Do other "arts" professions get this sort of thing? Do people walk up to actors and say "how do I get a movie deal?" Do they ask painter "How do I sell my painting for a million dollars?"

Maybe not that way but yes it does happen all the time.

Even in puppetry to which is most asked question is "How can I work for the Muppets/Henson?"

And the stories I could tell you about casting would make your hair curl. Esp. with the Stage Moms who believe with all their soul that their kid is destined for greatness if we would just give them the role.

Then there are the groupies at rock concerts who "just want to meet the band" but there are also the ones that want to meet the band so that they can get their music to the PTB that will of course give them a multi million dollar deal on their homemade demo tape (It was tape when I had to deal with it. It is probably a CD now).

Comic Book artists and writers are forever getting hit by people who want to break in and feel that they are the next best thing when it is pretty obvious that their grasp on the human form is sketchy at best and Frank Miller is still the best at drawing stuff that looks like Frank Miller's art.

Peter is thinking about finally joining SFWA. I hope his credits will be acceptable. *grin*