time for the Roundtable. May I reschedule or receive a refund?
A: No. Please check the faculty’s available time frame BEFORE you register. There are no refunds and we are unable to reschedule if you miss the session.
Q: What will the art director/illustrator say about my work?
A: It depends. Each faculty has a different critique style and anything they say is subjective. It is helpful if you have a specific question or something for the faculty to focus on, for example – “Is my first line exciting enough?” “How do you suggest I shorten my elevator pitch so I can use it for a social media pitch event?” “Does my main character’s voice sound believable?”
Q: Can I query the agents and art directors?
A: Yes, the faculty will be open to submissions from all the event attendees, regardless of whether or not you had a roundtable or critique. We will send an email with their submission guidelines after the event. We strongly encourage you to incorporate any faculty feedback you received at the Roundtable before reaching out with a query, as it will help you present your strongest work.