Jeremy Nguyen–The Cartoon Life Talk

In January, I attended a Comic Artist Workshop meetup featuring Jeremy Nguyen.

From Jeremy's website: I am a New Yorker cartoonist, illustrator, humor writer, and co-producer of a reading series called Panels to the People. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York. 

Here are some things I learned:

• When starting to contribute cartoons to the The New Yorker, it's best to go in person
• Helpful to go in with someone who can vouch for you
• When he first submitted, he came up with 100 ideas (10 ideas submitted over 10 weeks)
• When starting, send as many as possible. The magazine wants regulars, wants readers to establish a relationship with regularly appearing cartoonists.
• If no magazine purchases the cartoons he submits, he uploads them to Instagram
• He didn't sell any from his first batch
• He sold his first after three weeks
• You don't know when your purchased cartoon is going to be printed
• The New Yorker buys about 20 cartoons per week. They have hundreds available that they've bought.
• He draws each cartoon in  an hour
• His goal is to sell one cartoon per month
• He also get some royalties from Cartoon Bank
• In order to become a New Yorker magazine staff cartoonist, you need to sell 25 cartoons per year
• He spends two days per week exclusively on New Yorker cartoons. He does 5-6 in that period. He writes all day for one day then spends the next day editing.
• The New Yorker accepts collaborations
• He feels that the new cartoon editor likes surrealism, surprise, and subjects that are topical or are about New York City
• Lots of the cartoonists aren't artist, they're comedians
• Many people struggle with creating single panel cartoons
• Illustrating for board games pay well. It's a significant industry. Board games make up the majority of Kickstarter campaigns.
• Draw all the time, even if the drawings are bad. Constantly make observations.
• The New Yorker wants to buy a voice, a different perspective.
• Think about what you're angry about to inspire your cartoons
• The New Yorker has first printing rights for 90 days for a purchased cartoon, then you can sell your cartoon elsewhere

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