Portfolio Review Etiquette for Storyboard Artists

I see a lot of portfolio reviews going on during conventions, and I have received a lot of advice on portfolio review etiquette from professionals, Ive decided to compile what I've learned into a neat little list for your pleasure.

1. Take the reviewer's busy life into consideration
Please understand, whoever is looking at your portfolio is taking time out of their bushy life to look at your work. Its incredibly nice of them to do so especially considering at a convention they look at probably 100+ portfolios a day, or over an email they probably have 100+ unread emails in their inbox from people just like yourself.

2. Look presentable and don't smell bad.

What I have to offer is just some observations that I noticed about young artists getting reviews, and how to better come off a a person who would be fun to work with. Even if your art is amazing, if you are super weird and you smell bad, you are going to have a hard time finding a job in a studio environment, because no one is going to want to sit next to you.

3. Shake their hand.

Tell them your name, and shake their hand. This ons is simple, but very easy to forget and it makes a big impression.

4. Prepare a question to ask.
If you are talking to an artist or a company that you admire, have a specific question already prepared to ask them, try to think of a question that would be interesting for them to answer and the have not answered a billion times that day.

5. Make them Laugh.
I sometimes have a goal to make them laugh, which is really appropriate, if you are a storyboard artist, the chances are that you going to need to make people laugh. Don't be a fool though, theres a fine line in making someone laugh at a joke you told and laughing at you.

6. Pitch your portfolio.
Pre prepared to pitch your story, if they ask you "what is this story about" don't just ramble off a dumb one liner plot, pitch it! That will be your job in the future, and not only is this great practice but if you pitch to them they will probably get more excited abut your artwork.

7. Get their business card.
Understand that they might not be so blown away by your work that they give you a job right then and there. Ask for their business card, and ask if you can email them with a follow up showing how you took their notes into consideration. Chances are when they are leaving the convention they will have a mountain of business cards that I doubt they will ever sort through,  so follow up with them!

8. Don't overstay your welcome.
Know when it is time to leave, if there is a line behind you, be polite and say that you will stop by later. And its also a good idea to stop by any booth that gave you a portfolio review later during the convention and buy some of the work that is for sale or just stop in to chat for a few moments, I bet that they will remember a simple conversation over a portfolio review when they are looking back on their day.

These are just my observations, If you think I missed anything or got anything wrong please feel welcome to comment below!

-Nicholas