Technology

Find Out How To Become An Animator – Get A Job As A 3D Animation Artist

In a typical animation career, you wear a lot of hats. You may have a specific background, but you are likely to juggle many skills and titles just as often from job to job. Animation artists find most of their work through word of mouth. No offense to agents, reps, and recruiters, but succeeding in finding work in the animation business is developing and maintaining relationships. We are, as Barbra Streisand sang, “people who need people.”

The simple truth:

The key to finding work in animation is accepting that it is a people-driven industry. People who know people who recommend people who hire people. Those who have a negative view of the importance of relationships in the job search boil down to “it’s all based on who you know.” This makes “who do you know” sound like a random act of luck. In reality, you are responsible for “who you know,” for the relationships you create and maintain. Relationships require energy and effort.

The animation business in North America is small enough that, even in a few years, you can meet someone connected to all the studios on the continent. We are all six degrees from our Kevin Bacons animation. Simple enough, right? But these truths are not self-evident and, if they are, we certainly don’t behave all the time as if we have this to be true. This simple truth will appear over and over again in this book.

While there is no guaranteed way to find work in the animation industry, there are many things we can do to create the best chance of success. Happily, finding work in the animation industry becomes easier over time as you expand your network and your reputation opens doors for you.

Maintaining relationships can lead to work:

In the animation industry, sometimes the most effective job search occurs in the most indirect way. Often times, even when we make a good connection in a studio, the time is not right for immediate work. So what can we do to “wait” until something opens without risking a restraining order? My favorite solution is to stay in touch with people through the occasional email.

Recently, he was in a producer’s office when he received an email from a mutual friend. “I guess he’s out of work again,” said the producer. I asked him how he knew that without reading the email. The producer replied, “This guy only e-mails me when he needs work.”

People don’t stay in close enough contact with their contacts while they work. We need to nurture our contacts. Periodically send updates to your contacts. Let them know where you are working and why it is a great experience. Either way, your contacts will be delighted that you have thought of them. Over the years, I have received a few job offers as a result of mailing a congratulatory message. While I wouldn’t say that sending emails and updates should be anyone’s main focus for job hunting, they are part of what builds a career over time.

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