Merry Christmas! 
Caring-First why do you want in? No one wants in because of a lifelong dream. You can draw comic and movie cards on your own. Can't be the money because it's really not the best. So ask yourself, why? Be honest. I have my reason but that's for me.
-Unless your really good friends with someone please don't ask pros how to contact companies or to refer you. It's unprofessional and risky for the pro. There is a difference between networking (i.e. getting your work out there) and bugging (asking people to get your work out there) They could lose work over giving out info and if they refer you and you leave a bad taste in a companies mouth it goes back to the person who refered you. Your best bet is to research using google and write the companies themselves. Even better is going to a convention they will be at. Rarely there will be open calls so keep an eye out. A pro will refer you if they like your work and your attitude but never because you ask.
-The money isn't here. You must do a lot of work for a very little amount of money that will come months after you finish work. Not to mention companies are asking for more and more in the cards such as details and color. You can't survive on this pay. Most have day jobs and do these, others shuffle it into their other freelance work. A lot of people quit this industry after one set because of low pay. Some don't even try to get into companies because it's too low for their skillset. So don't go in thinking this will be your career because no one has yet. You get paid the same for less work at McDonalds.
-Do you really think your work is fit for the masses? Because what you do now is representative of your skillset and what people will think of your art. This may or may not hinder you for future work.
-If you submit don't get mad if you get no reply. This happens to many and your not special. You get mad and people want to avoid you. Continue submitting. These companies get hundreds of submissions a day. It took me 6 months with one place and I didn't hear back from another place for a year.
-Don't believe the hype. No one company is worse then the other. The reason someone hates a company they worked for is most likely due to themselves.
-Take into consideration that one reason you may not get accepted is because your art is just not good enough. Some of us think our art is tops because friends and family feed our ego but give it to an industry pro or an artist you admire and don't be mad or surprised if they rip you a new one. Check this journal by Karen K as well: [link]
-Draw draw draw, submit submit submit
-Let your work speak for you. In some instances people are asked to come on a set.
-I do refer people to companies I know BUT don't ask me to refer you. I refer based on merit and what I think looks good. If your good and I know you want in I can try to hook you up with a company. Just don't ask me for it.
-In general don't ask any pro about anything related to the sketch card industry. It gets tiring after a while of receiving these and telling everyone what I am telling you here.
-Even pros still have to work to get on sets for the most part. I'm still having to prove myself. Some get on one or two sets and never get on a set again. It's not a sure thing you'll get constant work after one set.
This industry is a high stress low payoff industry so you better really want it before you get slapped with reality. I know I wasn't ready. Sorry to be curt but I hope you find this helpful. This will probably get a constant update as new ideas come to me from pros in the industry. Feel free to ask questions not realted to contacts or referring and either I or another person can hopefully answer them for you.
-Geo
Tired
