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How to meet agents at a conference?

Posted: May 7th, 2017, 12:25 pm
by erikhanberg
Hi Nathan,

I wonder if you have any advice about in-person meetings with agents at conferences. Besides getting my pitch slot, what are some other ways to start those relationships?

Should I query in advance? Should I e-introduce myself in advance? Focus on meeting them between sessions or at a mixer?

Any advice would be most welcome! There's a conference coming up in a couple months that I'm interested in attending.

Re: How to meet agents at a conference?

Posted: May 7th, 2017, 5:06 pm
by Nathan Bransford
I think the most important thing is to try not to force it. Being an agent at a conference is kind of like being a piece of cheese at a mouse convention, and agents tend to kind of have their guard up a tad. Just be natural, be yourself, let your pitch stand for itself, and trust that at the end of the day it's your story that matters.

Re: How to meet agents at a conference?

Posted: May 8th, 2017, 2:16 am
by J. T. SHEA
“Being an agent at a conference is kind of like being a piece of cheese at a mouse convention...”
I nominate that as Metaphor Of The Month!
(I know it's really a simile but I couldn't get the alliteration to work with an 'S'.)

Re: How to meet agents at a conference?

Posted: May 8th, 2017, 10:02 am
by Nathan Bransford
Jessica Faust's post today is relevant to this topic: http://bookendsliterary.com/2017/05/08/ ... tor-pitch/

Re: How to meet agents at a conference?

Posted: May 8th, 2017, 8:10 pm
by J. T. SHEA
Clearly, Ms. Faust feels like a particularly choice Mozzarella.

Re: How to meet agents at a conference?

Posted: December 28th, 2020, 11:54 am
by Volkiwyr
Cool. Thanks for the Thread

Re: How to meet agents at a conference?

Posted: January 7th, 2021, 4:44 am
by stevenabennett
How to get a literary agent in 5 steps
Draw up a list of literary agents in your niche. Most agents are on the lookout for new authors to represent. ...
Thoroughly research and evaluate each agent. ...
Send a personalized query letter. ...
Always follow up if you don't hear anything. ...
Don't just say yes to the first agent.