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Certainly, Chris, if you're pitching a previously published book to a smaller house or agent, there will be little interest because it must be assumed that Random House (or whatever) has already fully exploited the title's market potential or it would have offered a contract extension and kept the title in print.
As for finding a smaller indie for a new work. it's pretty easy ... if you're as non-selective as the house itself.
Rule of thumb would be that the easier it is to land a contract with a small house, the less likely that house is to be selective and to offer significant editorial, technical and design input and energetic promotion and marketing.
As one of four editors at my own wee house with unquestioned acqisition rights, I can tell you that we're a tough sell. But ALL submissions are professionally assessed and we have a hit rate of maybe one in 200 from unsolicited new author subs. It's grim, but I suspect less grim than with the big boys because big commercial success is less of a consideration to us than sheer quality.
Do bear in mind how many small houses there are, though, in comparison to the accepted Big Five. Chances of acceptance are directly depedent on how many houses are approached.
Play with the statistics. EG: Harry Potter was rejected seventeen times before being picked up. Success rate of the ms, therefore, 100%. I often wonder how many offers I've declined that were eagerly accepted elsewhere so that my rejection rate includes a title that was actually 100% successful in placement.
Good luck and best wishes. Neil
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