Face to face time with agents?

[MrsGIJoe]

This may seem like a really silly question, but I've been looking around to try and find the answer all over the net. It seems like so much these days is done over the phone or email. How much face to face time is required with agents and authors? Are there regular meetings? Just 1 or 2 important ones? And to that extent...does anyone know how that goes with editors as well?

I'm just curious because I'm building my top 20 list of agents to query. We're on the East Coast so naturally if more face to face time does happen I want to make sure I stay within a certain range.

Thanks so much everyone!

[HillaryJ]

None. Can in-person meetings be helpful? Absolutely. Might you want to meet an agent before or after signing? Yes. But meeting your agent is not required.

What can be helpful is meetings agents in person while querying, pitching directly to them, getting an actual feel for one another to see if you might be a match.

[Mira]

I agree with HilaryJ. I'd definitely want to meet my agent before signing with them. People are very different over e-mail, or even on the phone.

But I don't think you need to meet with them on an on-going basis. It seems like most people can get everything done now over the phone or e-mail. I don't have an agent, but that's what I pick up from surfing the blogs....

[MrsGIJoe]

Thanks to you both!

I think its great convenience-wise to do most everything over the phone or net and not have to meet much. However, I'm hoping this agent will be more than just a one-book-deal and maybe go on to future books with me. If someone is going to be guiding my career I'd love to at least sat down with them once.

Would it be bad etiquette to request a meeting with a perspective agent?