For the last three years we have held dinners during June, July and August with the editors, agents, and art directors in the children’s publishing industry at various nice restaurants in New York City. These dinners are open to any SCBWI member. Since writers visit NYC to meet with their publishers and also visit the city with their families, we have had members from Australia, Canada, and from all over the US, join us.
Over the years I have made friends with many editors and agents and enjoy their company so much that I was inviting them out to dinner, just for fun. That’s when I thought I should open this up to writers and illustrators to help them get to know the wonderful people in our industry.
The dinners run around $130 - nice restuarants with private rooms cost a good amount of money in NYC. I’d like to say we make money on these dinner, but our goal is to break even at the end of the night.
So what do we do at these dinners? Is there a workshop or program before or after the dinners?
The dinners are just a way to make friends and network with the editors and agents invited. They are set up to provide some time before dinner for everyone to mingle and socialize, then once we sat down and have orders, we go around the table and introduce ourselves. Each person talks a few minutes about what they are working on and their industry goals. The rest of dinner is getting to know the editors and/or agents seated next to you. We switch the editors/agents around when it is time for dessert, to maximize your interaction with them.
No one brings a manuscript or book dummy to the dinner. Illustrators can bring a postcard to give to the editors or agents and they can bring a small portfolio, but they can only show it after dinner if they are asked by and editor or agent to see it.
Already this year, members are asking me if we are going to do the dinners again this summer. So with the New York City SCBWI’s approval, we are going to have a few Networking Dinners again this year. I have not set up the restaurants, so the prices are also not set up. I have sent out the dates to the editors and agents, so I have listed the dates below, in case you want to mark your calendars.
Space is limited, since only two people can attend for each industry professional. Plus, we are also having less dinners this year.
Here are the dates and the editors/agents, so far, who have committed to a date:
June 26th – Agent Melissa Sarver – Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency
July 24th – Agent John Cusick – Scott Treimel Literary Agency
July 25th – Agent Sean McCarthy – Sheldon Folgeman Literary Agency
Aug. 14th – Editor Heather Alexander from Dial BFYR
If you know you want to attend a dinner on a certain date, you can e-mail me to get on the list, now.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
Filed under: children writing, Editors, Events, networking, opportunity Tagged: Agent John Cusick, Agent Melissa Sarver, Agent Sean McCarthy, Display Comments Add a Comment
hey Kathy…if ever looking for an ARTIST AGENT to take to dinner, I’m game. I travel to NYC several times a year…can in June July or Aug too, and love meeting artists and talking about industry. Always looking for talent too..:)
Chris,
We would LOVE you to join us. What date works for yiou?
Kathy
I’m so glad we can still have these WONderful dinners! I had the pleasure of attending one last year, and they’re worth every penny